"I'm inclined to blame the ref. for what happened . . . I remember he was French and a bit of a homer."

- Ian McColl, manager of Scotland when they played England at Wembley in 1961, alleging last week that the referee was largely responsible for Scotland's defeat. (The result? 1-0? No - 9-3 to England).

"You come away for England and everyone is basically English and you almost realise what it is to be English."

- Tony Adams philosophising last week on . . . what it is to be basically English, I think.

"He went to a night-club to have a good time while millions of fans were crying at home. The Romario era has finished, against my will. My heart is very sad at this, bleeding and crying."

- Edmundo Santos Silva, President of Flamengo, who sacked former Brazil international Romario on Saturday for going to a night-club the day after his team was knocked out of the Brazilian championship.

"I have always said soccer is a simple game - but for clever people."

- Former Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov who has been appointed his country's assistant coach.