Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

FA have no worries

The Football Association are confident Wembley Stadium will be ready for the 2006 FA Cup final, despite yesterday's warning from contractors that work may not be finished in time.

Australian firm Multiplex, who revealed on Monday they face losses of up to £70 million on the project, issued a statement to the Sydney stock market admitting it was possible work would not be completed on schedule.

"The project is currently tracking to a revised programme which permits progressive handover of the stadium commencing in January 2006, with works substantially completed by end of March 2006," said the statement.

"Some works that are not critical to delivering the operational status of the stadium continue past this date, but still permit the FA Cup final to be played on May 13th, 2006.

"There remains a material risk that these dates will not be achieved and the stadium will not be available for the FA Cup final. As previously stated, such delay, if it was to occur, would be likely to lead to significant additional costs, including liquidated damages."

The FA remain convinced, however, that Multiplex will meet their March 31st deadline and insist there is no need to hit the panic button.

"We are still assured by Multiplex that they are on schedule to hand over the stadium on March 31st," said FA spokesman Adrian Bevington. There is a critical construction plan in place, as you would expect, and that is being followed. We therefore are continuing to work towards playing the cup final at Wembley on May 13th."

Hislop feels betrayed

West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop feels betrayed and bitterly disappointed by the controversial behaviour of his former team-mate Paolo Di Canio.

Hislop, a committed anti-racism campaigner, indicated his friendship with Di Canio is over after the Italian was suspended for one match and fined £7,000 for aiming a fascist salute at supporters.

Di Canio, who missed Lazio's 0-0 draw at Lecce last night, labelled the suspension "unjust" and insisted his salute "has nothing to do with with any political ideologies".

The 37-year-old saluted his fans the same way during a Rome derby last season, and at Livorno last week. He insists it is a greeting which dates back to ancient Rome. "I will always salute that way because it gives me a sense of belonging to my people," he said recently.

But Hislop does not buy former Hammer Di Canio's explanation, given the straight-armed salute now stands for something entirely different.

"I am very disappointed by it. Paolo never impressed me as that kind of person when he was here at West Ham," said Hislop.

"We got on very well. He got on well with my wife and my kids and to see him making the headlines for his actions disappoints me greatly because of what those gestures mean and the wider effect of it.

"Paolo certainly was someone I considered a friend who I liked a lot, so I am very disappointed."

Ticket row resolved

A legal row over sales tactics for tickets to next year's World Cup has been resolved after a deal was struck yesterday between Fifa and the German consumers' association. The deal ends requirements that fans seeking tickets had to pay in advance without knowing for months whether they had been successful, and that they also paid a non-refundable fee.

Two Liberal MEPs had complained to the European Commission about Fifa's arrangements, accusing the organisation of abusing its monopoly position. Last night they welcomed an accord between the German consumer association and Fifa to resolve the problem.

Xavier loses appeal

Uefa have rejected an appeal by Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier against an 18-month ban for a failed drugs test, European soccer's governing body said yesterday.

The 33-year-old Portugal international tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid dianabol after a Uefa Cup tie against Greek club Xanthi on September 29th. Xavier joined Middlesbrough at the end of August on transfer deadline day from Serie A side AS Roma following spells at Bari, German club Hanover 96, Everton and Liverpool.

Xavier, who has denied any wrongdoing, has 10 days in which to appeal.

Will be fire without smoke

Scotland internationals and major cup finals will be played at a smoke-free Hampden Park after stadium chiefs announced a complete smoking ban.

The stadium will join Celtic Park and Ibrox Stadium by introducing a smoking ban in all areas.

The Hampden ban comes into effect on January 4th, while Celtic and Rangers will implement their new restrictions shortly afterwards.

It means that no smoking will be allowed at the Scotland v Switzerland match at Hampden on March 1st, and the Scottish Cup final on May 13th.

IN BRIEF.....Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer reached 132mph in his silver Porsche 911 before he was stopped by police, English magistrates were told yesterday. The former Leeds player was pulled over on a 70mph stretch of the A1 near Morpeth, Northumberland, in July after an officer followed his sports car for more than eight miles.... Nice have confirmed they are in talks with Liverpool regarding the loan signing of Florent Sinama Pongolle in the January transfer window.