Beckham escapes: David Beckham has escaped punishment by the Football Association in England. He admitted he had ensured a suspension by deliberately getting himself booked against Wales. He thus wiped clean his disciplinary record by missing the game against Azerbaijan from which injury would have ruled him out in any case.
The England captain bragged about his behaviour to a newspaper and triggered a controversy. He then apologised, without clarifying whether he regretted his actions or merely his candour. The authorities have now chosen not to act despite suggestions from the FIFA president Sepp Blatter that they ought to intervene.
"The FA's compliance department has reviewed all the available information," said the ruling body's statement, "and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue a disciplinary charge." However, Beckham has been reminded of his responsibilities and the rules of conduct he is expected to adhere to both as an England player and as captain.
Mutu no to cocaine
Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has admitted taking something "to make me feel good" but denied it was cocaine yesterday.
"I didn't take cocaine. I took something to make me feel good, I'll tell you later what it was," he told Romanian television after leaving a meeting at the English FA.
On Tuesday, English players' union chief Gordon Taylor said Mutu had admitted testing positive for cocaine. Meanwhile, Villarreal's Brazilian midfielder Marcos Senna has been suspended by UEFA after a positive drugs test in a European game.
Vogts on the agenda
The Scottish FA are poised to begin official talks over the future of Scotland boss Berti Vogts at Hampden Park today. The meeting is set to determine the timescale of his departure. Following last week's 1-1 draw in Moldova, Scotland's chances of reaching the World Cup finals in Germany in two years already look doomed. British bookmakers have installed Walter Smith, the former Rangers and Everton manager, as the favourite to replace the Vogts.
Hacker targets referee
Swiss referee Urs Meier said he was shocked after hackers broke into his personal website and posted a fake apology for his decision to disallow Sol Campbell's goal during England's quarter-final defeat by hosts Portugal in June. Meier received death threats after he ruled out the goal. The hacker posted the message in English, prompting Swiss media to speculate that a disgruntled England fan may have been responsible. "I took money from a senior UEFA official so that the hosts, Portugal, would stay in the tournament," the website falsely quoted Meier as saying.
In brief . . . .
Spurs do not have a strong enough squad to finish in a Champions League qualifying place this season, their coach Jacques Santini said yesterday. "This will be a long, hard season for Tottenham because we don't have enough players to play for fourth in the Premier League but five to 10 is possible," the Frenchman said . . . Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane has told the Everton website he wants a new long-term contract with the club. In the last year of a two-year deal, he said: "I love it at Everton and I I'd love to think I could be here for a good few years yet." . . . Real Madrid have said that striker Fernando Morientes is not for sale . . . Former Brazil striker Romario has been kicked out by his club Fluminense after a series of fitness problems and clashes with his coaches.
