SHORT CORNER

Ranieri off to winning start with Roma

AFP

Claudio Ranieri got off to a winning start as Roma coach with Stephan El Shaarawy and Patrik Schick's first-half goals enough to squeeze past lowly Empoli 2-1 on Monday to keep in touch with the Champions League places.

Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked after the team's elimination in the Champions League last-16 last week with Ranieri returning to the club he coached for 18 months until February 2011.

The 67-year-old former Roma player was welcomed back to the Stadio Olimpico with a banner reading "Good luck Mister Ranieri".

"I thank the fans, as they gave us a big hand this evening," said Ranieri.                 

UAE punished for shoe, bottle barrage

AFP

The United Arab Emirates were fined $150,000 and ordered to play a match behind closed doors after home fans pelted Qatar players with shoes and bottles in ugly scenes during an Asian Cup semifinal defeat.

The tournament hosts were punished following January's combustible 4-0 loss in Abu Dhabi, when plastic water bottles and footwear -- a traditional insult -- were hurled at the Qataris, the eventual Asian Cup champions.

The Asian Football Confederation's disciplinary and ethics committee handed out the sanctions for infringements related to spectator conduct and match organisation.

Along with the fine, the UAE were told to their play next home qualifier for the 2023 Asian Cup "without spectators" in an empty stadium, a statement said late on Monday.           

Silva charged with improper conduct

AFP

Everton manager Marco Silva was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on Monday following his rant at referee Lee Mason and his assistants.

Silva stormed onto the pitch to confront Mason and his fellow officials after Everton blew a two-goal lead in their 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday.

He was strongly critical of the officials when he spoke to the media after the match, insisting that two of Newcastle's goals were clearly offside.

The former Watford boss has been charged with a breach of rule E3 and has been given until Thursday evening to respond to the charge.