FOOTBALL DIGEST

THE baseball boss who inspired the Hollywood film Moneyball is in a consortium who have taken control of Barnsley. Former Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane pioneered computer-generated analysis for player recruitment and tactics. Chinese billionaire Chien Lee is also in the consortium. Barnsley, who are 20th in the Championship, four points above the relegation zone, were owned for 13 years by Patrick Cryne, who now has terminal cancer. WATFORD captain Troy Deeney has been banned for four games after losing an appeal against being sent off in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Huddersfield. The striker, 29, was dismissed for a lunge on Collin Quaner. He will miss games against Brighton, Leicester, Swansea and Manchester City. It was Watford’s fourth red card of the season. ATLETICO MADRID have complained to FIFA over an alleged illegal approach by Barcelona for striker Antoine Griezmann. Atletico claim Barcelona have spoken to people around Griezmann, including family members. The France forward, 26, signed a four-year contract at Atletico earlier this year.