Fifa acts to halt Hauge dealings

Football

Rune Hauge, the Norwegian agent at the centre of the George Graham affair, has had his licence suspended, it was announced yesterday by Fifa, world football's governing body. As things stand he will not be able to play a part in transfer deals.

But Fifa said Hauge's licence had not been withdrawn and his name would remain on its list of players' agents until his case had been fully investigated.

Fifa last month extended worldwide a one-year ban on Graham imposed by the FA after he was found guilty of accepting pounds 425,000 in illegal transfer payments.

Sir Bert Millichip, the FA chairman, has pleaded with Terry Venables and Alan Sugar to end their bitter feud for the good of the game.

Sir Bert made his appeal to Venables and Sugar in an open letter addressed to the pair. He said: "Over the past two years I have observed with increasing sadness and frustration your continuing feud ... The game itself can be the only definite loser if this continues. And so, for football's sake, the time has come to say enough is enough."

The FA chairman said he was personally willing to play a part in finding a way of resolving the differences between the two. "I await what I am sure will be your positive responses to what is now an urgent matter," he said.

Venables responded by saying: "This would require significant compromise from both sides, but I will be discussing with my solicitors over the weekend a positive response to Sir Bert's letter."

Marseille, the former European champions, have now been accused of bribing a referee before a European Cup match against AEK Athens in 1989, the French newspaper Le Monde reported yesterday. A Croatian agent, Ljubomir Barin, acting allegedly on behalf of Marseille, is said to have offered money to the Austrian referee, Helmut Kohl.

Everton's striker Duncan Ferguson has pulled out of Scotland's squad for next week's European Championship qualifier against Greece at Hampden after a groin injury flared up.

Gary Walsh, the Manchester United keeper, has completed his transfer to Middlesbrough for pounds 250,000 plus the same figure again after a specified number of appearances. Leicester have signed the Australian international winger Steve Corica from the Sydney club, Marconi, although a fee is still to be decided.