According to a source, negotiations with Robbie Fowler's representatives broke down when the player's salary demands suddenly increased from $1 million to $3 million. An unidentified MLS club (not New England) was bidding to bring Fowler to MLS as a Designated Player at a salary of approximately $1 million. Fowler's contract with Liverpool expires in June and his place with the club could be under threat with Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Crouch and Craig Bellamy already on the roster and Ukrainian Andriy Voronin arriving on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in a few months. The Revs apparently …

Two decades since the southern Italian team of Napoli lured Diego Maradona into its ranks and won its first two Serie A championships, a supporters' group has come up with a plan to revive the club that now plays in Italy's second division. Napoli has no means to land a major international star, such as Ronaldinho, whose Barcelona buyout clause is 134 million euros ($117 million). But the Partenopei's faithful have a scheme: they're trying to raise 2 million euros to place a 67-1 bet that Napoli will sign the Brazilian -- a wager that would yield 134 million …

U.S. under-16 girls national team player Mariah Nogueira and U.S. women's national team player Casey Nogueira are not sisters. Yael Averbuch played for the USA in the 2004 Under-19 Women's World Cup.

U.S. women's soccer legends Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the Player Category for the class of 2007 -- the first all-female class inducted in the Player Category. The 2007 induction ceremonies will be held on Aug. 26 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. Hamm was elected with 97.16 percent of the vote (137 of the 141 ballots cast), surpassing that of the previous high vote garnered by Michelle Akers in 2005, who was elected with 95.77 percent of the vote. Foudy was elected with …

Four years after the WUSA folded following three seasons, Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc., has announced the commitment of six investment groups to launch a new major pro women's soccer league in 2008. The six announced charter teams will be led by the following investors: AEG: Greater Los Angeles John Hendricks, Freedom Soccer LLC: Washington D.C. Jeff Cooper, St. Louis United Soccer LLC: St. Louis, Mo Soccer Initiative, LLC: Territory to be determined. Jack Hanks and Brent Coralli, Dallas Franchise Group: Greater Dallas area. WGLSI, LLC and an additional investor: Chicago and Bridgeview, Ill. ''We knew we would …

Freddy Llerena, who suffered a broken leg while playing for American University in a 2003 scrimmage against D.C. United, has filed a lawsuit against D.C. United, its former investors (Anschutz Entertainment Group), MLS and Hristo Stoitchkov. The Washington Post reported that Llerena is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages from all parties and $5 million in punitive damages from Stoitchkov, whose foul left Llerena, then a freshman, with a compound fracture of his right leg and other injuries. The suit alleges the tackle was the result of negligence and reckless misconduct and claims that Llerena suffered …

The 16-team Clericus Cup kicked off at the Vatican last weekend as Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church College), a team comprised mainly of Mexican priest trainees, defeated the all-Brazilian students of the Pontifical Gregorian University, 6-0. The game opened the 16-team tournament in which 311 priests and seminarians -- from countries including Italy, the United States, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda -- are competing in the shadow of the Basilica of Saint Peter. ''You are in sight of St Peter's cupola, so behave!'' Cardinal Pio Laghi announced at the opening ceremonies. But two yellow cards …

By Ridge Mahoney Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad has agreed to terms of a four-year deal to stay in MLS after drawing some interest from foreign teams. Swedish club Lillestrom FC tendered a transfer offer of $550,000 last month that was rejected by the league, and agent Lyle Yorks said there was also interest from a few Bundesliga clubs but Conrad, who just turned 30, has elected to stay in MLS. Yorks didn't reveal financial details of the contract; Conrad earned a base salary of 125,000 last season. ''He's excited about the new direction in …

The USA's fifth friendly of the year and final warmup before this summer's Gold Cup and Copa America will be against China at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif., June 2 (8 pm ET/5 pm PT, live on ESPN2 and Galavision. The USA and China have met seven times. The USA has won four of the encounters, lost once, and tied twice. They've meet three times in Northern California: a 2-1 win in Oakland (2001), a 5-0 win in Palo Alto (1992) and a 2-1 win in San Francisco (1977). USA 2007 Schedule Jan. 20 …

Carlos Cordeiro is the first independent director appointed to U.S. Soccer's Board of Directors. The three ''independent director'' positions were created at last year's AGM, when the organization's Board of Directors was reduced from 40 to 15. Cordeiro was appointed in a vote of U.S. Soccer's membership at its Annual General Meeting held last weekend in Los Angeles. The move to add independent directors is part of an effort to add new leaders with skills and backgrounds beyond the scope of the board's soccer executives. The Indian-born Cordeiro has more than 20 years of experience providing strategic and …

Brazilian Rodrigo Martins Cintra has been banned indefinitely for ejecting the wrong player in a Corinthians-Rio Branco game. In the first half, Rio Branco's Josias tripped a Corinthians player but Cintra showed a yellow card to Felipe, who, because he had already been cautioned, was red-carded. ''He thought it was one player but it was a different one,'' said Marcos Marinho, the head of the Paulista soccer federations referees committee. ''He needs some time to get over it.''

The U.S. under-17 and under-16 girls national teams are assembling at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., where they will host Germany's under-17 national team. The U.S. U-17s and U-16s will meet March 2 before each facing Germany's U-17s twice March 4-7. Illinois powerhouse Eclipse Select leads all clubs five five players among the 48 to the U-17 and U-16 camp. The Dallas Texans, McLean (Va.) Freedom, Albertson (N.Y.) Fury, Slammers FC of Southern California and Arsenal World Class of New Jersey each will have three players in camp. Shira Averbuch, Mariah Nogueira and Vicki DiMartino …

Mexico and Costa Rica clinched the final spots in the 2007 U-20 World Cup (July 1-22 in Canada) last weekend to complete the 24-team field. The USA qualified from Concacaf's Group A along with Panama. Mexico hosted and topped Group B play with 2-0 wins over Jamaica and St. Kitts & Nevis, before tying Costa Rica, 1-1. The Ticos beat Jamaica 2-0 and St. Kitts & Nevis, 3-2. The draw takes place March 3. 2007 U-20 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Concacaf (5): Canada (host), Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, USA. Asia (4): Japan, Jordon, South Korea, North Korea. …

The U.S. Soccer Federation board unanimously approved a quest to bid for the 2018 World Cup during the federation AGM in Los Angeles. The USA hosted the 1994 World Cup, which remains the best attended finals ever. Also aiming to host the 2018 finals is England. The 2010 World Cup is set for South Africa. FIFA's executive committee has stated the 2014 World Cup will be in South America, where Brazil and Colombia have announced their intentions of landing the tournament. Late last year, FIFA President Sepp Blatter denied that FIFA is looking for alternative hosts …

Brian McBride scored his 9th goal of the season, but Fulham fell, 2-1, to Manchester United, for which Cristiano Ronaldo's scored the late gamewinner. McBride played 79 minutes, Carlos Bocanegra went the distance in central defense; and Clint Dempsey, a 71st minute sub, was one of the Cottagers Ronaldo evaded on the way to scoring his 16th goal of the season. Goalkeeper Tim Howard and Everton celebrated a 3-0 win over Watford, for which Jay DeMerit caused a penalty kick that was converted. Watford is in last place, 10 points deep in the relegation zone. Another EPL newcomer, Reading …