The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 43

I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 DAILY TELEGRAPH Thursday, August 18, 2005 sport.telegraph.co.uk S3 THE sportthursday INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL Eriksson's mask slips as England fall apart By Tim Rich in Copenhagen IN HIS four years as England manager. Sven-Goran Eriksson has made a habit of defending his players against nearly every charge that has been brought against them. Last night. in the rubble of the most shambolic display England have produced under him and in the face of the heaviest defeat the national side has suffered in a quarter of a century. that reserve dissolved into anger.

"I am not going to try to defend this." he said. not mentioning David James by name. "I am angry and disappointed. I can't defend the way we played football in the second half. We can talk about individual mistakes but you have to talk about collective mistakes.

too. I will take responsibility as a coach and as a coach you should expect to be criticised." Not since May 1980 in Wrexham when Ron Greenwood was the manager and Ray Clemence the goalkeeper. has there been a defeat like it. Before the match. David Beckham had compared the England side he captained to the cricketers led by Michael Vaughan which had seen about 10.000 locked out of the intensely emotional final day at Old Trafford.

An impressive 5.000 football fans had travelled to Copenhagen and last night most were clamouring to be let out before the final whistle. When the teams walked off. the fury in the emptying stands was obvious. "I can only apologise to them." Eriksson reflected. "I am sorry for them and I understand why they are embarrassed." The saving grace is that.

competitively. Eriksson's England are still a formidable force. However. in friendlies. ambitious claims at press conferences have been followed by performances that are either dull or SPORT IN BRIEF Badminton WORLD CH'SHIPS 1st rd: Koch Austria Evanstreland 15-12 15 7 Lewis Wales bt Dednam 'S Africa 6'5152 13 A Ghaft SE bt Anguianc Guatemala: 156 151.

2nd rd: Chong Wei Lee (Malavsia bt Lewis 15- 15:4 Women's singles 2nd rd: Hallam Enganc 5t A Rice Canada: 13:10 11-3 Doubles, Men, 1st rd: A Pohar Sepec Slovenia bt Neil Turnbulis Scotland 15 10- 15 '5-0: Wa Liu A Susanto Njotos -o 00 Kong, bt Trueman Palethorpe GB: 15-6 15-4 Fairuzizi Mohd Tazari Woon Fui Lins (Malaysia) bt Archer A Clark 15 7 5:15 '5 12. Women, n. 2nd rd: Emms Kellogg GB, bt D- A Arunkesorn Worawichitcharkuts (Thailand: 15-3. 15-7 Parker Rayappan (GB bt Lee Mangkalakin US, 15-1 15-6. Pek Siah Lim Hooi Yee Chor Malaysia bt Trip Wright GB) 15-12 3-15 156.

Hallam Natalie Munt GB) bt Bellingham Hindle, New Zealand) 15-5 156. Mixed, 1st rd: A Bowman Mcewan-Miller (Scotland) bt Smith Farrell Ireland 15:3 15 2. Kien Keat Koo Pei Tty Wong Malaysia at Roebuck Parker GB 15:4 15-5 2nd rd: A Clark Kellogg England ot A Susanto Nioto Mu: Lind 15:4 0 15 15 3 Blair Munt England bt Bor Malaythong Mangkalkin US: 156 Baseball MAJOR LEAGUE: Cleveland 8 Texas 2 Boston Detroit 7 10 innings -Tampa Bay 4 NV Yankees 3 11 innings -Seattle 4 Kansas City 3: Toronto 4 LA Angels 3- Baltimore 4 Oakland 3- Minnesota 9 Chi White Sox 4 16 Innings NY Mets 6 Pittsburgh 2 San Diego 4 Fiorida 2- San Francisco 10 Cincinnat 8 Chicago Cubs 4 Houston: 1-LA Dodgers 6 Atlanta 4- St Louis 8 Anzona 2- Milwaukee 6 Colorado 4- Washington at Philadelphia Bowls NATIONAL EXPRESS ENGLISH CH'SHIPS (Worthing) finals: Seymour, Faulkner, Leake, Ward Ringwood bt 3 Torrington, Greaseley Wade, A irons (Biaby: 20-17: Hall, Edney, I Snowdon, Stradling (Hagbourne) bt Godman, Kirk. Levitt. Tompkins (Stony Stratford) 23-5.

