Soccer Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Xavier fails drug test

Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier failed a drugs test after the Uefa Cup tie against Greek club Xanthi on September 29th, the club said yesterday. FIFA have suspended the 32-year-old from all competitions pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation.

Middlesbrough refused to comment further than outlining Xavier's position and it remained unknown whether the substance detected in Xavier's "A" sample was considered performance-enhancing or recreational. Xavier is expected to make a press statement today.

Essien sees red

Michael Essien is set to be suspended for three domestic matches because referee Rob Styles will recommend to the English Football Association that the yellow card he showed the Chelsea midfielder against Bolton on Saturday be upgraded to a red.

Essien was only cautioned for a dangerous tackle on Tal Ben Haim when Chelsea were 1-0 down at Stamford Bridge in a game they recovered to win 5-1, and Styles has accepted he should have dismissed the Ghana international after reviewing the incident from a different angle on video.

Meanwhile, Bolton have appealed against the red card shown to Ricardo Gardner at Stamford Bridge. Gardner was sent off for "denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity" after he diverted the ball with his arm as it headed for Essien.

Blackburn have also appealed against Zurab Khizanishvili's red card for tripping Djibril Cisse on the edge of the penalty area during Saturday's match at Liverpool.

Celtic sign Boruc

Polish international goalkeeper Artur Boruc signed a permanent deal with Celtic yesterday. Boruc, who had joined on a one-year loan from Legia Warsaw in the close season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract.

"The club have an option to keep him for an extra year, which will see him stay at Celtic Park at least until the summer of 2009," Celtic said.

O'Leary in hot water

The English Football Association was in discussions with West Midlands police last night before deciding whether Aston Villa manager David O'Leary should face two separate charges following his conduct in Sunday's derby victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

O'Leary is almost certain to be charged today with using "abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official" after the FA received Graham Poll's match report, which is understood to have detailed several incidents of unacceptable language, though the Villa manager could land himself in more hot water if West Midlands police deem his post-match behaviour provocative. At the final whistle O'Leary celebrated Villa's win by running across the pitch to the opposite side of the ground where, in front of Birmingham's supporters, he clenched his fist and pointed towards chairman Doug Ellis. Guardian Service