Attack treated as racist

Detectives in Yorkshire said yesterday that the attack on an Asian teenager which led to the arrest of two Leeds United footballers is being treated as racist. Lee Bowyer (22) and former England under-21 captain Jonathan Woodgate (19) are on police bail after being questioned about the attack which left 19-year-old university student Sarfraz Najeib with serious injuries.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Eddie Hensley, said that five white men were involved in the incident, which started with a minor assault on Najeib outside the Leeds nightclub Majestyk on January 12th. Hensley said: "My personal view is that there was probably a racial element to this attack.

"The perception of the people involved is that it is a racial attack and that's good enough for me."

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Arsenal are among several clubs facing legal action from former players alleging that medical malpractice has left them suffering from arthritis.

The Professional Footballers' Association estimates that hundreds of retired players are now unable to walk properly because of incorrect treatment for their injuries.

Most of the allegations involve physiotherapists abusing the use of cortisone injections so that teams can field players carrying injuries. Argentinean football legend Diego Maradona, undergoing rehabilitation for cocaine addiction in Cuba, admitted to punching and breaking a photographer's car window with the "Hand of Reason."

"If in 1986 I said the goal against the English came from the "Hand of God", today I announce this broken glass comes from the force of reason," Maradona said.

Everton manager Walter Smith yesterday committed himself to the club for a further three and a half years after finally signing a two-year extension to his contract in the wake of Bill Kenwright's successful takeover of the club.

Smith's new contract will keep him at the club until the summer of 2003.

After a few terse telephone calls, the love affair between Celtic and shirt manufacturers Umbro is back on.

The pair signed a new five-year sponsorship agreement yesterday at Parkhead, putting behind them a turbulent few months which almost ended an association dating back to 1971.

When Celtic launched their new home strip at the start of the season the club were aghast to find out that the colours of their famous green and white hooped jerseys faded.