By Tommy Staniforth
Wednesday, 18 April 2001

Alan Shearer will fly to America next week for a second consultation with a knee specialist. The Newcastle United striker has not played since 3 March and the club's manager, Bobby Robson, does not now expect the former England captain to play any part in the rest of the season.

Alan Shearer will fly to America next week for a second consultation with a knee specialist. The Newcastle United striker has not played since 3 March and the club's manager, Bobby Robson, does not now expect the former England captain to play any part in the rest of the season.

Newcastle have struggled for goals in his absence, and victory over West Ham United at St James' Park on Monday ended a run of seven Premiership matches without a win. Shearer will travel to Colorado for another session with Dr Richard Steadman, the specialist who has recently treated Liverpool's Patrik Berger among others.

"Alan Shearer will be visiting Mr Steadman in a week's time for a second look," Robson confirmed yesterday. "The way it sounds, it looks as though he might not be available all season, and he might need another operation. Dr Steadman will decide whether to operate again or build up his quads and let him progress with light training.

"He's making progress and Dr Steadman's allowed Alan to start a little bit of light training, but he does not want it to get warm or flare up again."

Robson admitted he had written off Shearer for the season. "In my head, I have, but he hasn't," he said. "If Dr Steadman finds it has settled down, he won't operate unless he needs to ­ and I hope that happens because every time the knife goes into you it's a setback ­ but it's looking that way."

Everton have condemned a group of supporters who disrupted the minute's silence before Monday night's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Fans were asked to stand in respect of the 12th anniversary of Hillsborough and the tragedy at Ellis Park in South Africa. But some supporters chose to ignore the tribute.

Everton's spokesman, Ian Ross, said: "Without reservation, we condemn the action of these people. The disruption of the minute's silence was disrespectful and contemptuous. I am certain all right-thinking supporters will hold these people in contempt.

"These types of occasions have always been impeccably observed at Goodison Park. We are all disgusted at what happened and trust there will never be a repeat. "

Sepp Blatter, the head of the game's world governing body, Fifa, has called an emergency meeting to discuss the World Cup broadcasting rights.

The coverage for the next two World Cup tournaments has been thrown into doubt as the the sports marketing and media company owning the rights, ISL Worldwide, is facing liquidation. ISL is fighting to delay bankruptcy proceedings in a Swiss court and Fifa wants to draw up contingency plans if ISL's deal, which covers the rights to the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, collapses.

The committee will meet in Zurich today and will be headed by Blatter. Last Thursday, ISL's request to have bankruptcy proceedings delayed was denied by a Swiss judge.

The Ajax striker Shota Arveladze will decide at the end of the season whether to move to England or Italy. The 28-year-old Georgian international's contract expires at the end of June next year, and he is thought to be unhappy at the Amsterdam club. He has been linked with several English clubs, including Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.