Gattuso escapes assault charge for Jordan headbutt

SOCCER SHORTS:AC MILAN captain Gennaro Gattuso has escaped an assault charge for his headbutt on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan, Uefa said yesterday.

A spokesman said the 33-year-old midfielder had been charged with the lesser offence of gross unsporting conduct which, according to Uefa’s disciplinary code, carries a “suspension for one competition match or for a specified period”.

Gattuso will find out the extent of his punishment on Monday.

The charge of assault carries a minimum three-match ban and European soccer’s governing body also has a provision for serious assault which would carry a minimum five-match suspension.

Gattuso has apologised for what he called “inexcusable” behaviour.

The former Italy international grabbed Jordan by the throat and pushed him out by the touchline during the Champions League last-16 first leg at the San Siro, and headbutted the Spurs assistant coach after the final whistle before being pulled away by team mates.

Ribery says Domenech retort too late

FORMER France coach Raymond Domenech should have spoken to the players about their World Cup mutiny, not months later in the media, Franck Ribery said yesterday.

Domenech, replaced by Laurent Blanc after France crashed out in the first round in South Africa, called his team “horrible, unthinking brats” this week after they refused to train when Nicolas Anelka was sent home for swearing at him last June.

"I don't know why he says these things. I find it a shame. The World Cup has gone, I don't want to talk about Domenech any more," fit-again Bayern winger Ribery told L'Equipe.

“I am very motivated to get back in the France team with a new staff and new coach.

“In South Africa Domenech didn’t talk to us. He should have done it immediately, not only now. He should have said it to our face, it’s not good.”

League keeps tabs on Bohs situation

AIRTRICITY League director Fran Gavin said the organisation is "watching the situation at Bohemians very closely," following the club's failure over the last couple of days to make the payment required to settle the outstanding contractual problems with members of last year's squad, reports Emmet Malone.

Gavin said “it would be very hard for us to register new players when the old ones still haven’t been paid the money they are owed under the terms of the deal”, but declined to rule out the league registering them between now and the club’s opening game of the season, the refixed Setanta Sports Cup game against Portadown on March 1st – in the event that the matter hasn’t been resolved by then.

Bohemians, meanwhile, put the problem down to a delay in obtaining a letter from the government in relation to previous capital grants and the status of Dalymount Park which they say has long been authorised.

Champions League tickets dearest yet

UEFA yesterday admitted ticket prices for the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28th will be the most expensive ever. The cheapest tickets on general sale will come to €178 plus a €31 administration fee, while the cheapest category four tickets available through the clubs will be €95.

Uefa’s director of competitions Giorgio Marchetti said the prices were in line with comparable events such as the World Cup final or European Championship final.

Marchetti said at the ticket launch at London’s City Hall: “We do not want to squeeze every single penny out of the market. We have to benchmark this event against other comparable events, like for example the final of the Euros and the World Cup.

Uefa announced that 11,000 tickets will be available on general sale at €357, €368 and €178 with wheelchair entry costing €95. A certain number of €95 tickets will be available among the 25,000 allocated to each club in the final.

Galway demotion plea result today

GALWAY United's appeal against what is in effect a demotion to the A Championship for the coming Airtricity League season will be heard this morning with a decision expected by lunchtime, reports Emmet Malone.

Monaghan United have been preparing for Premier Division football since Galway were refused the licence needed to retain their place earlier this week but Galway officials, who failed to secure the required paperwork in relation to the regularisation of some small but significant debts by the original deadline, are hoping they can persuade the Licensing Appeals Committee to grant a reprieve.

Limerick, meanwhile, have been given until the close of business on Monday to satisfy the FAI they can get through the season without any major financial issues.

Club officials have been angered by the requirement that they effectively put up-front funding in place for the season.