Premier League vetoes Intertoto Cup

Premier League clubs yesterday gave the thumbs down to this summer's Intertoto Cup and offered their unanimous support to Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon in their battle with Uefa, European football's governing body.

The two clubs were last week banned for one season from European competition after the shambles of last year's Intertoto tournament, in which they fielded under-strength teams, a state of affairs which has now cost English football a Uefa Cup place in 1996/97.

However, the Premiership chief executive, Rick Parry, said the decision not to compete this coming close season was taken "purely on practical considerations - in particular the overlap with Euro 96 and the finish and start dates of the Premiership season."

Clearly, however, the Premier League chairmen are unhappy that the two London clubs have been made scapegoats - as is the Football Association, which is backing the campaign by Spurs and Wimbledon to have the suspensions lifted. The Spurs chairman, Alan Sugar, has stated that his club had written permission to field weakened teams

Meanwhile, Uefa yesterday insisted it would maintain its three-foreigner limit this season. The decision puts it in conflict with the European Union's highest court, which ruled last month that the limit on foreigners is illegal and should be abolished. Uefa's stance- in the "interest of continuity and fairness" - also puts it at odds with the Premier League.

Rangers have completed the signing of the Dutch international striker, Peter van Vossen, 27, in a straight swap which has taken the Russian forward, Oleg Salenko, to the Turkish club, Istanbulspor. Osvaldo Ardiles, the former Tottenham manager, is to take charge of the Japanese club, Shimizu S-Pulse.

Harry Potts, the former Burnley player and manager, died yesterday, aged 75. He played for the Clarets in the 1947 FA Cup final and then, as manager, led them to the First Division title in 1960 and the Cup final two years later.

A foot injury has forced Mark Pembridge, the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, to withdraw from the Welsh squad to face Italy in Terni next week.

Four of Northern Ireland's first five World Cup qualifying matches will be Saturday home games, it was revealed yesterday after an Irish FA delegation met their Group Nine rivals in Frankfurt.

NORTHERN IRELAND FIXTURES (1998 World Cup qualifying Group Nine: 1996: Sat 31 Aug: Ukraine (H). Sat 5 Oct: Armenia (H). Sat 9 Nov: Germany (A). Sat 14 Dec: Albania (H). 1997: Sat 29 Mar: Portugal (H). Wed 2 Apr: Ukraine (A). Wed 30 Apr: Armenia (A). Wed 20 Aug: Germany (H). Wed 10 Sept: Albania (A). Sat 11 Oct: Portugal (A).