Portuguese striker Jorge Cadete's move to Bradford has been delayed for a week because of illness.

The player has a hamstring strain, and has returned to Benfica to fully recover from a fever, for which he is taking antibiotics.

He had been expected to sign a short-term contract until the summer on completion of his medical on Monday.

But the club's medical advisers have advised against the club signing the player at this stage.

"Jorge Cadete is returning to Benfica for the next seven to 10 days," said City chairman Geoffrey Richmond.

"Both parties, however, are confident there will be no problem next week when we expect him to sign on loan until the end of the season."

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Dublin back in training

Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin is back in training just seven weeks after breaking a bone in his neck.

The England international has been doing some light jogging as he recovers from the injury sustained against Sheffield Wednesday in December.

Dublin's progress has amazed Villa manager John Gregory, although he admits the player still has a long way to go.

"They have told him that if his neck hurts he must stop, but he is a super-fit person.

"Other players would not have had the capacity to make the progress he has made."

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Larsson set for return

Celtic striker Henrik Larsson could play again before the end of this month, despite being told his season was over when he broke his leg last October.

The Sweden striker suffered the injury during a Uefa Cup match with Lyon and was also expected to miss the summer Euro 2000 tournament.

Larsson has had a steel pin inserted in his right leg, and he may now play in the Old Firm club's under-21 side before the end of the month.

A Swedish football federation spokesman added: "News of Henrik's recovery has been filtering back to us and he seems to have made remarkable progress.

"It is now likely members of our medical staff will travel to Glasgow in the near future to see him."

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Toms to make history

A woman will officiate in a major Wembley cup final for the first time at this month's Worthington Cup final between Leicester and Tranmere on 27 February.

"It is a terrific honour to be asked to officiate in such a great occasion. The Worthington Cup final will be the highlight of my career to date," said 37-year-old Wendy Toms.

"I sincerely hope that other women watch this game and think `I can do that'."

Football League chief executive John McKeown said: "This is a decision based purely on merit.

"Our assessment programme of match officials has indicated that Wendy is an assistant referee of high calibre who fully deserves this appointment."

The referee for the final has already been confirmed as Alan Wilkie from Chester-le-Street in Durham.

His other assistant will be Paul Armstrong from Thatcham in Berkshire. The fourth official will be Phil Richards from Preston.

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Argentina miss out on Olympics

Chile and Brazil have qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games as Argentina missed out.

Brazil won the final four-team South American qualifying group with a 3-1 win over Chile on Sunday.

That result left Chile and Argentina in to play for second place in the table with Reinaldo Navia's 81st-minute strike the only goal in Chile's 1-0 win.

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Real slump at Deportivo

Real Madrid lost 5-2 in the Spanish league on Sunday, as leaders Deportivo La Coruna awoke from their recent slump.

Barcelona also stumbled with a 1-0 defeat at home to Alaves, which left them five points adrift of the leaders.

Deportivo have seen a large lead disappear in recent weeks, but found their form against Real with goals from Roy Makaay, Djalminha, Victor Sanchez and two from Turu Flores

Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro scored for Real but their recent revival was derailed.

Real Zaragoza are second after a 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid, for whom Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored twice.

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Lazio lead in Italy

Lazio are the new leaders in Italy's Seria A after Sunday's 4-2 success at Torino, their first away victory since December.

Goals by Sinisa Mihajlovic, Roberto Sensini, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Marcelo Salas saw them move a point clear of Juventus, who drew 1-1 with Udinese on Saturday.

AC Milan and AS Roma are level on points in third and fourth places after big away wins for both at the weekend.

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Maradona kicks off in Cuba

Argentine legend Diego Maradona kicked off Cuba's national soccer championship on Sunday.

The match was held in honour of the former World Cup-winning national captain, who is in Cuba for drug treatment.

"I am totally proud to be able to be in this stadium and to see a Cuban football final," said Maradona, who sported a new orange-blond haircut.

The crowd chanted "Diego" as the 39-year-old kicked the ball to start the game which saw Pinar de Rio beat Havana 2-1.