Newslines: PFA strike ballot result due today

A strike by English soccer players could move a step closer today when their union announces the result of its ballot in a row over television money.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has called a news conference in Manchester at 2 p.m. today when chief executive Gordon Taylor will announce the result of the ballot of its 4,000 members. If, as expected, the majority favour industrial action, a strike involving all games covered by television in December is a possibility.

The PFA wants five per cent of total television money from the Premier League, amounting to around £25 million sterling.

No sooner had Alex Ferguson accepted an apology from Paul Scholes for his show of rebellion earlier this week, than the Manchester United manager found his authority challenged again yesterday by criticism of his methods from Mikael Silvestre.

Fresh from dealing with Scholes's refusal to take part in Monday's Worthington Cup tie at Arsenal, Ferguson's mood will inevitably be darkened once again by the latest show of dissent.

In an interview with a French magazine, the defender openly disagrees with Ferguson's assessment of the team's defensive problems.

"I have sat through videos of our matches with the manager but I don't agree with the theories he puts forward," said Silvestre, who went on to question why he has been omitted from United's team for some of their biggest matches so far this season. "Alex Ferguson repeatedly opts to play Denis Irwin and that is something I find really hard to cope with."

Any idea Sven-Goran Eriksson had of starting England's first match since they qualified for the World Cup with the team that might well play in it lay in pieces last night. Only six of his first choices are likely to face Sweden in tomorrow's friendly.

Steven Gerrard dropped out yesterday with a groin injury and may well be joined back at Anfield this morning by Michael Owen. Owen felt a twinge in his recently healed hamstring even as he was scoring twice in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

Kieron Dyer's agent claims the England international was not fined for his refusal to attend an official function during Newcastle's mid-season trip to Spain.

Dyer - along with team-mates Craig Bellamy, Andy Griffin and Carl Cort - was disciplined by his club for missing a dinner in honour of Newcastle's former chairman John Hall. The club yesterday issued an official statement which confirmed the four players had been fined as well as being sent home.

But Dyer's agent Jonathan Barnett insists his man has not been fined - and he took issue with reports Newcastle took action not just because the quartet missed the dinner but because they were involved elsewhere in a drinking session as well as a bar-room row. "It is ridiculous. He was never involved in a brawl. He was never drunk and he was not fined."

Leeds manager David O'Leary yesterday accused South African football chiefs of refusing to accept the English Premiership club's medical advice on injury-hit defender Lucas Radebe.

Radebe has yet to appear for Leeds this season as he struggles to recover from a recurring knee injury, a problem O'Leary believes was compounded by South Africa continuing to select him. As a result of Radebe's treatment O'Leary says the club is reluctant to recruit more players from South Africa.

Leicester manager Dave Bassett said yesterday he still hopes to bring China striker Zhang Yuning to Filbert Steet on loan until the end of the season.

The British Home Office are reassessing the player's credentials after first indicating they would view his application for a work permit with scepticism. After intervention by the Chinese FA, Leicester are pressing ahead to secure the services of Yuning, who plays for Liaoning Fushun.