The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Tuesday October 19 1993 Soccer Premiership: Blackburn Rovers 0, Sheffield United 0 Aao nn AnrH in IBDackltoMirmi aigaSinisft SlhielHFoeDdl spooDeirs IA. 18 SPORTS NEWS Stephen Bierley in Cynthia Batsman European competition in the Olympic Stadium. Mike Walker, Norwich's manager, has watched them recently and is aware they are in form. What he cannot be sure about is how his team will respond tonight. "Will we be overawed? Quite honestly I don't know, but I would be surprised.

There was a time when English teams were feared in Europe, and I have always suspected European football would suit us at Norwich." With fitness doubts over Polston and Ekoku, Walker may stick to the side that impressively beat Chelsea on Saturday, although he hopes Ekoku will have recovered from a leg injury. The Nigerian scored the opening goal against Vitesse which swept away the nerves and paved the way for an impressive could hardly have Munich on Norwich's bid to make further progress in Europe OFFICIALS of Bayern Munich are extremely fond and proud of talking about the club's past, its harmony and consistency, and their resolution not to change things for the sake of change. "Rather like your Liverpool," says Uli Hoeness, their general manager, allowing himself a wry smile and inviting the obvious postscript pre-Souness. Since winning a record 12th Bundesliga title in 1990 the Bavarians have themselves experienced consider able difficulty both on and off the pitch, and Hoeness has strong sympathy for An-field's angst. "Sometimes the harder you try the more difficult it seems to become.

Now at last I believe we have a bright future once more, but it has taken a tremendous amount of hard work. And an understanding of our past." The past has certainly been glorious. Great deeds three European Cups and great names Franz Beck-enbauer, Gerd Miiller, Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigee and their current sweeper Lothar Matthaus. Matthaus has had well- publicised differences of opinion with Hoeness but his switch from midfield to sweeper seems to have benefited everybody, including the German national team. The 32-year-old defender may lack the grace and style of Beckenbauer but his game is finely tuned to the modern needs of pace and athleticism.

Norwich have already straddled their first European barrier, initially stuttering against the technical skills of Vitesse Arnhem be fore matching the Dutch club and applying second-half pressure at Carrow Road that Vitesse found impossi ble to withstand. German technique is every bit as well-honed as Dutch and they possess a mental toughness and resilience that at times appear almost supernatural. Beckenbauer's recent assertion that "the German mentality is stronger than that of other nations" might be construed as mere arrogance, yet there is no arguing against the national team's extraordinary World Cup record. At club level the record is not as impressive, compared to England, Italy or Spain, although Bayern have never lost to an English side in iran LhAimW' Shedding Shearer the Blackburn and England striker goes down under pressure at Ewood Park last night PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL STEELE through to the World Cup finals, failed to connect "The longer it stays so awful, the better United will like it," said an aficionado of the Bas-sett lack of style. The spectators could only hope it would get better.

Two chances at the re-start promised entertainment, with Falconer's hair-trigger strike well saved and Newell narrowly failing to connect with a superb cross from Ripley. but Spurs slump i LACKBURN's desper 'ate attempts to save I this same from ifmo 'miny came to nought and the likeliest effect of a dour encounter of dire ineptitude will be a sizeable reduction in Sky's viewinE figures. For Shef- fiield United there was at least the consolation of their first clean sheet. This season United have won only once away from home: 8,000 miles away from home, to be exact. While Blackburn's strikers Shearer and Gallacher were on international duty last week united were in Brunei.

Their chairman Reg Brealey and the Sultan are close friends. The Sultan spends 1.5 mil lion a week on polo ponies and possesses the sort of fortune to make that of Jack Walker, Blackburn's benefactor, seem like a decent-sized tip. It is a pity Brealey cannot persuade the Sultan to invest. United's only consolation this season is that they start Saturday's derby one place above Shettield Wednesday. Although Blackburn went into last night's game with only one home victory they were still playing for a place in the top four.

It hardly showed in a torpid first half which must have had BSkyB viewers reaching for their remote controls. With three international strikers on the field United's Norwegian Flo being the third goals were expected. But the first half was almost barren of incident, let alone goals. Twice scuffles broke out which might have led to sendings off but the referee, Terry Kolbrook, was in lenient mood. Shearer might have been the first dismissed for a high challenge which ended with a kick in the ribs for the goalkeeper Tracey.

