Madrid  - Veteran striker Frederic Kanoute told the Spanish media on Thursday afternoon how "delighted" he was to have extended his contract with Sevilla until 2012.

"Both parties wanted to reach an agreement as soon as possible," he said, "and that is why everything has been agreed so quickly. I am delighted to stay here. This demonstrates my commitment to Sevilla."

The new deal, agreed earlier on Thursday, means that Kanoute will be a Sevilla player until the age of 34, although he insisted that "I am not sure about retiring at that age."

Madrid  - Striker Frederic Kanoute hit a handsome hat-trick on Saturday, in Sevilla's 4-1 thrashing of hapless Valladolid.

The comfortable win consolidates Sevilla in third place in La Liga, six points ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal, who beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 earlier on Saturday.

Kanoute is in the best form of his career, at the ripe old age of 31. He started the rout after just eight minutes by turning in a centre from Koffi Romaric.

Henok Goitom made it 1-1 for Valladolid in the 22nd minute by heading in a free-kick from Fabian Canobbio.

Madrid - The disciplinary committee of the Spanish football federation announced on Friday evening a fine of 3,000 euros (4,093 dollars) on veteran Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute for displaying a shirt in support of the Palestinian cause.

Kanoute - a French-born Muslim who plays for the Mali national team - showed the shirt after scoring for Sevilla in Wednesday's 2-1 King's Cup defeat of Deportivo Coruna.

The committee believes that he has contravened Article 137c of the federation's regulations, which forbids political and religious messages by players on the field.