Keegan to write apology to referee

Kevin Keegan was yesterday charged by the English Football Association with using abusive words towards the referee Steve Dunn in the tunnel at St James' Park on Sunday

Keegan reacted by saying he will write a letter of apology to Dunn for his tirade, though Keegan also said he stood by all he said about Dunn later in the press conference after Manchester City lost 4-3 at Keegan's former club Newcastle.

"I shall write a letter for the way I spoke to him," said Keegan. "I stick by what I said but I could have put it more eloquently.

"What I make no apology for is what I said to the media. You need a strong referee at St James' Park, and we didn't have one. If the FA want evidence of that I will provide it.

"I would go to the Court of Human Rights if they tried to make me pay a fine for that. But it is the things I said in the tunnel that I am probably in trouble for, and for that I will probably get what I deserve."

Keegan, who questioned Dunn's impartiality, is likely to receive a fine rather than a touchline ban.