Deco denies agreeing Chelsea move

SOCCER NEWS:Barcelona playmaker Deco has denied reports he has already signed an agreement with Chelsea.

The Portugal international has reportedly been told he can leave the Nou Camp this summer, resulting in speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.

That speculation heightened following the announcement Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to take charge of Chelsea on July 1st. But Deco insists he is yet to agree anything with the Premier League side.

"I've not signed anything with Chelsea nor have I held any meetings in Dubrovnik with Roman Abramovich," the 30-year-old told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.

PORTO BAN:Uefa are to reconsider the decision to exclude Porto from next seasons Champions League. The Portuguese champions were originally excluded from next season's competition over alleged bribery of referees in the 2003/04 league campaign.

But Uefa have confirmed that their disciplinary committee will now re-examine the case. Uefa's appeal body made the decision to overturn the ruling after new evidence came to light. The allegations relate to Porto's 2-0 win against Estrela da Amadora and their 0-0 draw with Beira Mar.

The case will now return to the Uefa's disciplinary committee - who took the original decision to exclude Porto — to hear additional evidence from Benfica and Guimaraes, two clubs who would seemingly stand to benefit from Porto's non-participation.

ARSENAL:Aaron Ramsey said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was "a big factor" in him signing for the Gunners rather than Manchester United. At 17, the Wales midfielder was one of the hottest properties in the British transfer market this summer, and Cardiff reluctantly agreed to let him talk to the Premier League club after three clubs, the other being Everton, met their €6 million valuation.

However, the prospect of working with Wenger - who has nurtured so many talented youngsters and personally met with Ramsey when Arsenal flew him out to Switzerland - proved even more of a lure than joining last season's Premier League and European champions.

"I am so happy to have signed for Arsenal. I am joining one of the biggest clubs in the world and can't wait to meet my new team-mates," Ramsey said yesterday. "I recently met with Arsene Wenger and he was a big factor in my decision to join Arsenal. He talked to me for a long time about the club and the plans for the future, which really excites me."

RANGERS:Former Celtic striker Kenny Miller yesterday signed a three-year contract at Rangers less than a year after leaving Parkhead for Derby for €3.8 million.

RACISM:The English Football Association is to ask Patrice Evra whether he was racially abused in the violent encounter between Manchester United players and a number of Chelsea officials after the teams had met at Stamford Bridge in April. Officials from Soho Square are already studying video pictures as well as written reports from both clubs to determine what kind of disciplinary action is necessary.

PANATHINAIKOS:Chelsea's former assistant coach Henk ten Cate is the new coach of Panathinaikos. Ten Cate, sacked by Chelsea shortly after Avram Grant, signed a two-year contract and succeeds Jose Peseiro, who resigned last month.