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Former Chile captain Elias Figueroa will not stand against Sepp Blatter and Mohamed Bin Hammam in the FIFA presidential elections.Figueroa, 64, was the preferred candidate of a group called Change FIFA, which advocates reform in the governing body.

The group wished to provide an alternative to incumbent Blatter and Asian Football Confederation chief Bin Hammam.

Figueroa had said last week that he was considering the proposal and had the backing of at least one national football association.

But the Chilean, who appeared in three World Cups and was also voted South American footballer of the year on three occasions in the 1970s, eventually decided not to run.

“I have decided not to accept (the presidential nomination)… for the sole reason that I’m sure with such a short time in which to state a case I could not prepare one worthy of the magnitude and importance of such a distinguished job,” Figueroa said in a statement Wednesday.

Napoli defender Andrea Dossena has praised his side’s ability to fight out games after they claimed a 4-3 home win over Lazio on Sunday.The Naples-based club came from 2-0 and 3-2 down to record the win which keeps them within three points of league-leaders AC Milan.

Dossena, who scored Napoli’s opening goal, put the victory down to the team’s ability to perform in the second half as they produced a famous victory.

“The table has proved we have better endurance compared to other teams and therefore we could produce a better performance in the second half,” Dossena said.

“It’s pretty much been that way all season, in the second half we play better whereas other teams start to tire and have problems.”

Dossena’s goal breathed life into his side and kickstarted the comeback, with the former Liverpool defender declaring the Serie A title race still alive.

“With the opportunity of three points per match, it’s never over,” he said. “We are determined and the team has the willingness to fight for a result, as we proved today.”

While Dossena was pleased, Lazio sports director Igli Tare was very disappointed with the result but praised Napoli for their terrific season.

“To play as we did today and not pick up any points is very frustrating,” Tare said.

“Napoli are now second, and are having a great season. They haven’t put a foot wrong, and haven’t run into any real difficulties this season. They deserve to be where they are in the table.”

“As for us, we have seven games left until the end of the season and we’ll do all we can to pick up as many points as possible.”

Lazio now sit fifth, 11 points behind Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan.

The proposed reconstruction of the Scottish Premier League will finally come to a vote in May, according to Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne.Representatives of all 12 SPL clubs met in Hampden on Monday to discuss a raft of proposals to reshape Scottish football.

Principally, the SPL has tabled plans for a 10-team top-flight that would see two clubs drop down to the Scottish First Division.

Monday’s meeting was originally earmarked as the date of the decisive ballot, but those attending failed to come to a final agreement.

Milne is optimistic of an outcome when the officials reconvene next month, where it is believed clubs in favour of the restructure will fail to gain the necessary backing.

“I think it is still moving in the right direction,” Milne told BBC Scotland.

“There is a bit of work to do. I think there will be a vote sometime in the middle of May.”

“We’re on course to go somewhere. It’s still very much the plan that is on the table.”

Reports in Scotland suggest the SPL will continue lobbying clubs to accept their proposed changes ahead of the next meeting.

The league needs 11 of the 12 clubs to back their reforms in order for the changes to be implemented.

SPL chief Neil Doncaster, who has published a 100-page strategic plan to take Scottish football forward, has put the onus on the clubs to take responsibility for their league.

“If clubs don’t want our proposals, that’s the time for them to put forward alternative plans and new ideas if that’s what people want,” he earlier told BBC Scotland.

“I think there’s a real desire for change – a real need for change – and it’s up to the clubs what that change looks like.”

“The plans will be on the table on the 18th (of April) and what we do with the proposals is entirely up to the clubs to decide.”

“The clubs have the power, we (the SPL) can only put together a plan.”

Barcelona are in a commanding position ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.The Catalans have a 2-0 lead after the first leg at the Bernabeu thanks to a brace from the majestic Lionel Messi, who now has 52 goals to his name for the 2010-11 season in all competitions.

In an ill-tempered affair, Madrid defender Pepe was sent off in the 61st minute, and Barcelona substitute goalkeeper Joes Pinto was also sent off after an ugly fracas at half-time.

The Pepe dismissal also resulted in Real coach Jose Mourinho being sent to the stands, and the post-match fallout was extensive – centring on Mourinho’s outspoken criticism of referee Wolfgang Stark, who he accused of favouring Barcelona.

