Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief...

Newcastle await Gutierrez news

NEWCASTLE are awaiting news on the condition of Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez after he was substituted in their 1-1 draw in Peru on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old lasted only 16 minutes of the qualifier after picking up what is believed to be a shoulder injury in a challenge with an opposition player.

The midfielder is now a doubt ahead of tomorrow's visit of Hull City.

Gutierrez, who has four caps, joined Newcastle from Real Mallorca in July for an undisclosed fee.

Ten-man Bolivia hold Brazil 

BRAZIL and Argentina endured more frustration in the World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday with draws against bottom sides Bolivia and Peru respectively.

Brazil were jeered by their own fans in a goalless stalemate at home to bottom-of-the-table Bolivia, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men.

Argentina drew their fourth successive qualifier when Peru scored with the last kick of the game in Lima to snatch a 1-1 draw.

The two-arch rivals stayed level on 13 points from eight games where they were joined by Chile, who returned from Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Brazil to thrash Colombia 4-0 in Santiago.

Paraguay, 2-0 winners over Venezuela on Tuesday, lead the 10-team group with 17 points.

The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth plays off against a team from the CONCACAF region.

Jacobsen's shoulder to be assessed

EVERTON right back Lars Jacobsen will be assessed by the club's medical staff after suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder on Wednesday night. The 28-year-old was withdrawn at half-time during Denmark's 3-2 victory over Portugal in Lisbon and will undergo tests following his return to Merseyside.

The former Nurnberg and FC Copenhagen defender has yet to make his debut following his free-transfer signing this summer, although he looked set to do so against Stoke this weekend. He endured an injury-ravaged season with German club Nurnberg last term when he made just seven appearances.

Chelsea to contest FA charges

CHELSEA intend to contest charges arising from groundsman Sam Bethell's altercation with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in April.

Evra was among a group of players warming down after United's defeat at Stamford Bridge who were asked to move by groundstaff, sparking a row.

Charges against Bethell were dropped by an independent commission on Monday. But the FA has now charged Chelsea with breaching FA rules in relation to his conduct.

Bethell had been charged with improper conduct and using abusive language aggravated by reference to nationality and or race.

But an independent panel cleared him, ruling that the FA did not have disciplinary jurisdiction over him because Chelsea had failed to tell him he was subject to FA rules.

Now, the FA have charged Chelsea "for their failure to include the required provisions in his employment contract".

Chelsea have until September 25th to respond to their charges.

Evra, meanwhile, will face an improper conduct charge at a hearing on October 2nd.

Fifa's Warner blasts Keane

Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has blasted Roy Keane's "callous disregard" for Trinidad and Tobago after alleging the Sunderland boss pulled Dwight Yorke out of a World Cup qualifier.

The veteran was allowed to play against Guatemala at the weekend but was absent for last night's match against the USA.

Yorke was quoted as saying he felt "fine" but did not feature as the Caribbean side crashed 3-0.

And Warner, who acts as a special advisor to his homeland's Football Association, reacted by sending a scathing letter to the Sunderland chief.

"Your callous disregard for the rights of 'small' countries to have their players represent them as enshrined in Fifa regulations reveals a mean streak in your character," it said.

FA want action

The English FA has submitted a report to Fifa urging the game's ruling body to investigate the racist chanting directed at the England striker Emile Heskey by sections of the home support during Wednesday's riotous win in Zagreb. Home fans behind Stipe Pletikosa's goal made monkey chants after Heskey was booked for a foul on Nico Kovac, whose brother Robert had been dismissed nine minutes earlier.