Final: Hagbourne bt Ringwood 18-17 rd: Essex County A Lyons: bt Hagbourne (A Bowler: 23-7: Shaldon (N Pook bt Eastnor (P Merredy) 23-16; Kidlington (L Lewis bt Boscombe Cliff (J Haines: 16 15, Earty 1st rd: Trent Vale (K Morley: bt Caer Glow ID Brown 22-19 Sileby (J Keogh) bt Ventnor Ashpole: 33-7. WELSH CH'SHIPS Llandrindod Wells. 1st rd: Roberts Carpenter Saundersfoot bt Hayden Harris RTB Ebbw Vale: 23-18: Jones A Fleming Machynlleth bt Edwards Axon (Penylan) 25- 13; Thomas Pontrhydyten: bt Jones Stephens Wells) 23-18: Harries Davies Carmarthen) bt Thomas Lloyd (Tick Tock: 24-15: A Thomas Horgan Barry Athletic: bt Morris Thomas (Cardigan) 39-5: Lewis Hookings (Caerau Welfare) bt Jacob A Williams 24-11: Harris Hughes Ferndale) bt I Henderson Selway Caerphilly Town: 21-20: Jonathan Price bt Jenkins Burgon Brynhyfryd) 22: 18. -finals: Roberts Carpenter bt Jones Fieming 26- 10: Thomas Thomas bt Harries Davies 22-17: Thomas Horgan bt Lewis Hookings 24-8: Jonathan Price bt Harns Hughes 21:4. Cricket SECOND XI CH' -Hove Day 2 of 31.

Sussex 525-7 dec (K Singh 133.. Wright 97 NRK Turk 96) 155-2 (L Wright 68no. Ambrose 50no) Yorkshire 368-3 der Tavior 201no. A Gale 96). Guildford (Day 1 of 31: Surrey 403 AJ Hodd 97.

CP Murtagh 80, RS Clinton 61). Essex 13-4. Derbyshire Nottinghamshire. Denby (Day 1 of 3) Notts 579-8 (A Singh 168. Smith 134 Warren 106, Clough 731.

Cycling TOUR OF GERMANY. -3rd stage (227.3km Bodernais to Ufstein): 1 Bennati (Italy) Shrs 12mins 04secs. 2 Pozzato (Italy), 3 Siedler (Germany), 4 Paglianni (Brasil), 5 Cooke (Australia), 6 Hammond (GB) all same time. Overall: 1 Tankink (Holland) 14h 04m 53s, 2 Pozzato (Italy) at 7 sec. 3 Jaksche (Germany: 17.

Football FIFA WORLD RANKINGS: 1, Brazil 837 pts; 2, Argentina 782: 3, Holland 780; 4, Czech Rep 777:5, Mexico 770; 6, US 768; 7. England 743; 8, Spain 739, 9. France 737: 10, Portugal 737. Golf BURHILL FAMILY rd: Benford (Barton-on-Sea) bt Tullis (Sunningdale) A Todd (Royal Ashdown Forest) bit Hiscocks (Banstead Downs) 1up; Taylorson (Burhill) bt Brooks (Royalmid-Surrey) L. McLaughlin (Knole Park) bt Sherwood (Moor Park) Tucker (Sudbrook Park) 3rd rd: Todd Todd bt Benford Benford (Bartonon- Sea) Bristow (Ashford) bt Mutch (Pyrford) at the 19th; A Creasy (Pinner Arla Bleak outlook: Sven-Goran Defiant ALAN SMITH FOR any player.

there are times when it is best to watch from the sidelines. Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe certainly would not have minded sitting out the disastrous second half at the Parken Stadium. He was one of very few players whose reputation did not suffer last night. though he had been gently reprimanded before a ball had been kicked. Defoe admitted to being taken by surprise when England's coach FA (right) and his staff watch England's Defoe escapes Sven-Goran Eriksson recently said that.

if there was one area for improvement. the diminutive forward needed to get involved more in the build-up to attacks rather than simply hanging about for a goalscoring chance. Not exactly a rollicking. constructive criticism more like. but unusual nonetheless.

