Zola sends reminder to Maldini with 18-second performance

8220;I8217;ll be waiting for a phone call,8221; Zola said after his 71st minute strike earned a 1-0 victory for Chelsea over Germany8217;s VFB Stuttgart in Stockholm Wednesday night.

8220;But, if it doesn8217;t come, I will accept it philosophically,8221; the 32-year-old former Napoli and Parma striker said. 8220;He must have seen my performance. I can8217;t do any more,8221; he added.

AFC supports Johansson

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON: African soccer leaders are still backing Sweden8217;s Lennart Johansson to take over as Fifa president.

The African Football Association has reaffirmed its intention to support the Uefa president in his battle with Sepp Blatter for the position to be vacated in June by Joao Havelange.

In an interview published in the Cameroonian paper Mutations on Wednesday, African Football Federationpresident Issa Hyatou underlined Johannson8217;s achievements in Europe and his cordial relationship with Africa.

8220;It was thanks to Uefa8217;s determined support that Africa won five places in the upcoming World Cup tournament,8221;Hyatou said.

Hyatou also praised Johannson8217;s campaign to make the organization of the World Cup tournament on a rotating basis in member countries, thus giving Africa a chance to organize the event.

Nakata sues writer

TOKYO: Japan8217;s mid-fielder Hidetoshi Nakata is suing a writer who is trying to make big bucks off an unauthorised biography.

Lawsuits over publicity rights and unauthorised books are still rare in Japan, a harmony-loving society that tends to frown upon all litigation. But Nakata, 21, who was named 1997 Asian player of the year this week, decided to take a stand, his agent Etsuko Tsugihara said yesterday.

The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo district court in March when the book hit the stands, demands an unspecified amount of damages, she said.

TsutomuTakabe, 48, the author and publisher of Hidetoshi Nakata, the man who led Japan to France said he will fight the lawsuit but refused to comment further.

The book, which includes childhood photos and a poem Nakata wrote in school, is featured prominently at most local bookstores.

End of season for Fowler

LIVERPOOL: More agony for Robbie Fowler.

After being ruled out of England8217;s World Cup squad because of a knee injury, the Liverpool striker now fears he may not play again until 1999.

The striker suffered knee cartilage damage in a collision with Everton8217;s Norwegian 8216;keeper, Thomas Myhre, in february.

The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and ended his chances of playing in the World Cup.

8220;There were some reports that he had visions of playing pre-season, but he certainly won8217;t be playing before Christmas,8221; said Liverpool physiotherapist Mark Leather.

Hooligan threat

PARIS: British Home secretary Jack Straw has warned France that hooliganism couldraise its ugly head at the World Cup finals.

8220;The risks of violence are real,8221; Straw said in an interview published by Le Monde Newspaer yesterday.

8220;French anxiety is comprehensible, given that we English unfortunately have a bad record on this issue,8221; he said. 8220;The hooligan phenomenon has not gone away. It will, in fact, continue like all forms of criminality,8221; he added.

Press urged to be careful

LONDON: Britain8217;s press watchdog warned newspaper editors to refrain from xenophobic coverage which could incite violence at the World Cup in June.

Press complaints commission chairman Lord Wakeham said he had sent a statement to all editors reminding them to be particularly careful during the tournament in France. British newspapers have mounted a relentless attack on the way ticket allocations were handled, accusing the French of grabbing the vast majority of seats.