Gil Vicente: The Portuguese Football League has confirmed Gil Vicente's relegation to the second division, allowing the Premier League to return to normal this weekend. The League decision follows a legal row sparked by Gil Vicente's move to challenge in a civil court the suspension of Angolan player Mateus by soccer authorities. In a statement late on Wednesday, the League said the Portuguese Soccer Federation (FPF) had decided to invoke a special measure in the public interest which annuls the civil court's decision.
Owen: England striker Michael Owen has had a second knee operation in the US and will start an intensive rehabilitation programme immediately, his club Newcastle United said yesterday. Owen suffered a cruciate ligament injury during England's World Cup group match against Sweden in June and will be out of action for several months. Newcastle coach Glenn Roeder said the operation went "extremely well".
Pirlo: Italy's World Cup winning midfielder Andrea Pirlo has extended his contract with Milan until July 2011. Pirlo's current deal with Milan ran until 2008 but the club said yesterday that he had signed a new three-year extension. The classy central midfielder joined Milan from city rivals Inter in 2001 after spells with Brescia and Reggina. Earlier this week Milan's Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze also signed up to an extended deal, also until 2011.
Lama: Former French goalkeeper Bernard Lama has threatened to quit as Kenya's national coach just weeks after taking up the post, officials said yesterday. Lama, a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, is annoyed that he has yet to receive a contract spelling out the terms and conditions of his employment from the Kenya Football Federation (KFF). He has returned home and said he may not return unless his conditions of employment are met.
Bosnia: Bosnia coach Blaz Sliskovic has resigned after his team's home 3-1 defeat to Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifier, the Bosnian media reported yesterday. "Having in mind the promise I had made that we will win our first two games I feel that I have to withdraw," he said. Sliskovic, 47, has coached Bosnia since 2002 and had a contract for two more years. He narrowly failed to take the side, which has never qualified for a major tournament, to Euro 2004 and this year's World Cup.
Zagorakis: Greece captain and most-capped player Theodoros Zagorakis is to retire from international soccer. The 34-year-old, who led Greece to victory in Euro 2004, had been toying with retirement for several months but had been persuaded to stay on by coach Otto Rehhagel. However, after being substituted in the friendly match against England last month and again in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Moldova on Saturday, Zagorakis has announced he is ready to step down.
MFA DIV. II/III KO: Sirens 0 Melita 1; Mgarr 6 Fgura 1.