BRIEFS

UEFA accepts Barcelona, AC Milan's overseas plan

NYON, Switzerland:

Tradition-busting plans for Barcelona to play a league game in Miami and AC Milan to feature in Australia should now go ahead after UEFA said yesterday it would exceptionally and reluctantly not oppose them.

Amid fierce opposition from fan groups across the continent, consent from European soccer body UEFA was a key step for La Liga's plan to stage Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami on December 20 and AC Milan vs Como in Perth in February.

UEFA blamed a lack of clear rules from world soccer body FIFA to block the proposed games, which many fans see as a threat to cut teams' ties to their home communities.

"While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.

UEFA said it will "actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities."

-AP

Rodri out of Spain squad

MADRID, Spain:

Midfielder Rodri has been dropped from Spain's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying games because of an injury sustained when playing for Manchester City in the English Premier League this weekend.

Spain said yesterday that Rodri will not play against Georgia and Bulgaria during the international break. The Spanish soccer federation said it made the decision after receiving the results of medical tests conducted by Man City.

Spain is already missing young Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal because of a groin ailment.

Rodri was forced off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half of Man City's 1-0 win at Brentford on Sunday, the latest injury blow to hit last year's Ballon d'Or winner.

Rodri said after the game he "felt a little bit in the hamstring but it seems like it's not that much".

"I stretched the leg a little bit, a bit like in the Euros final. I stretched a little bit but it's part of the process," he said. "I don't feel that I feel tired muscle-wise, I feel fresh but the most important thing is it's not that big."

Rodri said "the good thing is the break so it will be even better in this sense to recover these days and hopefully I can be in the next game."