A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Clubs challenge Real/Barca TV deal
VILLARREAL, Sevilla and four other clubs have hardened their opposition to an agreement brokered by Real Madrid and Barcelona with 11 other top-flight Spanish teams on sharing television revenue.
Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad also oppose the Madrid/Barca model arguing it will maintain the La Liga clubs’ unfair duopoly.Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said: “Under the current system of revenue sharing it would be impossible for any club other than Madrid or Barca to win the league.” Many La Liga clubs are unable to meet the huge wage demands of top players or pay the massive transfer fees needed to buy them and therefore they have no real hope of competing for the domestic title.
The new deal would take effect around 2014 after current contracts expire.
Kranjcar set to leave Spurs
NIKO KRANJCAR has confirmed he is close to quitting Tottenham after again being frozen out of manager Harry Redknapp’s plans.
Kranjcar, who scored the first two goals and laid on the third as Croatia breezed past Malta 3-0 to go top of Euro 2012 Group F last night, said: “Of course, I have to wait to see what Tottenham have to say, but as things stand, a transfer somewhere else is not that far away.”
Russia and Slovakia beaten
THE Republic of Ireland’s opponents in Group B for Euro 2012 had disappointing outings yesterday. Russia, who beat Ireland 3-2 in the Aviva Stadium last month, were beaten at home 2-0 by Belgium in Voronezh.
Romelu Lukaku scored a goal in each half, first tapping home after two minutes then adding his second 17 minutes from time with a low drive from just inside the area.
Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Ireland’s other Group B opponents Slovakia 3-2 in an entertaining encounter in Bratislava.
Filip Sebo fired Slovakia ahead after three minutes but Haris Medunjanin levelled shortly before the half-hour.
Miralem Pjanic fired Bosnia ahead after 50 minutes and Edin Dzeko made it 3-1 on the hour.
Peter Grajciar pulled one back for the hosts 24 minutes from time but that was the end of the scoring.
Macedonia drew 0-0 away to Albania.
Terry to see specialist in Italy about leg injury
JOHN TERRY has flown to Italy with Chelsea’s club doctor to see a specialist about his leg injury. The England defender (29), has been struggling with a nerve problem in his right leg which could keep him on the sidelines for months.
So far no-one has been able to identify what is wrong with the centre-back and Terry is understood to have flown out yesterday to Italy with Chelsea doctor Bryan English.
The injury forced Terry to miss last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Sunderland and he also pulled out of England’s friendly against France last night. A Chelsea source said: “It could be months , although that’s the pessimistic view. We don’t know the root of the pain. He can’t keep struggling, so he has to get to the source of the problem.”
INTER MILANpresident Massimo Moratti has "full confidence" in Rafael Benitez amid speculation the Spanish coach could be on his way out of the San Siro. The European and Italian champions have managed only one win in five Serie A games and Sunday's 1-0 defeat to AC Milan left Inter six points behind their league-leading city rivals in the standings. Moratti has, however, denied reports that he is considering a coaching change, saying: "This is an invention and I've read it in the newspapers. "We have chosen this project and it will go forward. I have full confidence in Benitez.
“That, however, does not mean that I can’t be disappointed after Sunday’s game, but this does not change the way the club thinks in any way.”
