FOOTBALL SHORTS

SPAIN’S footballers have threatened to go on strike if the Spanish league presses on with plans to stage a match in the United States. The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) met last night and vowed to fight the plan to play a game stateside. Players from all 20 clubs including Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid and Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona were present. AFE president David Aganzo, who will meet league boss Javier Tebas next month, said: ‘All the players are against this, they are all with the AFE.’

LEE CARSLEY is favourite to become the next manager at Cheltenham Town, who sacked Gary Johnson on Tuesday.

BURNLEY legend Jimmy McIlroy’s funeral service will take place a week tomorrow in the James Hargreaves suite at Turf Moor. McIlroy died on Monday aged 86.

FERNANDO TORRES scored his first goal in Japanese football as his Sagan Tosu side beat Andres Iniesta’s Kobe Vissel 3-0 to reach the last eight of the Emperors Cup.