Manchester United, Arsenal and other potential European Super League clubs have been told from the very top that they will be banned from domestic and European competition if they sign up for a breakaway elite.
Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, stressed yesterday that the game's world governing body would take a tough line against any attempt to break up the "family of football".
FIFA would ask the club's national association to suspend the club, preventing it from playing in its national league or any of the official European competitions.
Blatter was speaking after a two-day FIFA executive meeting in Zurich which, in a resolution, said its principles of solidarity "are under direct attack by commercial companies with the agreement of certain prestigious clubs".
One fan had his throat cut and two others needed treatment after violent scenes at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Twelve arrests were made as fighting broke out before and after Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Liverpool.
Police said one home fan had his throat cut with either a knife or a broken bottle, another was hit by a bottle and a Liverpool supporter received serious facial injuries when he was caught in a hail of stones and bottles. Two police horses and their riders were kicked after they fell to the ground.
Kevin Davies, Blackburn's record £7.25-million signing from Southampton, was taken to hospital yesterday with a throat infection and may be out of action for some time. Rovers' manager Roy Hodgson said Davies was "very ill".
Davies missed Blackburn's defeat by Chelsea on Monday with what was thought to be tonsillitis but his condition has deteriorated.
Newcastle's manager Ruud Gullit yesterday said he would not raid his former club Chelsea for players, despite reports that he was considering a £9.2 million bid for the Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo. "It wouldn't be right," Gullit said. "I don't want to be accused of trying to demolish their team."
David Batty may make his first appearance of the season for Newcastle against Nottingham Forest at St James' Park today. Batty, who has been absent because of injury and suspension, played for the reserves in their 4-0 win at Rotherham on Tuesday.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Steve Froggatt is in talks with Middlesbrough despite agreeing terms with Coventry. Wolves have accepted £2 million offers from both clubs.
Wimbledon are set to sign the Swedish midfielder Johan Mjallby, who scored the winner against England in this month's European Championship qualifier, for £1.5 million from AIK of Stockholm.
Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear yesterday admitted that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had expressed an interest in young striker Jason Euell. Wenger is looking for cover for French star Nicolas Anelka, and although Kinnear insists no bid has been made for his 21-year-old, the two managers have talked about Euell.
"Things have been spoken about but not in terms of buying," said Kinnear. "Wenger said, `Carl Cort and Jason have been doing exceptionally well for you'. That does not mean that somebody wants to buy you but having said that I am not surprised that Arsene would want the likes of Jason and Carl Cort - they are very promising kids."
The Hungarian government has agreed to bid jointly with Austria to host the 2004 European Championship. Other bidders for the 2004 finals are Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. UEFA is expected to announce the winner next July.
