FA chiefs to rule on Ball’s stamp on Ronaldo

FA disciplinary chiefs will decide today whether Michael Ball should be hit with the charge of serious foul play for his stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Officials from the FA’s compliance department are likely to either charge the Manchester City player with violent conduct or serious foul play.

The latter carries a stiffer punishment and was the charge brought against Ben Thatcher after his elbow assault on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes which led to an eight-match ban.