European soccer officials have agreed to keep the Toyota Cup in Tokyo at least for this year's edition in November, backing down on their demand for a home-and-away tie instead of playing in neutral Japan, sources here said Friday.
Soccer's European governing body UEFA has accepted an offer of a higher appearance fee from Japanese organizers, who hope to continue hosting the annual clash between European and South American club champions.
Japanese soccer officials revealed last month that UEFA had threatened to move the Toyota Cup away from Japan ahead of the Nov. 27 clash at Tokyo's National Stadium between Bayern Munich of Germany and Boca Juniors of Argentina.
The UEFA action followed the collapse of sports marketing giant ISL/ISMM in May, which caused the annulment of the contract that guaranteed Japan's hosting of the Toyota Cup through 2002.
Inamoto strains groin
LONDON (Kyodo) Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto has been ruled out of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday after picking up a groin strain, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Friday. But Inamoto, who made his Arsenal debut in a competitive match Wednesday when he came on as a second-half substitute in the London side's 3-2 Champions League win at home to Schalke 04, indicated that the injury is not serious. "I should be back training again early next week," said Inamoto, who will miss out on a chance to play against compatriot Akinori Nishizawa, currently on loan at Bolton.