Today's other soccer stories in brief

United vendetta denied by FA

ENGLISH Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has denied the association is pursuing a vendetta against Manchester United, after criticism from inside Old Trafford of its handling of the Patrice Evra fracas at Stamford Bridge.

Alex Ferguson has condemned the FA's decision to publish the findings of an independent disciplinary committee's investigation into Evra's fight with Chelsea ground staff last season and subsequent four-match ban.

Triesman insisted yesterday: "I have got absolutely no sense from anybody inside Soho Square that anybody has got it in for Manchester United.

"David Gill (United's chief executive) is held in huge esteem.

"Alex may on occasions find himself in the disciplinary spotlight but the man is an extraordinary manager and I think he is a genuinely remarkable man in all sorts of other ways."

Concern over Woodgate injury

JONATHAN WOODGATE is a doubt for Tottenham Hotspur's St Stephen's Day fixture against Fulham at White Hart Lane, with the club increasingly concerned about the full extent of his back injury.

The central defender suffered a back spasm in the 0-0 home draw with Manchester United on the weekend before last, when he was substituted and taken to hospital for overnight observation. As he was moving freely, he believed there was nothing seriously amiss and, with the precautions taken, principally scans and rest, he was confident of making the team to face his former club Newcastle United last week.

But he did not play at St James' Park and he is still to return to training as the club's doctors assess him daily.

Staunton out at Leeds United

LEEDS HAVE announced the expected departure of assistant manager Steve Staunton following Gary McAllister's dismissal.

McAllister was sacked following Leeds' 3-1 reverse at MK Dons on Saturday, which was the West Yorkshire club's fourth successive league defeat.

Former Ireland coach Staunton teamed up with McAllister at Elland Road in February.

Mourinho -  'Ibrahimovic is the best'

INTER MILAN coach Jose Mourinho insists his striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a better player than Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best," said Mourinho.

"He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best.

"When I think how a player should be, names like Kaka, Ibrahimovic and (Lionel) Messi come to mind," Mourinho said.

"Messi is great and in two or three years' time he will win the Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award."

Mourinho also said he is not chasing Chelsea's Didier Drogba, but admitted he will let striker Adriano leave Inter.

Owen undecided about his future

MICHAEL OWEN has told Newcastle he will not make a decision on his future until the end of the season.

However, Owen has ended speculation that he could leave Tyneside in January by committing himself to the club until the end of his current contract. In a statement yesterday, Owen also confirmed he had indicated he is willing to take a pay cut if he decides his future lies with the Magpies.

"Following speculation about my future at Newcastle United, I have decided today to make it clear that I am committed to the club until at least the end of this season, and I have informed them I do not want to make a decision about my future until that time. I hope this will be seen as a positive step and not seen as being disloyal in any way.

"I am happy here and enjoy the challenge. It is simply a matter of seriously thinking about my future, as I was 29 last week and my next career decision is a crucial one."

Diarra passes medical and signs deal with Real Madrid 

LASSANA DIARRA has played down comparisons with the former Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele after passing his medical with the La Liga champions yesterday and signing a 4½-year contract that will keep him at the Bernabeu until 2013. Real are said to have paid Portsmouth a fee in the region of €21 million.

Makelele played for the Madrid club from 2000 to 2003 and, though Diarra admits he is proud of the comparisons with his former Stamford Bridge team-mate, he insists he is his own man. "It's an honour to be compared to Makelele, but Makelele is Makelele and I am me," he said. "We have some things in common but I'm my own player."

Diarra, who will wear the name "Lass" on the back of his shirt, added: "I don't want to be called Diarra One or Diarra Two. I want to be known as Lass."

The Frenchman will replace the injured Mahamadou Diarra in central midfield.