A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Blackburn after van Nistelrooy
RUUD van Nistelrooy is in Blackburn's sights, manager Steve Kean has revealed. Rovers owners Venky's have been searching for a top player to bring to Ewood Park since r missing out on Ronaldinho and David Beckham in January.
Former Rovers mananger Sam Allardyce attempted to sign the Dutchman two years ago and Kean, who took over after Allardyce’s sacking in December said: “Yes, I can confirm we are interested.”
Van Nistelrooy, who played with Blackburn full back Michel Salgado at Real Madrid, is out of contract at Hamburg in the summer and has already confirmed he will not sign a new deal at the Bundesliga club. The 34-year-old scored 150 goals in five years at Old Trafford between 2001 and 2006 and is known to favour a move back to England or Spain.
Balotelli told to wise up for Italy
MANCHESTER City's troubled striker Mario Balotelli has been told he must mature before being reconsidered for the Italian national team. The warning comes as City manager Roberto Mancini considers whether to discipline the 20-year-old for allegedly throwing darts at youth team players.
Balotelli was omitted from Italy's European Championship qualifier against Slovenia last Friday and tonight's friendly against Ukraine following his red card in City's Europa League defeat by Dynamo Kyiv.
Cesare Prandelli, the Italy manager has said Balotelli does have a future at international level providing he addresses his disruptive behaviour. "Balotelli has to understand that with this type of behaviour, he is only hurting himself," said Prandelli.
Fenlon to leave Bohemians
THE board of Bohemians will meet this evening to consider the terms of Pat Fenlon's departure from the club after the manager indicated his desire to move on at talks held last night, reports Emmet Malone.
Fenlon, who has been widely linked with a scouting role for Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic, took training before last night's meeting and has yet to agree a financial settlement with the club which is believed to owe him some money.
It looks increasingly likely, however, that he will have departed before Friday's game in Inchicore against St Patrick's Athletic whose assistant manager, John Gill is, along with Liam Buckley, amongst the people being mentioned as a possible successor to Fenlon at Dalymount Park.
Goalkeeper nets his 100th goal
GOALKEEPER Rogerio Ceni scored the 100th goal of his career to give Sao Paulo a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Corinthians in a pulsating Paulista championship derby marred by three red cards on Sunday.
Rogerio, who holds the world record for goals scored by a goalkeeper, placed a free kick in the top right corner nine minutes into the second half to put Sao Paulo 2-0 up.
The 38-year-old former Brazil goalkeeper, a reserve when his country won their record fifth title in Asia in 2002, was booked for taking off his jersey as he celebrated.
Corinthians had defender Alessandro sent off in the 73rd minute and striker Dentinho, who pulled a goal back in the 67th, for their second yellow card offences.
Sao Paulo striker Dagoberto was also shown red after a second yellow.
Win not enough for Republic under-17s
THE Republic of Ireland got the victory they needed to have a chance of topping the Uefa European Under-17 Championship elite round Group Three – only to discover they had been pipped to the final because of a last-gasp Denmark winner against hosts Greece.
Unbeaten Ireland began the day two points behind both Denmark and Greece, meaning if the other game was drawn, John Morling's side could qualify by defeating eliminated Latvia.
Two goals each by Philip Roberts and Bradley Garmston gave Ireland the points yet it was to prove in vain, just as last year at this stage when Greece snatched qualification in similar style.
Ireland's joy was punctured when news of Frederik Holst's 76th minute goal for Denmark filtered through.
