Bulgaria: FIFA has stopped defender Tiago Silva playing for Bulgaria because he has already represented his native Brazil at under-20 level. The 26-year-old Silva, who has obtained Bulgarian nationality, made his debut for his adopted country in the 3-1 friendly win over Turkey last month. Coach Hristo Stoichkov named CSKA Sofia's Silva in his squad for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Sweden but has been forced to replace him with Lokomotiv Plovdiv defender Alexander Tunchev.

Australia: Injuries have forced captain Craig Moore and forward Harry Kewell out of Australia's Oceania World Cup qualifiers with the Solomon Islands. Australian soccer officials said Moore had been ruled out with a hamstring problem and that Kewell was still suffering from a hernia injury. The winner of the tie will play off against the fifth-placed South American team for a spot in next year's World Cup finals in Germany.

Nomvete: Swedish first division Djurgarden have agreed to sign South Africa striker Siyabonga Nomvete. Nomvete has spent four years with Italian Serie A side Udinese but has not managed to secure a first-team place.

France: Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jerome Rothen and Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina have been ruled out of France's next two World Cup qualifiers because of leg injuries. France coach Raymond Domenech has called up Sidney Govou and Anthony Reveillere, who both play with French champions Lyon, to replace them.

Ronaldo: Ronaldo denied to Brazilian police yesterday that he had any links to a drug ring after his name was mentioned in a taped conversation involving a jailed trafficker. Ronaldo arrived in Brazil after scoring in a game for Real Madrid against Cadiz in Spain on Sunday. He took a helicopter to a police station in Niteroi near Rio de Janeiro, where police are investigating a drug ring that supplied ecstasy and other drugs over the Internet.

Serie B: Played yesterday -Triestina vs Bologna 0-0.