Gunners and United held

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Heads you win: Diego Godin and Wayne Rooney

Both Manchester United and Arsenal are on top in their games with Villarreal and Dynamo Kiev respectively, but don't have any goals to show for it at the break. Rio Ferdinand missed the Red Devils best chance at Old Trafford, shooting wide from close range, and Emmanuel Adebayor missed when clean through in Kiev. Elsewhere, Fiorentina are 2-0 up at Lyon and Porto lead Fenerbahce 2-1.

FIFA to investigate allegations of Croatian racism

FIFA have opened an investigation into allegations that Croatia's fans racially abused England striker Emile Heskey during their World Cup qualifying match last week.

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Heskey was a key part of England's win.

World football's governing body said on Wednesday that it has begun disciplinary proceedings after England's Football Association lodged an official complaint.

FIFA said in a statement: ''FIFA can confirm that it has received an official request from the FA yesterday evening to investigate allegations of racist chanting at the Croatia vs England qualification match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup played in Zagreb on September 10 2008. FIFA has opened a disciplinary procedure to look into this matter.''

Racist chants were directed at Heskey at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb after he was booked for a challenge on Croatia captain Niko Kovac during the second half of England's 4-1 victory. Heskey later branded the fans "ignorant people" and said he tried to ignore the chants.

"You have to let the people above deal with that and I'll carry on playing my game," Heskey said after the match. "They are ignorant people, you have to ignore it and enjoy your game. Their players weren't happy about it either."

Piara Powar, a director for the anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, told the Times: "Their fans are being monitored for incidents of racial abuse and evidence of far-right activities.

"A number of preventative initiatives are under way with Croatian fan groups, the more progressive of whom understand the damage these types of incidents do to the standing of Croatia and its people.

"Longer term, we are involved in a European campaign to ensure to all governments, football associations and clubs across Eastern and Central Europe know what political and educational action they need to take to engender tolerant attitudes and an appreciation of Europe as it is.

"It is not an easy undertaking but one that is crucial to the future of the new Europe."

It is only three months since UEFA fined Croatia's football federation nearly £10,000 over the racist behaviour of some of the team's fans during the Euro 2008 match with Turkey.

UEFA imposed the fine after the Croatia fans were found guilty of ''displaying a racist banner and showing racist conduct''.

Tevez: Ronaldo return like 'an extra player'

Carlos Tevez feels having Cristiano Ronaldo back is like gaining an extra player for Manchester United.Ronaldo is set for a place on the substitutes' bench against Villarreal at Old Trafford tonight, barely two months after ankle surgery which Sir Alex Ferguson felt might keep him on the sidelines until October.With Michael Carrick ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken foot and Dimitar Berbatov a major doubt this evening after picking up a knee injury against Liverpool at the weekend, Ronaldo's return could not be better timed, particularly as Chelsea will have John Terry available for Sunday's blockbuster at Stamford Bridge after a successful appeal against his red card received at Manchester City.

''Cristiano is a massive player for us and it is great to have him on our side,'' said Tevez.''It is like having an extra player when he is there because he is such a danger to our opponents.''It will be a big boost to have him back.''With Ronaldo absent and Wayne Rooney's best performance of the season coming in an England shirt, Tevez has been United's most obvious attacking threat so far.

The Argentina forward scored the Red Devils' early goal at Liverpool on Saturday, so it is little wonder Ferguson wants to tie up a £30million deal for Tevez, who confirmed he would happily accept.''From the first moment I came here I would have loved to sign a long-term contract,'' he said.''Last year was a very happy season and it would be wonderful if the chairman put a long-term contract in front of me.

''If he did that I would sign it without a doubt.''Tevez is confident there will be no repeat of the lamentable performance from the European Champions at Liverpool, which drew such stinging criticism from Ferguson.The Scot claimed United's defending was no better than non-league standard and something no-one at Old Trafford expected to see again.''Whenever we lost a game last season we came back and showed ourselves to be stronger,'' said Tevez.''That was the reason we won two titles last year. I am sure we will see a reaction from the players tonight.

''Having gained his second Champions League success in Moscow last May, Ferguson knows he will equal Bob Paisley's record of three triumphs in European football's most prestigious competition if United can become the first team to successfully defend the trophy since the Champions League format was introduced in 1992.However, of more interest to the Scot is taking United's overall tally to four, moving them alongside European giants Bayern Munich and Ajax and just one adrift of Liverpool.

''Personal goals do not come into it at all,'' said Ferguson.''But I have said often enough that we should have won the European Cup more often and I hope we can win it again.''That would take us to four and would be a far more acceptable record in Europe.''That is the challenge and would create a bit more history for our club.''