WORLD football will be hit by a financial "tsunami", even though the sport has so far avoided the effects of the global credit crunch.

That is the pessimistic prediction of Fifa president Sepp Blatter, as he looks beyond the World Cup next year.

Football's governing body relies on the tournament for 90 per cent of its revenue and expects to earn £2.3bn in television and marketing revenue in South Africa.

Blatter believes his organisation will remain in a "comfortable situation" until the finals.

However, he is braced for bleaker financial times when the time comes to negotiate deals for future tournaments.

"We are in a financial crisis in the world and football has not yet so much been touched by the first wave of an economic tsunami," Blatter said.

"But the second wave will hit us, especially with the sponsorship of club football."

Meanwhile, Scotland stopper Craig Gordon has urged George Burley to play him in the World Cup qualifier with Holland, even though he has lost his place in the Sunderland side.

He said: "I have played 35 times for the national team and George Burley knows me well from our time together at Hearts."

Scotland have moved up four places to 28th in the Fifa world rankings, while Holland are third. Stories in today's English papers... Billy Davies' future as Nottingham Forest boss may be in doubt as he is still not completely in charge of transfer policy. Russian FA hints that national coach Guus Hiddink may stay on at Chelsea beyond the end of the season. CSKA Moscow coach Zico says he will not prevent striker Yuri Zhirkov leaving if Chelsea want him. Middlesbrough's £12m striker Afonso Alves is on his way to Benfica this summer.