Stoitchkov Is Given a Two-Game Ban

Washington D.C. United forward Hristo Stoitchkov was banned for two games and fined $2,000 by Major League Soccer on Wednesday after his clumsy and unnecessarily harsh tackle broke the leg of a college freshman during a scrimmage last month.

The player, 19-year-old American University midfielder Freddy Angel Llerena-Aspiazu, suffered a compound fracture in his right leg in the March 26 incident.

The league’s disciplinary committee investigated the matter and its report concluded that Stoitchkov, 37, deserved some form of punishment even though the former Bulgarian World Cup standout was in tears afterward and apologized profusely, saying no harm was intended.

“The committee is of the opinion that Stoitchkov did not have to challenge with the amount of force used or with his cleats up,” the report stated.

“Given the nature of the challenge, albeit on the ball, with cleats exposed, and particularly given the serious injuries resulting from the challenge, the committee feels that punishment beyond that dictated by a normal red-card offense is warranted.”

Stoitchkov offered another apology on Wednesday.

“I accept the decision of the league,” he said in a statement released by D.C. United. “I deeply regret that Freddy was injured on the play and a I wish him well in his recovery.”

America Tops Chivas

Goals by Carlos Infante one minute before halftime and Hugo Castillo in the 68th minute gave Club America of Mexico a 2-0 victory over Chivas of Guadalajara on Wednesday night in front of 38,713 at the Coliseum.

Chivas had to play the final hour of the exhibition a man down after U.S referee Brian Hall ejected Johnny Garcia for dangerous play -- a high kick to the head of Club America’s Garcia Arias.

Champions League

Italy’s Christian Vieri and Argentina’s Javier Saviola were the headliners Wednesday as Inter Milan and Barcelona both moved a step closer to the European Champions League semifinals.

Vieri, Europe’s leading scorer this season with 26 goals in all competitions, scored on a trademark header in the 14th minute and Inter Milan held on to defeat Valencia, 1-0, in Milan.

“I am not completely satisfied with the display but we won and that is what counts,” said Inter Coach Hector Cuper.

In Turin, meanwhile, Juventus appeared headed for a similarly narrow victory after Paolo Montero had given it the lead 16 minutes into the quarterfinal when he knocked in the rebound of a Alessandro Del Piero overhead kick that had been blocked by Barcelona goalkeeper Roberto Bonano.

But Barcelona, unbeaten in its 14 Champions League this season, claimed a potentially vital away goal in the 78th minute when Saviola scored on a shot that deflected off Montero to beat Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

“Despite their goal I don’t think that it will be that easy for Barcelona to beat Juventus [in the next game], even in front of 100,000 fans,” said Juventus Coach Marcello Lippi.

The second legs of the two-game series will be played April 22.

Merge Ahead

The soccer leagues of Austria and Switzerland are exploring the possibility of merging to form what they call an Alpine League that would presumably be a better draw than the current two national leagues. “We’re putting feelers out, to see how it might work,” Austrian league spokesman Christian Kircher told Reuters.

The countries will co-host the European Championship in 2008.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.