Defoe countered that. according to Martin Jol. his manager at Spurs. he boasted the best passing ratio of anyone at White Hart Lane. He must be getting, involved.

It's there in black and white. You couldn't fail to detect the soft note of defiance. But whatever the relationship between Eriksson and Defoe. the situation remains the same. Despite the disturbing events in the Parken Stadium.

the Londoner Arla must rethink discipline stance FOOTBALL NEWS By Christopher Davies THE Football Association are to review their disciplinary procedures after Fifa wrote to them in the wake of the decision by referee Steve Bennett to downgrade Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas' red card at Arsenal on Sunday for a tackle on Gilberto. As revealed exclusively in The Daily Telegraph yesterday. Fifa are unhappy that the FA do not adhere to the disciplinary code of world football's governing body which states that any player dismissed is automatically suspended from the next game. There have been discussions between the FA and Fifa in recent years over Soho Square's policy of allowing referees to change their decision after reviewing the video. Players are also able to make a claim for wrongful dismissal for a straight red card offence even if the referee stands by his initial decision.

A further frustration for match officials is that cases are decided by a disciplinary commission Stadium Ricoh Arena will host Sky Blues for the first time on Saturday, writes Lee Corden THE north of Coventry may not seem like the promised land but it could offer financial salvation to the city's football club. Coventry City have been one of the victims of Premiership overspending and it has taken them closer to the financial brink than most. As recently as the late Nineties they were a solid Premiership side with players like Robbie Keane, Gary McAllister, Mustapha Hadji and George Boateng. Relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season, however, threatened the club's very existence. This summer manager Micky Adams' DONG Arla 8 shambolic display.

"I can only apologise to the the England coach said afterwards with reputation intact retains his position as first-choice reserve should Michael Owen become unavailable. hence his starting place in this friendly debacle. Suspended for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Wales. Owen's understudy stepped forward to try to find his bearings. That didn't prove easy either in a stuttering opening spell for the team as a whole.

One or two linkups with Wayne Rooney. that irrepressible marvel now indispensable to the side. looked initially promising before careless passing disrupted the move. Then what turned out to be the best chance of the first half came Defoe's way. Latching on to a cutback from Steven Gerrard.

the forward swung his right leg but failed to connect properly and hit his shot into the ground. Even so. the ball was still heading tor the top corner until Thomas Sorensen spectacularly clawed it away. The spurned opportunity would have left him feeling mitted. Did he snatch at the chance.

only too aware of the need to impress? Were his England frustrations preventing him trem relaxing properly? You couldn't blame him. He knew he had only 45 minutes to catch Eriksson's eve before being replaced by the man in possession an agreement. no doubt. between club and country. even it more time next to Rooney would have helped understanding.

Mind you. he was probably glad to be out of it after the break as Denmark poured forward to royally embarrass England. Chances up the other end became tow and tar between. Owen hardly got a snit in a totally one sided contest. For Enksson.

meanwhile. there were tar more pressing matters arising 111 the Parken Stadium than wondering about his next torward line. A severe blow to England's contidence would have concerned him the most. Preparation for the Wales match could not have gone worse. Searching tor positives tadmittedly not easy.

maste the players Sell a ditterent side to their manager as they trooped back into the dressing room: a man letting his emotions run tree. human atter all. Enksson's stock might even rise among a tight group that know they just didn't pertorm. Detoe won't be the only one hoping tor better in Carditt. Carvalho breaks ranks to berate Mourinho By Christopher Davies and Rob Stewart THE first serious cracks in the team spirit Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes has been so important to the club's success appeared when Ricardo Carvalho launched a stinging attack on his fellow Portuguese after being left out of the Premiership opener at Wigan.

