Petit threatens to quit England

Arsenal midfielder Emanuel Petit is threatening to quit England because of the treatment he and other French stars are receiving in the Premiership.

Petit's complaint is that referees and players from other clubs pick on him and other Frenchmen. And he isn't happy. "As long as I am at Arsenal I will give my best for the club. All the same, I ask myself questions about my future plans every single day. I have three and a half years left on my contract but that means little nowadays. Clubs make players sign long contracts for the sake of getting big money when they sell them knowing the players won't stay the full time.

"I am neither stupid nor paranoid but I find refereeing in England sometimes going beyond the limit." He was particularly upset by the six-match ban and Stg£45,000 fine imposed on his French international colleague Patrick Vieira following the recent spitting incident.

"I am outraged when I think about the punishment imposed on Patrick," added Petit. "I am annoyed at how stupid the officials can be, after all it was Ruddock who provoked him yet all he got was a reprimand."

Petit also criticised his fellow professionals. "Football now seems to be all about giving a good kicking to Vieira, myself or any other well known French player in order to wind us up."

Alan Ball is contemplating quitting the game for good after being sacked by First Division strugglers Portsmouth.

The club have taken just two points from their last eight games, and Ball thinks it may be time to call it a day at the age of 54.

Ball's former Arsenal team-mate Bob McNab is set to take charge for the time being with the club away to Premiership high-fliers Sunderland in the FA Cup third round tomorrow.