The furore over the public behaviour of alcohol-fuelled footballers was reignited last night after Leeds United placed Lee Bowyer on the transfer list after refusing to pay a fine, believed to total £88,000 sterling, for being drunk on the night Asian student Sarfraz Najeib was attacked.

Bowyer (24), who was cleared last week of affray and grevious bodily harm in relation to an attack on Mr Najeib, rejected the club's punishment, claiming that he was being victimised.

Leeds were prompted into taking action against Bowyer following criticism that has damaged the club's reputation and its relationship with ethnic minorities.

Influential figures within the Football Association had also made it clear to the Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale that he needed to take positive action, given the negative publicity generated by the trial of Bowyer and his colleague Jonathan Woodgate.

Bowyer was informed of his punishment at a meeting at Leeds United's Thorp Arch training centre yesterday morning by a club director.

He was fined four weeks wages, and ordered to work with predominantly Asian and black young footballers as part of the club's community programme until the end of his contract. Last night Ridsdale revealed Bowyer had walked out of the meeting.

Woodgate, found guilty of affray last week and ordered to serve 100 hours community service, was fined eight weeks wages by the club - £104,000 - and ordered to work with its community programme until the end of his contract. He accepted the decision and asked for the money to be put towards funding work with inner-city communities in Leeds.

Ridsdale said last night: "I sincerely hope that Lee will talk to us tomorrow with or without his agent and agree that what we are asking for is not unreasonable given the unique circumstances of what has happened in the last 22 months.

He added: "Lee, in his own admission, had had an excess of alcohol on the night in question in January 2000. We take it very strongly that the players are role models and, as a professional footballer, it is inappropriate for them to be in the city centre late at night with an excess of alcohol inside the body."

Manager David O'Leary refused to comment on the affair at a scheduled press conference yesterday, but Mr Ridsdale said he was 100 per cent supportive of the club's action.

In a statement, Bowyer said last night: "The club appears to be victimising me and forcing me out having attempted to impose an unfair penalty by agreement.

He added: "I have not refused to work in the club's community programme. I have done so in the past and would continue to do so as part of Leeds United's normal programme.

"Having been acquitted of both charges at my recent trial, I was hoping to put this matter behind me and focus on doing my best for Leeds United and the supporters."

Last night Gordon Taylor, chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, said: "We're speaking with Leeds and Lee to see if we can get this matter wrapped up and dealt with it in the best way possible. We're going to try to get the two sides together."

Tonight, Leeds take on Everton, at Elland Road. Everton stewards will sit among their fans in an attempt to weed out any racist behaviour as part of a new initiative by the club.