Hamm bows outMia Hamm, who is to women's soccer what Pele was to the men's game, retired from competition yesterday, having inspired a generation of young girls while leading the United States to Olympic and World Cup titles.
A friendly against Mexico in Carson City, California, provided the final stage for Hamm as she bowed out in front of a cheering crowd. She retired as the most prolific scorer - male or female - in the history international soccer.
The 5-0 US victory marked the end of a golden era in American soccer with captain Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett also hanging up their boost. The trio played together in three Olympics and three World Cups.
Capped 276 times, Hamm began her international career as a 15-year-old and finishes it 17 years later as still the world's best known women's soccer player and one of America's most recognisable athletes.
Twice selected FIFA women's World Player of the Year, Hamm scored a record 158 goals helping the US to World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999 and Olympic gold in 1996 and 2004.
"There are obviously highlights but I think competing for this long is the biggest," said Hamm. "We were fortunate to start as young as we all did but at the same time we have to consider the months and years of training on our own and finding a place to play and living day-by-day on part-time jobs."
League shapes up
Only one team is to be automatically relegated from the top division after next season's National League campaign.
At a meeting of the Eircom League yesterday in Dublin, delegates decided on the format for next year's league, with the bottom team in the Premier League to be relegated and the top team in Division One to take its place. There will also be a play-off between the 11th-placed team in the top-flight and the team finishing as runner-up in the first division.
The Premier Division, now containing 12 teams, will revert to a three-round system, with the first division involving four rounds of games.
Athlone Town's Paddy McCaul was elected as chairman of the Eircom League and he will serve in the post until the organisation's a.g.m. next month, at which the changes to the league structures are expected to be formally ratified.
Yorke three in court
Three men appeared in an English court yesterday charged in connection with racially abusing Blackburn Rovers' Dwight Yorke.
The men were arrested and charged on Tuesday after Yorke was subjected to a sustained barrage of taunts during a match against Birmingham City match last month.
Shaun Baxter, 35, Andrew Roberts, 19 and Brian Hargreaves, 20, all from Blackburn, appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with racially aggravated public order offences.
Magistrates granted an application to adjourn yesterday's matter and the three men were released on unconditional bail to return to to the same court on December 16th.
Millwall charged by FA
Millwall yesterday became the first club to be charged by the English Football Association over racist behaviour by fans.
The disciplinary action comes after Liverpool's French defender Djimi Traore was racially abused during the League Cup game at the New Den on October 26th, and Millwall have been charged with breaching FA rules by failing to prevent racist behaviour by their fans.
Both Millwall and Liverpool each face another disciplinary charge related to violence in a stand that had to be broken up by riot police.
The second charge against Millwall relates to missiles being thrown onto the pitch - around 70 seats were ripped up during the disturbance - while Liverpool are in the dock in relation to violent or threatening behaviour by their fans.
There were also claims following the match, which ended 3-0 to Liverpool, that Millwall fans chanted songs about the Hillsborough disaster and Kenneth Bigley, the Merseysider who had just been murdered in Iraq. Both clubs have until December 23rd to respond.
Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis yesterday refuted the charges and questioned the FA's actions. "I find it very difficult to explain it because there was never any indication of racist abuse being brought into the discussions," he said. "God knows what the FA are up to. We are still waiting for the FA to send us their evidence.
"The charges are completely ridiculous and we'll see what evidence they have to back it up."
Souness axes hearing
Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has abandoned his bid to explain his sending-off against Fulham.
The Scot was dismissed from the dug-out by referee Howard Webb during his side's 4-1 home defeat by Fulham on November 7th and was subsequently charged with improper conduct by the English Football Association.
He later admitted the charge but requested a personal hearing, which was scheduled for tomorrow, but with his workload mounting on Tyneside, he has decided against appearing before disciplinary chiefs.
"I have called it off," he said. "I pleaded guilty when the charge was put to me and I asked for a personal hearing, but now I've decided against it."
In brief . .
Tottenham could be left with just one available striker for tomorrow's trip to Manchester City after it was revealed yesterday that Robbie Keane is carrying a knee injury . . . Brazilian Ronaldinho was named World Soccer magazine's Player of the Year yesterday with Jose Mourinho winning Manager of 2004 and Greece taking the Team award . . . Blackburn's Turkish midfielder Tugay will be out of action for several weeks after injuring his knee in training . . . Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has revealed he would like to remain at Internazionale beyond this season. Veron (29) joined Inter in the summer on a one-year loan deal but is hopeful his stay in Milan will be prolonged.
