Michel Platini said today he will not play in a match of retired stars to benefit a French policeman beaten into a coma by German thugs because he feels such a match is premature.

The match with former French and German internationals on July 11 -- on the eve of the World Cup final -- is to raise money for David Nivel, who was attacked on June 21 in Lens after the Germany-Yugoslavia match.

Former German internationals who will play include Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Rudi Voeller, Manfred Kaltz, Pierre Littbarski and Bernd Foster. Franz Beckenbauer will be coaching, the organisers said.

French players expected to play include Eric Cantona, David Ginola, Didier Six, Dominique Rocheteau, Joel Bats, Patrick Battiston, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana. "It would be better, firstly, to have this match in the Arras region -- were Nivel is from -- and secondly, I wasn't informed of this initiative,'' Platini said.

Bierhoff's head good for shampoo!

German striker OliverBierhoff already uses his head to make big money in the advertising world. The 30-year-old forward, who saved a below-par German team from an early exit when he headed in a late winner in a 2-1 defeat of Mexico in the second round, is one of the most marketable players in Berti Vogts's team.

Tall and handsome, Bierhoff makes large amounts from endorsement contracts, including adverts for a well-known shampoo. "One of my sponsors likes it when I score with my head," Bierhoff joked at the team's training camp yesterday.

Paraguay coach gets the sack

Paraguay today dismissed Brazilian coach Paulo Carpegiani after the team's second round defeat by France, the President of the Paraguayan football Federation Oscar Harrison said.

Carpegiani is the fourth World Cup coach to get the bullet but the first to be sacked after taking his team past the group phase. Early favourite to take over is Gustavo Benitez, the Paraguayan coach of Colo Colo in Chile. Another possibility touted by the media is the brotherof goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, Ronaldo Chilavert.

No positive tests

FIFA announced that every doping test at the World Cup, up to and including the eight second-round games, had been negative. Since the competition began on June 10, two players from each team have been tested after every match. FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said there were no positive tests after the second round had been analyzed.

Stop the cheats: Sir Bobby

Former England great Sir Bobby Charlton has called on FIFA to stop the cheats. "I have never seen so many people dive," fumed Charlton yesterday. "They all fall the same way. The head goes back, they roll over three times. It's a work of art. The moment they get touched by a defender down they go. They practise it," he added. Now Charlton wants FIFA to use television to catch and punish the play actors. "You have to be strong about it. Maradona should never have been allowed to play in the 1990 final after his hand-ball goal against England," said Charlton.