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SCMP Reporter

BARCELONA PRESIDENT Joan Gaspart has called for the club's supporters to show they are 'genuine fans' when Luis Figo returns to the Nou Camp in a Real Madrid shirt later this month.

Figo's US$56 million move between two of the biggest rivals in the world game led to bitter resentment from Barcelona fans and the Portuguese international is expected to receive an angry reception when Real travel to play Bar?a in the Primera Liga next Saturday.

'The supporters should do what they believe they have to do but there is no need for them to organise anything in particular for the match,' said Gaspart.

'They should be genuine fans, as they always have been. The reaction [to Figo] must be within the limits of civility and politeness that the fans have always shown.'

ALAN SMITH WAS SENT off as England Under-21s lost a lead for the second time in five days. The Leeds striker looked like England's match-winner in their European Championship qualifier in Valkeakoski when he put his side 2-1 up with a spectacular overhead kick at the start of the second half.

But with 15 minutes left, he was sent off for violent conduct after retaliating to a foul by lashing out at a Finland defender.

Smith now faces a UEFA suspension, although stand-in coach Sammy Lee, deputising for Howard Wilkinson, said he did not see the incident and that he would study video replays before taking action.

Smith had promised to calm down last week after being branded a 'thug' by Leeds manager David O'Leary. His dismissal proved costly as Daniel Sjolund equalised a minute later.

SCOTLAND DEFENDER Gary Naysmith can win a move to the English Premiership by persuading Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan to meet Hearts' ?1.5 million transfer valuation.

Naysmith, who won a fourth cap in the World Cup qualifying tie against Croatia in Zagreb, has been the subject of an informal inquiry by former Scotland midfielder Strachan. And Strachan, who watched Naysmith in the Edinburgh derby on the opening day of the season, could open personal negotiations with the 21-year-old on his return from international duty.

Naysmith has declined to agree a new deal with Hearts as their financial predicament prevents them offering him terms appropriate to his newly-won international status.

NEWCASTLE UNITED midfielder Nolberto Solano has been stripped of the captaincy of Peru after he and a number of other players were accused of smuggling women into their training camp and enjoying drinking sessions.

Solano protested that the drinking - which was captured on video - would not have raised an eyebrow had it happened in Britain and accused the Peruvian media of being obsessed by scandal.

'If the players are in a disco and are involved in a fight, then of course it must be reported in the press, but we are followed everywhere by cameras and persecuted,' he said.

LEEDS SKIPPER Lucas Radebe has revealed for the first time how he 'feared the worst' after twice suffering potentially life-threatening head injuries. Radebe has admitted to being 'frightened' as he underwent brain scans after sustaining concussion following clashes of heads, first with teammate Michael Duberry in a Champions' League clash at Barcelona on September 13, and then with Spurs striker Les Ferdinand just 17 days later.

'I can't really put a time on when I'll be back. I just have to rest a lot and make sure I don't do any more damage, particularly with all the headaches which are very uncomfortable. I still get them, but they are clearing up and hopefully I'll be fine soon, but I just have to wait to get the all-clear from the specialist. It's unfortunate I had to suffer a second head injury, which was just as bad, and when you have the brain scans it is frightening because you don't know what the results will be.

'There was always the possibility it could have been life-threatening. I really feared the worst. But thankfully there was nothing like that.'

WINSTON BOGARDE has quashed rumours that he does not get on with new Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri. Bogarde was Gianluca Vialli's final signing when he moved on a free transfer from Barcelona on August 31 - just 12 days before the Italian was sacked as boss. But after rumours of a bust-up, Bogarde insists he has no problem with Ranieri and is willing to bide his time in order to secure a regular first-team place at Stamford Bridge.

He said: 'I've been quite impressed with the new coach so far, even though I was very disappointed by his decision to drop me from the Liverpool game. What I can say is that there is no problem between me and the coach.'

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL Simon Colosimo is set to fly into England to open transfer talks with both Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

The 21-year-old Carlton defender is due to arrive in London directly from Dubai, where he has just finished playing for Australia in the LG Cup.

According to Web site planetfootball.com his agent George Christopoulos has organised talks with both the Teessiders and the Wearsiders about a ?1 million transfer

'They may sign him,' confirmed Christopoulos. 'And then they could apply for a work permit. I think I may have to go over there next week.'

Colosimo has Italian parents, but they gave up their passports to become Australian citizens, and so he will have to go through the stringent work-permit regulations. But he has been a regular within the SocceRoos squad for sometime and should be eligible for a permit.

NEWCASTLE UNITED MAY be reported to F?FA by the disgruntled agent of their latest signing. The Chile midfielder Clarence Acuna was on Tyneside yesterday undergoing a medical, and will complete his ?1m move from Universidad de Chile once he has been granted a work permit.

But the 25-year-old's agent Ronen Katzav has accused Newcastle of cutting him out of the transfer talks and is threatening to complain to football's world governing body.



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