'I'll never walk off over racist taunts' - Henry

Thierry Henry yesterday denied reports suggesting he would walk off the pitch if he was subjected to racism by opposition fans. The Arsenal striker, who suffered alleged racial abuse at Eindhoven last week, said: "Football means too much to me. You would have to cut off my legs or substitute me. I would never walk off the pitch and I never will."

Both Henry and Arsenal claim they have no idea where the remarks supporting the story originated from. When Henry spoke to reporters in the immediate aftermath of the game he said he had had missiles thrown at him and been verbally abused but did not suggest he was tempted to walk off the pitch. The only interview he has done subsequently was with this newspaper. In the interview, published on Saturday, he was quick to point out that, contrary to reports, he had not even asked Uefa to investigate.

He told The Independent: "I said [after the game] if Uefa want to do something that is up to them. I never asked them to. I just want to talk about football and play football. Some people are idiots but I just want to deal with my game. Some people want to talk about it more than the game. I wasn't going 'look, look, look'. It is their [Uefa's] job.

"I don't know if the people shouting meant it or not. Sometimes they are just trying to put you off your game. I don't worry about that. I have a game to play. Some places you hear and see bad things but what can I do? I am just a football player, not a police officer."

Henry said he preferred to educate by example, not protest, noting that "if Ray [Parlour] scores a goal I will give him a hug. When people see that I'm sure somewhere in their mind it registers that there is no colour, only nationality, and we are all human beings."

Yesterday Henry added wearily: "It seems strange to me that I have to stop something I did not even start."

The Manchester City manager, Kevin Keegan, is hoping to buy Henry's Arsenal team-mate Francis Jeffers. Keegan is looking at the former Everton forward as a possible partner for Nicolas Anelka and is arranging a £3m offer.

Jeffers was offered around by agents claiming to work for Arsenal last summer but his lack of fitness because of an ankle injury put off potential buyers. However, Keegan is now monitoring Jeffers' progress and is aware that he could sign him for around half of what Arsenal paid Everton for him just over a year ago.

Jeffers' excellent movement would fit in with City's style of play and help both Anelka and the midfield scheming of Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berkovic. Keegan will want to check on Jeffers' sharpness and fitness wherever possible in the next few months before he is able to buy him in January.

The striker's appearances have been limited to short run-outs as a substitute, so the Maine Road scouts will have to turn their attention to the reserves to make their judgement. Keegan is dissatisfied with his striking options but must buy cheaply as he intends to spend heavily on a centre-half.

Darren Huckerby excelled in the First Division but has been in and out of the side in the Premiership while Paulo Wanchope's long-term knee injury makes him a player Keegan cannot rely on. Shaun Goater has been plagued by injuries too, Jon Macken has knee problems and Matias Vuoso has failed to impress.

Roy Keane could court further controversy by calling City's Alf Inge Haaland as a key witness at his disciplinary hearing. The Manchester United captain will appeal against two disrepute charges in a fortnight and could face a lengthy suspension if found guilty.

The charges arise from claims made in Keane's autobiography that his challenge on Haaland two season's ago was deliberate. But since then the Norwegian has claimed on his personal website the tackle did not cause his long injury lay-off.