Soccer Shorts

Becks' thoughts soughtThe English Football Association said yesterday it had written to England captain David Beckham "asking for his observations" on the events at last weekend's World Cup qualifier against Wales and his subsequent comments.

Beckham admitted he fouled Wales' Ben Thatcher in a deliberate and successful attempt to get himself booked in order to serve out a one-match suspension for Wednesday's win in Azerbaijan while injured. He had cracked a rib in an earlier challenge with the defender.

The FA yesterday called for the midfielder's observations on the incident, "the motivation which led to him making the challenge" and "subsequent comments attributed to him".

The FA has given Beckham a week to respond.

Owen told to be patient

Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon has told Michael Owen that he will have to be patient to earn a place in the starting line-up.

Garcia Remon admitted that Owen's goal against Azerbaijan will have boosted the player's confidence but added that he will have to wait for his chance for a starting place at the Bernabeu.

"At the moment the coach, who happens to be me, has placed his trust in two players ahead of him and they are Ronaldo and Raul and he has to understand that. But everything he does for England is good for him and for Real Madrid."

Irish legends mourned

Peter Keely, the long-time Shelbourne defender and father of the club's former manager, Dermot, died yesterday at the age of 82.

Keely spent his entire league career, which spanned much of the 1940s and early 50s with the Dublin club and was a member of the side that won the League of Ireland title in 1947. He also represented the league at international level.

His funeral will take place after 10 o'clock mass on Monday at the Church of the Holy Child in Whitehall with donations to the Irish Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Irish football, meanwhile, lost another of its most famous figures on Thursday when Willie Browne, the last amateur player to represent the Republic at senior international level died in Dublin.

Browne, a native of Longford, played for UCD and Bohemians. He made his international debut as a right back against Austria in 1962 in a 0-0 draw that came to be known as "the battle of Vienna".

He was subsequently capped at centre half in the game against Spain in April of the following year before making his final appearance the following month against England at Dalymount Park.

Hendrie criticised

Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has told Lee Hendrie that he is "sick" of seeing the midfielder's private life splashed across the newspapers.

O'Leary is full of praise for the attitude and commitment shown by Hendrie when at the training ground and during matches. But he is fed up with one incident after another involving the player filling the news pages of the tabloids.

This week Hendrie has been the subject of media reports over an alleged relationship with the 17-year-old daughter of Birmingham manager Steve Bruce. However, O'Leary admits he cannot consider dropping Hendrie from his side because of a severe shortage of players.

O'Leary said yesterday: "I can't leave him out. I haven't got the personnel for it. End of story. But I've told Lee Hendrie I'm fed up of seeing him in the papers - and I've told him it is not just a question of David O'Leary being fed up."