Soccer Shorts

Today's other stories in brief

Barton jailed for six months

JOEY Barton was jailed for six months yesterday for a "violent and cowardly attack" outside a branch of McDonald's after he became embroiled in a street fight at the end of a drunken night out in Liverpool.

The Premier League player, who signed for Newcastle in a £5.8-million deal from Manchester City last summer, had drunk 10 pints and five bottles of lager before launching a sustained attack on a stranger and punching a 16-year-old boy in the face.

The sentence means Barton, who earns about £60,000 a week, will be freed from jail in time for the start of the next football season. But last night his club would not be drawn on his future.

Degen signs

RAFAEL Benitez started his summer of change with the acquisition of defender Philipp Degen yesterday.

The Anfield manager confirmed the Switzerland right-back will sign for the club on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund when his contract with the Bundesliga club expires on July 1st.

And Benitez's next move could be to try to bring Udinese defender Andrea Dossena to the club for a fee of around €10 million.

Moyes moves on the transfer front

EVERTON are considering a move for the Brazilian striker Jo, but have no immediate plans to formally announce a new contract for manager David Moyes.

It is understood Moyes, who has been in charge for six years, and owner Bill Kenwright have agreed in principle a new deal for the Scottish-born manager, but both parties are concentrating their energies on squad strengthening at Goodison Park.

But it is clearly accepted Moyes would not be planning a variety of transfer deals if he were not happy with his own future at the club, and the backing of the board on the transfer front.

It is likely Moyes - who has one year of his contract to run - will eventually sign a new five-year deal, but with wages believed to be considerably higher than the £50,000 a week that has been speculated.

Coppell staying with Reading

STEVE Coppell has committed his future to Reading for next season in the Championship.

The manager's future at the club was in doubt following his side's relegation from the Premier League. But Coppell said yesterday: "I'm very pleased to be staying. After the end of the season I needed some time to reflect and think about what was the best course of action for both myself and for Reading."

Rangers striker Steven Naismith will be out of action for a year following a knee operation.

Arsenal have been in contact with Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri with a view to signing the France international. The 20-year-old is believed to have a €17-million buy-out clause in his contract, but it is not known whether Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has agreed a fee.

Thousands pay tribute to Burns

THOUSANDS of fans yesterday united in grief with famous faces from the world of football to say farewell to the Celtic legend Tommy Burns.

Mourners lined the streets and flooded to Celtic Park to pay their last respects to the former manager of the Glasgow club, who died at home last Thursday aged 51.

Rangers manager Walter Smith and his assistant Ally McCoist helped carry his coffin into the church.

Inside, stars of the football world, including Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and the first team squad, joined with friends and family to remember an "extraordinary man".

Other figures from the football world included Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and a host of former Celtic players, including Packie Bonner, Roy Keane, Kenny Dalglish and Pierre van Hooijdonk.

 Fifa plan illegal says Platini

MICHEL Platini has dealt a blow to Fifa president Sepp Blatter's hopes of winning support for rules to limit the number of foreign players by declaring the plan "completely illegal".

The Uefa president said he supported Blatter's objectives and would meet him for further talks but under European Union law the "six-plus-five" proposal was unworkable.

It is understood Blatter will now use Fifa's Congress later this month to gain backing for a mandate to pursue discussion on the six-plus-five rule.

Under Blatter's plan, each starting XI must have a minimum of six domestic players and a maximum of five foreigners. He has no plans to impose limits on the number of foreign players in a squad, however.

Platini said in Moscow today: "The objectives are very good, and I have said that many times. However, they are completely illegal under EU legislation."