GIRLS LISTEN TO RADIO; PEOPLE WITH DRUM AND FLAGS; SUPPORTERS ON TOP OF CAR; CAR WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS; CROWD WAVE FLAGS. (NATURAL SOUND)




Initials LH/VS/PN/BB


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ENGLISH SOCCER CLUBS, ARSENAL AND BIRMINGHAM CITY, ARE CLAIMING COMPENSATION AGAINST WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS ESTUDIANTES OF ARGENTINA OVER THEIR REFUSAL TO PLAY SCHEDULED FRIENDLY MATCHES NEXT WEEK. ESTUDIANTES WITHDREW FROM THE MATCHES AFTER THIS WEEK'S DRAW AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED WHICH WAS MARRED BY ROUGH PLAY. ARGENTINE SUPPORTERS, IN ESTUDIANTES' HOME TOWN OF LA PLATA, CELEBRATED THE DRAW WHICH GAVE THEIR TEAM THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE SOUTH AMERICANS WERE DUE TO MEET ARSENAL ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 21) AND BIRMINGHAM CITY THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 23). BUT THEY'LL NOW LEAVE FOR ARGENTINA ON MONDAY AFTER THEY PLAY INTER-MILAN IN ITALY.

ARSENAL OFFICIALS WANT GBP25,000 COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES FOR THEIR PLANNED MATCH. THEY'RE MAKING A SUBMISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS (FIFA). ARSENAL HAD EXPECTED A CROWD OF 40,000.

BIRMINGHAM CITY, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GAIN COMPENSATION BUT THEY'VE NOT YET DECIDED ON A FIGURE.

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN STRAINED SINCE THE WORLD CUP AT WEMBLEY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE ARGENTINE CAPTAIN WAS SENT OFF THE FIELD DURING A MATCH AGAINST ENGLAND, THE EVENTUAL CHAMPIONS.