Hard to believe, but it’s 25 years since David Elleray, the Harrow headmaster who spent his Saturdays admonishing a very different class of brat, was wired for sound for ITV’s World In Action programme on a First Division game between Millwall and Arsenal at the old Den.

Match officials will not feel hamstrung by the surprise decision to overturn Vincent Kompany’s red card against Arsenal, the Football Association’s referees chief David Elleray has claimed.

Mark Clattenburg has been chosen by FIFA as the referee for the Olympic men’s final between Brazil and Mexico on Saturday.

Football should adopt a zero tolerance approach to players who abuse referees, according to top rugby league match official Steve Ganson.

Scene: the first Roy Keane Sunderland press conference.

THERE'S a chance Alex Ferguson might have been imparting a tip for the 2.50 handicap at Catterick when he walked up the Stamford Bridge tunnel at half-time in the company of referee Neale Barry.

One of English football’s most famous referees said today he is “permanently scarred” from the abuse and hatred he suffered from fans.

THE Football Association yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in the wake of reports they want Ottmar Hitzfeld to replace the Swede if he quits after Euro 2004.

Newcastle 1 Birmingham 0

James Beattie’s 18th goal of the season gave Southampton the half-time lead at Goodison Park.

Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson was left cursing his luck in the FA Cup today at Ewood Park.

ARSENAL extended their lead at the top beating West Brom, Manchester United lost again — this time to Middlesbrough — and teenage prodigy Wayne Rooney was sent off in a frenetic programme of English premier league matches yesterday.

MANCHESTER UNITED have expressed their disappointment at the five-match ban handed to Roy Keane by the Football Association and are now considering whether to appeal against the punishment.

Rarely has any footballing autobiography stirred as much controversy as Roy Keane’s account of a turbulent career which is currently on hold through injury.

Liverpool 2 West Brom 0

PETER ENCKELMAN will long be remembered for his bizarre and costly blunder in the Birmingham derby, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper yesterday insisted he just wants to bury the memory by getting back out on the pitch.

Peter Enckelman will long be remembered for his bizarre and costly blunder in the Birmingham derby, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper today insisted he just wants to bury the memory by getting back out on the pitch.

Aston Villa’s under-fire goalkeeper Peter Enckelman has hit back at his critics – including his own manager Graham Taylor – who claimed he does not know the rules of the game following his bizarre own goal against Birmingham.

Birmingham 3 Aston Villa 0

Roy Keane was bound to face legal action from Alf Inge Haaland as soon as his “ill-advised” book was released.

Tottenham 4 Tranmere 0

Newcastle moved into second place in the Premiership after twice coming from behind to beat Bolton at St James' Park.

Arsene Wenger would not be surprised if the race for the Premiership title went right down to the wire.

Bolton 0 Sunderland 2

Glenn Hoddle is to appeal against the red cards shown by David Elleray to Gary Doherty and Gus Poyet at Everton.

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle will take the rough with the smooth when under-fire referee David Elleray looks at the video of their controversial match with Everton last night.

Roy Keane will not face any more punishment that the mandatory three-match ban for his latest red card.