Soccer Digest

Today's other stories in brief

Boycott urged

Chelsea and Manchester United fans will be urged to boycott official merchandise and catering stalls at the FA Cup final on May 19th in protest at the cost of tickets and the "minuscule" 25,000 allocation to both sides.

A batch of 20,000 leaflets will be distributed at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford this weekend calling for fans attending the first major game to be played at the new Wembley to snub all vendors.

The row has been rumbling on since the original allocations were announced, with Chelsea publicly expressing their dissatisfaction at the number of tickets they have received.

And, noting only 4,000 of each allocation is in the cheapest £35 bracket, fans groups of both clubs have united in a common cause. "It appears to us the FA is making the ordinary supporter pay in hard cash for what was the farce that took place over the budgeting, planning and completion of the new Wembley Stadium," says the leaflet.

Row over tickets

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has told Uefa they must change the way they distribute tickets for future Champions League finals. Parry has responded to bitter criticism from Liverpool fans at the way their own club, and Uefa, have handled ticket distribution, with both Liverpool and AC Milan both receiving 17,000 each for the May 23rd final in Athens.

In brief . . .

Chelsea have said that Michael Ballack underwent surgery on his ankle in Germany with everyone's full agreement at the club . . . Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is ready to launch a new bid to sign Manchester City's Sylvain Distin. City have also said defender Michael Ball, who as expected has been banned for three matches by the English FA following his stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo during last weekend's derby defeat to United, is on the brink of completing a permanent move from PSV Eindhoven . . . Fulham captain Michael Brown has been banned for three games after being found guilty of violent conduct by a Football Association disciplinary hearing for headbutting Liverpool's Xabi Alonso . . . Michael Owen will make his England comeback for the B squad against Albania on May 25th . . . Everton chief executive Keith Wyness believes the club are on the brink of securing Mikel Arteta on a new long-term contract . . . Gordon Strachan has had a hip operation this week but is expected to lead Celtic out for the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline on May 26th.

Tonight'sFixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: Premier Division: Bohemians v Longford Town; UCD v St Patrick's Athletic; Waterford United v Galway United. First Division: Kilkenny City v Athlone Town (7.30); Limerick 37 v Cobh Ramblers; Finn Harps v Dundalk (8.0); Wexford Youths v Monaghan United (8.0).

ENGLISH LEAGUE: One: Play-offs: Semi-final first leg: Yeovil v Nottingham Forest