UEFA Cup draw

MONTE CARLO: Ajax will face Dinamo Zagreb in the first round of the UEFA Cup after again failing to qualify for the Champions League. In other matchups, Bayern Munich plays Portuguese side Belenenses, Tottenham takes on Anorthosis of Cyprus and Anderlecht faces Rapid Vienna. A total of 80 clubs were in Friday’s draw, with the two-legged matches played between September 20 and October 4. The winners of the 40 matches will enter the draw for the group stage, to be made on October 9 in Nyon. — AP

Beckham out

LOS ANGELES: David Beckham could miss the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s season after being diagnosed with a sprained right knee on Thursday. Beckham, 32, was injured in a tackle with Pachuca midfielder Fernando Salazar in the first half of Wednesday night’s North American SuperLiga title match. Beckham’s latest injury also means he won’t be joining England’s national team. He had planned to fly to London on Sunday for 10 days with the team as it prepares to play Israel and Russia in two Euro 2008 qualifying games. — AP

FIFA intervenes

GENEVA: FIFA wants soccer players to undergo regular health assessments in a bid to reduce deaths due to cardiac arrest. The call came two days after Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta died following his collapse on the field during a Spanish league on Saturday. FIFA implemented such a policy for the 2006 World Cup and now wants it extended to all leagues and other competitions. — AP

Atletico sign Motta

MADRID: Atletico Madrid signed midfielder Thiago Motta from FC Barcelona to a one-year contract on Friday. Motta’s arrival continues Atletico’s rebuilding since last season. The club has made nine signings, including Jose Antonio Reyes from Arsenal, Simao Sabrosa from Benfica and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan from Villarreal. — AP