Shortly afterwards Bradshaw and Gallacher were also lucky to stay on after Bradshaw made a butting gesture at Gallacher, who promptly collapsed. The approach play was as bad as the finishing with the ball rarely played along the ground. Only United's Hoyland deserved commendation for his tight marking and good defending. He prevented Blackburn scoring from their best early chance when Berg played probably the most impressive pass Italian fans give vent to animal instincts Neil Robinson FIFA's general secretary Joseph Blatter entered the hooligan debate yesterday by claiming that caging fans only made them "act like Had he been in Italy at the weekend, when there were several outbreaks of violence, he might have concluded that many behave that way anyway. The worst trouble was at Pisa, whose president Romeo Anconetani underwent emergency eye surgery on Sunday night after being hit by an object thrown by one of his own team's supporters.

He had been appealing for calm after the 1-1 draw with Acireale saw two players dismissed. The 71-year-old Anconetani suffered damage to the cornea in his left eye after the missile shattered his glasses. However, the surgery saved his sight. Trouble also flared at Ca-gliari where local fans attacked Napoli supporters waiting to take a ferry home. Police made eight arrests.

Meanwhile the inquiry into alleged illegal payments widened when Luciano Moggi, Torino's former managing director who now has a post with Roma, was warned he faces investigation. Police believe that Torino listed fictitious players in transfer deals to mask the true amount of money changing hands. Atletico Madrid's Brazilian manager Jair Pereira has been warned by his chairman Jesus Gil that he will be sacked unless results improve immediately. On Saturday Atletico lost 2-1 at home to Real Sociedad after going down 2-1 at Sevilla the week before. Yet Atlctico's situation is hardly desperate they are only three points behind the leaders Barcelona.

"If things don't change, steps will have to be taken," said Gil, who in six years has sacked Pereira's 11 predecessors. "I don't know if it's the language but they don't understand each other. And Pereira doesn't understand me either. He says "yes" to everything and then does something else." Oday Hussein, Saddam's son, has sacked Iraq's head coach, Adnan Dirjal, and two of his assistants for unruly behaviour after the team's 3-2 defeat by North Korea in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Doha. Dirjal broke a chair and gestured at the referee.

of the half through the United defence for Shearer to make a run. The England striker placed a perfect cross towards Gallacher in front of goal but Hoyland timed his interception to perfection. His young Swedish team mate Wirmola, a recent buy from Sparvaggen, was not so lucky with his clearance three minutes later. It went straight to Sherwood on the edge of the penalty box but his volley flew Chelsea Don Beet FIRST the good news: Chelsea's redevelopment plans have received a 5 million injection. Now the bad: Tottenham's profits have been downgraded by 30 per cent to 3.3m.

Chelsea's money was put up yesterday by Matthew Harding, chairman of a reinsurance broking firm and a fan for 30 of his 39 years. He joins the board of the club and its parent company, Chelsea Village Ltd. Together with a Football Trust grant of some 2m, the finance will be invested directly in the building Pools Forecast PA CARLIKO. PREMIERSHIP Kubicki left behind made a better start in their first European campaign. "I think we made one or two sit up and take notice, and I believe there is more to come," said Walker.

The Olympic Stadium, with its vociferous crowd, can be immensely in timidating. Frayed nerves could cost Norwich dear for Culverhouse, Ekoku, Polston, Newman, Megson and Crook all received a yellow card against Arnhem and would miss the return leg if booked here. Concentration will be of the essence. Norwich have not lost away in the league this season; Bayern, third in the Bundesliga after last weekend's victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. have been in free-scoring form.

Morten Olsen, the Co logne coach, believes the cur rent Bayern squad is the best in the Bundesliga: "Their mixture oi youth and experi ence is exactly right." The thread through the middle is certainly impressive: Matthaus, supreme in defence; Holland's Jan Wouters, as England can tes tify, a midfield player of great influence; Colombia's Adolfo Valencia, a striker of authentic menace. Norwich are clearly the underdoes here. But then they are used to that. Ekoku fitness doubt him a place in the Villa first team for 10 months. But it looked as though he might have won his place back, had he been able to travel to La Coruna.