Mourinho's management will be tested to its limits as he tries to keep everyone happy in the most expensively assembled squad ever. the arrival of Michael Essien from Lyons adding to the competition for places. Mourinho chose John and William Gallas in the centre of detence and Carvalho. who usually played alongside the Chelsea captain last season. felt it was "incomprehensible" that he had slipped to third choice centre-back.

The £19.85 million signing from FC Porto last year said: "I want to know why I didn't play. How can I explain when I don't understand it? Sincerely, I gave a lot of thought and time to myself but cannot find a valid explanation. It's totally incomprehensible." guru works his spending has amounted to just £20.000. spent on signing defender Matt Heath from Leicester City. But on Saturday.

the journeymen and youngsters who Adams has put together to make up the Coventry team will run out to new very new surroundings: the £113 million. 32.500-capactiy Ricoh Arena. Highfield Road has been sold for housing and the club will be a tenant at the new ground. which is owned by the local council and a charitable trust. The man behind the Ricoh Arena is Paul Fletcher, who made his name as a striker with Bolton Wanderers and Burnley in the Seventies.

Fletcher moved into the commercial side of the game when his career was ended by injury and the Ricoh Arena is the third new ground he has helped develop. He was chief executive at Huddersfield Town in the ONG incompetent. This was a simple humiliation delivered by a Denmark side who are unlikely to qualify for the World Cup. Eriksson gave a weak laugh when told of the Danish manager Morten Olsen's comments that this defeat might just be the kind of jolt England required before marching into the intense emotions of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. "If we play football like did in the second half.

then we eve won't even qualify for the World Cup." he said through the thinnest of smiles. "You can find very, very little positive to say about this. I should have liked to win 4-1 rather than losing 4-1 before we play Wales but I know it will be impossible to play as badly as we did in the second half. "Confidence cannot be better because of this but I can promise you that this was a surprise for me as well as the fans. In the first half we used exactly the tactics we had prepared and in the second half we did nothing of that." Asked if there would be radical changes before next month's World Cup qualifier.

Eriksson remarked: "If we talk about the second half there will be 11 changes. if you are talking about the first half then no." It seems clear that some of those leaving Copenhagen will not be playing for England again in a hurry. the relaxed mood before the game Eriksson joked that he only lost his temper at home and he confessed that it was not a habit he broke in the dressing room after the debacle. "Losing temper or not. you to be very clear what you say.

If you lose your temper. you lose your brains. It was important to tell the squad that the second half was a disaster and tell them why and I will repeat that message in two weeks time." A SE Tenison at 2 'st Hewson South Winchester Mern, 4, 3: A Russell Buchili ot Mirams a H00g East Berks: 2up: Spokes Cochrane WebsR enamptor 4 2 Parrish Burnil: pt 3 Strong Saunders Dolton bt A Haves West fleet at the 9 Tottle Barton-on-Sea 5t 8 Pringle Royal Sup: Lines Royal Norwich bt 8 Raduffe 4, 3 Warren Candor Regis bt 3 5 Harvey West Surrey 3 2: Radcliffe Royal Mid-Surrey bt Watts Hoenndge at 19th: Richards bt A Burhill Kendall Winchester ST Cline Lilleybrook: A Rollins Berks bt Coase 8vfleet McLaughlin Knole Pk. pt Taylorson Burhill: BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKEPLAY CH'SHIP (Nair. -Leading 1st rd scores: Par 72 71-N Gergely Austriar: 72-H Macrae Scotland 73-S Gal Germany: Kenney Scotland 74- In- Switzerland, Diggle Toumpsin (Belgium Gillen Ireland A Laing Scotland: 75-C Gruber Scotland Delaney preland, Lee England, Queen Scotland.

