Oceania: FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said yesterday that the champions of Oceania could join the final round of Asian qualifiers for future World Cups. Oceania's current "half" place could possibly shrink further if the regional winners had to join a group of Asian teams instead of being involved in a two-leg play-off. "I think the solution will be to have the winner of the Oceania elimination join the Asian group," Blatter said. "I don't know if we will say it's a half slot or if they will go and play with Asia. At least they will have the possibility to fight to enter the World Cup."
Cisse: Liverpool's unsettled striker Djibril Cisse says he has no intention of leaving Anfield despite renewed interest from Marseille. Cisse pledged his future to the European champions after making a rare start in Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in the Club World Championship on Thursday. "I don't want to leave," the Frenchman said after the match. "I feel good here. I never said I wanted to leave. I never spoke about leaving Liverpool."
Luxemburgo: Former Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has failed to reach an agreement over his compensation payment after being sacked by the club at the start of this month. "There has been no deal," Luxemburgo's lawyer Fernando Perez Espinosa was quoted as saying. Reports said around one million euros separated the two parties.
Keane: Roy Keane will be unable to make his Scottish Premier League debut for new club Celtic until January 14, due to transfer window regulations. Keane agreed an 18-month deal with the Scottish league leaders on Thursday, but the former Manchester United captain must wait until the transfer window opens on January 1 to register. SPL rules say a player can only be registered at their offices before 5 p.m. of the Friday before a weekend fixture. With Celtic's match against Hearts falling on the day the window opens, the 34-year-old is ineligible to play.
Media diaries: Germany's players will be banned from contributing to newspaper columns and diaries or providing Internet input in the weeks before and during next year's World Cup. The DFB has decided the rule will apply from May 15. The month-long tournament starts almost four weeks later, on June 9. Kevin Kuranyi has already signed a deal with Microsoft to provide an online diary during the World Cup, the DFB said.
In England: The Championship - Brighton vs Hull 2-1; Preston vs Sheffield United 0-0. League One - Scunthorpe vs N. Forest 3-1. League Two - Oxford vs Lincoln 0-1.
Snooker: UK Championship SF - S. Davis bt Hendry 9-6.