Football: Kilmarnock march on Europe

KILMARNOCK WILL definitely play in the Uefa Cup next season, they found out yesterday.

They have been notified by European football's governing body that as Scotland finished top of the Fair Play League, they are being invited to compete, despite finishing only fourth in the Scottish Premier League.

Killie, who finished top of Scotland's own Fair Play table, will will enter at the third qualifying stage, along with Celtic and St Johnstone.

Kaba Diawara has joined Marseilles for an undisclosed fee after four months with Arsenal.

The French Under-21 international striker joined Arsenal for pounds 2.5m from Bordeaux in January, but was unable to command a regular first-team place. After making his debut against Chelsea, he made 15 appearances but started only three matches, failing to score.

Lothar Matthaus has ended speculation on a possible move to the US Major League. "I will resume training with Bayern Munich on 5 July," the 38- year-old Matthaus said as Germany prepared for Friday's European Championship qualifier against Moldova in Leverkusen.

Matthaus, whose contract with Bayern runs until June 2000, had said earlier that he was considering an offer from New York-New Jersey MetroStars. He added that he might still move to the United States, but not until the end of next season.

Real Madrid have raised the price of the buy-out clause for their in- form striker Fernando Morientes to 15,000 million pesetas (pounds 60m) in a bid to ward off potential suitors.

The Spanish international, who has scored 17 goals in his last 19 appearances, reached agreement with the club over new financial terms yesterday following weeks of negotiations.

Morientes' representative, Gines Carvajal, said that the player's salary had increased substantially while his contract has been extended by a year until June 2003.