ALEX FERGUSON is facing a test of his managerial juggling skills just two weeks into the new season.

RONALDINHO was named FIFA’s world player of the year for the second successive season last night as Frank Lampard had to settle for second place.

ARSENAL Football Club has won its battle to stop a street trader selling pirated goods with the club’s logo in a landmark decision by the European Court of Justice.

HARRY REDKNAPP and Jim Smith quit Portsmouth because of the appointment of Velimir Zajec as executive director of the club, it was revealed yesterday.

MICK McCARTHY yesterday suggested that only outright victory for Ireland in the European Championship of 2004 would keep him in the job as manager of the national team beyond his current contract.

RANGERS and Celtic are set to be seeded in the final qualifying round of next season’s Champions League

ROY KEANE could face a criminal investigation over his tackle on Alf Inge Haaland if the Norwegian international makes an official complaint, police in Britain said yesterday.

NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson saluted his defence after watching them fend off battling Bolton as the club worked behind the scenes to tempt Jonathan Woodgate to Tyneside.

REPENTANT Rio Ferdinand has thrown his European Championship dream at the mercy of a three-man Football Association appeals panel.

BAYERN MUNICH midfielder Michael Ballack has denied reports he has come to a gentleman’s agreement to join Manchester United after the 2006 World Cup.

England 2

MANCHESTER United will tighten up its procedures governing the buying and selling of players, following a review undertaken after pressure from major shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus.

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

AFTER another less than emphatic week of British performances in Europe, the first question to ask is: will the Manchester United faithful be singing “Gonzalez from the half-way line” at Old Trafford tomorrow?

IT came as a shock to Charlie Haughey. It brought down the Berlin Wall, put paid to the mini-skirt and accounted for such disparate phenomena as punk rock and crooner Engelbert Humperdinck.

EVERTON avoided city neighbours Liverpool in the draw for the final qualifying round of the Champions League only to land equally-daunting opposition in Villarreal, one of Spain’s most impressive sides last season.

SAM TORRANCE yesterday hinted all 12 members of his team would play at least once before the final day singles in next month’s Ryder Cup.

MANCHESTER UNITED yesterday dismissed reports claiming they have made illegal approaches to young players overseas.

THE FA have confirmed that Roy Keane has until Friday to appeal against his five-match ban and £150,000 (€234.157) fine.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson yesterday requested a personal hearing with the Football Association after denying a charge of improper conduct.