Today's other stories in brief

Grant steers clear of war of words with Mourinho

CHELSEA MANAGER Avram Grant has refused to get drawn into a war of words with Jose Mourinho, insisting he is only concentrating on moving the club forward from the era of the self-proclaimed "Special One".

Mourinho, in Spain this week, revealed he would welcome an eventual return to England and added he felt "nothing" for his successor, although Grant was diplomatic with his response.

Grant stressed he had the utmost respect for Mourinho's work for the club but is focused on the future rather than the past.

"I have respect for what Jose did at the club in the past," he said. "The club brought me here to go a different way and that's what I have to concentrate on.

"I'm not a man of fighting. I have a lot of respect for all people, including Jose.

"I have no problem with him."

Managers wary of Blatter's proposal

TWO PREMIER League managers have urged caution after Fifa president Sepp Blatter called for players who "intentionally" commit dangerous tackles to be "banned from the game".

Blatter believes reckless challenges are one of the biggest scourges of the modern game and insists there should be harsh penalties for the perpetrators, including criminal charges where necessary.

"Dangerous tackling is one of the most important issues in football at the moment," said Blatter. "Players who do this kind of thing intentionally should be banned from the game." He added: "Attacking somebody is criminal, whether it happens on a football pitch or elsewhere. It is a crime and should be treated as such."

But Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and his Wigan counterpart Steve Bruce, both former defenders, fear Blatter's proposals would be difficult to implement.

Southgate said: "It's very difficult to ban people for life for one challenge. There will always be misjudgements."

Bruce added: We all want to see over-the-top challenges eradicated. But to ban them for life? That could be very difficult."

Maldini reconsidering his decision to retire

AC MILAN captain Paolo Maldini said he may change his plan to quit soccer at the end of this season and keep playing into the next campaign.

The 39-year-old defender, a five-time European Cup winner, announced in December that he would retire in June and leave Milan, where he began his professional career in 1985.

"I still have plenty of energy," Maldini said in an interview with Sky Italia. "I know I should stick with what I said originally but I think only stupid people don't change their minds. Let's wait and see."

Maldini, who has also won seven Italian league championships and three World Club titles in an illustrious career, has been dogged by knee injuries in recent years and was sidelined for five months following surgery at the end of last season.

His current contract expires in June.

"My knees are much better compared to three months ago," added Maldini, whose team bowed out of the Champions League to Arsenal at the San Siro in midweek.

"I love this sport and I love training. The whole club is pushing me to play for another year."