Meier's pizza the action

Get me a margherita to go!

Smarting England fans believe the Swiss referee who disallowed Sol Campbell's 'goal' should be the subject of a new pizza advert.

Urs Meier topped a poll to find which football personality should step into Gareth Southgate's shoes.

Southgate poked fun of himself in a Pizza Hut ad after missing that penalty against Germany at Euro 96.

He appeared on screen with a paper bag over his head and walked into a pillar - prompting fellow spot-kick sufferer Stuart Pearce to groan: "This time he's hit the post!"

Speculation was rife that David Beckham would be approached to do a commercial after missing two penalties in Portugal, or even Darius Vassell - who saw his crucial kick saved in the semi-final.

But Meier, who was subject to a vicious hate campaign in the tabloid press, attracted 48% of the vote - 13% more than the England captain.

Whether he'll agree to do the advert is a different matter entirely.

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Pay-back time

Fiver says they come back

A Romanian football club have sacked every one of their players for demanding an "outrageous" pay rise of...£5 a month.

Bosses at second division Dacia Mioveni were livid at the request and decided it would be cheaper to advertise for new players in local papers.

Mioveni, who finished third last season, are owned by the town council and officials claimed they did not have enough funds to meet the demands of their stars.

Town Mayor Vasile Costescu said: "If they won't accept the salary on offer then they can get on with their lives while we look for replacements. It's as simple as that."

Expect a few familiar faces to report for pre-season training - many of them covered in egg.