A round-up of today's other world news in brief
Lennon to face second disciplinary case
THE SCOTTISH Football Association has opened a second disciplinary case against Neil Lennon in the space of a week, for comments the Celtic manager is alleged to have made to the referee at Sunday’s Old Firm 3-2 defeat to Rangers.
Lennon was dismissed from the dugout during half-time. Having earlier been warned over his conduct, Celtic’s manager waited for the referee, Calum Murray, at the mouth of the tunnel at half-time. Lennon denies that he swore or was aggressive during the pair’s subsequent conversation – and says he has witnesses to back that up.
After the game Lennon said: “I was critical of the [referee’s] first-half performance. I didn’t swear. I just put my point across . . . I didn’t point my finger. I have spoken to the delegate. They are saying one thing; I’ve got witnesses to say another.”
Lennon has until next Monday to respond to a complaint regarding “Misconduct at a match by dissent, the adoption of aggressive behaviour towards a match official and the repeated use of offensive, abusing and insulting language”. A hearing date of April 19th has been set.
Last Friday it was confirmed the Scottish FA’s compliance officer had written to Lennon to seek an explanation for comments made after the League Cup final defeat by Kilmarnock. Lennon was scathing about the decision of the referee, Willie Collum, not to award Celtic a last-minute penalty.
Muamba continues his recovery as Bolton prepare for FA Cup replay
THE MOST encouraging development yet for Fabrice Muamba arrived as Bolton Wanderers prepare to replay their FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur tonight. The midfielder got out of bed for the first time as he continued his recovery from a cardiac arrest.
A small delegation from Bolton, including the manager, Owen Coyle, and chairman, Phil Gartside, will visit Muamba at the London chest hospital before the rearranged quarter-final at White Hart Lane.
It is now 10 days since the Bolton midfielder collapsed, prompting the abandonment of the tie. A statement released jointly by the hospital and Bolton said: “Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London chest hospital where his condition is serious but stable. He continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery.
“Over the weekend he has been able to sit out of bed for a short time, watch television and has begun to eat. However, he will need to continue to be closely monitored by the medical team for some time.”
Coyle offered similar encouragement about Muamba’s condition. In their first outing since Muamba fell ill in London, Bolton beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Saturday. Bolton’s manager said: “Fabrice was able to watch Match of the Day on Sunday morning and was deeply moved by the mosaic and the support he received from both the Bolton and Blackburn fans.
“He was pleased that his team-mates won the match, although he fell back asleep when the score was 2-0.”
Liverpool off the radar as Moyes concentrates on Sunderland
A WEMBLEY date with Liverpool awaits the victor at the Stadium of Light tonight but David Moyes has insisted Everton have too great a challenge at Sunderland to even contemplate the prospect of an all-Merseyside FA Cup semi-final.
“The draw is an irrelevance until this game is over,” said the Everton manager.
“I’ve hardly thought beyond going up to Sunderland and making sure we try and get a good result. That job’s big enough without thinking of anything else.”
Moyes’s midfield options are seriously reduced by injury to Jack Rodwell and Séamus Coleman plus the ineligibility of Steven Pienaar. Royston Drenthe will also miss a second game in succession for what Moyes described as “a family situation. I have given him some compassionate leave”.
Martin O’Neill has injury problems of his own, with John O’Shea and Kieran Richardson unavailable, although Phil Bardsley and Sebastian Larsson, who missed Saturday’s home win over Queens Park Rangers, are expected to return.
The Sunderland manager also has the dilemma of whether to hand Lee Cattermole an instant return following the completion of the captain’s four-match suspension for reaching 10 bookings for the season plus his dismissal after the derby draw with Newcastle United.
