Bordeaux captain Michel Pavon will escape punishment for spitting at Roy Keane at the end of Manchester United's 2-1 Champions League victory on Tuesday night. Television cameras caught Pavon spitting at Keane, minutes after the United captain had clashed with Bordeaux substitute Lassina Diabate, as the players walked off the pitch in the Stade de Lescure.

However, Keane dismissed the incident afterwards and claimed he did not know about it. "I'm not aware of anyone spitting," he said. Dutch referee Jan Wegereef did not mention the incident in his match report.

Meanwhile, financial experts believe Manchester United will continue to move onwards and upwards as shares in the plc passed the £1 billion mark yesterday. "They are a company that embraces change both on and off the pitch," said William Davies of Capel-Cure Sharp. "They have the potential to dominate the football market in the foreseeable future especially with pay-per-view coming into play."