Other soccer news in brief

Kaka wants Gerrard with him at Milan

KAKA has urged AC Milan to try to sign Steven Gerrard, despite the England midfielder recently agreeing a new contract with Liverpool.

"A cycle is ending. The time has arrived to re-energise a group which has many players at the end of their contracts," the Brazil playmaker said. "You can have a mix of experience and young players with the will to win."

"I like modern football, I like players that know how to attack and defend.

"If it was up to me, I would take someone like Gerrard, who for me is a complete player and can play anywhere," added Kaka, who almost joined Manchester City for a world record fee during last January's transfer window.

"He can play in any position, as a playmaker, midfielder, right-sided midfielder and he would look good at Milan."

"I could see him fitting in really well at Milan."

South Africa police ready for finals

ONE of South Africa's most prominent law enforcement officers yesterday refuted claims that next year's World Cup would be ravaged with crime and promised fans they will be safe.

Speaking at a football conference, South African police assistant commissioner Ben Groenewald said it was a fallacy to suggest his country was too dangerous to visit.

"Johannesburg is said to be the murder capital of the world but that is not the case," he said, "80 per cent of all murder cases are domestic related."

Groenewald added that streets would be monitored closely: "No one is saying crime doesn't happen but we will deploy an additional 32,000 officers and do our utmost to prevent as much of it as possible."

Davis welcomes back Rangers duo

RANGERS midfielder Steven Davis yesterday hailed the imminent return of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor as a major boost.

Ferguson and McGregor will rejoin their Ibrox team-mates at training today after manager Walter Smith softened his stance over the pair's punishment for their behaviour on Scotland duty.

Smith suggested they would never to play for Rangers again after hitting them with a two-week suspension and fine as punishment for the V-signs they made at Hampden after a drinking session cost them their international places.

Davis feels Ferguson and McGregor's presence in the squad ahead of Sunday's Scottish Premier League clash at Hibernian is a lift.

Davis said: "They are two quality players and, from a players' point of view, it's a big bonus to have them back."

PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart has urged the Scottish FA to give Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor a chance to plead for their Scotland futures.

Moyes questions referee's neutrality for semi-final

EVERTON manager David Moyes has questioned the decision to appoint Mike Riley to referee Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley.

The official is a late replacement for Steve Bennett, who withdrew due to illness. But Moyes has raised the suggestion that Riley is a fan of United.

Riley upset Moyes in 2003 when he awarded a controversial penalty to United in the final game of the season that cost Everton a place in the Uefa Cup. Riley also sent-off Tim Cahill in the 2-0 league defeat to Liverpool in September.

Moyes responded to questions about Riley's appointment, saying: "A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter - I think that is something you need to bring up with the FA.

"It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about. If you (the press) are saying that Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter, you would hope the FA would look at that."

PFA warns of strikes due to abuse

THE English Professional Footballers Association yesterday called on governing bodies to crack down more heavily on racist and homophobic abuse - or risk players going on strike.

PFA senior executive Nick Cusack says the abuse meted out to those in his profession had reached breaking point.

"The current financial punishments handed down to national football associations hardly send a strong message to players that the football authorities are acting proportionately," said Cusack.

"Unless Fifa and Uefa get tough and deduct points or disqualify teams from competitions for this kind of behaviour, players will be forced to take matters into their own hands and refuse to play.

"This has not happened yet but would be fully justified if this was to continue and the authorities fail to do more to protect the players.

Ribery sees his future at Bayern

BAYERN Munich playmaker Franck Ribery has hinted that he could stay on at the German champions despite speculation linking the Frenchman with a move to Barcelona.

"I still have a lot to do with Bayern Munich," Ribery said. "I want to improve. With Bayern we have a lot to do."

Asked whether he would like to play for the Spanish club some day, Ribery said, however: "Of course, which player would not like to play for Barca."