BELGRADE — The Serbian Football Association has suspended Under-21 national team players Ognjen Mudrinski and Nikola Ninkovic for a year for their involvement in a brawl with England rivals during a Euro 2013 qualifier. England won the match on Oct. 16 1-0 after scoring with the last kick of the game and fighting broke out between players and officials immediately following the final whistle. “Having reviewed the television footage of the incidents, the FSS disciplinary committee decided to ban Ninkovic and Mudrinski from playing for Serbia at any level for a period of one year,” the Balkan country's soccer governing body (FSS) said Thursday. “Also, staff members Srdjan Maksimovic and Andreja Milutinovic have been banned from their coaching duties at any level for Serbia for two years. All four have violated the FSS ethics and fair-play code.” England Under-21 left back Danny Rose has complained he was racially abused by Serbia fans before, during and after the game. Ivorians draw Algeria, Tunisia in Africa Cup Title favorite Ivory Coast got a double dose of North African opposition in Tunisia and Algeria when the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations draw was made here Wednesday. Emmanuel Adebayor-inspired Togo complete Group D, which will be based in the north-western mining town of Rustenburg where England were based during the 2010 World Cup. Host South Africa kicks off the tournament on Jan. 19 against shock qualifiers Cape Verde Islands and Angola and Morocco complete Group A with most of the action set for Indian Ocean city Durban. Defending champion Zambia comes up against Nigeria, back after missing the 2012 Finals, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in Group C based in the north-eastern city of Nelspruit near the world famous Kruger National Park. Ghana and Mali, who clashed twice during the 2012 tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, renew a long rivalry in Port Elizabeth-based Group B with Niger and Democratic of Congo completing the line-up. Ivory Coast midfielder Max Gradel believes the experience of striker and captain Didier Drogba and other senior players could prove crucial when the tournament returns to South Africa after 17 years. “There are a lot of wise old heads in the team, including Kolo and Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora and Kader Keita. You can always count on them and their advice is invaluable. “I have been following the career of Didier (Drogba) since I was a little boy, watching him play when he was still at Guingamp. Playing alongside him in the national team is a dream come true for me.” The 24-year-old who joined French Ligue 1 outfit Saint-Etienne from English second-tier club Leeds United also heaped praise on Sabri Lamouchi, a surprise choice as coach after the contract of Francois Zahoui was not renewed this year. — Agencies
