Liverpool will be spared having to play the second leg of their Champions League qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa in Tel Aviv after Uefa belatedly responded to the crisis in the Middle East by switching Israeli clubs' Uefa Cup qualifiers next week to neutral venues abroad.

The European game's governing body conceded that security concerns in Israel would have made it impossible to guarantee the safety of players, officials and supporters.

Although Uefa will not formally make a decision on the latter Uefa Cup qualifying games or the Champions League qualifier concerning Maccabi Haifa and Liverpool until they meet next Monday, it appears inconceivable those ties will now be staged in Israel.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been charged by the English FA over claims he made about his former club Chelsea in his autobiography.

The 34-year-old Dutch striker, now with Charlton, alleged Chelsea had made illegal bonus payments to players following the win against Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final in April 2004.

An FA statement said: "Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute, in relation to claims made in his autobiography about his former club Chelsea. The Premier League conducted a thorough inquiry into the alleged bonus payments and found no evidence to support the claims, which were denied by Chelsea.

"The case was therefore referred to the FA which conducted its own inquiry into Hasselbaink's conduct. He has until August 14th to respond."

Roberto Carlos has said he wants to stay at Real Madrid after speaking to coach Fabio Capello.

"I want to stay at the club. I say it loudly and clearly," the left-back, who has been linked with Chelsea, said yesterday.