Football: Sacchi suffers blow as Bolic strikes

Fenerbahce's Elvir Bolic, who scored the goal that ended Manchester United's unbeaten home record in European competition, further weakened Arrigo Sacchi's hold on his job as Italy's coach yesterday when he gave Bosnia a 2-1 victory over the Italians in Sarajevo.

He scored in the 44th minute of the first international to be played in Sarajevo since the war in the former Yugoslavia after Enrico Chiesa, of Parma, had equalised a goal by Hamburg's Hasan Salihamidzic in a game that was watched by 45,000. The defeat could mean that Sacchi will be sacked before Italy play England in a World Cup qualifier on 12 February.

Gianfranco Zola, who played in Italy's midfield, could be moving from Serie A to the Premiership after a dispute with his new coach at Parma, Carlo Ancelotti. Reports in Italy claim Chelsea have bid pounds 5m for the 30- year-old midfielder.

Middlesbrough have dismissed reports that Emerson, who is back home in Brazil on holiday, is leaving the club. They expect him to return from his planned break for training a week today.

Aston Villa's manager, Brian Little, will not allow the striker Savo Milosevic to join the Italian club Perugia on loan, and insists the pounds 4.5m transfer agreed between the clubs must go ahead.

Ryan Giggs will test the recovery of his injured calf muscle in Manchester United's Pontins League game against Everton on Saturday.

David Busst, who suffered a serious leg fracture while playing for Coventry against Manchester United last Easter, has been told by doctors that he will never be able to play again.