¤ French midfielder Robert Pires struck an ambitious note when he was unveiled as a Villarreal player yesterday, saying that he had joined the Primera Liga club to help them win the league title.

"I'm very happy because I've been given the chance to realise a long-held ambition to play in Spanish football," the 33-year-old said. "I've come to Villarreal to win the league."

Pires signed a two-year deal with Villarreal at the end of last season when his contract with Arsenal expired, bringing to an end a successful six-year stint with the Londoners who won two league titles and two FA Cups while he was at the club.

¤ Poland's conservative government yesterday ordered investigations into domestic football's governing body after new arrests in a year-long corruption scandal which officials say may have some way to run. Four referees and football association (PZPN) officials were arrested on charges of match-fixing last week, bringing the total detained into double figures since last May.

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