Sport in Short: Football

THE CHANCES of Diego Maradona playing in Europe next season appear to be increasing, though not with Napoli. The Italian club retain his registration, but Maradona has insisted that he will not return there. His 15-month ban for testing positive for cocaine ended a fortnight ago and pressure is growing on Napoli to release him. His agent, Marcos Franchi, is in Europe this week to discuss possible moves, with the Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Seville and Marseille, of France, reported to be taking an interest.

BARNET'S players have given the club until tomorrow to pay their wages. On Monday, 20 of the players put in a communal transfer request after discovering that they had been underpaid.

REAL MADRID have signed the Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano from Seville on a four-year contract in a pounds 2.6m deal.

JOHN ROBERTSON, the Scotland striker, has signed a new three-year contract with Heart of Midlothian.

BURNLEY, the Fourth Division champions, have signed the Maidstone full-back Les Thompson on a free transfer.

TED FENTON, the 77-year-old former West Ham manager, died on Saturday from injuries sustained in a road accident on 4 July.