A round up of today's other soccer news
Neville fined £5,000
Manchester United captain Gary Neville has been fined £5,000 and warned after his exuberant celebration of United's winning goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford last month.
"At a Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Manchester United defender Gary Neville was found guilty of improper conduct," the English Football Association said in a statement.
Neville ran the length of the pitch to face the Liverpool fans after Rio Ferdinand's last minute winner in the January 22th Premiership match and scream his delight while brandishing the United crest on his jersey at them.
The FA has been clamping down on excessive celebrations that can be considered inflammatory.
Time called on Wembley
England's Football Association will transfer May's FA Cup final to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium over fears the new Wembley Stadium will not be completed for the May 13th showdown.
"It is clear that while they have over 2,500 people working hard on site, (builders) Multiplex and WNSL (which runs the stadium) are unable to give us 100 per cent certainty the stadium will be completed in time for the May 13 final," FA chief Brian Barwick said . "Due to the magnitude of the Cup final, we are not prepared to compromise or take any risk on the stadium not being able to stage such a significant event."
The FA also confirmed England's World Cup warm-up games against Hungary (May 30th) and Jamaica (June 3rd) would now be held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
The English Football League also said yesterday the promotion play-off finals would be staged at the Millennium Stadium.
World Cup on for Heinze
Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, who sustained cruciate knee ligament damage in September, says he will be back in action within four weeks.
"I expect to play again in one month," Heinze said. "The doctor of the Argentina team, Donato Villani, has evaluated me and we are all optimistic. I have worked hard and the results have been very positive."
The 27-year-old Heinze was injured in United's Champions League game at Villarreal on Sept 14th.
He is one of the Argentina players seen as a certainty in coach Jose Pekerman's World Cup squad if fit.
Lagerback makes choice
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback named a 22-man squad yesterday for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, March 1st, which will be Steve Staunton's first match in charge. The game, Sweden's last before Lagerback announces his World Cup squad in May, will be played at Lansdowne Road.
SWEDEN (v Republic of Ireland): Gustafsson (Ham-Kam), Isaksson (Stade Rennes); C Andersson (Lillestrom), Dorsin (Rosenborg Trondheim), Edman (Stade Rennes), Hansson (Heerenveen), Lucic (BK Hacken), Mellberg (Aston Villa), Ostlund (Southampton); D Andersson (Malmo), Alexandersson (IFK Gothenburg), Kallstrom (Stade Rennes), Linderoth (FC Copenhagen), Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht), Svensson (Elfsborg), Ljungberg (Arsenal); Allback (FC Copenhagen), Elmander (Brondby), Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Jonson (Djurgarden), Larsson (Barcelona), Rosenberg (Ajax).
Bird flu a threat to finals
A leading member of Germany's Green party has called for this summer's World Cup finals to be scrapped if large strains of the deadly bird flu virus reach the country.
With the disease having already making it to Rugen in the north of the country, Barbel Hohn, president of the Agricultural Parliamentary Committee of the upper house of the German Parliament, fears an outbreak of the virus could cause widespread disruption.
She said: "Let us just say that the virus is there and there is a large event taking place, then I would definitely say we should consider cancelling it."
Hohn believes it would be a simple precautionary decision, adding it would be in the interests of the general public.
Organisers of the World Cup, which is set to start on June 9th, have already had to contend with reports questioning the safety standards of its stadia, as well as criticism of its ticket allocation methods.
Kerley continues building
Waterford United manager Mike Kerley has marked another stage in his rebuilding programme at the RSC by signing an experienced left sided midfielder as well as two younger players who join the club after successful trial periods, reports Emmet Malone.
The most senior of the new recruits is Andrezej Polewczak, a 26-year-old left sided midfielder from Poland who spent last season in Germany with FC Taubertal. Also linking up with Kerley are 21-year-old Lloyd Colfer and 18-year-old Gavin Doyle, both of whom are strikers who come from Wexford.
In brief . . .
Newcastle United caretaker manager Glenn Roeder believes injured striker Michael Owen has a chance of playing in next month's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea . . . Republic of Ireland international John O'Shea made his comeback from fractured ribs in Manchester United's reserves match against Everton last night . . . Manchester United will travel to South Africa for a three-match pre-season tour this summer from July 13th to 23rd, during which time they will play matches against local sides . . . Sunderland's Republic of Ireland striker Stephen Elliott will play his first game, since suffering a stress fracture last November, when he plays for his side's reserves against Aston Villa this evening. . . Manchester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (19) - son of former Manchester United number one Peter - has joined Bury on a month's loan.
