Porto quartet face bans for holiday breach

EUROPEAN champions FC Porto will suspend four of their Brazilian players, including teenage playmaker Diego, after they failed to return on time from their Christmas holiday.

Diego, along with striker Derlei, defender Pepe and winger Maciel, were banned from training with the rest of the squad yesterday.

The four were due back at club headquarters on Friday but Diego, Pepe and Derlei only showed up at training yesterday while Maciel, whose brother has reportedly been shot in Brazil, has not returned.