Van Nistelrooy: Ruud van Nistelrooy said it was painful missing former team-mate Roy Keane's testimonial last night following the Dutch striker's fall-out with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Speculation has surrounded the future of van Nistelrooy since he went home after being left out of United's final Premier League game of the season against Charlton Athletic on Sunday. Media reports said Ferguson had told the player he would take no part in the testimonial match between United and Keane's Celtic side at Old Trafford. "I wanted to pay my respects to Roy. I wasn't allowed to so that was the most painful thing," he said.
Ecuador: Ecuador included temperamental Argentina-based striker Ivan Kaviedes in their 23-man World Cup squad yesterday. The Argentinos Juniors forward, who has also played club football in Italy, Spain, Mexico, England and Portugal, last appeared for his country in a 5-2 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay in March 2005. The major absentee in the squad was Franklin Salas. Doctors said last month the striker would not recover from a knee operation in time for the tournament.
Howard: Manchester United's American goalkeeper Tim Howard will join Everton in July for a full season's loan deal, the Premier League club said yesterday. The 27-year-old has only played a handful of games for United's first team this season following the signing of Dutch keeper Edwin Van der Sar in June last year.
Barcelona Shirts: Spanish champions Barcelona have shelved plans to seek commercial sponsorship for their team shirts and have decided instead to use the club's name and resources to finance humanitarian projects. Barca president Joan Laporta said yesterday that the club's board had agreed to donate 0.7 per cent of annual income starting from the 2006/07 season to the United Nations as a contribution to the organisation's Millennium Development Goals campaign.
Policy for "sick days": A Dutch insurer is offering employers in the country the chance to insure themselves against the sudden rise in staff sick days expected during the World Cup. Tens of thousands of Dutch workers phoned in ill during the Euro Championships in 2004, with sickness levels rising 20 per cent on days when the Dutch national side played. Under Dutch law, companies must pay employees who are too ill to report to work. They can insure themselves against this, but most policies apply only to absences longer than two weeks. SEZ said it would waive the usual two-week time limit and pay out for any employees absent on the day of a Netherlands match.
Scholl: Experienced German midfielder Mehmet Scholl has signed up for another year with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, the club said yesterday. The 35-year-old has been at Bayern since 1992, winning eight championships despite being plagued by injury.
Olsen: Former Manchester United winger Jesper Olsen is undergoing tests in a Melbourne hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage, the club's website reported yesterday. Olsen, who lives in Australia, spent five years at Old Trafford between 1984-89. The 45-year-old Dane, made 175 appearances for United, scoring 24 goals, and was part of the 1985 FA Cup-winning side under Ron Atkinson.
In England: The Championship promotion play-off SF second leg - Watford vs C. Palace 0-0 (agg: 3-0).
Basketball: Women's Louis Borg Cup SFs: Hibs vs Naxxar 76-35; Depiro vs Luxol 64-61 (after extra-time).