Experiment with two referees

NYON, Switzerland - UEFA called on Tuesday for soccer to experiment with two referees after major controversies at the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Gerhard Aigner, chief executive of European soccer's governing body, said the experiments should be undertaken outside the top levels of the professional game.

Schroeder to travel to Japan

OTTAWA - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, anxious to support the national soccer team three months before an election, said on Tuesday that he would travel to Japan for the World Cup final.

Portugal coach fired

LISBON - Portuguese coach Antonio Oliveira was fired on Tuesday because of the team's poor showing at the World Cup, the head of the Portuguese Soccer Federation said.

Era for France ends

PARIS - Former France captain and manager Michel Platini said the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan had marked "the end of an era" for the national team.

Foreign coach unacceptable

LAGOS - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has ruled out a foreign coach for the national soccer team by arguing that the country's own coaches could do the job, state television reported on Tuesday.

Goals dry up

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Goals have dried up during the knockout stages of the World Cup finals and there is virtually no chance of beating the record set four years ago in France.

Textbooks to emphasize Cup

SEOUL - South Korea plans to introduce new school textbooks with a special emphasis on the soccer World Cup finals to try to increase students' exposure to international affairs, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday.

Players contest too many games

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Professional footballers are risking injury because they are playing too many games, leading soccer medical chiefs said on Tuesday as they unveiled research on injuries at the World Cup finals.

Beckham expects Euro 2004 glory

LONDON - David Beckham is confident that England can build upon the experience gained at this year's World Cup by winning the European Championships in two years.

Players get police protection

MOSCOW - Russia's players and their families are under police protection after their World Cup failure, according to a media report. The wife of Russia goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin told the Sovietsky Sport newspaper that their Moscow apartment had been put under surveillance by plain-clothed police.

(Agencies via Xinhua)