A Rossi (Italy), Tucker ireland GOLF FOUNDATION WEETABIX AGE GROUP CH'SHIPS Forest of Arden. Boys U16: 135-0 Pearl Stoke by Navland 68.67: 136-A Chesters Hawkstone Pk. 67.69 140-A Best Cleveland 72.68 U15: 136-G Edwards Liarymynecr 70.66 140-M Leese Astbury 72.68: 141-A Geraghty Maxstone Pk: 69 72. U14: 136-T Lewis Mid Herts 67.69 144-T Fleetwood Seton Juniors 70.74: 147-T Blennerhassett (Dalmanoy 80.67 U13: 149-A Carson Long Ashton: 74 75. 150-C Brown Upavon 74 76: 151-S Rowe Shrewsbury 12,79.

Duke of York Trophy: Pearl. Girls. -U 16: 148-E Taylor Gainsborough 74. 74 151-M Lord Dartmouth: 77.74; 154-K Allen Bramshott Hill: 81,73. U15: 154-G Lewis Oswestry: 75.

79 155-R Wilson (Monifetn: 77 78: 158-E Priest Bromsgrove, 81, 77. U14: 148-N Gobey 76,72, 154-N Foster Dist: 75.79 156-G Kilby Warren 80,76. Duke of York Trophy. Taylor. Shooting NSRA ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Bisiev.Queen Alexandra Cup: 1.

Surrey 2370 2, Buckinghamshire 2368; 3. Suffolk 2349. Individual: 1. Ms Smallbone Sussex: 403: 2. 8 Woodall Shropshire, 401: 3.

Garnham Middlesex: 39g. Spooner Challenge Trophy: 1. Andover 1177 2. Ruislip 1169 3. Appleton 1166.

Corporation of City of London Cup: Maidenneac 147 2. Appleton 1145 3, Ruislip 1144. Davey Memorial Cup: Perkins 1133 2. Appleton 117 121: 3. Bedford Snooker NORTHERN IRELAND TROPHY Belfast.

1st rd: Allen (England ct Davis England 4-0, Robertson (Australia: bt McCulloch England: Speedway ELITE Arena Essex 49 ipswich 41 Peterborough 55 Swindor 41 Peterborough wir bonus pt: PREMIER Berwick 51 Stoke 39-king's Lynn 45 Glasgow 44-Hull 55 Workingtor 40. Tennis ATP T'MENT Cincinnati -1st rd: Acasuso (Argentina bt El Aynaour Morocco: 6-36-2. Robredo Spain bt Gaudio (Argentina) 2-6 6 3 6- 3. Safin Russia bt Hernych Czech Rep, 7-6 7:3 6-4 A Murray (GB) bt Dent (US: 76 7: 1, Soderling bt Belarus: 6:2 Hrbaty (Slovakia) bt Jonansson (Sweden 6- 1 7-5. Ginepri (US) bt Puerta Argentina) 76: 7-2 6-1, Ferrer bt Moodie SA 6-26-1.

Simon (France bt Spadea (US) 26 6-2 6-3. Moya (Spain) bt Malisse (Belgium: 6-4 6-4, Davydenko (Russia) bt Grosjean (France) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, P-H Mathieu France) bt Haas (Germany 6-3 26 6-1, Rusedski (GB) bt Tursunov (Russia) 4-6 7-5 6-4. Hewitt (Australia) bt Andreev (Russia) 6-3 6-4. Berdych (Czech Rep) bt Nadal (Spain) 6-7 (4- 7 6-2 76 (7-3). 2nd ra: 0 Rochus (Belgium) bt Santoro (France) 7-5 6-3; Monfils (France) bt Beck (Slovakia) 6-1 7-6; Gonzalez (Chile) bt Nalbandian (Argentina) 3-6 6- 1 6-2; Hewitt bt Rusedski 1-6 7-5 6-4: Federer (Switzerland) bt Kiefer (Germany) 4-6 6-4 6-4, Acasuso bt Robredo 7-6 (8-6) 6-2, Davydenko bt Mathieu 6-2 6-2: Youzhny (Russia) bt Berdych 4-6 76 (7-4) 76 (7-3); Safin bt Murray 6-4 6-1; I Chela (Argentina) bt Henman (GB) 6-4 6-4.

