Other soccer news in brief
Venables would consider FAI offer
INTERNATIONAL NEWSTerry Venables has admitted he would consider any approach from the FAI.
The former England assistant manager has been widely tipped to replace Steve Staunton as the Republic of Ireland manager.
Venables said: "I was asked if I have heard from Ireland. I said I hadn't even heard from Scotland.
"I have not heard from anyone. I can assure you of that. If it comes around (being sounded out for the Ireland job) I will think about it then but not before."
MATCH-FIXING CLAIMS
Uefa have extinguished any hope of a back-door route to Euro 2008 for England by reiterating that none of the games in the qualifying tournament are included in a dossier of matches which may have been fixed.
The European governing body announced on Saturday that they were working in conjunction with Europol to investigate matches which may have been fixed as part of illegal betting activity. German magazine Der Spiegel reported that 26 matches were under scrutiny, including games in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and claimed the matches involved teams from eastern and southern Europe, including Croatia.
That led to speculation in yesterday's newspapers in England that Croatia could have been implicated and therefore may face expulsion, but Uefa director of communications William Gaillard said no Euro 2008 match was under suspicion.
"There is nothing at all from the European Championships. It is pure fantasy that it involved Croatia," he said.
Gaillard confirmed the only game currently being "officially investigated" is an Intertoto Cup second-round match played this summer. There are 14 other games played this season which Uefa have suspicions about.
"We have set up an early warning system in recent years with betting companies and the help of the police. There are always investigations going on," Gaillard told BBC radio. n EUROPEAN PLAYER
OF THE YEAR:
Newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year Kaka has pledged his future to AC Milan.
The Brazilian playmaker, a devout Christian, was handed the Ballon d'Or yesterday after taking 444 points in France Football's survey of 96 journalists from around the world.
"I reiterate that my future is in the hands of God," said Kaka. "But my wish is to remain at AC Milan."
Kaka beat Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United into second place, with the Portugal winger accumulating 277 votes.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi was third.
PREMIER LEAGUE:Alan Shearer is understood to be prepared to end his sabbatical from football if a managerial vacancy arises at Newcastle.
Sam Allardyce is under increasing pressure at St James' Park and there are suggestions that defeat at home to Arsenal on Wednesday could prompt his dismissal.
Last night friends of Shearer indicated that the former Newcastle and England captain would be interested in managing his home-town club should Allardyce fail to turn things around.