Earl Barrett and Steve Staunton, Villa's regular fullbacks, are both injured. Deportivo beat Barcelona 1-0 on Saturday with a goal from their Brazilian international striker Bebeto. Barry Fry, the Southend manager, has apologised for "slagging off' Brentford's Joe Allon. He has written to Allon, whom he called "a complete and utter waste of time" after a game the striker played on loan at Southend, claiming his remarks were made "in the heat of the Scarborough have demoted their manager Phil Chambers. He has agreed to stay on as assistant manager.

1 Tennis Monica Seles's agent has denied reports that the former world No. 1 would make her come-, back at a tournament in Essen, Germany next week. Selesv stabbed by a deranged spectator in Hamburg last April, recently resumed light training and hopes to defend her Australian Open title in January. Badminton Gill Clark has recovered from a whiplash neck injury she suffered in a car crash and will line up in the England team to play China in the first of the six-match series at Portsmouth tonight, writes Richard Jago. Chess Jan Timman looked close to tears as he walked away from the table after squandering a strong position and losing the 14th game of his Fide world championship match with Ana-toly Karpov in Jakarta.

Since the Russian now leads 8'i-5'i in the race to 12 'A points the Dutchman knew his chance of becoming "official" world champion had all but gone. as Villa play safe Blaokburn Rovorai Mimms; May, Sherwood, Hendry, Le Saux, Ripley. Gallacher, Shearer, Newell, Marker, Berg. Sheffield United! Tracey: Rogers, Hodges, Flo, tjoesiey, ctraasnaw. wnitenouse, Falconer, wirmola, Hoyland, uavison.

Refsraer Holbrook (Walsall). Birmingham City's Cana dian international striker Paul Peschisolido will be out of action for at least three weeks. Peschisolido, y's top scorer with seven goals, has had an exploratory operation which revealed damaged knee liga ments on Saturday. Connor pledges to give Celtic Sporting chance Patrick Glenn ERANK CONNOR must wait until after tomorrow night's Uefa Cup second-round match at home to Sporting Lisbon to be relieved of his command of Celtic. But the coach, left alone on the bridge after the depar tures of Liam Brady and Joe Jordan nearly a fortnight ago.

is unlikely to worry about that. A born enthusiast, Connor pledged to prepare the players as professionally as the de manding occasion requires even as the Celtic board's at tempts to lure Lou Macari to the managerial chair declined towards the absurd yesterday. It is now three days since the chairman Kevin Kelly declared his confidence that the talks between Celtic and Stoke City for Macari would be "settled amicably over the weekend" and that the manager was expected to be installed by tomorrow. No progress has been made, however, as the Stoke chair man Peter Coates insists that the Glasgow club pay 400,000 compensation tor a manager whose contract has only eight months to run, and Macari himself appears unwilling to leave and let the lawyers sort out the fiscal wrangle. The Celtic directors tried to contact their former player yes terday but he was going through his normal routine.

supervising training at the Victoria Ground. No early resolution is now expected. For his part Connor has plenty to occupy his mind, as injuries to important players and a surplus in foreigners threaten to turn selection into something of an ordeal. After a three-week absence the veteran striker Frank McAvennie has already been ruled out, just as the defender Mike Galloway is sure to be today. Galloway's partner, the former under-21 international Mark McNally, and the midfielder Peter Grant (knee) are also causing concern.

Crucially McNally and Grant are Scots. The promotion to the first team of the Irishman Paul Byrne in the last two games an encouraging sign of the stand-in manager's willingness to make decisive changes leaves him with a squad that includes six foreigners, when only three are permitted to play in European games. The irishman Fat Bonner seems certain to play while the loss of Grant and McNally could make the inclusion of the Englishman Tony Mowbray and the Pole Dariusz Wdowc- zyk essential. "We'll see what tomorrow brings, said Connor. When Gallacher provided Newell with a similar chance it was headed high.

