SOCCER SHORTS: UEFA AWARDS:Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go up against each other again for Uefa's Best Player in Europe award.
Last year's winner Messi is joined in the final three by Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta, while Real Madrid's Ronaldo makes it two years in a row on the shortlist.
The winner will be announced on August 30th in Monaco on the same day as the Champions League group stage draw.
Bangor City's Les Davies did not make the final round.
The 27-year-old winger was a surprise inclusion on the original 32-man list.
A single nomination, believed to be from a Welsh journalist, was enough to earn Davies's place on the 32-man list, but he did not make the final cut.
Juventus' Andrea Pirlo and Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez, who came second last year, just missed out.
Messi, current Fifa Ballon d'Or holder for the world's best player of 2011, was the clear winner of the European award last season with 39 votes. Xavi was second with 11, while Ronaldo managed just three.
Wenger rules out Song leaving
TRANSFER NEWS:Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has rejected talk linking midfielder Alex Song with a move to Barcelona.
Reports in Spain have suggested Barcelona are keen to bring in Song before the close of the transfer window as they look to reunite him with Cesc Fabregas.
However, Wenger insists he has had no contact with Barcelona for Song and that the Cameroon international will stay at the Emirates. “There’s nothing going on with Song. There’s nothing in that,” Wenger said. “Song has three years’ contract, he’s not in the same situation as Robin Van Persie.
“In Spain the newspapers are not really serious. We’ve had the experience of that. We’ve never had any contact with anybody from Barcelona.”
Meanwhile, Moussa Dembélé has claimed Real Madrid have shown an interest in him – but Fulham have yet to receive any offers and would not welcome any.
The Belgium international has long been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage, where he has shone since joining from AZ Alkmaar three years ago.
Queen’s Park skipper Little on FA charge
SCOTTISH LEAGUEQueen's Park skipper Ricky Little has been charged by the Scottish Football Association for making "comments of a threatening nature" on Facebook.
It was claimed the defender had used the social networking site to say he would injure Rangers players.
The SFA’s compliance officer has issued Little (23) with a notice of complaint.
He faces a charge of “not acting in the best interests of Association Football by posting on Facebook improper comments of a threatening nature”.
Queen’s Park and Rangers will meet in Division Three, the bottom division of the Scottish Football League, this season, with their first meeting at Ibrox on October 20th.
Lyon confirm they rejected bid from Spurs for Lloris
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEOlympique Lyon have confirmed that they rejected an offer from Tottenham for their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris this summer, while the agent of Gastón Ramírez has claimed the north London club have bid for the Bologna forward. Spurs' current number one, Brad Friedel, turned 41 in May and the France goalkeeper Lloris (25) would provide André Villas-Boas with a much younger alternative.
“Hugo wants to play at one of the best clubs in Europe,” the Lyon chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas, told the French radio station RMC. “This year there was an approach from Tottenham that was quickly rejected. If he absolutely wants to leave, we will look at the proposals but they must be consistent with what we want. If not, he will stay.”
Spurs have also made an offer for Ramírez, according to the Bologna forward’s agent.
“The only solid offer is the one from Tottenham, who offered €16 million,” Oscar Betancourt said. “But the deal didn’t go through because Spurs offered too low a wage to the player and if the wage difference is minimal he would stay at Bologna.”
Hulk looking for new challenge
TRANSFER NEWSBrazil forward Hulk is ready to leave Portuguese champions Porto and would like to move to a high-profile club in England or Spain.
“I have left the door open to be transferred. My preference is to play in England or Spain because they are the most watched leagues in the world,” the 26-year-old told the Brazilian news agency Lancepress.
Croatia’s head coach is disappointed Andre Villas-Boas is not picking Luka Modric, but expects the unsettled playmaker to complete his move from Tottenham to Real Madrid soon.
Modric has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, but as of yet no club have reached the €50 million asking price Spurs are demanding for his signature.
Tottenham already appear to be planning for life without Modric.
The Londoners signed Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim earlier this summer, and it is understood they have launched a bid to sign hard-working Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila.
