Newslines: Seven Liverpool fans stabbed in Rome

Six Liverpool supporters were stabbed in Rome yesterday outside the Olympic Stadium before the UEFA Cup match with AS Roma, bringing to seven the number of Liverpool fans knifed.

All six Liverpool fans - including at least two Norwegians - were stabbed in the buttocks and one was reported to be seriously injured. Another fan had been stabbed late Wednesday night but his life was not thought to be in danger.

Wolves have completed the £1.5 million signing of Coventry's 23-year-old Belgian striker Cedric Roussel who has announced that he has taken a cut in pay to step into the first division.

Dutch international Ronald de Boer will be out of action for up to eight weeks, Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers have confirmed. The midfielder had to undergo knee surgery in an Amsterdam clinic to cure a problem that has plagued him since signing from Barcelona in September.

Brazilian international Junior Baiano was suspended for four months by a sports tribunal in Rio De Janeiro on Wednesday for testing positive in a drugs test. The Vasco da Gama defender tested positive for benzoileconine, a substance produced by the body after cocaine has been taken.

Tottenham fans reacted with anger and astonishment yesterday after learning that George Graham turned down the chance to sign Robbie Keane, Kieron Dyer and Davor Suker.

Tottenham director of football David Pleat told the High Court yesterday in the Alan Sugar libel case against the Daily Mail that Graham was given the chance to sign each of the three Premiership stars.

However, he declined because he felt that Keane and Dyer would not find regular places in the Spurs team.

But Mark Jacob, spokesman for the Tottenham Action Group, said: "We find it frightening that the manager was offered the chance to sign three players of international repute yet rejected all of them."

Roberto Mancini will miss Leicester's bid to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years amidst speculation that he is being lined up to take over as coach of Fiorentina.

Gordon Banks is selling some of his prized possessions from his glittering football career. The former goalkeeper, who helped England win the World Cup in 1966, is auctioning memorabilia from his personal collection including his winning medal.