Birmingham fined for indiscipline

Birmingham were today punished for last season’s indiscipline today as they were handed a suspended £25,000 (€35,414) fine by the English Football Association.

The midlands side picked up 72 yellow cards and four reds in their first Premier League campaign but they will escape the penalty if their conduct improves to an acceptable level this season.

An FA spokesman said: “A fine of £25,000 will be imposed on the club.

“However, this amount will be suspended until the end of the 2003/4 season when, if at that time, and in the opinion of the Football Association, there has been an acceptable improvement in the club’s disciplinary record during the season, the fine may not be activated.”

Aliou Cisse and Robbie Savage were the club’s worst offenders with the Senegal international collecting 11 bookings and the Wales midfielder 10.

Geoff Horsfield was responsible for two of the four sendings-off.