SoccerShorts

A roundup of today's other stories in brief.

Keane appeal rejected

Tottenham's Robbie Keane has had his claim for wrongful dismissal rejected by the English FA. He will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Bolton in Sunday's Premiership clash at White Hart Lane. It was the first red card of Keane's professional career.

Keane was furious with referee Graham Poll after his 36th-minute dismissal for handling Ivan Campo's header on the line. The ball struck the chest of the Republic of Ireland striker before appearing to hit his arm as it dropped, and Poll issued a straight red card.

Hiddink fined

A Dutch court handed former PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink a six-month suspended sentence and fined him €45,000 yesterday after finding him guilty of tax fraud. Hiddink, now in charge of the Russian national team, was accused of evading almost €1.4 million in Dutch taxes by falsely claiming to be a resident of Belgium in 2002 and 2003.

The court cleared him of tax evasion during 2002, saying the Dutchman may well have intended to go and live in Belgium, but found him guilty for the period of 2003, when he had actually lived with his partner in Amsterdam, and imposed the maximum fine.

Jewell seeks hearing

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has admitted a charge of improper conduct issued by the English FA following his on-pitch rant at referee Phil Dowd. Jewell was incensed by Dowd's performance throughout Wigan's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 11th, and made his feelings plain after the final whistle. The 43-year-old has still requested a personal hearing.

Bid to cut ticket prices

British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday backed a bid to cut the cost of Premier League tickets that campaigners say are the most expensive in Europe and are pricing ordinary fans out of the game. In parliament, almost 50 MPs have signed a motion calling on the league to slash the cost of individual and season tickets.

"Anyone who watches the Premiership can just notice, in the past year or couple of years, the rows of empty seats," Blair said yesterday. "It's something I do not recall seeing in the same way four or five years back so I think there are very sensible market-based reasons for people to make sure the ticket prices aren't beyond the reach of the ordinary fan."

Birmingham go top

Birmingham reclaimed top spot in the English League Championship thanks to a 1-0 victory over bottom club Leeds at St Andrews last night. On-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner netted his 10th of the season for Birmingham, who moved up from third to hold a one-point advantage over promotion rivals West Brom and Derby.

But defeat has heightened Leeds' relegation fears, with the Elland Road club now without a win from their last four fixtures and lying four points adrift of safety with the worst goal difference in the division.

Norwich beat Luton Town 3-2 at Kenilworth Road when Simon Lappin sealed victory for the visitors with a 90th minute free-kick.