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ZURICH, Switzerland -- FIFA has included Martin Hansson among 30 referees selected for the World Cup despite the Swede missing Thierry Henry's hand ball during France's decisive qualifier against Ireland in November.
One of Hansson's assistants from the all-Swedish crew that officiated the France-Ireland playoff was omitted, Fredrik Nilsson, and replaced by Henrik Andren. The other assistant, Stefan Wittberg, will join Hansson at the World Cup.
No Canadian officials were picked for the tournament.
NIGERIA FIRES COACH
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria has fired Shaibu Amodu following a disappointing African Cup of Nations, leaving the team without a head coach months before the World Cup.
The Nigerian Football Federation said Saturday its short list of replacements includes Ratomir Dujkovic, Guus Hiddink, Bruno Metsu, Hassan Shehata, Peter Taylor and Louis van Gaal.
The Super Eagles finished third at the African Cup.
DRAW KEEPS FOES APART
WARSAW, Poland -- Russia and Georgia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan, will be kept apart on Sunday in the draw for the qualifying tournament for the 2012 European Championship, ensuring the former war foes will not play against each other in the qualifying stages.
"It's precisely because we don't want to mix sport and politics," UEFA president Michel Platini said Saturday. "It's a very good decision."
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August 2008, while Armenia and Azerbaijan are in dispute over a contested enclave and have no diplomatic relations.
COACH ACCUSED OF ABUSE
LISBON, Portugal -- A television presenter says Portuguese national football coach Carlos Queiroz attacked him at Lisbon airport.
Jorge Baptista told Portuguese news agency Lusa that he was eating breakfast and talking on the phone on Saturday morning when Queiroz started verbally and then physically abusing him.