KEITH CURLE is to contest the charge brought against him for his altercation with Newcastle United's Faustino Asprilla in a Premiership match last month. The Manchester City defender has asked for a personal hearing after being charged with misconduct by the Football Association.
Though Asprilla elbowed him in the face and then appeared to butt him at the end of the game, Curle was accused of bringing the game into disrepute for "adopting an aggressive attitude".
He will now try to clear his name in front of a disciplinary commission, and he is expected to be joined by the Colombian. Asprilla faces two misconduct charges under Rule 26 for the incidents, highlighted on television, in the 3-3 Maine Road draw on February 24th.
On a busy day of transfer activity, Everton made an inquiry for Celtic's Scotland international midfield player, John Collins, who would command a fee in excess of £3m. The deal will not go through until after the Glasgow derby on March 17th and would be delayed again if Celtic enhance their Scottish championship prospects by beating Rangers. The Goodison Park club have also made an offer of £750,000 for Oldham's England Under 21 goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard.
Alex Ferguson's interest in Milan's Zvonimir Boban has been frustrated. The Manchester United manager hoped to watch the Croatian during the UEFA Cup match against Bordeaux on Tuesday but Boban was rested. The Milan coach Fabio Capello has, in any case, indicated the midfield player will not be sold.
Across Manchester, however, City look likely to invest in another foreign player after Georgian Mikhail Kavelashvila impressed in a practice match. The fee for the Spartak Vladikavkaz striker will be £1.1m.
Blackburn's Ray Harford, meanwhile was in France last night to watch Spartak Moscow's winger Ilia Tsimbalar play in the Champions League quarter final against Nantes.
Sheffield Wednesday have offered £750,000 plus players for Birmingham City's midfield player Jonathan Hunt, a deal that is likely to see striker Guy Whittingham go to St Andrews.
Adrian Heath will be appointed Burnley's manager today as he returns to the club he left three months ago. The former Everton striker is quilting as Sheffield United's assistant to Howard Kendall to return to Turf Moor where he was a player for three years.
Rod McDonald, the Patrick Thistle striker booked for kissing his shirt in last month's 2-1 defeat by Rangers, learned yesterday that he will be suspended for three games. McDonald was later sent off for a second bookable offence.
. Manchester United expect to open the second tier of their new grandstand on Monday when Southampton are the visitors in an FA Cup quarter final clash. This will swell Old Trafford's capacity close to 50,000 provided they get the go ahead from safety inspectors today.
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