United Doesn’t Find Violations

Manchester United paid more than $24 million to agents involved in the club’s acquisition of players from 2001 to 2004 but did not break any rules, the English Premier League team said Tuesday.

An internal review looked at 21 player transfers worth a combined $286 million, including that of American goalkeeper Tim Howard, and found that established and accepted practices had been followed.

Howard was bought from Major League Soccer’s New York/New Jersey MetroStars last summer for $4.2 million. Agent Gaetano Marotta and others received $1.2 million of that amount.

“Although the agent’s fee was large as a percentage of the overall deal, the board believes the cost represents good value,” Manchester United said.

For appearances sake, the club severed ties with the Elite Sports agency, which represents 13 United players. One of the agency’s directors, Jason Ferguson, is the son of Manchester Coach Alex Ferguson.

Euro 2004

David Beckham, who will be England’s captain against France, Switzerland and Croatia in the first round of next month’s European Championship in Portugal, said at the team’s training camp in Sardinia he was satisfied with his first season at Real Madrid.

“I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove to people” at Euro 2004, he said. “I’ve enjoyed my season.

“Since I moved to Real Madrid, from the first game onwards, I had to prove to people in Spain that I could actually play football instead of just selling shirts, and I felt I’ve done that.”

Elsewhere, midfielder Morten Wieghorst was forced to withdraw from Denmark’s Euro 2004 squad because of an injury to his left knee.

Also, Portugal-bound Russia was held to a 0-0 tie by Austria in Vienna.

Copa America

Manchester City and Costa Rica striker Paulo Wanchope said that he would not play for his country in the July 6-25 Copa America tournament in Peru and also would skip Costa Rica’s World Cup 2006 qualifying games against Cuba in June.

“I have decided in discussion with the [Manchester City] medical staff that it would be better for me, the club and Costa Rica to rest this summer,” Wanchope, 27, said.

Costa Rica plays Brazil, Chile and Paraguay in the first round of the Copa America, which had problems of its own Tuesday.

The modern 80,000-seat Monumental Stadium in Lima, planned site of the opening game and final, was dropped as a venue in favor of the 54-year-old, 45,000-seat National Stadium.

The decision came after Monumental’s co-owner, Alfredo Gonzalez, threatened to deny use of the stadium unless sanctions were lifted against some of his Universitario players, including Mario Gomez, who has been suspended since last season while under investigation in the shooting death of a female companion.

Quick Passes

Former Argentine World Cup winner Diego Maradona, an admitted cocaine addict, is being treated at a drug rehabilitation facility in suburban Buenos Aires, his doctor said. “He has undergone previous treatments, but nothing as rigorous as this,” Alfredo Cahe told Argentina’s Radio 10.... Ronaldo and Julio Baptista each scored two goals as Brazil rolled over Catalonia, 5-2, in front of 75,000 in Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium.... Dutch internationals Patrick Kluivert, Philip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Marc Overmars have been released by Barcelona, which also is expected to release Turkish international goalkeeper Rustu Recber.... Former Spanish international and Spain national team coach Jose Antonio Camacho signed a two-year contract as coach of Real Madrid, replacing Carlos Queiroz, who was fired.... The U.S. under-20 national team will play Brazil, the under-20 world champion, June 16 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

-- Compiled by Grahame L. Jones