Today's other stories in brief

Vogts fails to show

Nigerian soccer was thrown into confusion yesterday when former Germany coach Berti Vogts failed to arrive to take charge of the national team. The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said Vogts, who was initially due to fly in on Tuesday, had called to postpone his arrival citing "personal reasons". But Nigerian media reported that Vogts, who signed a four-year contract in early February, put back his trip because he had not been paid three months' salary up front as spelt out in the deal.

The NFA said Vogts, who is on $50,000-a-month, had been paid.

Vogts also denied the media reports. "I will fly to Nigeria on March 13th because it wouldn't make any sense to be there before that and just lie around on the beach," he told the German sports news agency SID.

Keane enjoying job

Roy Keane has admitted he is starting to enjoy management. The 35-year-old celebrated six months as Sunderland boss yesterday having inspired a remarkable fightback which has put the Black Cats in with a genuine chance of winning automatic promotion back to the Premiership.

"I have got a few more grey hairs, I know that. That is all part of the challenge, that is why I came here. I knew Sunderland would be a challenge and it is and one maybe I am starting to enjoy."

They head for second-placed West Brom on Saturday just three points adrift of Tony Mowbray's side and ready for a big push in the remaining 11 games.

Competition for cup

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has warned that England face serious competition to host the 2018 World Cup. Blatter met British Chancellor Gordon Brown, sports minister Richard Caborn and Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson yesterday for talks on a World Cup bid, but he told them there was no guarantee the 2018 tournament would be held in Europe. The US, China and Australia are all possible rivals, though the key decision on which continent will stage the World Cup will be taken by Fifa's executive committee in November.

San Siro warning

Celtic supporters have been warned that home sections of the San Siro will be out of bounds to them for next week's Champions League showdown with AC Milan. Many Celtic fans are expected to travel to Italy for Wednesday's second leg of the last-16 tie after obtaining seats among the Italian supporters through travel agents.

Thousands could now be turned away and have been urged not to attend. Milan officials and Strathclyde Police insist the crackdown on stadium security in Italy means those who missed out on the club's allocation of 4,500 tickets for a designated away section will be refused entry.

Fowler hoping

Robbie Fowler is clinging to his dream of another Liverpool contract despite the announcement that Ukrainian striker Andriy Voronin will be joining the club in the summer. Fowler, 32 next month, said: "I still feel I have a few years left in me yet, and I will be carrying on for a bit longer. Some people have mentioned me moving into coaching and I even saw a move to the US mentioned, but I honestly haven't even thought about anything like that."

Move on tickets

Three more Premiership clubs have announced they would be reducing or freezing ticket prices next season. Everton, Blackburn and Sheffield United joined Chelsea and Bolton in making such a move. Everton revealed season-ticket prices for 2007-08 that will see a 10 per cent reduction if fans buy early. But even if they don't, prices will frozen at 2006-07 levels.