Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Airlines put the boot in

While news from Old Trafford yesterday that ticket sales for Roy Keane's testimonial on May 9th were going well was good news for the charities that will benefit from the game between Manchester United and Celtic, it will also be a profitable occasion for Ryanair and Aer Lingus, reports Mary Hannigan.

While flights from Dublin to Manchester the Tuesdays of the weeks before and after May 9th (ie on May 2nd and May 16th) were priced at just 34 cent on the Ryanair website yesterday, the company's two flights on the day of the testimonial, that leave Dublin early enough for fans to arrive in time for the game, were priced at €169.99 (for the 6.30am flight) and €199.99 (for the 12.30pm flight).

Flights back from Manchester to Dublin, the day after the game, were priced between €139.99 and €199.99 - the same flights, for the Wednesdays of the previous and following weeks, cost just 34 cent.

Similarly, Aer Lingus' fares for their flights from Manchester to Dublin, for the day after the game, are significantly more expensive than those for the weeks before and after the testimonial, ranging from €159 to €209 - the most expensive for the Wednesdays before and after are €4. However, as of last night, Aer Lingus still had one Dublin-Manchester flight on May 9th, that would comfortably get supporters to the game on time, that was priced at €1. It leaves Dublin at 6.30 in the morning.

Keane's testimonial seems certain to be a sell-out after Manchester United confirmed they have already sold 10,000 tickets for the clash. Celtic have been allocated the entire 25,500-capacity North Stand for the game and are confident they will fill it.

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is confident Keane will still be at Parkhead next season. The 34-year-old midfielder only arrived from Manchester United in January but has since hinted that a long-standing hip injury could force him to retire at the end of the season.

Strachan said yesterday: "I think I will have Roy next season. He loves it at the club and I can't see him leaving. I see people bowing to Teddy Sheringham and quite rightly because he's 40. At my club if you get to 33 or 34 you've got to move on. Why?"

Rooney can clinch double

Premiership leaders Chelsea dominate the nominations for the 2006 English Professional Footballers' Association Footballer of the Year Award. The PFA's annual awards dinner will take place on Sunday, April 23rd, with the six nominees in each of the two categories now confirmed.

Chelsea trio John Terry - last year's winner - Frank Lampard and Joe Cole all make the shortlist for the main accolade. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Arsenal captain Thierry Henry - winner in 2003 and 2004 - and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney are also nominated.

Rooney, still only 20, picked up the 2005 Young Player of the Year award, and features again in that category. Rooney's team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo (21) also makes the shortlist, along with Darren Bent (22) of Charlton. West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand, 21, Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal (18) and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who turns 19 later this week, also feature.

Rangers let off the hook

Rangers were fined €13,000 for crowd incidents during their Champions League first knockout round tie against Villarreal. The window of the Villarreal team bus was smashed at the second leg in Spain last month.

Uefa said in a statement its disciplinary body found Rangers fans not guilty of "discriminatory chants" at both legs of the tie, won by Villarreal on the away goals rule.

Raul likely to stay put

Raul's agent has played down talk linking the Real Madrid striker with a possible move to Liverpool. Reports in England this week suggested Liverpool were lining up a move for Raul, with manager Rafa Benitez thought to be a big fan of the Spanish international.

"I remember that Raul has a contract signed until June 2010 and until now the club have not said that it is interested in his departure," said Gines Carvajal.

Benitez is thought to be in the market for a new striker, but it seems unlikely that Raul could become the latest Spanish player to make his way to Anfield.

Messi's return delayed

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is a serious doubt for next week's Champions League semi-final, first leg against AC Milan after being ruled out of tomorrow's Primera Liga match against Villarreal.

The teenage Argentine international has been out of action since the beginning of March when he tore a thigh muscle during the second leg of his side's 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea, but was expected to have made a recovery ready for the Milan match.

Barcelona medical staff said that the 18-year-old had experienced problems with the injured leg while training on Tuesday.

Home truths for Chelsea

Chelsea insist they are still exploring all realistic avenues regarding ground development and have not ruled out a move from Stamford Bridge. The London club moved to counter a report in the Evening Standard which suggested the club had given up on their search for a new stadium site and would look to increase the ground capacity to 55,000 instead.

But a statement from the club said: "The club's position regarding ground redevelopment has remained unchanged for many months and it has not changed now.

"Chelsea have always maintained they would ideally like to expand the capacity at Stamford Bridge to a figure approaching 55,000 but that expansion is difficult because of the documented constraints on the site."

The club's chief executive Peter Kenyon added the large number of televised matches and the fact so many games were no longer played on Saturdays meant anything over their target attendance of 55,000 was unrealistic.

Meanwhile, Germany captain Michael Ballack is in advanced negotiations with Chelsea about a move to London, his agent Michael Becker was quoted as saying yesterday.

Flaming time at Old Trafford

Firefighters tackled a blaze which broke out at Manchester United's Old Trafford football ground yesterday, the Fire Service said.

It started shortly before noon at the rear terrace on the seventh floor of the stadium where construction work was being carried out.

The flames were put out within 40 minutes by three fire engines and an aerial appliance.

In brief . . .

Dutchman Guus Hiddink will take over as coach of Russia's national soccer team after this year's World Cup finals, the Football Union of Russia confirmed yesterday . . . Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz has been warned against returning to full training for three months for fear of risking his eyesight, the defender broke his nose and cheekbone during his side's Uefa Cup quarter-final against FC Basel . . . Wigan manager Paul Jewell will not face any formal disciplinary action by the English FA, despite describing referee Phil Dowd as "incompetent" after his side's draw with Blackburn on April 3rd . . . John Hartson's agent rejected speculation that the striker will leave Celtic and join Portsmouth . . .

Former German winger Pierre Littbarski is keen to become Hearts' new manager.