Barcelona defender Frank de Boer yesterday confirmed he failed a drugs test after a UEFA Cup match last month - but insisted he was innocent. The Dutchman and his club have been informed by European football's governing body that he "tested positive for nandrolone" after the club's quarter-final first leg at Celta Vigo on March 15th.
De Boer said: "I am a professional sportsman and have never knowingly used an illegal drug or a forbidden substance under any circumstance. Let that be clear. I have never used nor ever will any drug or any banned steroid."
Republic of Ireland winger Mark Kennedy has pledged his future to Manchester City despite relegation, claiming that for him they are a better club than Liverpool.
Kennedy has already been linked with a move away from Maine Road to either Ipswich or Charlton. But he has no desire to leave saying: "I don't want to leave the club. I love it here. I've had the fortune of playing for Liverpool, but I still maintain that as far as I'm concerned this is the best club."
Meanwhile, City chairman David Bernstein yesterday gave his full support to manager Joe Royle and said he would not lose his job despite being relegated.
Queen's Park Rangers have ditched proposed plans to merge with Wimbledon due to the club's supporters' overwhelming opposition to the scheme. It emerged last week that the two London clubs had been in talks about a possible merger, but Rangers issued a statement which rules o ut any union between the teams
The English Football League have confirmed that the second legs of the First Division play-off semi-finals will take place on Thursday, May 17th (kick-off 7.45 p.m.). The Division Two and Three second legs go ahead 24 hours earlier while the first legs in all divisional semi-finals take place on Sunday, May 13th.
Scotland captain Colin Hendry's appeal against a six-match international ban imposed by the world governing body FIFA for elbowing an opponent will be heard at FIFA's Zurich headquarters on May 17th.
Sunderland manager Peter Reid has been offered a four-year £8 million contract for taking the club to the top half of the premier league.
Inter Milan are to face a disciplinary hearing after their fans hurled a motor scooter from the second level of the San Siro stadium towards the end of Sunday's game against Atalanta. Reports said Inter supporters brought the scooter into the ground after stealing it from an Atalanta fan during a pre-match scuffle. Photographs showed a group of fans trying to set the scooter on fire before hurling it from an upper stand on to an empty section of the stadium.
Former Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell has been announced as the new manager of Second Division Brentford.
