Soccer Shorts: Sunderland manager Roy Keane has signed teenage Wales defender Lewin Nyatanga on loan. The 18-year-old has joined the English Championship side from Derby until January.
Meanwhile, Keane insists Rory Delap's proposed transfer to Stoke will go ahead as planned, despite fears he could miss the rest of the season.
Delap, on loan at Stoke from Sunderland until January, suffered fractures of the tibia and fibula on Tuesday and could remain sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Keane said: "We had a gentleman's agreement with Stoke that Rory would go on loan with a permanent deal in place (to take effect in January) and Stoke have been true to their word."
Cup final for Wembley
The English FA have secured next year's FA Cup final at the new Wembley stadium after making the showpiece a key part of a peace settlement with builders Multiplex.
An extra payment of £36 million from the FA to Multiplex has been agreed after a lengthy dispute over the cost - but it will only be paid on the condition that the stadium is ready for a grand opening at the final on May 19th.
The agreement hinges on Multiplex ensuring the work is completed and sources at the construction company have confirmed the vast majority is now done.
Glazers make response
The Glazer family have hit back at criticism of their ownership of Manchester United by some sections of the club's support.
This week's resignations of finance director Nick Humby and commercial counterpart Andy Anson have triggered a wave of attacks from the anti-Glazer brigade.
"Maybe it was understandable there would be some concern when the takeover first took place but people now realise Malcolm Glazer is a responsible owner," said a family spokesperson."The club is well run and well managed. They (the Glazers) are private people but they are passionate about the success of Manchester United."
Meanwhile, manager Alex Ferguson is still disappointed he was not able to prise Owen Hargreaves away from Bayern Munich this summer.
"If we had got Owen Hargreaves it would have given us a complete variation of the type of midfield players you need in the modern game," Ferguson said. "We focused on Michael Carrick and Owen right away (during the close season). We got one and didn't get the other."
Vennegoor gives warning Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has warned he could miss the crucial games against Benfica and Hearts next month through injury.
The Dutchman limped off in the second half of Celtic's 4-1 win at Dundee United on Saturday with an ankle injury. He was making his return at Tannadice after suffering an ankle problem in the Old Firm victory on September 23th.
Vennegoor of Hesselink missed his second Champions League clash of the campaign as Celtic swept Benfica aside 3-0 at Parkhead on Tuesday.
And the 27-year-old could be absent for the return in Lisbon on November 1st and the Scottish Premier League clash with Hearts at Celtic Park three days later. He said: "I had really no chance of making the Benfica game and, to be honest, I don't think I'll be playing for two or three weeks now.
"It's disappointing because these are the types of games I came to Celtic for."
Johannsson to get tough
Uefa president Lennart Johansson says he will crack down on soccer's financial irregularities and match-fixing and will table stricter rules for players' agents if re-elected as head of European soccer's governing body.
In his manifesto, to be published on November 1st in London, the Swede reiterates his plan to work with European Union politicians, in direct conflict with Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Zidane's not missing it
Zinedine Zidane said he was coping well with life outside soccer and had no immediate plans to coach. The former France and Real Madrid playmaker, who retired after his country's defeat by Italy in the World Cup final in July, said he did not miss competitive football.
"I'm not missing it," he said. "When Real Madrid started the season, I didn't feel anything, but it may come."
Zidane, who has just signed a deal to work as a consultant for French television channel Canal Plus, said he might become a coach one day. "I will stay close to football because that's what I know how to do," he said. "If you ask me if I will become a coach, for now, it's no. But in 10 years, I don't know."
In brief . . .
Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has expressed an interest in representing the Dutch under-23 side in Beijing if they qualify for the 2008 Olympics, where teams are allowed to field three overage players . . . The Scottish Premier League have signed a new four-year sponsorship deal with the Clydesdale Bank worth up to £8million, which starts from the start of next season . . . Sheffield Wednesday have sacked manager Paul Sturrock, despite handing the Scot a new contract last month
. . . Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem have parted company with Argentine coach, and former Tottenham midfielder, Osvaldo Ardiles.
