Sports Briefs

■ Brazil
Romario reaches 998 goals
Former Brazil striker Romario took his career tally, according to his own records, to 998 goals on Saturday after scoring his third hat-trick of the year. Romario's goals came in a 20-minute spell in the second half as he helped Vasco da Gama beat modest opponents Boavista 6-2 in the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship. The irrepressible 41-year-old former Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven player scored with a header, a penalty and a left-foot shot to drag Vasco from 2-1 down to 4-2 ahead. "A few years ago, everybody thought my career was finished," Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner told reporters. "But there's the reply."

■ France
Lyon rout Nancy
Milan Baros, Kim Kallstrom and Fred each scored on Saturday to give Lyon a 3-0 win at Nancy and move the five-time defending champion 16 points clear at the top of the French league. Lyon has 65 points from 29 rounds. Czech Republic striker Baros gave Lyon the lead in the 36th minute when the ball bounced off his thigh after a corner. Kallstrom made it 2-0 in the 76th with a powerful shot off a pass from forward Karim Benzema, and substitute Fred sealed victory in the 81st with a diving header from Kallstrom's free kick. Bordeaux moved up to third place with 44 points after drawing 1-1 at last-place Sedan.

■ Australia
Players threaten boycott
Some of Australia's top players are reportedly considering boycotting international friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay because they are unhappy at the timing of the matches. Australia are due to play Uruguay in Sydney on June 2 and Argentina in Melbourne four days later as part of their preparations for the Asian Cup, to be staged in Southeast Asia in July. Several senior players, including captain Mark Viduka, wanted the matches played later so they could have a break after the end of their European club seasons. "You need a rest and after our schedule over the past few years, it's a bit too much," Viduka told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph.

■ Italy
Palermo, Sampdoria draw
Palermo drew 1-1 with 10-man Sampdoria on Saturday to drop points for the seventh straight game in the Serie A. Striker Edison Cavani headed Palermo in front in the 53rd minute before a defensive mix-up allowed Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella to level the match in the 56th. Palermo was unable to profit more from defender Giulio Falcone's expulsion in the 36th and remained winless since Feb. 2. It was Sampdoria's second straight draw. The Sicilian team took sole possession of third place in the Serie A with 47 points -- one more than Lazio, which hosted fifth-place Empoli yesterday. Sampdoria is eighth with 35 points.

■ England
Hands off, Ferguson says
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has accused Real Madrid and Barcelona of using winger Cristiano Ronaldo as a bargaining tool in their internal politics. The two Spanish giants have been linked with a move for the Portuguese international but Ferguson believes part of the speculation is fired by propaganda in the presidency battles at Real and Barcelona. "Let's be perfectly clear about Real Madrid and Barcelona," Ferguson told reporters. "Their elections are in the summer."