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FOOTBALL

Swedes edge win over Slovenia

Tobias Linderoth's first goal in more than seven years for Sweden saw the Euro 2008 finalists beat Slovenia 1-0 in a warm-up match for the finals on Monday though, worryingly, star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sat out the match with his knee bandaged.

Linderoth, who was winning his 74th cap but his first since suffering a hip injury in November, scored the game’s only goal in the 41st minute to show coach Lars Lagerback that he is fit enough to make the final squad.

Linderoth seized on the ball and forced his way first past a Slovenian defender and then shot it fiercely past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

Slovenia dominated the match in the second half and had at least two good chances to equalize – in particular when the ball hit the arm of Swedish midfielder Daniel Andersson in the 70th minute but referee William Collum chose not to award a penalty kick – but the team remained goalless.

Ibrahimovic, who recently helped inspire Inter Milan to a third successive Serie A title and is expected to be one of Sweden’s top stars at Euro, sat on the bench with his knee bandaged after a tendon injury diagnosed in February.

RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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