WTA ROGERS CUP 1st rd A Jidkova (Russia) bt Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-4 4-6 4-4 ret; A Serra- Zanetti (Italy) bt Dubois (Canada) 6-36-2 Pennetta (Italy) bt Antonia -Lorenzo (Spa) 6-4 7-5, A Ivanovic (Serbia Montenegro) bt Garbin (Italy) 6-2 76, Razzano (France) bt Ruano Pascual (Spa) 6-3 3 6 6-3, Fujiwara (Japan) bt Elena Camerin (Italy) 6-0 6- 3, Vaidisova (Czech) bt Perry (US) 6-3 5-2, Dechy (France) bt Zuluaga (Col) 6-2 6-4, Zheng (China) bt Emilia Salerni (Argentina) 6-3 6-4, Diaz-Oliva (Argentina) bt Linetskaya (Russia) 3-0 ret, Karatancheva (Bulgana) bt Craybas (US) 6-2 2-6 6-3, Na Li (China) bt Jankovic (Serbia) 6-4 5-7 6-2 Safina (Russia) bt Llagostera Vives (Spain) 6- 1 62, Martinez (Spain) bt A-L Groenefeld (Germany) 6- 1 6- 775 Petrova bI Sulgana 46 6- 1. 64. 2nd rd: Kuznetsova Russia ot A Medina SpAr Williams US ptS her A Mauresmo France 2 Madagascar 6:2 3: Martinez at 2: Jie China pt Sudivama Sromova Czech Rep pt 60 Henin-Hardenne BeGun Argentina 6 3 Na Li Cana DIN Venezupla 646:7 5- Pennetta tel. Serra: Zanett tar, 646 A Myskina Granville US 63562 LTA TMENT Nottingha Men, Qtr-finals: A Jones Australia bt 38 6 Hanlin GB bt Burn Ga Lee 18 Fleming G8 6-376 74 Lugassy France Niland Ireland: 26 6:464 Women, 1st rd: Fletcher 38 India: 6-2 26 6 2. Cox SE 76 7:3.

Kurlak GB bt Coles 38 46756 A Kufikova Russia bt Bart sova 5 0. Joshi US bt var Matings Holland 6-3. Fong GB bt Percy I Ge Weidemann GB bt Dhawar nde Haberkom Germany bt Brown 38 6:464 M-P Baudouin France: bt 58 632662J Curtis GB bt Tulpule India 6 1 60 Berry SE 5t Entche 6:46 6- Coombs GB bt 3 -ingley GB 6-0 6- 1. Ricketts 06 at St. Australia 6-16-2 Thomas 38 38 6-0 6- Peterzan GB bt US A Smith GB bt Danger, a 38 ARIEL CH'SHIPS Bournemout Boys, Qtr-finals: Wire Essex Dv- Sc Thornley Kent.

bt Dickson 7.5. Evans Wank: pt Allinsor Lines 6:476 Cox Lancs pt Pritchard Essen 6:46 3 Girls, Qtr-finals: Craven Yorks: ot Northumberland: 6-3 6-2, Khan Susser Prosser Staffs: 6:2 6 3.0 0 Scarfi Wales bt A Nebojanko Middx) 6:2 6:3 Broady Ches 31 Dossor Yorks: 76366-4 CH'SHIPS Boys, 2nd rot Chaudry Hants: bt Barnweil Warks: 6-2 6-0. Rexha bt Salisbury Surrey: Farquharson (Surrey bt Cochrane Hants 6-0 1 A Barnes (Dorset bt Morgar Lancs 10-8 6: 3 6-4, Calnan Oxford bt a Carpenter Surre, 5- 3 6-4, Mcculloch Ches bt Ches: 6 6-2, A Newell Chest bt A El Menshawy Leics 6- 2 6-2, O'Leary Warks Bucks 6 40-66 3. Girls. 2nd rd: James Warks bt Samuel Kent: 6-4 4-6 60.

