World Cup Newslines/GROUP F: Harry Kewell may be banned from Australia's crucial final group game, against Croatia, after Markus Merk reported him to Fifa for an outburst at the German referee at the final whistle of the game against Brazil.
Kewell has been cited by Fifa for violating article 54 of the governing body's disciplinary code. The article covers "offensive behaviour" and the forward faces a two-match ban under Fifa's guidelines. According to Merk's report submitted to Fifa, Kewell said "You are f***ing shit" to the referee "several times".
Kewell's team-mate Craig Moore had to pull the Liverpool player away from Merk at the end of the match. The referee had infuriated the Australians because of what they saw as persistent protection of the Brazilian team rather than any specific incident; he awarded Brazil 25 free-kicks and Australia only nine in a game that was played in good spirit.
GROUP E: Fifa have no plans to reverse a yellow card that rules Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan out of Thursday's crucial match with the USA, a spokesman said.
Gyan got the yellow card for taking a penalty too early in the 2-0 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.
The Ghanaians appealed for clemency on the grounds Gyan had heard a whistle blown in the stands before he took the kick.
Fifa spokesman Markus Siegler confirmed a letter had been received from the Ghanaian team, but added the appeal had been turned down.
GROUP G: Fifa will not consider using video evidence or other goal-line technology to determine if a goal has been scored until it is 100 per cent reliable, spokesman Markus Siegler said yesterday.
The issue was raised again after TV replays suggested France should have taken a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute of Sunday's match against South Korea at the Zentralstadion in Leipzig.
Patrick Vieira's header looked well over the line despite goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae's efforts to claw it away but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved play on. The teams drew their Group G match 1-1 leaving France's progress in the balance.
Fifa experimented last year, using a ball with a microchip at the world under-17 championship in Peru. If that experiment had proved faultless the same technology would have been used at the World Cup, but Siegler said, "The experiment with the chip ball in Peru was 'not bad' but it was not 100 per cent conclusive."
PREMIERSHIP: Niall Quinn flew to Teesside airport last night and was due to meet the Sunderland chairman, Bob Murray, to finalise a takeover of the Wearside club, writes Michael Walker.
It is understood Quinn's consortium submitted a bid last week and there is some frustration matters are moving slowly.
The former Republic of Ireland international was further dismayed to read in yesterday's Sunderland Echo that four of his nine-man group had walked away from the proposed deal and that the takeover was on the verge of collapse.
"The idea that any of my consortium have withdrawn is woefully inaccurate," he said last night prior to meeting Murray. "They are as committed as I am. Our finance is in place, our due diligence is completed and I'm here to overcome the very last obstacle."
That obstacle may be the price. Sunderland have debts of £40 million and Quinn's consortium is believed to have offered £15-20 million to buy a controlling interest in the club and inherit the debt.
Blackburn Rovers last night gave Liverpool permission to open talks with Craig Bellamy after reluctantly accepting the Merseysiders' formal £6-million bid for the Wales striker.
