Football news

France should have changed their coach after their Euro 2008 flop instead of leaving Raymond Domenech in charge, former coach Aime Jacquet said.

Domenech, who was appointed in 2004 and has been under fire since France exited Euro 2008 in the group stage, has faced even more criticism since France's controversial World Cup play-off win over Ireland.

"Four years, that's enough," Jacquet, who was in place from 1994 to 1998 and guided France to their World Cup triumph in his final year, said.

"After that, it's too tough, there are too many factors that stop you from working correctly. That's what I blame the French Football Federation for."

Scottish FA to revisit video issue

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith is considering a fresh attempt to get video replays back on the agenda of the game's lawmakers.

The SFA tried last year to convince the International Football Association Board to introduce video technology, but the plans were not approved.

The issue is in the forefront again in the wake of Thierry Henry's now-infamous handball against Ireland and Smith wants to see the introduction of a system which gives each manager two challenges per match.

Smith said: "I don't think referees will be undermined. If the Irish had called for TV pictures the goal would have been disallowed."

Bruce eager to maintain standards

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has warned his players they cannot allow their standards to drop as they head for Wigan today.

The Black Cats will arrive at the DW Stadium still revelling in their 1-0 victory over Arsenal. But Bruce knows they can take nothing for granted as they face a Wigan team which was trounced 9-1 at Tottenham 24 hours later.

Bruce said: "We have proved that we can play against the top boys.

"No disrespect to Wigan, but it has been the Burnleys and the Birminghams where we haven't performed to the level we know we can, and that's been what we have been beating the drum over all week."

Players deny match-fixing

Two lower-league players in Germany have denied being involved in match-fixing after being questioned by police in connection with the Europe-wide probe.

Fortuna Dusseldorf confirmed two players from their reserve side were questioned and named them on their official website as midfielder Ben Abelski and goalkeeper Maximilian Schulze Niehues.

The duo play for the club's second team in the regional league. The club gave no further details about the questioning.

Euro chiefs want U-21 Olympic limit

European football leaders unanimously agreed this week that the football tournaments at future Olympic Games should be for players under 21 only.

UEFA's Professional Football Strategy Council of associations, leagues, clubs and players met in Nyon on Thursday.

A UEFA statement read: "After a full discussion on the subject the PFSC unanimously agreed that the principle of participation at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament should be for under-21 players, and not for players up to the age of 23, and that there should be no provision for any over-age players."

Barca play better than Real - Cruyff

Barcelona play "a thousand times better" than Real Madrid, former Holland and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff said ahead of the much-anticipated weekend clash.

"This is not a revelation. The whole world is captivated by this way of playing, this quality, this technique," the 62-year-old said.

But he said Barcelona had to "respect" Real.

"They do not play well, but they are at the top and they have time to improve," said Cruyff.

Cruyff, a three-time European footballer of the year, started his career as a teenager at Ajax before going on to enjoy huge success with Barca, whom he coached to the 1992 European Cup.

Legal complaint over Juve chants

A French anti-racist body said it would file a legal complaint after racist chanting by Juventus fans at a Champions League match at Bordeaux.

Juve fans chanted "A black can't be Italian" at Wednesday's game with Inter's Mario Balotelli in mind, the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) said.

"These insults having been uttered on French territory, LICRA encourages authorities to open an inquiry and seek the most severe sanctions against their perpetrators," a statement read.

UEFA could investigate the chants in Bordeaux but because they happened before the game started they might not be included in the referee's report and hence the likelihood of any sanction would be reduced.