Newslines

Celtic have accused the Scottish Football Association of trying to interfere with the right of free speech. The Scottish champions elect have become embroiled in a row with the SFA over an article which appeared in their club magazine Celtic View.

The article criticised the performance of the match referee in the game between Celtic and Motherwell on August 5th when Hoops duo Jackie McNamara and Chris Sutton were sent off. Motherwell's Greg Strong was also dismissed by referee Alan Freeland in a game Celtic went on to win 1-0 at Parkhead.

The SFA contacted Celtic officials to express their displeasure at the article, even though the club claimed they were not responsible for individual articles which appear in their magazine. After an apparently lengthy dialogue, the SFA stated yesterday that no formal action will be taken, but advised Celtic that statements attacking referees are "damaging to the game and to the ethics of sportsmanship which should be shared by all of Scotland's football family".

Celtic immediately hit back, claiming the SFA are trying to act way out of their jurisdiction and are attempting to stifle debate on the game. Cork City yesterday confirmed Liam Murphy and Patsy Freyne, who have been in charge of team affairs at the club since the departure of Derek Mountfield, will remain in their positions for the whole of next season.

"They have a wealth of experience in the National League and have demonstrated their managerial and leadership qualities by achieving a string of outstanding results in recent weeks," said club secretary Jim Murphy. "We look forward with confidence to building on these results and ensuring that the club will be challenging for all major honours in the future."

Glenn Hoddle was last night finally given the green light to become the new manager of Tottenham after Southampton released his registration. Hoddle was unveiled as Spurs' new manager at White Hart Lane on Friday and the north London club officially announced his appointment on a five-year contract through a statement to the Stock Exchange yesterday.

Dennis Bergkamp has been ruled out of Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Valencia tomorrow - and the Dutchman is also doubtful for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham. The 31-year-old striker will miss the visit of Valencia to Highbury because of an Achilles problem.

Scotland captain Colin Hendry will know by the end of the month if he has an international future. FIFA, world football's governing body, has set aside April 26th as the day when a ruling is likely to be made on whether the Bolton defender is to be banned.

Hendry hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week when he hospitalised a San Marino opponent at the end of a World Cup qualifier. He had hit his side's first two goals in a 4-0 Hampden Park victory but then was seen to elbow substitute Nicola Albani in the throat as the two jostled in the box.