Celtic yesterday completed the capture of Brazilian international Rafael Felipe Scheidt, when the British Department for Education and Employment decided to grant the 23-year-old defender a three-year work permit.

European footballer of the year Rivaldo insists he does not want to leave Barcelona despite the run-in with coach Louis van Gaal that has left him on the sidelines at the club.

An Italian newspaper claimed Lazio were prepared to pay a world record IR£49 million to buy him, but the player, speaking on Spanish television, said he wanted to help win the European Champions League for Barcelona - but in a more central role.

Brazil have won FIFA's team of the year award for the sixth successive time. The award goes to the team which tops FIFA's rankings in December. The Republic of Ireland does not make the top-30.

Chelsea completed the Stg£2.5 million signing of Sheffield Wednesday's Brazilian central defender Emerson Thome yesterday and Manchester City have agreed a £450,000 fee to buy Everton midfielder Tony Grant.

Leicester shareholders yesterday voted to remove Barrie Pierpoint from the club's board of directors, ending a fourmonth power struggle at the club. Pierpoint had often been at loggerheads with City manager Martin O'Neill.

Northern Ireland aim to be able to name their new manager next month. It is understood the IFA is waiting for Leicester manager O'Neill to decide whether he can take on the job on a part-time basis.

George Best is to be inducted into the International Football Hall of Champions during the FIFA World Player gala on January 24th. Other new members will be Brazilians Didi and Zico and Dutchman Marco van Basten.

Johan Cruyff broke his arm in the "Orange of the Century" charity game on Tuesday evening, the Dutch news agency ANP reported yesterday.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Earl Barrett has been forced to quit football with a serious knee injury after receiving advice from three specialists.

The government-appointed Football Task Force in England has produced its final conclusions on the commercial issues within the game but was forced to release two reports, reflecting the views of the football authorities and the fans' representatives.

Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil has been temporarily suspended from running the club as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of funds.