Alex Ferguson yesterday confirmed that David Beckham will not be joining Manchester United's trip to Australia - even if it costs the club £1 million.
The organisers of the pre-season tour to Australia have threatened to withdraw half of United's appearance money if Beckham is not in the squad but neither he nor manager Ferguson will fly out with the squad on Monday.
The United boss is staying at home before his investiture at Buckingham Palace and Beckham will get down to some heavy training after a long summer break.
After claims that Beckham had been ordered home early, Ferguson said: "David was told at the end of the season that he had to be back on July 12th.
"I think some attempt had been made by one of his or his wife's agents to get an extension to his time off but we couldn't do that because he needs to get fit for the new season.
"I spoke to David last week and he understood. There is not a bust-up on my part. We considered all the players and when they should come back."
Meanwhile, shares in Manchester United climbed again yesterday morning after reports that the football club was being circled by potential investors including a group of racehorse owners and the billionaire Sultan of Brunei.
United's shares were up 3 1/2p at 214 1/2p in the first half an hour of stock market trading after several newspapers reported that chief executive Martin Edwards was looking to sell part of his shares.
Edwards, who owns 14 per cent of the club, sparked controversy last year when he agreed to back a £623 million takeover bid for the club by satellite TV company BSkyB.
A furious Sepp Blatter, president of football's governing world body FIFA, threatened to punish the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after they walked out on the FIFA congress in Los Angeles yesterday to protest over the number of Asian places in the 2002 World Cup.
Blatter took the gloves off after what he clearly viewed as a public humiliation. He railed: "I was surprised, then irritated, then shocked.
"When we get back in the FIFA office we will discuss what we will do, he said. "It will be an action on the national associations, who left without any notice. The national associations, who are invited here - their tickets paid for, their hotels paid for, their food paid for. Is that polite?"
The AFC is upset at being handed only four-and-a-half places at the 2002 World Cup by FIFA. The Asian walkout was a bitter blow to the FIFA president who had appealed directly to the members of the Asian national associations to ignore AFC's call to leave.
Explaining their action AFC general secretary Peter Velappan said: "It's a simple request for three places plus the hosts."
The walkout has raised serious doubts about Blatter's presidency. Until Blatter, former general secretary of FIFA, took over, the organisation was run with an iron hand by Brazilian Joao Havelange.
Such a public revolt would have been unheard of. People in Los Angeles are questioning Blatter's ability to control the movement.
In transfer dealings yesterday Leeds have agreed a record-breaking package to buy central defender Michael Duberry from Chelsea.
The Yorkshire club will pay Chelsea £4.5 million rising to a possible £5 million, depending on appearances.
That will beat the £4.5 million they paid for Lee Sharpe and Tomas Brolin, if Duberry agrees personal terms.
In the continuing Nicolas Anelka saga Lazio have warned Arsenal that unless the striker has signed for them by noon on Monday, their proposed £20 million transfer offer is off.
Arsenal have been stalling over the deal despite the Italian club's offer for the French striker, who has made it clear he will not return to London.
Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti said: "We have made a considerable offer and we are doing all we can to persuade Arsenal to complete the operation but we have decided to impose a limit.
"The English club has until noon Monday to reply, otherwise we will try and conclude another transfer."
Coventry City are set to break their transfer record next week with the signing of Moroccan World Cup star Mustapha Hadji. The Premiership club have agreed a £4 million transfer fee with Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna for the 27-year-old midfielder.
Hadji will join fellow countryman Youssef Chippo at Coventry.
Two Mexican players, Pablo Cesar Chavez Iriarte and Raul Rodrigo Lara Tovar, have tested positive in anti-doping tests during the Copa America.
