GEORGE BEST 1946 - 2005 The world of football is united in mourning. At the end of a “long and very valiant fight”, George Best dies at 12.55pm at the Cromwell Hospital in London with his old team

- The world of football is united in mourning. At the end of a “long and very valiant fight”, George Best dies at 12.55pm at the Cromwell Hospital in London with his old team mate Denis Law and long-term agent Phil Hughes joining family members in a final bedside vigil. All the weekend’s Premiership and Football League matches will be observe a minute’s silence in memory of probably Britain’s greatest-ever player. The Manchester United and Northern Ireland genius will be buried in Belfast beside his mother next Saturday. George had been in hospital since 1 October having been admitted with flu-like symptoms, later suffering a kidney infection. His condition deteriorated considerably a week ago with a lung infection that led to internal bleeding. The recovering alcoholic was acutely prone to infection because of medicines he needed after a liver transplant in 2002. He was 59.

- Championship Crystal Palace reject an approach from Premiership Portsmouth for manager Iain Dowie. Pompey, who sacked Alain Perrin yesterday, are said to be keen to appoint the former Oldham Athletic boss as his successor. Sir Bobby Robson, Neil Warnock and George Burley are amongst others also linked with the south coast vacancy.

- It is announced that Middlesbrough supporter was fatally stabbed in Amsterdam following last night’s UEFA Cup clash against AZ Alkmaar. Police have also confirmed that another man suffered serious injuries following the match which took place 40 miles from the Dutch capital.