Soccer Capsules: Beckham preparing for official AC Milan debut

ROME - David Beckham could make his Serie A debut for AC Milan in Sunday's match at AS Roma, although the former England captain may have to settle for a substitute's role.

Beckham called the match "very emotional for me, whether I play or not."

He began his three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy by playing the first half of an exhibition game against Hamburg in Dubai on Tuesday.

"He's still not in form, but his contribution could be useful," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "He has dynamism, tactical intelligence and skill. He plays for the team and is always involved."

Against Hamburg, Beckham played in a largely defensive role in midfield and provided a steady performance before being replaced by Mathieu Flamini.

Teammates commended him for his unselfishness.

"You could see that he wants to play and win with us," Ronaldinho said. "Simplicity is his best weapon, and with desire you can accomplish a great deal. Milan is not a team of galacticos, it's a team with a lot of great players that know how to sacrifice themselves."

With midfielder Gennaro Gattuso out for six months following knee surgery, Beckham may have to adapt to a more defensive role. Milan is also still missing defender Alessandro Nesta, who is in Miami for medical care on his aching back.

Milan has extended its stay in Dubai due to snowy weather throughout much of Italy. The club was to fly directly to Rome on Friday to prepare for the match with the Giallorossi.

Roma captain Francesco Totti injured his right thigh in the club's last match before the three-week holiday break and is out for up to two months. Another Roma forward, Julio Baptista, left an exhibition game Wednesday with a bruised knee.

Cristiano Ronaldo unhurt in car crash

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo escaped injury Thursday after crashing his sports car in a tunnel on the way to training.

The Portugal winger's Ferrari collided with a roadside barrier in a two-lane tunnel near Manchester Airport, police said.

At the scene, the 23-year-old European player of the year gave a negative breath test to officers, who said there will be an investigation of the crash.

"He's fine and is training as normal with the team this morning," Manchester United said.

Photographs showed the front of the red car completely crushed after absorbing the impact of the crash. Metal debris, including the front left wheel, was scattered across the road.

No other vehicles were involved, although United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was traveling behind Ronaldo at the time.

On Wednesday night, Ronaldo came off the bench in a 1-0 loss at Derby County in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals.

Ex-Juventus exec Moggi gets suspended sentence

ROME - Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi received an 18-month suspended jail sentence Thursday for illegal activity involving the now-defunct player agency GEA, local news agencies reported.

Moggi, the central figure in the Italian match-fixing scandal, allegedly influenced player moves involving GEA, which was run by his son, Alessandro Moggi.

Alessandro Moggi received a 14-month suspended sentence, the ANSA and Apcom news agencies reported.

Prosecutors were seeking a six-year sentence for Luciano Moggi and five years for his son. Sentences below two years are suspended in Italy.

Luciano Moggi was banned from soccer for five years by a sports court in 2006 for influencing the outcome of matches. He denies any wrongdoing.

GEA's former CEO Francesco Zavaglia and agent Davide Lippi, the son of Italy coach Marcello Lippi, were both cleared.

Luciano Moggi also has been ordered to stand trial on charges of sports fraud and criminal association in another case that begins Jan. 20 in Naples.