Football news

France 1998 World Cup winner Vincent Candela has ended his playing career after 18 years as a professional, French media reported yesterday.

"I'm not playing anywhere this season. My time is past," the full-back told French sports daily L'Equipe. "It is time to call it quits. Football has changed. It's more physical, less tactical, less technical."

The 33-year-old started his career at Toulouse and forced his way into the first team in 1992 before playing for Guingamp, Roma, Bolton Wanderers, Udinese, Siena and Messina.

He earned the first of his 40 caps for France in October 1996 in a 4-0 defeat of Turkey.

Halifax banking on fans' website

Halifax Town have approached fans' community website MyFootballClub in an attempt to save the club from folding.

The Shaymen face a winding-up order tomorrow over unpaid taxes and talks with a consortium seeking to take them over appear to have run out of time.

MyFootballClub has enlisted over 50,000 members since May and is now collecting money to buy up a suitable club.

The website was launched in May seeking fans willing to invest £35 each to buy a team, with each member an equal partner. It received over £100,000 in its first six hours of collecting funds.

Arrest warrant for City chief

A second set of arrest warrants has been issued for former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife.

The warrants were issued in relation to a police inquiry into the couple's alleged violations of stock-trading laws, investigators said. Last month, a court issued warrants for the couple over corruption allegations relating to a land sale.

Thaksin has lived abroad since he was deposed a year ago. He has since bought Premier League club Manchester City.

Mourinho predicts open title race

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League title will be contested by more than the usual 'big-four' teams this season after watching his team lose 2-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday.

"It will become more normal for the big teams to lose matches and points," Mourinho said. "The other teams outside the top four have spent lots of money and brought players in to bolster their squads.

"It will be more difficult to play against these teams because they are better. The league is open but it is the first weekend of September and we are only five matches into the season."

Lavezzi hailed as new Napoli hero

Napoli are singing the praises of a new Argentine hero after Ezequiel Lavezzi produced a man-of-the-match performance in their 5-0 win at Udinese on Sunday.

"With his characteristics, Lavezzi can really excite the fans in a place like Napoli and further afield," coach Eddie Reja said.

"After the first week of pre-season training I had already noticed his talent, although it is obvious he cannot always perform to this remarkable level. Marcelo Zalayeta was equally crucial, as he can hold up the ball and give Lavezzi the space to come in from behind."

Galaxy dismiss Beckham move

David Beckham will not be returning to a European club on a short-term loan move, his club Los Angeles Galaxy said yesterday.

With the MLS season finishing in November, and not resuming until next spring, there have been suggestions that Beckham would come back to Europe to maintain his fitness.

But LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas believes Beckham will need to rest during the winter months, rather than joining a European club.

"Once the season is over, he and all of our players need to get a physical and mental rest, and really be given the opportunity to decompress and evaluate the experience they have gone through."

Bent rejects Curbishley rumours

Tottenham striker Darren Bent has quashed suggestions he snubbed a move to West Ham in order to avoid working under Alan Curbishley.

The Hammers agreed a deal with Charlton for the striker's services, although the 23-year-old opted for a move to White Hart Lane.

"I don't know where that's come from because I didn't speak to anyone about my situation until a couple of weeks ago," he said.

"It was nothing to do with Curbishley. He's a fantastic manager. He did wonders for me and made me the player I am today by giving me my opportunity. It was just a career decision and I chose to join Tottenham."

Lescott called into England squad

Everton defender Joleon Lescott has been called into England's squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia, the FA said.

England have been hit hard by injuries to key players for the home fixtures and Lescott's promotion to the senior squad follows an injury to Portsmouth's Sol Campbell.

Lescott, who came on as a substitute in a B international against Albania in May, has never been capped at senior level.

Iraq eye Olsen as coach

Asian Cup champions Iraq are considering Norwegian Egil Olsen as national team coach but have not given up hope former boss Jorvan Vieira will return to the post, the country's soccer chief said yesterday.

Iraqi Football Federation president Hussein Saeed told Reuters that former Norway coach Olsen previously turned down the job but had recently expressed interest in leading Iraq to the 2010 World Cup finals.

"Right now, we have made no decision," he said by telephone from Amman. "Mr Olsen has said he is interested in the position but we intend to speak to Jorvan Vieira again."