Both teams enter the clash on the back of some poor league form, with Barca suffering a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad on Saturday, while Mourinho’s men all but handed their fierce rivals the title with their 3-2 loss at home to Real Zaragoza the same day.

Barca have an eight-point lead in the league with four games to play, meaning the Champions League is likely to be Real’s last chance of securing any more silverware this season after their victory in last month’s Copa Del Rey.

Tuesday’s game will be the fourth El Clasico encounter in 18 days.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in La Liga action on April 16, before Cristiano Ronaldo scored an extra-time winner to hand Real the Copa Del Rey four days later.

Both managers have selection dilemmas ahead of the match, with Pep Guardiola’s Barca side particularly hard hit by injuries.

Skipper Carles Puyol is out, Andres Iniesta is in doubt, while French left-back Eric Abidal is still recovering from surgery to remove a tumour from his liver.

Defenders Maxwell and Adriano are both injured, and to further stretch Guardiola’s reserves at the back, Gabriel Milito and Martin Montoya will both miss out after they were hurt in the match with Real Sociedad.

Milito suffered a calf strain while Montoya – in his full match for the club – suffered a broken collarbone.

Mourinho has defensive headaches of his own, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe both suspended, but central defender Ricardo Carvalho should be back after his one-match ban.

Midfielder Sami Khedira is out through injury, but Mourinho could inject Kaka into the fray with the need for goals paramount, after the influential Brazilian was conspicuous by his absence in the first leg.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has blamed dropping so many points early in the season for their poor showing this campaign.The former Serie A champions have been unbeaten in their last seven matches and remain in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League.

But their current position in seventh does not even earn a Europa League spot, which means they must continue their winning ways when they face Chieva Verona on Monday.

“Yes, we certainly hope that happens. Our last win is making us regret the fact we lost some important points, but our aim is finishing the season with three more victories and then we’ll see what happens,” the 26-year-old said.

“Unfortunately we need some good luck too and hope for some mistakes by the other teams.”

Chiellini was speaking at a function for cancer prevention and said other things were more important than football.

“Yes, definitely something more important: cancer prevention,” he said.

“In particular we are talking about 15, 16-year-old teenagers who are going through a very delicate age, an age you think you are indestructible, while it’s a good thing to begin thinking of your future at that age, avoiding things that can be dangerous for your own health.”

Rangers striker David Healy has been left out of the Northern Ireland squad ahead of next week’s Carling Nations Cup.As his club side wrapped up the Scottish Premier League title on Saturday, Healy continued to struggle to find game time since moving from Sunderland in January.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington did not pick the 31-year-old for the squad to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday and Wales three days later.

Teenager midfielder Josh Carson has received a call-up with Stuart Dallas and Jordan Owens also new faces in the squad.

Alan Blayney, Robert Garrett and Colin Coates were also included in the young squad.

Northern Ireland are without Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Fulham defender Aaron Hughes, West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt and Celtic winger Patrick McCourt, with all four being rested.

Squad: Jonathan Tuffey (Inverness), Alan Blayney (Linfield), Lee Hodson (Watford), Craig Cathcart (Blackpool), Colin Coates (Crusaders), Gareth McAuley (Ipswich), Ryan McGivern (Man City), Adam Thompson (Watford), Josh Carson (Ipswich), Sammy Clingan (Coventry), Niall McGinn (Celtic), Stuart Dallas (Crusaders), Steven Davis (Rangers), Robert Garrett (Linfield), Johnny Gorman (Wolves), Oliver Norwood (Man Utd), Liam Boyce (Werder Bremen), Warren Feeney (Oldham), Josh McQuoid (Millwall), Jordan Owens (Crusaders)

Chelsea have re-signed veteran goalkeeper Hilario for another year, the English Premier League runners-up announced on Monday.The shot-stopper has made 37 appearances for the west London club since joining from Portuguese outfit Nacional in June 2006.

The one-cap Portugal international will spend at least one more season at Stamford Bridge, where he has provided back up to first-choice keeper Petr Cech.

“Hilario has signed a one-year extension to his current Chelsea contract,” a statement on the club’s website read.

“The 35-year-old goalkeeper’s contract would have run out this summer but he will now spend a sixth season at Stamford Bridge, having so far made 33 starts and four substitute appearances in his role as one of the keepers supporting Petr Cech.”

