Shevchenko: Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko is suffering from a high temperature and may miss the Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy on Saturday, coach Oleg Blokhin said yesterday. "Last night his temperature rose sharply to 38.6. The doctors believe it is possible he has a viral infection," Blokhin said. Blokhin said doctors were keeping a close watch on the Chelsea striker, but wanted to avoid using particular medicines to abide strictly by anti-doping regulations.
Stadium noise: A German court has rejected a suit filed by a homeowner who complained against noise from Alemannia Aachen's Tivoli stadium. The court ruled that the stadium noise only briefly exceeds the legal decible limits when goals are scored in matches played every second week and should thus be tolerated because the noise does not cause a permanent disturbance. The court also ruled that the homeowner cannot seek damages for any depreciation of his property because even though Aachen were in the fourth division when he bought it, he should have reasoned they could one day be promoted to the Bundesliga.
Beckham: David Beckham has no plans to retire from the game in two years' time, a spokesman for the Real Madrid midfielder said, dismissing a report yesterday. The report was based on seemingly contradictory comments about the 31-year-old midfielder made by Real president Ramon Calderon, speaking in English, to BBC Radio. Real and Beckham's representatives are discussing a two-year extension to his current contract, which expires in 2007, that would keep him at the Bernabeu until 2009. Beckham, who has a soccer academy in Los Angeles, has more than once expressed an interest in ending his career in the United States.
Munteanu: Dorinel Munteanu resigned yesterday as player-coach of Romanian side CFR Cluj, citing a lack of support from the club's officials. "I quit because nobody in my club trusts me anymore," Munteanu told reporters. Earlier this week the 38-year-old midfielder announced his retirement from international football, ironically turning down a call-up for Saturday's Euro 2006 qualifier against Belarus because of the pressure at his club.
Silva grateful: Former Uruguay striker Dario Silva expressed his gratitude for the support he has received since having his lower right leg amputated after a car crash. The 33-year-old said Diego Maradona had been among those to call his family after the accident in Montevideo last month. Silva, who was out of contract at the time, suffered an exposed fracture in his right leg after his pick-up truck collided with a lamppost on Montevideo's sea front. Silva made 49 appearances for Uruguay, including the 2002 World Cup finals, and scored 14 goals.
Magath: Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath has criticised his strikers Lukas Podolski and Roy Makaay for playing too passively after the German champions' defeat by lowly Wolfsburg on Saturday. "It's become clear what's not working for us this season. Our attack lacks the ability to assert itself," Magath said. "It needs to show more class and just simply score more goals." Bayern have scored only seven goals in their six matches and were humiliated by Wolfsburg 1-0. It was Wolfsburg's first win of the season and lifted them off the bottom of the table.