Moore Yorks bt Courtnel 6-346 7:5, Rae Notts ot Lewis Wales 6-0 6- Whymbourn bt Bavliss Wales 6-1 5-7 6-3. Slater Surrey bt Chowdhury Middy: 6:2 6-3. A Curry pt Rep Yorks: 6:4 5 7 6-4 Cornish Essex pt Ren Yorks: 6-3 6 2, Crack Watsor 0 754675. FOOTBALL RESULTS International Matches Austria (0) 2 bertsberger 83 Standfest 87 Denmark (0) 4 Rommedahi 60 Tomasson 63 Gravgaard 67 Larsen 90 Malta (1) 1 Woods 35 Rep of Ireland (1)1 Reid 32 Wales (0) 0 Scotland (2) 2 Miller 3 O'Connor 39 800 England (0)1 Roone, 87 4 438 Northern Ireland (1) 1 Healy 9 850 Italy (2) 2 Pirio 10 Gilarding 3: 44.000 Slovenia (0) 0 10.016 Bulgaria 3 Turkey 1-Estonia Bosnie 0-France 3 Ivory Coast 0-Hungary 1 Argentina 2-Norway 0 Switzerland 2-Holland 2 Germany 2-Spain 2 Uruguay 0-Sweden 2 Czech Republic 1-Croatia Brazil 1-Israel 2 Poland 3-Ukraine 2 Serbia Montenegro 1-Belgium 2 Greece O. FIFA WORLD CUP Gp 1: FYR Macedonia Finland 3-Romania 2 Andorra O.

Gp 2: Kazakhstan 1 Georgia 2. Gp 3: Latvia 1 Russia Liechtenstein Slovakia O. Gp 4: Farce Islands 0 Cyprus 3. Asia, 2nd rd, Gp 1: Korea Arabia 1- Uzbekistan 3 Kuwait 2. Gp 2: Bahrain 2 Korea DPR 3-Japan 2 Iran 1.

Africa, Gp 5: Tunisia 1 Kenya EUROPEAN U-21 -Q'fying Gp 3: Latvia 1 Russia 1. NATIONWIDE SOUTH: Eastleigh 2 Weymouth 0- Histon 1 Welling 1-Weston-s-Mare 4 Basingstoke 3. PONTIN'S -Div 1 Centrat: Huddersfield 5 Barnsley 0-Sheff Utd A 2 Oldham Stoke 1 Rotherham O. Div 1 East: Hartlepool Scarborough 0-Lincoln 3 COMB. 1-Scunthorpe 2 Hull 3.

PONTIN'S HOLIDAYS West: Yeovil 5 Swansea 1. Central: Aldershot 2 Crawley 5-Brighton 6 Woking 1- Reading Millwall 2. East: Colchester 1 Leyton Orient 0-Oxford Utd 0 Southend 0. SOUTHERN -Western: Taunton 1, Paulton 3. Eastern: Aveley 1 Waltham Forest 4-Corby 1 Arlesey 4 Stamford RIDGEONS EASTERN Cambridge City Newmarket 2.

whose members qualified in the game. are rarely laws of the Fifa's patience seems to have run out and a letter reminding the FA about disciplinary procedures was sent on Tuesday. While there is unlikely to be a turnaround in the situation, Fifa are awaiting FA's response. penthe The FA are to look at their policy on referees' re-thinks and the appeals process after being contacted by Fifa. "We can confirm we have received communication from Fifa and we will be reviewing our position and responding to that." said an FA spokesman.

