Van Der Sar: Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has agreed a new 12-month deal, manager Alex Ferguson said. The new contract will keep the 36-year-old Dutch international at Old Trafford until June 2008. "Since he has joined us he has been fantastic and more than deserves another year," Ferguson told reporters.
Kaka: Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has reassured the club's fans he has no intention of selling Brazilian playmaker Kaka. "We will never let Kaka go," said Berlusconi, responding to reports in the Spanish press that Real Madrid were prepared to spend up to 60 million euros ($78.67 million) to lure the player away from Serie A.
Beatles fan: Barcelona president and Beatles fan Joan Laporta said he was delighted his side had been drawn against Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League. "It is a special game because it will see the last two European champions play each other and it is also special for me because we will be going to the home of the Beatles and I will get a chance to visit the Cavern Club," Laporta told Antena 3 television.
Gallardo: Struggling Paris St Germain are hoping to sign Argentina midfielder Marcelo Gallardo from River Plate. The 30-year-old former Monaco player told French daily Le Parisien he was looking forward to signing a two-year contract with the French club during the winter break.
Cannavaro: Fabio Cannavaro, who skippered Italy to victory at the World Cup, was named World Soccer's World Player of the Year yesterday - only the second defender to win the honour in the awards' 25-year history. The last defender to do so was compatriot Paolo Maldini in 1994. Cannavaro collected 40 per cent of the readers' vote... three times as many votes as striker Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, who finished second and third respectively.
Kanoute: Sevilla should be able to count on the services of leading striker Frederic Kanoute as they try to take over at the top of the table in Barcelona's absence at the Club World Cup when they take on Recreativo Huelva tomorrow. The Mali international sat out Thursday's 2-1 UEFA Cup defeat by AZ Alkmaar with a rib injury, but should be ready for the match.
MFA Division Three: Kirkop vs Zejtun 2-3; Fgura vs Sta Lucija 3-1.
In England: The Championship - Luton vs Southend 0-0. League One - Scunthorpe vs Blackpool 1-3. League Two - Hartlepool vs Rochdale 1-0.
Snooker: UK Championship SF - Ebdon bt Higgins 9-7.