FOOTBALL: FRIEDEL CALLS TIME ON 13-YEAR INTERNATIONAL CAREER

l Brad Friedel, the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper, announced his retirement from international football yesterday. The 33-year-old was a member of the United States squad in the last three World Cups, winning 82 caps in a 13-year career.

l The Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta is training again as he recovers from a knee ligament injury sustained in October.

l The Scottish Football Association has asked the Dunfermline chairman, John Yorkston, to explain his comments about the Celtic defender Bobo Balde. Yorkston accused Balde of injuring more players than the East End Park plastic pitch. Yorkston apologised after Sunday's match between the teams, and claimed his comments were made "tongue in cheek".

l Jeffrey Burnige, the Millwall director, will become the club's new chairman when Theo Paphitis retires at the end of the season. Burnige has been a director since 1986.

l The France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has withdrawn from tomorrow's friendly against Sweden in Paris because of illness and been replaced by Mickael Landreau of Nantes.