Ronaldo should not have played in the World Cup Final so soon after having a convulsive fit.

That's the view of a leading neurologist who claims the Brazilian superstar would still have been feeling the after effects of his attack.

Ronaldo looked lethargic and out of sorts against France and Professor Adrian Williams says that was understandable after suffering a seizure.

Williams, professor of clinical neurology at Birmingham University, claimed Ronaldo needed more time to recover.

"He should not have played," he said. "It if was a mild seizure then I find it hard to believe that the medical advice would have been for him to play.

"I watched the game and I must say he did not look right to me."

Williams claimed it would be difficult to say exactly what caused Ronaldo's fit and he doubted whether it could have been stress alone.

Stress comes with the job, however, FIFA claimed yesterday and top footballers must be expected to suffer stress if they play in the World Cup finals.

Keith Cooper, communications director for FIFA said: "I think if you go and play in the World Cup, you must expect to come under a certain amount of stress".

When the 45-strong Brazilian party arrived at the airport in Brasilia yesterday, Ronaldo walked down on to the runway stiff-legged and tired but smiling. The questions remain.

Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear yesterday told England star David Beckham to take a leaf out of his book and "stick two fingers up to those who are getting on his back."

Kinnear believes the under-fire Manchester United midfielder will only overcome his World Cup red-card shame by showing the same steely determination.

Beckham reported back for training with United yesterday. England have finally won something. Yesterday they were announced as joint winners of the FIFA World Cup Fair Play award at France 98.

Glenn Hoddle's men will share the award, which England also won in 1990, with newly-crowned world champions France.

Romania have appointed former international striker Victor Piturca as their new coach. Piturca, 42, replaces Angel Iordanescu, who has signed a contract with Greece.

And Frank and Ronald de Boer have stepped up their efforts to leave Ajax Amsterdam by saying they plan to take their case to the Dutch FA's arbitration commission.

The move comes only a year after they bound themselves to the Amsterdam club until 2004.

Ajax turned down Arsenal's £15 million bid for Ronald at the start of June and Barcelona are keen to recruit defender Frank. Liverpool said yesterday that they hope to complete the £3 million signing of Norwegian defender Vegard Heggem from Rosenborg later this week.

Meanwhile Michael Thomas was due to complete his free transfer from Liverpool to Benfica late yesterday. Benfica spokesman Eladio Parames said: "He has not signed yet, but we have a gentleman's agreement."

The Portuguese club claim that they will now pay Manchester United the missing £2 million transfer fee for Karel Poborsky by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the transfer of Ben Thornley from Manchester United to Huddersfield has hit more problems after a tribunal to set the fee was cancelled for a second time.