Football: Havelange joining the Owen fan club

THE WORLDWIDE fame which teenage England striker Michael Owen earned with his dazzling performances at the World Cup knows no bounds.

Feted by Pele and a host of other football legends after his goal against Argentina, he can now count Dr Joao Havelange, the former president of football's world governing body, Fifa, as a member of his fan club.

Havelange has made an off-icial request to the Football Association for one of Owen's replica England shirts. Fifa's director of communications, Keith Cooper, outlined the "request of a rather unusual nature" in a recent letter to the FA. He wrote: "Dr Havelange was so captivated by Michael Owen's performances at the World Cup that he has asked me to secure for him a number 20 England shirt with Owen's name.

"I must say it's the first time the Fifa President has ever made such a request, which must say a lot about Michael Owen's ability and personality."

The FA have duly arranged for the Liverpool striker to sign a replica England shirt for Dr Havelange. An FA spokesman, Steve Double, said: "We're delighted to oblige. It's a great honour for Michael Owen. What is more, it's also a Brazilian asking for an Englishman's shirt!"