Roundup-Union chief calls for referee exclusion zone

LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Soccer news in brief from around the world: * English players' union (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor has called for the introduction of an exclusion zone around referees following recent incidents of player dissent.

"I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area," Taylor told BBC radio after Liverpool's Javier Mascherano was sent off on Sunday for harrowing referee Steve Bennett over his decisions.

"It is time managers and players did accept a responsibility ...It is the bad points that get highlighted and the game has to be very much aware and do all it can to eradicate it."

• Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has pulled out of Argentina's friendly against African champions Egypt in Cairo on Wednesday because of a leg injury, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said.

Cambiasso, who missed Inter's Serie A defeat by Juventus on Saturday, is nursing a muscle injury in his left leg, the AFA said on its Web site (www.afa.org.ar).

• Mali striker Frederic Kanoute will miss out on his team's friendly against a France B side in Paris on Tuesday after opting to remain with his club Sevilla to receive treatment for calf and heel pain, the Primera Liga side said on their Web site (www.sevillafc.es).

• Sevilla midfielder Enzo Maresca has apologised for headbutting Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero during his side's 2-1 defeat at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

"I apologised to the player after the match and I want to apologise to my team, the club, the fans and to everyone who saw the match as it was an ugly gesture," the Italian told a news conference.

• Barcelona forward Ronaldinho missed out on training again on Monday to continue his individual programme to deal with a leg injury that has kept him out of the side at the weekend.

Mexican international Rafael Marquez reappeared after a month out with an injury to his right foot, the club said on its Web site (www.fcbarcelona.com)

• Valencia president Agustin Morera has said he wants the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to change the venue of the King's Cup final against Getafe on April 16 from Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium to the Bernabeu.

"We want the maximum number of tickets to satisfy the demand from our fans and we will try and get them to change the game to the Santiago Bernabeu," Morera was quoted as saying by sports daily Marca.

(Editing by Padraic Halpin)