Harry Redknapp has accused Manchester City of using their financial muscle to intimidate rival clubs in the transfer market.
The Tottenham boss claims he was forced to drop a January 2009 attempt to sign Craig Bellamy from West Ham after City made it clear they would sabotage his bid for Wilson Palacios if he did not give way in the battle to secure the striker's services.
"They came in and said: 'If you don't drop out of Bellamy, we're going to sign Palacios. But if you pull out of Bellamy, we'll pull out of Palacios and then we both get a player'.
"So we had no choice really... they can do it if they want somebody."
Japan to focus solely on 2022 bid
Japan is likely to abandon its attempt to host the 2018 World Cup to concentrate on bidding for the 2022 tournament.
Education, Culture, Sports and Science Minister Tatsuo Kawabata, who visited FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Zurich, said the Swiss told him it would be better to bid for the 2022 World Cup as there would be tough competition from Europe to host in 2018.
FIFA requires World Cup host countries to have about 12 stadiums with more than 40,000 seats, and at least one with more than 80,000, but Japan's largest venue, the International Stadium in Yokohama, has a capacity of only 72,000.
FIFA will choose the hosts of both 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December.
We can't afford to relax - Van Bommel
Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel says the German giants can ill afford to relax even with the Bundesliga title virtually secured, but the German Cup and Champions League titles finals are still to come.
Van Bommel is set to lift the Bundesliga shield at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday, but Bayern still have the Champions League final against Inter on May 22 and the German Cup final against Werder Bremen on May 15.
"We mustn't take our foot off the gas," warned Van Bommel.
"If we ease up now, we'll never pick up speed again."
FA to probe crowd trouble
The English FA have launched investigations into two separate incidents of crowd trouble at Sheffield Wednesday and Luton.
Seven people were arrested at Conference club Luton on Monday after home fans invaded the pitch and threw missiles, including coins, at visiting York players who were celebrating a play-off victory over the Hatters.
Luton fans also attacked police outside the ground with brooms and mops stolen from a DIY shop.
There was also trouble at Hillsborough on Sunday where fans clashed on the pitch after a 2-2 draw which confirmed Sheffield Wednesday's relegation and Crystal Palace's survival in the Championship.
Fergie talked Scholes out of retiring
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed he had to talk Paul Scholes out of retiring at the end of the season.
Scholes recently signed a one-year contract extension and he has emerged as a significant force in recent weeks, as his late winner at Manchester City proved last month.
"I did speak to him," Ferguson told Inside United magazine.
"He'd intimated that he may retire at the end of the season.
"I said, 'I'll decide when you retire... look, Paul, you can play, there's no question of that. Your ability's there, there's no deterioration in your actual play'."
Juventus sound out Spalletti
Juventus have apparently spoken to Luciano Spalletti about becoming their coach just in case Rafael Benitez decides to stay at Liverpool.
The Turin giants are growing impatient waiting for Benitez and don't want to be seen not to have a plan 'B' if the deal collapses.
Il Corriere dello Sport reported that a call was made this week in which words of mutual respect were exchanged. However, Spalletti has a lucrative contract with Zenit St Petersburg and would perhaps be even more difficult to lure than Benitez.
Spalletti was regarded among the favourites for the Juventus job last summer and it was a surprise when they hired Ciro Ferrara instead.
Viola can count on me - Jovetic
Fiorentina playmaker Stevan Jovetic is prepared to sign a new contract and has reassured the club can count on him for the future.
In January, there were reports that Jovetic was upset at Fiorentina for agreeing to take Antonio Cassano on loan from Sampdoria even though that deal eventually fell through.
"Everyone said that I was angry but I never was and I have never spoken about this with journalists or the club," Jovetic said.
"Sure, Cassano is a formidable player, but I never said that I would leave. I am ready to sign a new contract. I am very happy here. It's a fantastic city with a group of fans who know how to make you fall in love."