Reporters cut down to size

Three reporters from the News of the World who were arrested in Brussels on the eve of Euro 2000 with hunting knives were released without charge yesterday after spending 24 hours in custody.

The reporters had been arrested when police saw them photographing themselves with the weapons they had just bought, legally, at a nearby shop.

The News of the World, Britain's top-selling newspaper, said the journalists were working on a story about "widespread availability of lethal weapons on the eve of Euro 2000".

Belgian Magistrate Chris Van Haecke, who is part of a team of magistrates assigned to hear cases related to the tournament, said the journalists could still face charges and the prosecutors' office would examine whether the reporters had intended to incite violence.

"Could (their actions) give ideas to hooligans that in Belgium you can buy arms?" Van Haecke asked. Today's first game of the tournament, between Belgium and Sweden, takes place in Brussels.

Alan Shearer faces a potentially make-or-break training session today as he bids to prove his fitness for England's opening game at the European Championships against Portugal on Monday.

Shearer's final deadline to convince coach Kevin Keegan is not until tomorrow. Keegan said of today's session: "My gut feeling is he will be okay but medically he has to go out and do a full session. The key is how he will feel afterwards and I know from my past that I've felt okay to train and then I've gone out and thought `it's not quite as good as I thought it'd be'."

Peter Taylor is set to be unveiled as the new manager of Leicester City in succession to Martin O'Neill on Monday.

Taylor, who steered Gillingham into the first division via the play-offs, has agreed terms with the club. The former England Under-21 coach is due to fly back from a family holiday in Portugal over the weekend.

Taylor has beaten off the challenge of a host of people including former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear and Leicester's current players Steve Walsh and Tony Cottee.