Shearer was next to miss in front of the half-constructed new stand, a sharp reminder that Blackburn will have to do better than this if they are to fill it. Blackburn kept up the pressure but Ripley's crosses became more desperate and Flo came closest at the other end with a shot just wide in the 64th minute. forecast last May that profits would reach 5m. That was swiftly followed by a company statement that unaudited pre tax profits for the 10 months to March 31 were around lm. Subsequent trading continued to be profitable but earlier estimates had not taken into ac count "certain year-end provi sions for items such as legal ex- penses and the cost of unexpected major repairs to the East Stand, which are likely to amount to an aggregate l.4m The figures, which will be confirmed early next month.

still compare favourably to a year ago when the club turned a l.76m loss into a 2.86m profit. Morgan (Wal) bt Hughes (Ire) 5-0; O-Ksne (NZ) bt Murphy (N Ire) 5-0; Foulda (Eng) bt Owers (Eng) 5-3: Pettman (Eng) bt Bennett (Wal) 5-0; Greene (Eng) bt Griffiths (Wal) 5-2: Knowtea (Eng) bt A Higglns (N Ire) 5-1; Doherty (Ire) bt Woodman (Eng) 5-2; White (Eng) bt Meo (Eng) 5-2: Lee (Eng) oi i urago (Manaj 3-4; nailer (tng; di uiii itng) o-a. Sailing WHITER IAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE! Heinekon Trophy poehiona (at 1400): 1, New Zealand Endeavour (G Dalton. NZ) 374: 2, Tokio (C Dickson, NZ) 0441: 3, Merit Cup (P Felhmann, Switz) 486; 4, Galicla 93 Pescan- ova (J ao la uanoara, sp) sw; ramana (H t-ieio, N) Fixtures (7.30 unless stated) Soccer UEFA CUPi Second round, first legi Bay- ern rviunicn norwicn (tj.40); uepomvo La Coruna Aston Villa (9.0). ENDSLEIOH LEAQUEl First DMaloni Birmingham Bolton.

AUTOQLASS TROPHVi Fast roundi Bar-net Brentford (7.45); Chester Crewe: Colchester Cambridge Utd (7.45); Darlington York; Mansfield Chesterfield; Preston Burnley; Scunthorpe Hull; Shrewsbury Port Vale; Swansea Exeter; Walsall Northampton (7.45): Wlgan Bury. MQ CUPi Second roundi Alrdrle Hamilton; Ayr Brechin; Falkirk Morton St Mlrren; Queen's Pk Clydebank. NORTHERN PREMIER LEAOUEi Premier Division: Buxton Gainsborough; Chorley Accrlngton Stanley; Colwyn Bay Hyde; Droylsden Winslord; Knowsley Utd Marine; Leek Boston; Morecambe Fleetwood; Whitley Bay Barrow. OIADORA LEAOUEi Premier Division! Basingstoke Chesham: Dulwich Enfield. Poatponedi Yeading Wokingham.

PONTINS LEAQUEl First DMsloru Coventry Everfon (7.0); Liverpool Lelceslor (T.0V. ShoH Vied Doihy (7.0). Second Dtv-laloni Bradford Barnsley (7.0). NEVILLE OVEN DEN COMBINATION! First Division! Bristol City Oxford Utd; Palace Swindon (2.0); QPR Charlton (et Harrow Borough); Luton Watford (2.0). FA CHALLENGE TROPHVi Second round.

quaRfying replay si Hayes Marlow; Leyton Yeading; Staines Tn Wembley; Boreham-wood Harrow Borough; Gravesend N'Fleot Ashford Tn; Wokingham Tn Abingdon Tn; Waterlooville Poole Tn. KONICA LEAQUE OF WALES CUPi Second round, first legi Conwy Caersws; Haverfordwest Aberystwyth; Holywell Bangor; Mold Newtown; Porthmadog Connsh's Quay. ALLBRKMT BITTER WELSH CUPi Third round! Cardiff Caldlcot, Rugby Union TOUR MATCHi Gloucester SA Barbarians (7.0). CLUB MATCHES! Blaine Abortillery (7.0); Rugby League STONES BITTER CHAMPIONSHIPl Featherstono Leeds; Wlgan Lolgh, wide and, with Blackburn having most of the possession and initiative, Sherwood was again just wide from a corner before half-time. United, who had not won since the end of August, only twice threatened in the first half.

