Paul Gascoigne's woes increased yesterday when he was charged by the English Football Association for elbowing George Boateng. The 32-year-old broke his forearm in a wild lunge at the Aston Villa midfielder during Middlesbrough's 4-0 home defeat on Monday.
The FA released a statement saying: "Paul Gascoigne has been charged with misconduct as a result of an incident involving George Boateng during Middlesbrough's home game against Aston Villa last night".
Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet expects to make his debut for Turkey in a friendly against the Czech Republic in April. London-born Izzet pledged his international future to Turkey after weekend talks with national coach Can Cobanoglu and the Turkish ambassador.
UEFA director general Gerhard Aigner last night called for a rethink by officials who are backing a possible breakaway league featuring leading teams from Scotland, Holland, Portugal, Denmark and Belgium.
Top Dutch club PSV Eindhoven have said they would be prepared to quit their domestic championships in 2002 and join a proposed European Super League.
Aigner said he hoped such a league would not come about.
Several clubs, including Celtic and Rangers, Benfica and Porto (Portugal), Panathinaikos (Greece), Anderlecht and FC Brugge (Belgium), Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway) and Brondby (Denmark) have been mooted as being interested in such a league, which has been dubbed the Atlantic League.
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Rivaldo received yet another honour for his outstanding performances in 1999 yesterday, lifting the best player trophy in Spain's Sporting Golds awards.
Lothar Matthaus is set for a world record 144th cap for his country after coach Erich Ribbeck named him in Germany's squad for a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on February 23rd.