Fifa pointed out to the FA that their regulations allow for appeals against red cards only in the case of mistaken identity. A referee may only change an incorrect decision provided play has not restarted not after reviewing video evidence. The FA were further told that disciplinary bodies may not breach the binding instruction by passing exceptional rules, which appears to be a reference to three-man commissions ruling on claims of wrongful dismissal. On 3 more positive note. Mark Hughes side picked Shaun Wright- Phillips will be up five red cards.

74 bookings fit for Sunday's visit of Arsenal and committed 350 touls 111 after the winger pulled out ot the Premiership alone and the night's England friendly club has also Lad a further against Denmark with a swol 250.000 fine suspended until len knee joint. the end of this season. Fredi Kanoute's tive year The 11 said a disciplinary association with English toot- commission would then con ball appeared to have ended sider it there had been an yesterday after Tottenham "acceptable improvement 111 decided to sell the Mali inter the club's disciplinary nationalto Sevilla tor L1.4 mil lion. Austria detender Emanuel Kanoute. 27.

has agreed Pogatetz will be able to make personal terms on a tour his Premiership debut tor deal with the Primera 19.1 Middlesbrough Tottenham club and Spurs Said the this weekend atter Russian striker would be signing on at soccer authorities reduced his his new club subject to a Suc SIX month ban to 411 eight cesstul medical. although match suspension. there were suggestions last was suspended last night that Newcastle might month for breaking Shinnik make a last-ditch bid. Yaroslavl midfielder Yaroslav Kanoute moved to lest Kharitonsky's leg in two Ham in 2000 but had 111 places playing tor Spar unsettled time at Upton Park tak Moscon. He later apolo blighted by injury and a lack gised for the tackle.

of first-team football. He Fulham striker Steve Mar joined Spurs atter West Ham let. 3l. is set to sign for Bunwere relegated in 2003 and deshiga side Wolfsburg on scored 21 goals in 72 appear tree transter. four years after ances while at White Hart an Smillion move from Lane.

Lyons to Craven Cottage. Blackburn have been fined West Ham have signed £10.000 by the Football 1550 Manchester United's French ciation for their poor discipli torward David Bellion. 22. on nary record last season. a season long loan.

magic at Coventry Grand design: Stadium is Paul Fletcher's 'best' project early Nineties and masterminded the development of the then McAlpine Stadium. He then moved to his hometown club, Bolton, to develop the Reebok Stadium before moving on to Coventry. He said: "It has been all hands to the pump to get the football part of the complex ready for Saturday. "The Ricoh Arena has been the most complicated project the world. has signed as I have worked on but the naming sponsors for 10 years.

best by a long way. will be helping to "A tremendous amount of create around 3.000 jobs in a work and common will from regeneration area which is a massive number of people vital for the north of Coven has made this happen and. try. This will leave a bigger even though the building is a legacy than any other project couple of weeks late. we are have worked on." within a whisker opening But for most.

the Ricoh will one of the bests new stadi- be the home of Coventry City ums in Europe. and Fletcher believes it could "A few weeks ago I was be as beneticial to them as to asked to point out one unique the city as a whole. feature about the Ricoh. I was "When Coventry went down quick to answer that it makes they had spent heavily in the money, a serious return for hope of staying up and then its shareholders. It's the first parachute payments were not stadium that I am aware of.

what they are now. that doesn't need financial "They have gone on record support from gate receipts. as saying times have been "We are creating a 32.500- hard but at the Ricoh they are seater sports arena. major a tenant. They have to pay exhibition halls which can be their rent which is set SO the converted to an 8.000-seat bigger the crowds the bigger indoor concert venue.

three the profits but they have none hotels. a health and fitness of the overheads associated club and hopefully the with a normal football country's biggest resort ground. That should hopecasino. Ricoh. one of the fully allow them to move back largest technology firms in to a much healthier position.".