Each time the danger stemmed from crosses by Hodges but Flo, who boasted five goals in nine games and whose midweek international goal helped put Norway cash in of the 7,500 all-seat North Stand the first phase of the chairman Ken Bates's Stamford Bridge Work will start after the home games against Arsenal on November 20 and Manchester City two days later and will reduce capacity to around 30,000 for the rest of the season. Prices have been reduced for the City match to ease the financial strain on supporters. Seats normally priced at 13, 17 and 25 will cost 10, 12 and 15, with terrace admission 9 for non-members and 7 for members. "I am delighted that Matthew has joined the board and we are all looking forward to a good Results Soccer FA CABLING PREMIERSHIP Black bum (0) Sheffield Utd (0) AUTOQLASS TROPHY First round Doneaater (0) 1 Roche 86 t.626 Rotherhun (1) 2 Freeman 35 (oa) Marginson 69 OM VAUXHAU CONFERENCE! Kidder minster 2, Norlhwich 0. NORTHERN PREMIER LEAQUEl First Or.

Islon: Ashton Utd 3. Eastwood Tn 0: Curzon Ashton 1, Workington Guiseley 4, Caernarfon Tn Worksop Tn 0. Harrogate Tn 3. 0IADORA LEAQUEl Premier Division! Carshallon 2. Bromley 1.

NEVILLE OVENDEH COMBINATIONS First DrvUloni Chelsea Southampton Mlllwall 0. West Ham 0. FA TROPHVi Second quaWyfcig round splays! Emley 4, Tamworth Chelmsford 3, Cambridge 2. WORLD CUPi Asian xene (Qatar): Saudi Arabia 2, North Korea Iran 2, Japan 1. FA TROPHV: Third qualifying round drawi Harrogale Guiseley; Consett 811-lingham Synlhonia; Bishop Auck Murton; Stockton Spennymoor; Seaham Red Star Gretna; Alfreton Bridlington; Goole Northallerton; Colwyn Bay Gulsborough; Hyde Accrlngton; Matlock Blyth Spartans; Oun-ston FB Frickley; Barrow Tamworth or Emley; Enfield Corby; Blllencay Yeadlna or Leyton; Purfteet Heybridge Swifts: VS Rugby Cambridge or Chelmsford; Wembley or Staines St Albans: Nuneaton Boro Aylesbury; Wivenhoe Grantham; Burton Alb Halesowen; Reddllch Hodnestord; Leek Stevenage Boro; Wealdslone Harrow or Boreham Wood: Erlth Belvedere Weston-super-Mare; Dulwich Hamlet Gloucester; Dorchester Bashley; Siftingbourne Kingstonian; Worcester Crawley; Poole or Waterlooville Abingdon or Wokingham; Trowbridge Cheltenham; Worthing Car- snauon; asmoro or uravesona ana mar-low or Hayes.

(To bo played Nov 271. TENNEHTS SCOTTISH CUP) First round Alb on Rvrs Huntlv: Stranraer Wh tehill; Cowdenbeath Queens Pk; East Fife Hothos; Ross County St Cuthberts: Forfar Oueen of South, (to be played Doc 11). Second round! Selkirk Arbroath: Alios Gala; East Stirling Cove Rangers; Albion Rvrs or Huntly Stranraer or Whltehlll; Meadowbank Montrose; Berwick East Fife or Rothes; Forfar or Queen of South Rose County or St Cuthberts: Cowdenbeath or Queens Pk Stenhousemulr. (To be played Jan 8). TRANSFERS! Carl Shutt, forward, Leeds to Birmingham City, Tony Kelly, winger.

