English Leagues’ Agreement Averts Strike

A threatened English soccer strike was called off Friday after the players’ union and soccer leagues reached a settlement in their dispute over TV money.

The agreement was announced in Manchester, England, by the Professional Footballers’ Assn. and the Premier League eight days before what would have been the first strike in the history of the English game. The PFA set Tuesday as the strike date.

Players had been seeking an average of $39 million annually in a three-season deal. Teams had been offering an average of $24.2 million. The sides settled at an average of $25.4 million.

*

Gaunt and drawn, soccer legend George Best was admitted to a private clinic while on holiday in Nicosia, Cyprus, suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and fever, a medical official said.

“This present admission has nothing to do with either recent alcohol abuse or any [other] infection,” said Dr. Andreas Stylianides, who is treating the 55-year-old former Manchester United star.

Stylianides said he expected Best to be discharged from the clinic in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Best, who has battled alcoholism for 30 years, had anti-alcohol implants inserted into his stomach seven months ago. The so-called Antabuse pellets release a chemical which, when mixed with alcohol, makes the patient sick.

Best was told almost 20 months ago that one more drink would kill him.