Soccer Shorts

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

Drogba admits charge  of 'violent conduct' 

CHELSEA STRIKER Didier Drogba has admitted an English FA charge of violent conduct following last week's League Cup defeat by Burnley, when he was pictured throwing an object at away fans.

The 30-year-old scored the opener at Stamford Bridge but faces a three-match ban for hurling the missile, thought to be a coin, towards the stands during his celebrations. An FA regulatory commission will hear the case tomorrow and make their final decision based on video evidence and written submissions.

Drogba was substituted later in the game before Burnley equalised and went on to record a victory on penalties. It was Drogba's first goal of an injury-hit season, but he is now expected to remain on the sidelines.

Birmingham make a bid for Fahey

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP side Birmingham City are believed to have made the first formal bid for Keith Fahey in a fragmented deal likely to match St Patrick's Athletic's asking price of €500,000 for the midfielder, writes Paul Buttner.

Alex McLeish's promotion challengers are thought to have offered St Pat's an initial transfer fee of £250,000 with four additional instalments of £50,000 for each of the next 10 games the 25-year-old Dubliner would play for the club.

Premier League sides West Ham United and Sunderland, among others, were are also interested in the former Arsenal trainee who also had a spell with Aston Villa as a teenager. Both wanted Fahey over on trial to assess him before making any possible offer, something St. Patrick's are reluctant to agree to.

Webb praises players' behaviour

PLAYER BEHAVIOUR in the Premier League has changed markedly since the Respect campaign was brought in but managers still need to learn not to criticise match officials, according to leading Premier League referee Howard Webb.

The Rotherham official thinks players' behaviour towards referees has improved noticeably since the launch of the campaign in the summer.

Webb, speaking at the launch of the FA's Respect spectator barriers in Barnsley, said: "From my own personal experience of the 11 Premier League games I have done this season, the respect levels from the players have been really good."

Barton ruled out for eight weeks

NEWCASTLE MIDFIELDER Joey Barton will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after damaging knee ligaments on Saturday.

The 26-year-old limped off just 17 minutes into Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Wigan after being hurt in a challenge with Lee Cattermole.

Barton left St James' Park on crutches and underwent scans yesterday which revealed he had suffered a slight tear to his right medial ligament.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear yesterday insisted there was no rift between himself and captain Michael Owen.

Kinnear opted to use the England striker only as a substitute in Saturday's draw, despite the 28-year-old's assertion in his programme notes that he has been fit after a groin injury for a couple of weeks.

Ronaldo poised

MANCHESTER UTD'S Cristiano Ronaldo believes he fully deserves to be named FIFA Player of the Year. Ronaldo is a firm favourite to emulate last year's winner Kaka and lift both the European and World player of the year titles.

"I am the first, second and third best player in the world," joked Ronaldo in an interview with Brazilian daily O Estado de Sao Paulo. "I think that I did everything that is necessary to win and I am going to continue doing more."