A round-up of other soccer stories.

Gerrard off the hook

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Sissoko and West Ham's Nigel Reo-Coker have all escaped trial by television after controversial incidents in their respective matches on Monday.

The Anfield pair were accused by Bolton manager Sam Allardyce of stamping on two of his players in the 2-2 draw at the Reebok, while Reo-Coker's bruising tackle saw Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien carried off in the 3-1 win at Upton Park.

However, having received the reports from referees Mark Clattenburg (at Bolton) and Howard Webb the English FA have confirmed they will not be taking any action.

In both matches the referees said they saw the incidents and therefore, under Fifa rules, the FA cannot take retrospective action against players using video evidence.

An FA spokesman said: "Referee Mark Clattenburg has confirmed to us that he saw both incidents during the game. There will not be any disciplinary action (against Reo-Coker) because the referee dealt with the matter at the time by awarding a free-kick to Chelsea."

Allardyce was furious at the time that neither Gerrard nor Sissoko were punished by Clattenburg after the England midfielder appeared to stamp on Kevin Nolan, while the Mali international clashed with El-Hadji Diouf .

Meanwhile, Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after accusing referee Mark Halsey of having "a nice track record" of dismissing Rovers players.

His comments were made after Blackburn's 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Premiership on December 3rd, a match in which Rovers had Andy Todd sent off.

Robert Benfica bound

Laurent Robert, who cost Newcastle United £10.5 million in 2001, is to join Benfica for nothing, writes Darren Tulett .

The French winger, who joined Portsmouth on loan in July, flew to Lisbon yesterday to take up the offer of a three-and-a-half year contract with the Portuguese champions, clearing some room for what is expected to be a series of Harry Redknapp signings.

"I got on great with Harry Redknapp," Robert said before joining Ronald Koeman and his team. "If anyone can save Pompey, he can."

The first of the new signings is likely to arrive this week. Portsmouth confirmed yesterday that they have made a £4 million offer for Auxerre's Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

Robert's departure may also prove to be good news for Liverpool. After adding to their stock of left wingers, Benfica may be more inclined to allow their captain Simao Sabrosa, linked with a move to the European champions since last summer, to leave, though they play Liverpool next month for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"It's a great thrill to get a chance to play in the Champions League again," Robert said yesterday. "It's an exciting move."

Guardian Service

Owen under the knife

Surgeons yesterday carried out an operation on Michael Owen's broken toe - but Newcastle's injury problems are increasing still further. The England striker had an operation at a Manchester hospital where a pin was inserted into the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

The operation is understood to have gone successfully. But Owen, who suffered the fracture on New Year's Eve at Tottenham, will be out for 10 weeks.

Shola Ameobi is facing a spell on the sidelines as well and is set to have a scan on a hip injury with fears that it may be a recurrence of the same problem which afflicted him so badly last season.

Matters could deteriorate even further for Souness if midfielder Scott Parker, who has a knee problem, needs surgery.

Cassano gets Real deal

Italy striker Antonio Cassano will join Real Madrid on a 4½-year deal from Serie A club AS Roma, the Primera Liga side confirmed last night.

Spanish media reported that Real had paid around €5.5 million for the 23-year-old who had been embroiled in a dispute with the Italian club over his contract which was due to expire at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Brazilian full back Cicinho has revealed he turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of joining Real.

In Brief . . .

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will miss this month's African Nations Cup because of the ankle injury picked up at West Ham . . . Israel striker Yaniv Katan (24) yesterday completed his move to West Ham United in a £100,000 transfer from Maccabi Haifa . . . Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky (25) is to stay on at Borussia Dortmund despite being linked with Arsenal

. . . Celtic have confirmed midfielder Stilian Petrov will be out of action for three weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during the defeat of Hearts on New Year's Day . . . Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen (24) insists he remains content at Ewood Park despite being linked with a move to Tottenham . . . The agent of Bolton defender Ivan Campo (31) claims his client would be keen on a move to former club Real Mallorca

. . . Real Madrid's honorary president and record goal scorer Alfredo Di Stefano left intensive care in a Valencia hospital yesterday after continuing to make good progress following quadruple heart bypass surgery.