SOCCER SHORTS

Today's other soccer news in brief

Dunne backs Robinho to improve his form

RICHARD Dunne, the Manchester City captain, is backing Robinho to improve his form now that police have dropped their investigation into allegations that the Brazilian striker was involved in a sexual assault.

Robinho was informed that the Crown Prosecution Service had decided not to press charges. The former Real Madrid player is said to have been badly affected by the investigation and City believe it may have contributed to his form tailing off so badly since the turn of the year. “It was an awful thing to be accused of and it would affect any man in that situation,” said Dunne. “He’s got a young family and they are his main concern, so hopefully that has lifted a bit of weight off his shoulders and he can start playing with a smile on his face again and showing what he can do.”

Robinho’s form has come under scrutiny in the last few months and the City manager, Mark Hughes, would have dropped him from their game at Arsenal on Saturday had Stephen Ireland not suffered an ankle injury. Guardian Service

Laser beam use investigated

FIFA disciplinary proceedings were opened against Greece yesterday over allegations their fans tried to distract Israel goalkeeper Dudu Aouate with laser beams during last week’s World Cup qualifier.

“We are aware of the reports and we have started disciplinary proceedings, a Fifa spokesman said. Greece won the match 2-1 in Heraklion last Wednesday thanks to a second-half penalty by Giorgios Samaras.

Fifa said it was investigating reports that local fans aimed the infra-red beams at Aouate as he was preparing to face the penalty which kept Greece top of Group Two and damaged Israels chances of qualification.

The Fifa spokesman said Greece were warned in October after laser beams were used by their fans during their qualifier against Switzerland. The Swiss won the game 2-1, but the distracting beams were directed at striker Alexander Frei as he was taking a penalty for Switzerland’s opening goal.

Strachan defends his players

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan insists he has no problems with his players’ behaviour after Scott Brown was again the subject of front-page headlines.

The midfielder was among a group of men given a verbal warning by British Transport Police as they boarded a train at Newcastle Central station.

Reports claim Brown was in Newcastle to celebrate the birthday of team-mate Aiden McGeady, who had apparently left the group to return to Glasgow by car.

Strachan brushed off the latest story surrounding the 23-year-old. “Over the last two weeks, I have had no complaints about my players’ behaviour, whether on international duty or whether on their own time,” he said.

Five players on betting charge

THE English FA charged five players on Tuesday with breaching betting rules following an investigation into unusual betting patterns on a league match between Accrington Stanley and Bury last season.

The FA said in a statement that the majority of the charges related to bets placed on the League Two (fourth division) match on May 3rd, 2008. Bookmakers in north-west England, where both clubs are based, reported unusual betting patterns before the match with higher than usual amounts being staked in particular areas of the country.

Four of those charged – Jay Harris, David Mannix, Robert Williams and Peter Cavanagh – were Accrington players at the time of the game, while Andrew Mangan played for Bury. Both Harris and Cavanagh played in the game.

Neither team was involved in promotion or relegation issues at the time of the match, which Bury won 2-0. All five players are alleged to have placed bets on Bury to win.All five have until April 23rd to respond to the charges.

Ireland under-18s best

IN WINDY conditions, Ireland’s Under-18 team beat Cyprus 2-1 yesterday. The squad travelled to Cyprus on Sunday to prepare for a double header friendly to prepare for the transition to Under 19 next season.

FC Carlow’s Darragh Walshe opened the scoring after 31 minutes when the Cypriot keeper made a mistake in the box. Cyprus equalised a minute before half-time with a great goal from Fylaktou.

Another chance followed when Finn Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher parried across to the Cyprus striker who hit the post and should have scored.

Ireland had a William Woods goal disallowed due to an earlier foul for handball but substitute Carl McPherson coolly slotted home the winner from 15 yards in the 86th minute.

Ireland will play Cyprus again tomorrow.