Football news in brief: Villa breaks leg | Reid banned for one match | Scotland to play Slovenia friendly | Junior Cup draw

The latest football news in brief...

Barcelona forward David Villa suffers leg break

STRIKER David Villa will be out for up to five months after breaking his left leg in Barcelona’s 4-0 Club World Cup semi-final victory over Al Sadd of Qatar in Yokohama yesterday.

“David has fractured his leg and will return to Barcelona for an operation as soon as possible,” said Barça coach Pep Guardiola after the European champions set up a Sunday final against Brazil’s Santos. “We are all very sad for him. He’s a charming personality and it’s a massive blow for the team.”

Villa, Spain’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals in 81 appearances, fell awkwardly in the first half and immediately signalled to the bench before being rushed to a local hospital.

Despite the loss of Villa, Barça were in complete control. A first-half double from Adriano was followed by goals from Seydou Keita and Maxwell.

Billy Reid’s past behaviour works in his favour

HAMILTON manager Billy Reid’s clean record from nearly a decade of management helped him receive just a suspended one-match touchline ban yesterday.

The Accies manager was sent to the stand by referee Stevie O’Reilly in the closing stages of his side’s 3-2 defeat to Raith Rovers on 26 November.

With no “offer” of a censure being made by the SFA’s compliance officer following analysis of the officials’ reports, the 48-year-old appeared personally before the governing body’s judicial panel yesterday to have his case considered. New Douglas Park secretary Scott Struthers also presented evidence and a plea in mitigation, which centred on Reid’s past behaviour in the dugout. Reid said: “I was pleased to present my case to the members and thank them for a very fair hearing.”

Slovenia to host friendly with Scotland

SCOTLAND will face Slovenia in February in a stadium with a capacity of less than 5,000.

The Slovenian FA have confirmed that the 29 February friendly – which will help Scotland prepare for their World Cup qualifiers, will be played at the Bonifika Stadium in Koper, with a capacity of 4,221. The venue has been chosen largely because the climate is more favourable than in the capital Ljubljana.

Emirates Junior Cup Fourth Round draw made

Kelty Hearts/Camelon v Whitburn/Glentanar; Kilwinning/Blantyre v Glenafton; Larkhall v Bellshill/Greenock; Musselburgh v Auchinleck; Pollock v Lochee United; St Andrews v Cumnock; Carluke v Dunipace/Irvine Meadow; Dundee Violet v Whitletts/Ashfield; Largs v Arniston; Armadale/Kilysyth v Arthurlie; Neilston/Sauchie v Bo’ness United; Cambuslang/Dundee East Craigie v Shotts/Annbank; Kilbirnie/RAF Lossiemouth v Troon; Bonnyrigg Rose v Maybole; Girvan/Broxburn v St Roch; Lanark v Kinnoull. Ties all 21 January, 1:45pm kick off.