Sporting briefs...

Raul: Real Madrid striker Raul hopes to return to action in a little over a month following his serious knee injury. "I don't want to put an exact date on a return and I haven't touched a ball yet, but I think that in a month or so, maybe a little more, I will be back in action," the 28-year-old told reporters yesterday.

Doping Claims: UEFA announced yesterday it would not be investigating recent doping claims made against Marseille's 1993 European Cup winning side. UEFA issued a statement on Monday saying it would look into the allegations made by former Marseille player Jean-Jacques Eydelie but UEFA now believes such an investigation is not possible. "UEFA's executive committee asked for legal advice concerning the Marseille case but on the disciplinary side we have a (limitation) period of 10 years so it is not possible to take any disciplinary matters," chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said.

Mark Wright: Peterborough suspended former England defender Mark Wright from his job as manager yesterday. Wright, who won 45 caps and was part of the England team that reached the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, has been Peterborough boss since last May.

Ahn: Bundesliga club Duisburg have completed the signing of South Korea striker Ahn Jung-hwan from French side Metz. Ahn scored the goal that took South Korea past Italy and through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup four years ago and the striker can expect to play a big part in the finals in Germany this year.

Casillas: Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas hopes the club will stand by Juan Ramon Lopez Caro as coach beyond the end of the season, instead of drafting in a new face. "I would vote for him to continue as coach next year," Casillas said. "He is Spanish, has learnt his trade coaching in the youth teams, has always worked very hard and is a good coach."

In England: The Championship - Southampton vs C. Palace 0-0.

In Scotland: League Cup SF - Dunfermline vs Livingston 1-0.

Spanish Cup: QFs second legs - Espanyol vs Cadiz 2-0 (agg: 4-0); Real Madrid vs Real Betis 1-0 (agg: 2-0).

German Cup: QFs - A. Bielefeld vs K. Offenbach 1-1 (Bielefeld win 4-2 on pens.); 1860 Munich vs E. Frankfurt 1-3; St Pauli vs W. Bremen 3-1.