Stoke to Bury, 30,000 depending on appearances; Jan McQueen, goalkeeper, Meadowbank to Clydebank, 10,000. Rugby Union PILKINOTON CUP! Trent round draw! South! Havant Cambridge; Clifton Bridgwater Albion; Sudbury Basingstoke: Rosslyn Pk Plymouth Albion; Henley Walsham; Blsckheath Ldn Welsh. North! New Brighton Wlnnlngton Pk; Bradford A Bingley Fylde; Kettering Stourbridge; working relationship with him," said Bates. On the other side of the capital Leyton Orient announced the appointment of an architect, John Goldsmith, to the board, again with redevelopment plans in mind. At White Hart Lane "there is nothing to worry according to Tottenham's financial director Colin Sandy, after shares started the day at I15p and were slashed by lOp before climbing back to 109p.

"The profit announced is disappointing but the underlying trend is good and the directors are very hopeful," Sandy said. Terry Venables, sacked as chief executive in the summer, Covontrv Preston QrasshoDoers: Blrmlna. hem Solihull Broughton Pk: Sheffield wnaneaaie. (to oe piayea November 27). Rugby League STONES BITTER CHAMPIONSHIP Warrington IS, HetWajt 7.

Warrington! meat uavies, trumps, ooaiai uavies a. Dropi Devles. KaMfaxi Tryi Bentley. Ooeti uisnop. nropt uisnop Golf TEXAS OPEN (San Antonio): Final (US unless stated): 283 Haas 68, SS, 66, 64 (won on second hole of play-off); Lohr 68, 64, 67, 64.

307 Andrade 66, 66. 69, 66. 388 Estes 66. 71. 64.

67. 309 Morgan 66. 66. 70, 67; Standly 66, 7 1 65, 67; Oawson 69, txj, feu; towards oo, w. uo, on; r-ors-man 64, 68.

67. 70; Lehman 71, 63, 65, 70. Tennis WOMEN'S AUTOQLASS CLASSIC (Brighton): Second round (GB unless stated): Bonooraf (Neth) bt S-A Siddall 6-2, 6-3; A Leand (US) bt Talaia (Cro) 6-4 7-5; Jensen (usj di Linosirom (awej o-i, 0-4; A Mall (US) bt Bond 6-2. 7-5: Hand bt Salvl (It) 7-6, 6-2: Crosa bt de Lone (US) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Keiedty (Can) bt A de Lone (US) 6-2, 6-7. 7-6; Bruaati (It) bt Lake (GB) 7-5, 5-7, 7-5.

MEN'S INDOOR TOURNAMENT (Lyon, Fr): First round! Barthax (Fr) bt A Gorrlz (Sp) 6-3, 7-8: Maeek (Switz) bt Narglso (II) 6-3, 6-2; Dawn (Cz Rap) bt Dreek-man (Ger) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2; Naewie (Ger) bt Burillo (Sp) 6-4, 7-5; Doumbia (Senegal) bt Raoux (Fr) 6-2, 6-4: Vaoek (Cz Rep) bt A Chesnokov (Rus) 6-4, 6-3. AUSTRIAN INDOOR TOURNAMENT (Vienna): Hrat round! Carnwon (Den) bt Velev (Bui) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1: Buchmayer (Aut) bt Prerovsky (Aut) 6-2, 3-6. 7-5; Saner-Ink (Neth) bl Pozzl (It) 4-6. 7-5, 6-3. Baseball WORLD SERIES! Philadelphia 6, Toronto 4 (best-of-seven-series tied 1-1).

lee Hockey NATIONAL LEAQUEl Florida 3. Tampa Bay 3 (aet); Anaheim 2, Calgary 2 (aet). BOTTOM LEAQUEl Premier Dhrtsloni Durham 12, Billingham Humberside 10, Cardiff Peterborough 2, Murraytield Sheffield 9, Basingstoke Whitley 5, Fife 6. Division One! Blackburn 10, Paisley 10; Guildford 8, Traltord 5: Lee Valley 11, Swindon 10; Med-way 3, Slough Oxford 8, Telford Romford 12. Streatham Solihull 8, Chelmsford 9.

