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Huth apologises for striking Upson

STOKE DEFENDER Robert Huth has apologised for the incident in Saturday’s match against West Ham when he struck Matthew Upson across the face.

The German was yesterday charged with violent conduct by the Football Association in England after his swinging arm was missed by referee Martin Atkinson.

Huth and his club have accepted the player’s guilt and are awaiting his punishment – likely to be a three-match ban – from the association.

“Stoke and Robert Huth accept the FA charge of violent conduct and would like to apologise for the incident at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday,” said a club statement.

“Robert Huth’s actions are totally out of character for a fully committed defender who has only received one red card – for two cautions – in nearly eight years of playing in the Premier League.

“We await the FA verdict on the incident.”

County behind Eriksson pull-out

SWEDISH FA chairman Lars-Ake Lagrell has suggested Sven-Goran Eriksson pulled out of the running for the vacant Sweden coaching role at the request of Notts County.

Lagrell announced yesterday that Eriksson, 61, had decided it was not possible to take on the job because of his commitments to the League Two club.

Lagrell admitted Eriksson had been top of their list to replace Lars Lagerback, who resigned nine days ago.

Allen to contest racist allegation

CHELTENHAM MANAGER Martin Allen has defended himself against what he describes as “false and grossly untrue allegations” that have seen him placed on gardening leave by the League Two club.

A bouncer at a Cheltenham nightclub alleged he was racially abused by Allen, and Gloucestershire police have confirmed they are to investigate.

Cheltenham have placed assistant manager John Schofield in temporary charge of the team but Allen has vowed to clear his name.

A statement released by Allen via the League Managers Association website, www.league managers.com, read: “A number of false and grossly untrue allegations have recently been made about me in relation to an alleged incident outside a nightclub a few weeks ago, including the completely untrue allegation that I made a racial remark. I wish to confirm that these allegations are untrue and deeply hurtful to me and I will now be taking appropriate steps to clear my name.”

Kenny's ban stands as FA dismiss player's appeal

SHEFFIELD UNITED goalkeeper Paddy Kenny fears for his future career, after the Football Association in England dismissed his appeal against a nine-month drugs ban.

The 31-year-old, handed the suspension last month after failing a doping test, challenged the severity of the punishment but has failed to have it reduced.

In a statement to Sky Sports News, Kenny said: “I am devastated that an honest mistake on my part could cost me my career.

“I would like to thank Sheffield United – plus all my current and former team-mates, as well as my agent – for their support throughout.

“I am positive I will bounce back, and I really hope that this experience will stop others from making the same mistake.”

Kenny was handed the ban after a routine urine sample taken following the Blades’ Championship play-off semi-final clash with Preston in May was found to contain traces of ephedrine.

Blatter agrees seeding handled badly

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter has admitted the late decision to seed the European teams heading into the World Cup play-offs was badly handled by football’s governing body.

Blatter, who is seeking to remain at the helm in Fifa for another term after 2011, said there will be changes ahead of the 2014 event.

“It should have been announced earlier. We are always learning, in 2014 we will make changes,” he said yesterday.

However, he added: “There are all the best teams (at the World Cup), if someone has missed out it is because they haven’t deserved it.”

The decision meant the Republic of Ireland side were fated to meet either Portugal, Greece, Russia or France in the play-off.

League wait on Briatore outcome

THE FOOTBALL League in England plan to wait on the outcome of Flavio Briatore’s bid to overturn his lifetime ban from motor racing before taking any action themselves.

The former Renault boss, who is a co-owner of Championship club QPR, will challenge his lifetime ban from motor racing, imposed by the FIA, in a November 24th hearing in the French courts.

Briatore was handed the suspension by the World Motor Sport Council for his part in the Singapore Grand Prix crash scandal of last year and the lifetime ban appears to put him in direct violation of the League’s “fit and proper person test”.

The test stipulates that an owner, prospective owner or director of a club should not be “subject to a ban from a sports governing body relating to the administration of their sport”.