Global Sport

Runners-up will get 45,000 pounds as against 32,000 pounds in 1997. Third place wins 22,000 and fourth spot earns 15,000.

Additionally, the winner of each championship match will receive 2,000 pounds, increased from 1,000 pounds last year.

The total 1998 prize fund for England8217;s first-class competition is estimated at 342,000 pounds compared with 249,000 pounds paid out last year.

Johansson, Blatter draw battle lines

ZURICH: Lennart Johansson and Sepp Blatter are the only candidates for the presidency of world soccer8217;s governing body, Fifa spokesman Keith Cooper confirmed today. The deadline for applications has passed.

The battle betweenbitter rivals Johansson, president of the European governing body UEFA, and Blatter, Fifa8217;s general secretary will be decided when Fifa8217;s 198 members vote on June 8.

Johansson was the only candidate to succeed current Fifa president Joao Havelange until Blatter officially declared his intentions in late March.Blatter is promising players, coaches, referees and national associations a greater say in the running of the game.

S Korea confident of staging World Cup

SEOUL: South Korea8217;s preparations for the 2002 World Cup are well under way and the country is confident of its successful staging, the organising committee said today.

The committee was commenting on a news report from London that Fifa, soccer8217;s world governing body may move the 2002 World Cup to England if South Korea abandons plans to build stadiums because of a prolonged economic crisis.

The report by The Times of London said that England with many stadia already in place may stage the 2002 World Cup.

The reportcame after South Korean prime minister Kim Jong-Pil last week questioned the wisdom of building a brand-new soccer-only stadium in Seoul, citing the country8217;s economic difficulties.

Pearce worried over England future

LONDON: Inspirational fullback Stuart Pearce fears his England career is over and he will miss the World Cup in France.

Nicknamed Psycho8217; for his abrasive commitment, Pearce won his last England cap 10 months ago in Le Tournoi in France and says it 8220;hurts like hell8221; that he may not play international soccer again.

8220;I8217;m of the opinion that I can still do a job for England but it8217;s not my opinion that counts, is it? It8217;s Glenn Hoddle who picks the team not me,8221; Pearce said in an interview with The Daily Star newspaper yesterday.

A hamstring injury kept the Newcastle defender out of the first three England squads of the season. His left back position has been taken by Chelsea8217;s Graeme Le Saux.

Pele says Seoul should not overspend

SEOUL: Braziliansoccer star Pele advised South Korea to refrain from spending too much on the building of new stadium for the 2002 Fifa World Cup to be co-hosted by Korea and Japan.

8220;The best way is not to spend too much money. If you can renovate, maybe you can save a lot of money,8221; Pele told a news conference in Seoul.

8220;The United States was a good example because it did not spend too much on stadium building but improved existing ones when hosting the World Cup in 1994,8221; Pele said.

Gazza, Merson flop in Boro8217;s loss

LONDON: England mid-fielder Paul Gascoigne limped off with an injury and Paul Merson missed a penalty as Middlesbrough lost 1-0 to Sheffield United last night in a blow to the club8217;s hope for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Dean Saunders scored in the 52nd minute his ninth goal of the season to seal the victory for United.

Gascoigne, who transferred to Boro from Glasgow Rangers last month was again disappointing before leaving with a foot injury after 76 minutes.England teammate Merson fired a penalty way over the crossbar.