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• Desailly calls on LaLiga to do more to protect Vinicius Junior

  Marcel Desailly has called on LaLiga to do more to protect Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and other players who have been targeted by racist abuse.

  Vinicius broke down at a press conference earlier this month as he opened up about the abuse he has received from the stands while representing Madrid.

  The Brazil international is not alone in that regard, with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni another example, and World Cup winner Desailly wants more to be done.

  "Vinicius has spoken out, but it's not about him - it's about LaLiga and the people who can take action," he told Stats Perform.

  "We have the power to change things, but we are not doing enough. Samuel Eto'o had the same issue before.

  "Vinicius is one of those who is suffering because the administrative people in charge are not willing to hit harder than they are."

  Vinicius has been a key player for LaLiga champions-elect Madrid once again this season with 13 goals and five assists in 23 outings.

  Desailly regards Vinicius, who scored the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final, as one of the finest players of his generation.

  "He's a very ambitious player," Desailly said. "I think he's improved a lot because he is now clinical in assisting and finishing.

  "When you look at someone like Ousmane Dembele, his stats are not as good.

  "Then you look at Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, another who has improved - there is potential for each of those to get close to Vinicius."

• England and Saracens number eight Vunipola fined after arrest in Mallorca

  England international Billy Vunipola has confirmed he has been fined after an incident which saw him arrested in Mallorca on Sunday, with his club Saracens set to launch an internal investigation. 

  On Monday, widespread reports claimed Vunipola had been tasered by Spanish police in the early hours of Sunday morning, with an altercation taking place after he left a club in Palma.

  Saracens later confirmed they were aware of an incident and said they would deal with it internally.

  The number eight, who was born in Australia but has represented England 75 times, later released a statement of his own via his club, denying that any violence took place and confirming the police investigation was now closed.

  "I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Mallorca on Sunday, which got out of hand," that statement read. 

  "Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else.

  "I was charged with resisting the law and, following an 'express trial', I have paid a fine of €240. The Spanish police investigation is now closed, and I am flying back to the UK today.

  "I will obviously cooperate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved."

• Fraser Brown ‘hugely proud’ of Scotland career as he announces rugby retirement

  Fraser Brown declared himself “hugely proud” of his Scotland career as he announced his retirement from professional rugby.

  The 34-year-old Glasgow hooker has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the World XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham last May and he has now conceded defeat in his bid to return to action.

  Brown won 61 Scotland caps, with the first of them coming against Italy in 2013 and the last in the Six Nations match at home to Ireland in 2023, the same game incidentally in which Stuart Hogg won his final cap. The front-rower went to both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

  “When you have a serious injury like I did with an ACL at the end of your career, it is always going to be hard to come back from,” Brown told Scottish Rugby.

  “That probably made it a little easier to announce my retirement but it’s still a surreal and strange feeling.

  “I’m hugely proud to have played so many times for Scotland during my career. To get one cap was great, but then my second one came against the All Blacks at Murrayfield which was such a special occasion.

  “To reach 50 caps was a big moment as I had to deal with a lot of injuries throughout my career and to be part of the growth process of the team which has resulted in where they are now has been cool.”

  At club level, Brown made 141 appearances for Glasgow after joining from Edinburgh in 2011.

  The hooker helped them win the Guinness Pro12 in 2015 with victory over Munster in the final in Belfast, while his last appearance for Warriors proved to be last season’s Challenge Cup final defeat by Toulon in Dublin.

  Glasgow head coach Franco Smith paid tribute to Brown, saying: “Fraser is the epitome of a modern professional and someone who should serve as a role model to any young player starting their journey.

  “The respect with which he is held, not only within the Glasgow Warriors community but within the wider rugby family, should serve to underline the achievements he has earned throughout his career and the manner in which he has achieved them.

  “His work ethic and determination to bring the best out of the people and players around him has been clear to all throughout his career.

  “I wish him the very best for whatever comes next and I know he will apply that same work ethic and determination that made him one of this club’s most distinguished Warriors.”

  Brown becomes the second experienced Scotland front-rower to announce his retirement in the space of a month after Edinburgh prop WP Nel recently revealed he would be hanging his boots up at the end of this season.