THE French midfielder Zinedine Zidane says he will not play for Juventus in Turkey if their Champions League game against Galatasaray, postponed because political climate in the country, takes place next week. "We'll have to wait and see what happens and what new decisions UEFA take. But I tell you, if things don't get better, I'm not going to Istanbul," Zidane said.

UEFA postponed the Group B fixture in Istanbul on Wednesday for a week because of the diplomatic row between Italy and Turkey over the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey wants Ocalan extradited to answer charges of treason and murder. Italy has refused this request because of a constitutional ban on extradition to countries, such as Turkey, with the death penalty.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter reaffirmed his support for an Africa bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals when he met South African president Nelson Mandela yesterday.

"It is logical that the World Cup finals goes to Africa in 2006 and if they can prove they can organise it, then I will back it 100 per cent," he said after awarding Mandela with the FIFA Order of Merit.

"I will repeat what I told the British Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street. We have to, by all means, ensure an African bid wins," said Blatter.

Celtic could move within four points of Rangers tomorrow but a cloud still hangs over the future of their £3 million signing Marko Viduka.

Celtic had hoped Viduka would have been able to make his debut against Motherwell after all the details of his transfer with Croatia Zagreb had been sorted out. But the British Department for Employment and Education is still considering the Australian's application for a work permit.

Uriah Rennie, the Premiership's only black referee, yesterday warned that the Football Task Force faces a long battle in the war on racism, which is on the increase.

The most high-profile case reached a conclusion yesterday with the English FA failing in their appeal against a £28,000 fine for abuse by England fans in Sweden. UEFA upheld their decision after allegations that visiting supporters chanted the abuse at Celtic striker Henrik Larsson during Sweden's 2-1 victory in Stockholm on September 5th.

Recently in a Sunday league match in London, racism reared its ugly head when two Asian boys were beaten with corner flags by opposing players.