Chess FIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Jakarta): Oeme 14i A Karpov (Rus) bt Jan Tlmman (Neth). Karpov leads S'a-i'a American Football NATIONAL LEAQUEl Cleveland 28, Cincinnati 17; Detroit 30, Seattlo 10; Houston 28, New England 14; NY Giants 21, Philadelphia 10; Pittsburgh 37, New Orleans 14; Dallas 26, San Francisco 17; Phoenix 36, Washington Kansas City 17, San Diego 14; Dallas 26, San Francisco 17; Phoenix 36, Washington Kansas City 17, San Diego 14. Snooker SKODA ORAND PRIX (Reading): First roumb Ferguson (Eng) bt Hull (Fin) 5-4; A RobWoux (Can) bt Garrett (Eng) 5-4; ASTON VILLA left their Polish international fullback Dariusz Kubicki be hind when they flew to Galicia for today's Uefa Cup match against Deportivo La Coruna. They fear he may be prevented from re-entering Britain. Kubicki is appealing against a Department of the Environ ment decision not to renew his work permit "I think it would be unwise if he spent time out of this country," said the Villa secretary Steve Stride.

"There is every possibility mat the authorities would refuse him re entry to England." The DoE and the football au thorities restrict work permits to players whose skills cannot be easily duplicated by British citizens. Though Kubicki has more than 40 caps well above the recommended minimum his abilities have not earned Sport in brief Table Tennis The International Table Tennis Federation has asked its conti nental counterpart to expert ment with 11-up scoring, in stead of 21-up, writes Richard Jago. Experiments will take place next year and the ittf will consider the outcome in 1995. The 11-up system was used at last week's World All Stars cir cuit tournament in Barcelona, where Jean-Michel Saive from Belgium beat Poland's Andrzei Grubba 12-10, 13-11, 11-3, 14-12, 11-7 in the final. Rugby Union South Africa's captain Francois Pienaar, who was concussed in a match on Saturday, may miss his side's tour to Argentina.

Cricket The 36-year-old captain of Zimbabwe David Houghton, who retired" less than two weeks ago, will lead the side in the Cricket Association of Bengal's diamond jubilee next month. 1 Aton Villa Chelsea 1 2 Evenon Han (ltd 2 3 Leeds Blackburn 4 Manchester City Uvarpool 2 9 Oldham Arsenal 2 8 QPR Coventry 7 Sheffield Utd Sheffield Wed ENDSLEIdH LEAQUE FIRST DIVISION 8 Bsrneley Southend 5 Grlmtjsy Charlton 2 10 Nona Co Portsmouth a 11 Oxford Luton 12 Peterborough Birmingham 2 13 Sunderland WestBrom 1 14 Tranmere Bristol City 10 Watford Bolton 1 SECOND DIVISION 10 Brighton Rolhorham 1 17 Briatol Rovara Plymouth 13 Bumfey Huddersllold 1 15 Eiater Blackpool 1 ao Fulhum Stockport 2 21 Hartlepool Bradford 22 Leyton Bournemouth 2 23 Port Vila Heading 1 24 Swansea Hurt 25 Wrexham Cardiff 1 2S York Brentford 1 THIRD DIVISION 27 Bury Herolord 1 2B Colchester Wlgan 1 20 Crewe Gilllngham 1 SO Darlington Wycombe 2 31 Lincoln Chesterfield 1 32 Mansfield Cheater 33 Northampton Carlisle 1 34 Praaton Rochdale 1 35 Shrewsbury Ooncaster 1 38 Torquay Scunthorpe 2 37 Walsall Scarborough 1 OM VAUXHAU. CONFERENCE 38 Halifax Woking 1 39 Yeovil Runcorn 1 LEAQUE OF WALES 40 Aberystwyth Conway 41 Bangor CHy EbbwVale 1 42 Briton Ferry Newtown 43 Caorsws Atari Udo 2 SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION 44 Dundee KHmarnoek 2 48 St Johnstone Raith 1 SCOTTISH FIRST DIVISION 46 Alrdrle Falkirk 1 47 Ayr Brechin 1 48 Dumbarton StMirren 1 40 Dunfermline Stirling SO Hamilton Clyde 1 81 Morion Clydebank 2 SCOTTISH SECOND DIVISION 82 Alloa Berwick 1 83 EaatFlfe Albion 1 84 EaatStMing Arbroath 1 BS Forfar Stranraer 2 8B Meadowbank Queens Park 1 87 Montrose Cowdonboath 1 SB Queen of Sth Stenhousemulr 1.