Norwegian jinx: World champions Brazil will play Norway in a soccer friendly in Oslo in August, hoping to make it fourth time lucky against a team they have never beaten. "It's hard to imagine a better opponent in a friendly than Brazil," Norway coach Aage Hareide said of the game at Ullevaal stadium on August 16. One of the few nations never beaten by Brazil, Norway defeated the South Americans 2-1 in a first-round upset at the 1998 World Cup in France. Norway also won 4-2 over Brazil in a friendly in Oslo in 1997 and the two drew their only other game, 1-1, in 1988.
Copyright Dispute: A German federal court ruled against FIFA in a copyright dispute yesterday and said the soccer's world governing body could not prevent German firms from using the term "Soccer World Cup 2006" in adverts. The federal court in Karlsruhe ruled in favour of confectionary firm Ferrero and another complainant that had used catchphrases referring to the World Cup. The slogan was among the 850 phrases referring to the World Cup that FIFA had patented. FIFA argued it held the copyright to the slogan and was trying to protect its official World Cup sponsors. But the court ruled "Fussball WM 2006" ("Soccer World Cup 2006") was a generic term and should not be protected by a patent.
Chelsea Fined: English champions Chelsea have been fined £10,000 ($17,840) and warned to behave after players tried to put pressure on a referee during a league match last month. "The charge related to an incident in the 43rd minute of the match at the Hawthorns on March 4 when several Chelsea players surrounded referee Mark Halsey following a foul by West Brom's Ronnie Wallwork," the FA said. Chelsea, who won the game 2-1 and are a point away from retaining their Premier League title, denied the charge and requested a personal hearing.
Ferguson: Rangers captain Barry Ferguson will be out for up to four months after an ankle operation, the club said. The Scotland midfielder had reconstructive surgery on Monday, having played with the problem for several weeks. "The surgeons gave me a rough estimate of 12 to 16 weeks that I won't be able to play," Ferguson told the club's website. "It's a long process, but I have been through it with my knee (injury) so I can handle it. I am just glad it has been done and I look forward to next season."
World Cup tickets: A travel agent has deposited 12,000 World Cup tickets for Brazil matches in a vault in a German bank for safe keeping until their owners arrive for the tournament that starts on June 9. The coveted tickets, which were transported in an armoured car to Cologne, will be kept in the vault of Sparkasse savings bank. They belong to fans who booked their World Cup travel and tickets through a Brazilian tour operator. The fans, who will be based in Cologne, will receive their tickets upon arrival in Germany, Cologne's Tourist Board said.
Messi: Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi is recovering well from a thigh injury sustained in training on Wednesday, the Argentina team doctor said yesterday. "We've followed all the steps that Barcelona have instructed," Donato Villani said outside the clinic where Messi had undergone a routine check. "The injury is improving well in the way we had predicted."
MFA Division Three: Sta Venera vs Ghaxaq 4-1 (Sta Venera promoted); Rabat vs Pembroke 2-1 (Rabat in promotion play-offs).