SHORT CORNER

Hummels demands '100 percent focus'

Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels has warned his team not to underestimate second tier minnows FC Heidenheim in Wednesday's German Cup quarterfinal clash.

Bayern are expected to stroll into the semifinals when they host Heidenheim on Wednesday evening, just three days before their key Bundesliga meeting with title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Yet Hummels, who follows the second tier club closely, said Bayern should not get ahead of themselves in what could be a season-defining week.

"We have to be 100 percent focused against Heidenheim because they won't be a pushover," he said on Tuesday.

"A good friend of mine is a big Heidenheim fan, so I watch them quite a lot. They play good football, particularly going forward."            --Afp

Toure blasts football chiefs over racism

Four-time African footballer of the year Yaya Toure says football authorities should be more proactive when it comes to racism.

The 35-year-old former Ivory Coast great -- who also starred for Barcelona and Manchester City -- said football's governing bodies only reacted once incidents had already occurred, as in the case of the racist chanting during England's Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro last week.

The Montenegro fans directed their chants at several England players including defender Danny Rose and striker Raheem Sterling.

"They (the football authorities) sit and they have their coffee, their wine," Toure told the Daily Mirror.

"Then they hear a case like Raheem happening and they jump on the phone saying: 'We have to have a meeting! We have to do something!

"It shouldn't work that way. We have to be proactive. Something that is seen.

"We have to be working before that kind of situation with Raheem is happening."           --Afp

Everton probe Pickford bar brawl allegations

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is under investigation by his club Everton about his alleged involvement in a brawl in Sunderland on Sunday.

The 25-year-old -- who shone at last year's World Cup -- is believed to have reacted when revellers in a bar directed derogatory remarks at his fiancee Megan, who recently had their first child Arlo.

A video has spread on social media in which onlookers can be heard shouting "Jordan" as a fight breaks out before the man, believed to be Pickford, is dragged away.

"The club has been made aware of an alleged incident involving one of our players and we are looking into the matter," the Premier League club said.                    --Afp

'Pogba wants to stay at Man United'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he has been assured by star midfielder Paul Pogba that the Frenchman does not want to leave Manchester United despite mounting speculation over a switch to Real Madrid.

"It doesn't really concern me because my thought of action was to sit down and speak to Paul," he said on Monday.

"I have had my chat with Paul and we're fine. He is going to do his utmost here because he knows I am very fond of him as a player and as a person. He is important for us here, so there are no issues. He is happy here."

United midfielder Pogba last week described Madrid, managed by France great Zinedine Zidane, as a "dream club for every player" while on international duty.        --Afp