Football: England slip back into Fifa's top 10

ENGLAND HAVE been restored to the top 10 of the Fifa world rankings despite their sluggish start to their qualifying campaign for the European Championship. Glenn Hoddle's charges improved one place from 11th, but are still lower than the fourth position occupied at the end of last year in the world governing body's latest ratings.

Wales took a welcome step towards respectability with a surge of 17 places from last month's list following their unexpected triumph in Denmark. The Welsh are now 90th, ahead of the likes of Haiti and Uganda, but still behind nations such as Togo and Mozambique.

Scotland, who have made a winning but unconvincing start to their Euro 2000 campaign, have moved up two places from 39th to 37th. Northern Ireland have improved to 87th from 94th, while the Republic of Ireland are up two spots to 52nd.

The leading five places on the order are unchanged, with Brazil still heading the World Cup holders, France, with Germany third, Croatia fourth and Argentina fifth.

FIFA WORLD RANKINGS: 1 Brazil 73.57 points; 2 France 69.01; 3 Germany 67.37; 4 Croatia 66.47; 5 Argentina 65.77. Other: 10 England 62.16; 37 Scotland 49.13; 52 Republic of Ireland 43.45; 87 Northern Ireland 33.93; 90 Wales 33.01.

A Romanian cup match involving Dinamo Bucharest and Tirgu Mures was halted yesterday after a cigarette lighter thrown from the stands struck a linesman. The official was not seriously injured. Dinamo, leading 1- 0, were, under local rules, declared the winners.