Rivaldo Will Stay in Milan

By Jim Barrero

Sept. 30, 2003 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

After a change of heart over the weekend, Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has decided to stay with AC Milan.

For now.

At least that’s what club vice president Adriano Galliani said.

“Rivaldo is staying with Milan and he will go with the squad to Vigo,” Galliani said, referring to the club’s Champions League match against Celta Vigo on Wednesday in Spain.

On Friday, Rivaldo announced he was leaving the team and was considering several offers from English teams. But at Sunday’s game against Lecce, Rivaldo apparently was touched by fan reaction to his decision.

The club said Rivaldo still could leave in January when the next transfer window opens.

Beckham Injured

Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham will sit out Wednesday’s Champions League game against FC Porto because of a swollen right instep suffered in a Spanish league game Saturday.

The injury also puts in doubt Beckham’s availability for England’s crucial Euro 2004 qualifying match at Turkey on Oct. 11.

Champions League

Arsenal, which suffered an embarrassing 3-0 home loss to Inter Milan in its first Champions League game two weeks ago, will be without at least three key players for today’s road game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

Defender Sol Campbell is out after the recent death of his father, and injuries will keep midfielder Patrick Vieira (thigh) and forward Freddie Ljungberg (ankle) sidelined. Others in doubt include defenders Martin Keown and Ashley Cole.

Arsenal has won only two of its last 11 Champions League matches. There are eight matches today and Wednesday.

Nigeria Withdraws

South Africa’s road to play host to the 2010 World Cup became less congested when Nigeria withdrew as a candidate one day before official bids were to be submitted.

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, has said that it will award the 2010 tournament to a country in Africa, a continent that has never played host to the event.

Nigeria’s decision to withdraw was based on a lack of financial backing, according to sports minister Musa Mohammed.

Besides South Africa, others expected to bid are Egypt and Morocco, and Tunisia and Libya, both as joint bids.

Times wire services contributed to this report.