A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Autumn date

The Football Association yesterday reiterated that no decision would be made on whether England will bid for the right to stage the 2018 World Cup until next autumn.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick moved quickly to underline the governing body's position on a bid after the British government announced they were launching a feasibility study into the possibility of staging the world's biggest single sport event in 13 years' time.

British chancellor Gordon Brown said it was "about time" the competition came back to England and said it would provide a chance for Britain to become the "sporting nation of the world" after London won the right to stage the 2012 Olympics.

Barwick welcomed governmental support for any bid but emphasised the FA's stance that it will be at least autumn 2006 before any definite proposals are put in place.

Wenger defends

Arsene Wenger defended Arsenal's decision to allow Patrick Vieira to move to Juventus as he insisted the French international was released for his own long-term benefit.

Vieira revealed in his autobiography that he was surprised at Arsenal's apparent reluctance to persuade him to stay at Highbury this season.

While the club had fought off previous advances from Real Madrid with tenacity, vice-chairman David Dein is said to have told Vieira that he was "neutral" about whether he should move to Juventus for £13.7million.

Wenger responded: "If Patrick feels he was not wanted here any more, we will leave the final word to him. But he had either two years with us or five years with Juventus at the age of 29. I felt that if I was not able to offer him - straight away - three more years, then I wouldn't be honest with him.

"He gave nine of his best years to Arsenal and somewhere you have to let him choose. Maybe it's right that he left in the year that he wanted to leave, but he was given a choice of rationality, more than of heart."

Ronaldo contract

Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a two-year extension to his Manchester United contract, which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010. The deal had been verbally agreed in the summer but some minor details have now been ironed out, allowing the 20-year-old to commit his long-term future to the club.

It represents a major coup for United boss Alex Ferguson, who is building a team he hopes will take the club back to the summit of the English game without Roy Keane.