FIFA has postponed the World Club Championship - set for the end of July - until 2003. FIFA said yesterday it based its decision on the inconvenience of the event's timing for the 12 teams involved, the fall-out from the problems of the ISL marketing company and the economic problems of many of the countries whose clubs were involved.

The tournament - first played in January 2000 - groups clubs who have won major championships in FIFA's six continental confederations plus a host team, in Spain's case Deportivo Coruna.

ISL was responsible for marketing major FIFA tournaments including the 2002 World Cup. FIFA severed its links with ISL on Thursday.

Birmingham City said yesterday they were considering legal action in a bid to force the English Football League to replay their controversial first division playoff match against Preston North End. The Football League yesterday rejected Birmingham's plea for a replay.

Preston won the semi-final second-leg tie on a penalty shootout on Thursday to secure their place in the play-off final against Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 28th.

But Birmingham manager Trevor Francis said he and his players felt "robbed and cheated" after the decision to stage the shootout at the goal in front of Preston supporters.

Francis said referee Paul Danson had told him before kick-off that if a shootout was needed it would be held at the goal in front of an empty stand at Preston's Deepdale ground, which is being re-developed.

Birmingham immediately lodged a protest to the Football League, but this has been rejected out of hand.

Tottenham Hotspur have strengthened their defence by signing Red Star Belgrade captain Goran Bunjevcevic, subject to him gaining a work permit and passing a medical.

In a statement the English premier league club said the 28-yearold Yugoslavia international had agreed a five-year contract "commencing as soon as certain formalities are completed".

No details of a transfer fee were given, although media reports say Tottenham have agreed to pay Red Star £4 million sterling for the central defender.

England goalkeeper Richard Wright has signed a new three-year contract with Ipswich Town, the premier league club said yesterday.

Wright, (23), has signed a deal that will keep him at Portman Road until the end of the 2003-04 season.

Sunderland have signed Argentine teenager Nicolas Medina from Argentinos Juniors for £3.5 million. The 19-year-old midfielder has signed a contract until 2006 with Peter Reid's side.

Medina follows his former Juniors team-mate Julio Arca to the Stadium of Light.

England defender Gary Neville has signed a new six-year contract with premier league champions Manchester United.

United have not given up hope of persuading Teddy Sheringham to sign a new contract after Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle confirmed his interest in the England striker.

Hoddle is keen to take Sheringham back to Tottenham four years after he left to join United in a £3.5 million deal.

Jaap Stam has admitted he is almost certain to miss Holland's World Cup qualifier against Estonia next month because of his hamstring injury.

Stam suffered a hamstring tear during Tom Boyd's testimonial against Celtic on Tuesday.