Football: Threat made by Branca to report Boro

MARCO BRANCA, the former Internazionale striker, has threatened to report Middlesbrough to Fifa, the game's governing body, over the club's refusal to allow him to resume his career with them.

Middlesbrough announced last month that the career of the 34-year-old was over because of a serious knee injury that had restricted him to 25 minutes of football this season. Branca, signed a year ago for pounds 1m, scored on his Middlesbrough debut against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final.

He scored nine more goals for the club including a hat-trick against Bury that helped Boro win promotion to the Premiership. However, since his knee surgery he has been a peripheral figure at the Riverside.