FIFA to get new insurance deal

Insurers AXA expect to reach a new agreement with world soccer's governing body FIFA on cover for the 2002 World Cup after cancelling a deal following the attacks in the United States, the company said yesterday.

The French group's German unit Axa Colonia, which leads a consortium of international insurers providing cover for the tournament in South Korea and Japan, cancelled its existing contract with FIFA with a month's notice on Thursday.

"We expect there will be a new agreement in one form or the other," an Axa Colonia spokeswoman said. "The parameters have changed so this could work through into higher premiums but it's still too early to say."

Axa said the risk that the event would have to be called off had increased significantly since the September 11th attacks.

Ken Bates yesterday rejected accusations that Chelsea were facing an "off-field crisis" after the release of new figures showing that the club's debts have ballooned to close to £100 million sterling following the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

Birmingham chairman David Gold has blamed a breakdown in the "chemistry" between the board of directors and Trevor Francis for the departure of the one-time St Andrews hero after five and a half years as manager.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will decide this morning whether to take Chris Sutton to Portugal with the rest of the Hoops first team. The striker was forced to miss Saturday's 2-1 win at Motherwell after contracting a virus which has also affected his family.

Louis Van Gaal is set to decide within a month whether he will stay on as Holland coach. Van Gaal, who has presided over their failure to qualify for next year's World Cup finals, is expected to make his announcement shortly after the friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Michel Platini yesterday ruled himself out of a possible bid for the presidency of European football's governing body, saying he would instead seek election to UEFA's executive.