News: A major overhaul of English football's disciplinary system is under way, with the English FA's chief executive Mark Palios admitting that the current set-up is too slow and that inappropriate punishments are being meted out.
Palios said he wanted to appropriately punish "unacceptable forms of behaviour" by players as the FA prepared to announce today what charges will be brought against Arsenal and Manchester United after the incidents at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Harsher fines are likely and stiffer suspensions will also come under consideration. Precise details are unclear, but Palios is determined to ensure the system is easy to understand and wants to speed up the process of charging and then hearing cases.
He is also keen to ensure that punishments are appropriate and consistent.
Today, up to seven Arsenal players - Martin Keown, Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Edu and Freddie Ljungberg - will be charged with misconduct, possibly with United's Gary Neville. Arsenal are also likely to be charged with failing to control their players.
Tottenham yesterday stated they will not be rushing to appoint a new manager to succeed Glenn Hoddle.
Sources at White Hart Lane maintain nothing will happen until a board meeting takes place after the chairman Daniel Levy returns from honeymoon on Monday. The decision will then be taken "over the next few weeks".
David Pleat, who took temporary charge on Sunday, will be in charge for the next two league fixtures, at Manchester City and at home to Everton.
They will then have a fortnight before Middlesbrough visit on October 26th, ahead of which the board intends to appoint the new man.
"I imagine over a period of time the world and his wife might apply, depending on how they view Tottenham," said Pleat, the director of football who has not given up hope of again becoming manager on a long-term basis.
"I haven't got any intention of anything at this stage. I'm not thinking of me at the moment and I'm focusing on the immediate.
"I'm sure there will be lots of interest and then a debate and discussion. The chairman will no doubt convene a meeting and go through the procedure and profile of the type of man who would take the club on."
Though the appointment process will take time, the decision to dismiss Hoddle was not a knee-jerk reaction.
The seeds were sown almost six months ago when, following a poor run of results towards the end of last season, Hoddle was given an ultimatum at a board meeting which gave him the first six games of this campaign to prove himself.
In the interim, they sounded out Blackburn's Graeme Souness and are believed to have approached the Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, though Spurs are not confident of persuading him to move to White Hart Lane.
Souness said he would not quit Ewood Park and reiterated his statement yesterday. "I'm very happy at the moment; I'm at one of the best clubs in the country."
Tottenham may turn their attentions to Charlton's Alan Curbishley, the favourite with some bookmakers.
However, Raddy Antic has put his own name forward and the former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque is understood to be interested.
Klaus Toppmoller, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to the European Cup final in 2002, has also declared himself keen. "I'm very interested," he said.
The Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer underwent surgery on a knee problem yesterday and may be sidelined for three months.
Crewe's manager Dario Gradi has undergone surgery to replace a heart valve. The club said the 62-year-old, who took charge at Gresty Road in July 1983, is recovering in hospital.
Brazil striker Ronaldo has asked Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign his disgruntled compatriot Rivaldo from AC Milan, according to newspaper reports in Brazil.
The two players apparently spoke at Ronaldo's 27th birthday party in Madrid on Monday, when Ronaldo promised to do everything he could to persuade Perez to sign the former Barcelona forward.
"I'm going to talk to my president and Rivaldo will be happy with us here at Real," Ronaldo reportedly said.
Rivaldo has repeatedly been left on the bench by the Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and said in an interview on Monday that he felt he was being humiliated.
Juninho may seek a move from Middlesbrough when the transfer window opens in January.
The Brazilian, dropped against Everton on Sunday, will not play in the English League Cup against Brighton tonight and has already had talks with his manager Steve McClaren over his future.
"You can't have enough good players and Juninho is very, very good" said McClaren. "He has contributed to the success of this club and will continue to do that while he is here."
Guardian Service
