UEFA are to investigate possible links between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Russian side CSKA Moscow after both clubs were drawn in the same group of the Champions League yesterday.

ONE of the letters sitting on my desk on my return after a couple of weeks spent with the Republic of Ireland squad in Dublin had a Cork postmark, contained a cutting from the Star newspaper and no cover note.

RIO FERDINAND yesterday pleaded his case in front of Football Association chiefs as he was left to await a decision on whether he faces a misconduct charge for failing to take a drugs test.

THE blond youngster already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will meet up with old pal Henning Berg next week, with the Champions League ‘Battle of Britain’ uppermost in their minds.

DISGRACED Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer looks likely to face further punishment in the wake of his on-pitch brawl with team-mate Kieron Dyer.

ROBERT PIRES would love to extend his stay with Arsenal, but Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger maintains there is no provision to automatically offer the 31-year-old a new 12-month deal when his current contract expires.

ROY KEANE is enjoying the dressing room banter at Celtic but insists he will never become too close with any of his new team-mates.

MALCOLM GLAZER will spend next week trying to work out the best way to persuade Irish duo John Magnier and JP McManus to part with their 28.9% stake in Manchester United.

A MULTI-million pound international counterfeiting operation has been smashed in a joint operation between police in the North and gardaí.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Rock Of Gibraltar, the horse who has given him so much enjoyment over the last two seasons and who was last night retired to stud.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has thrown his support behind calamity goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and insisted the Polish international will play in the FA Cup third round tie at Burnley tonight.

THESE Lansdowne Road mid-season friendlies have become so familiar that maybe the FAI should consider taking a patent out on them.

REAL MADRID director of sport Jorge Valdano has attempted to halt the frenzy of speculation linking the club with a summer swoop for David Beckham.

COLIN CORKERY is planning to let his feet do the talking on Monday at Croke Park — and raise money for a worthy charity in the process.

DAVID BECKHAM has signed what is thought to be his biggest sponsorship deal yet by becoming the face of shaving giant Gillette, the company announced yesterday.

JUAN Sebastian Veron looks set to win his fitness race and line up against Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

FORMER Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp wants to put an end to speculation regarding his departure from the club in a very public clear-the-air meeting with owner Milan Mandaric.