Football: Thompson to keep QPR

RICHARD THOMPSON, the Queen's Park Rangers chairman, denied yesterday that the west London club was for sale.

'The club is not for sale and never has been,' Thompson said. 'I have been at Loftus Road for six seasons and I am looking forward to starting my seventh in August.'

Fans staged a pitch sit-in to protest about Darren Peacock's departure during the half-time interval of the 4-0 home thrashing by Leeds on Monday. 'Darren had a year to go on his contract, but he turned down a couple of new offers made to him before submitting an official transfer request,' Thompson said. 'This indicated he did not want to stay with Rangers.'

Tickets for the Wembley FA Cup semi-finals are not selling well. Chelsea's game against Luton on Saturday is expected to attract 60,000 while Sunday's game between Manchester United and Oldham is heading for only a 50,000 gate.

David Elleray, the 39-year- old teacher from Harrow, was named yesterday as the referee for the FA Cup final at Wembley on 14 May. England's Phil Don and Les Mottram, of Scotland, will officiate at this summer's World Cup final.

In a World Cup warm-up match yesterday, Italy suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat in a practice game against Pontedera, a Tuscan team from the Italian fourth division.