Today's other soccer stories in brief

Kinnear on 'Mickey Mouse' FA charge

NEWCASTLE MANAGER Joe Kinnear has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association in England after describing Premier League official Martin Atkinson as a "Mickey Mouse" referee.

FA disciplinary chiefs wrote to the 61-year-old after the 2-1 defeat earlier this month to ask him to explain his comments.

And the Magpies' interim manager has now been charged and has until December 12th to respond.

The former Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest manager, who was appointed as Kevin Keegan's successor on an interim basis in September, was furious with Atkinson after he failed to award his side a free-kick for what he believed was a foul on defender Claudio Cacapa by Andrew Johnson in the build-up to Fulham's match-winning penalty.

He said after the game: "Cacapa was on the ball and Johnson completely pushes him out the way, nicks the ball and gets the penalty.

"We have got the Mickey Mouse referee doing nothing. He's made an error that cost us."

Midfielder apologises to family over goal celebration

IPSWICH MIDFIELDER David Norris has pledged to donate his €6,000 fine to a charity established by the family of the boys killed by former team-mate Luke McCormick.

Norris was fined by the English Football Association yesterday after admitting a charge of improper conduct following his goal celebration in the win over Blackpool earlier this month.

Norris made a gesture in support of former Plymouth team-mate McCormick, who was jailed in October for causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol.

McCormick caused the death of brothers Arron and Ben Peak, and Norris will donate the money to a charity established by the Peak family. Norris was also fined two weeks' wages by his club and spent an hour with the boys' parents, Amanda and Phil Peak, last week to apologise. A FA regulatory commission statement said: "This was an act of immense naivety by Mr Norris, who should have considered the possible implications of his actions. However, we have also considered the subsequent actions by Mr Norris in not only writing to Mr and Mrs Peak but by personally meeting the family to apologise for his behaviour."

Hutton injury 'a massive blow'

SCOTLAND MANAGER George Burley has described Alan Hutton's latest injury setback as a "massive blow" for the national team.

The Tottenham full-back looks almost certain to miss a crucial World Cup qualifier against Holland in March after being ruled out for up to five months with a fracture in his right foot. The 23-year-old made his international comeback in last week's friendly against Argentina, playing the full 90 minutes at Hampden.

He had also been back in action for Spurs for the last month after missing the start of the season with the same injury. The return of one of his key players had been regarded as a major boost for Burley, who will now have to rethink his preparations for the visit to Amsterdam having taken just four points from their first three games.

"It's a massive blow for us that he looks like he will need an operation. He's a big player for us and we wish him a speedy recovery." Burley said.