'Football has bad name'

Robert Pires believes English football has been given a bad name following the allegations of gang rape against unnamed Premiership footballers.

The Frenchman, who does not believe any of his Arsenal team-mates were involved in an alleged incident at the Grosvenor House Hotel, which is subject to a police probe, claimed that the story's constant position high on the news agenda was creating a sorry image of the English game.

Pires admitted that it was a relief to be back in France where he is preparing for the Euro 2004 qualifier with Israel on Saturday.

He said: "We live in a very tense climate at the moment. It's very heavy to bear and gives a very bad image to us."

Meanwhile, Pires will stir up Arsenal's rivals after claiming that he and his club mates are harshly treated by referees because they are perceived as a foreign team.

Arsenal have a poor disciplinary record under Arsene Wenger with 52 red cards since he took charge in September 1996. However, Pires denied that there was bad blood between the Gunners and Manchester United after the recent high-profile fracas at Old Trafford.