“Last season, Hilario played one game, the Community Shield match against Manchester United at Wembley. In March 2010, he made his one appearance for the Portugal national side.”

The extension puts an end to speculation Hilario was on his way out of the club, who remain without a manager since the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on May 22.

New Manchester City signing Gael Clichy cannot wait to get started at his new club, declaring there is ‘no limit’ to what they can achieve.The former Arsenal full-back became Roberto Mancini’s first signing in the off-season after signing a four-year deal on Monday.

On the back of a season that saw them finish third in the English Premier League, securing Champions League qualification, and winning their first major trophy in 35 years in the FA Cup, Clichy believes City is a club on the up.

“There is no limit at Manchester City,” France international Clichy said.

“Of course, you have to be realistic but there is no limit. Where they have come from in three years is phenomenal. And I want to win things.”

Clichy will be competing with the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescot and – provided he stays at Eastlands – Wayne Bridge for a left-back slot in Mancini’s side.

But the Toulouse native is looking forward to the challenge.

“Sometimes it is difficult to have a lot of players because you have to leave some out. But you need to have a big squad to go all the way. That is why I joined City.”

“It’s a new life for me, a new chapter but I’m really looking forward to it because it’s an amazing challenge for me.”

Clichy, 26, spent eight years with Arsenal, and was part of the north London club’s last championship winning side in 2004.

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the Women’s World Cup, beating the USA in a penalty shoot-out on Sunday.After the match finished 2-2 following extra time, the USA missed their first three penalties, and Japan were crowned world champions when Saki Kumagai slotted her spot-kick high past the USA goalkeeper Hope Solo.

It was a sad end for the USA, who were just three minutes away from becoming the first country to lift the cup three times, only for Japan to equalise for the second time in a thrilling final.

But it was a night of joy for Japan and their captain, Homare Sawa, 32, who flicked a corner through a jumble of players and past Solo in the 117th minute to take the contest to penalties.

“We ran and ran – we were exhausted but we kept running,” said Sawa, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals.

“Not one of the players gave up,” the coach, Norio Sasaki, said. “The penalty kicks are always a 50-50 chance.”

“The players were patient, they wanted to win this game and I think it’s because of that the Americans scored only two goals,” Sasaki said.

“Considering the current situation in Japan, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, and in particular for the support we received from Germany.”

USA coach, Pia Sundhage, was unable to explain the penalty misses.

“Sometimes in, sometimes out,” she said. “A couple of mistakes and we let them in the game.”

“It’s hard to lose with PKs. We couldn’t put away our chances. It’s a small difference between winning and losing.”

Both US goalkeeper Hope Solo and striker Abby Wambach praised Japan.

“As much as I wanted this, if there’s any team I could have given this to it’s Japan. So I’m happy for them,” Solo said.

“It’s obviously heartbreaking,” Wambach said.

“Japan played well, they never gave up. We had chances throughout the game and we didn’t put them away.”

Inter Milan chief Ernesto Paolillo admits the Serie A giants would sell Wesley Sneijder if presented with an offer they could not refuse.English champions Manchester United have been linked to the playmaker throughout the transfer window with reports the San Siro outfit is holding out for an offer in the region of 40 million euros.

Paolillo said on Thursday the club had not received an offer from United, but admitted they would consider selling the Dutch international.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold. It all depends on the price,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.

“There are certain opportunities that you simply can’t turn down.”

“An offer from Manchester United for Sneijder? We haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”

Paolillo would not be drawn into whether they were interested in want-away Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez after Inter sporting director Marco Branca spoke to him on a beach in Sardinia recently.

“We can’t do anything about it when he comes to Milan or visits the same beaches as Branca. Nevertheless, we’re not going there looking for him,” he said

Staying in the Italian top flight, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will remain with the Premier League side.

Galliani also denied speculation the Serie A champions were interested in signing Fabregas, who has been heavily linked to a move to Barcelona.

“Fabregas costs an astronomical amount of money and is not one of our objectives at the moment. He will stay at Arsenal rather than move to Barcelona as far as I know,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The AC Milan chief also ruled out a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-German are reportedly on the verge of signing Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Sky Sport 24 report the former Liverpool man is headed for the Ligue 1 side after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of seven million euros.

At Anfield, Sky Sports report Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s potential loan move to Fiorentina has fallen through.

In La Liga, Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez is hopeful winger Juan Mata will not move to England, despite being linked to Arsenal.