Franz Beckenbauer has won this year's FAI Opel International Personality Of The Year award. Beckenbauer, who will be honoured at the awards function in Dublin on October 26th, follows in the path of Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, Karl Heinz Rumenigge, Eusebio and Kenny Dalglish, all of whom were nominated in the past.

Beckenbauer captained West Germany to their World Cup final win over Holland in 1974 and later managed the team which beat Italy in the final in Rome in 1990. He is currently president of the Bayern Munich club, champions of Germany for the 14th occasion.

Paolo Di Canio, the Sheffield Wednesday striker, has been summoned to appear before an English FA disciplinary panel charged with misconduct after pulling down his shorts and baring his buttocks during a 1-1 draw with Wimbledon on August 23rd.

Meanwhile, Jan Molby learned all about the unforgiving world of football management when he was sacked by Swansea yesterday, but could not resist aiming a parting shot at the Welsh club: "I get the feeling they want a man they can manipulate, who will do as he is told."