Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson fined for criticising officials

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £12,000 by the FA for criticising a match official.

The Red Devils boss was furious after his side conceded a late equaliser at Tottenham in January - insisting the visitors should have been awarded a penalty for Steven Caulker's trip on Wayne Rooney.

Referee's assistant Simon Beck was the subject of the ire of the Scot, who said in the wake of the 1-1 draw: "It was a clear decision. And he [Beck] was 10, maybe 12 yards away from the incident and he doesn't give it. And yet he gave everything else."

We remember him well from his time at the Chelsea game whenDidier Drogba was three yards offside and he gave onside. I think he had a shocking game today, and I'm disappointed in his performance, I really am.

"I think he has had a bad game, and we never got anything from that side of the pitch. We got a bad break."

The FA charged Ferguson with a breach of rule E3, and have subsequently found him guilty at a private hearing despite his pleas to the contrary.

The news of the fine came through after Ferguson criticised England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce for disclosing that Phil Jones was suffering from shingles.

Jones withdrew from the Under-21 friendly with Sweden on Tuesday which prompted Pearce to reveal the nature of the 20-year-old former Blackburn player's injury.

However, the problem is evidently not as bad as first feared as Ferguson has named Jones, who can play in defence or midfield, in his squad to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

And Ferguson is not happy with the way the situation has been handled.

John Terry has an inflammed knee and will be on the sidelines at the weekend

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez says defender John Terry will miss Saturday's match at home to Wigan with an inflamed knee.

However, goalkeeper Petr Cech and Terry's fellow defender David Luiz have recovered from knocks and Eden Hazard is back after a ban.

And striker Demba Ba will also be available, although he will wear a protective face mask after his nose was broken at Newcastle last weekend.

Benitez said on Friday: "I am really pleased with the medical department, they are doing a great job.

"We have just two players injured, Oriol Romeu, a long-term injury, and now John Terry has inflammation in his knee. It's not serious but he will not be available tomorrow.

"David Luiz, Petr Cech and even Demba Ba will be available. With different situations, but they will be available.

"That is really important. We cannot use (John Obi) Mikel or Victor Moses, who are in the African Nations final, but I am really pleased to have two more players and more options. It is much better."Daily Fotball News

Martin Kelly signs new long-term Liverpool contract

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The actual length of the 22-year-old's new deal has not been revealed.

Kelly, who is a product of the Liverpool academy, has made seven appearances this season.

His last game came on 23 September last year in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, a match in which he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for six months.

"I'm delighted to have signed. It means everything to me and my family. I've been at Liverpool since I was seven, so it's in my heart and I love the club," said Kelly.

"When you play in the Liverpool shirt, you have to show the fans what it means. I just love playing and trying my hardest for the supporters and for my family.

"Being a Liverpool supporter myself, it's brilliant to put the shirt on and I'm doing what I have loved doing since I was a kid. I'm over the moon.

"Today shows the faith that the club have in me and that the hard work I have put in since I was young has paid off. Hopefully I'll put the injuries behind me. We have excellent medical staff here, who are going to work me and keep me on top of my injury. I'll be coming back even stronger."

The club's managing director Ian Ayre said: "It's fantastic news and it runs on from various other players who have committed to us.

"I think everybody has been starting to see and enjoy Martin's potential and the work he has showed to get into the first team and these are the things we are looking for.

"He was very unfortunate to get his injury but he has worked very hard with the physios and the medical team and hopefully we'll see him back soon.

"Signing him up for the long term is very important for us."

Kelly joins the likes of Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling in agreeing a new deal at Anfield since the arrival of manager Brendan Rodgers.

The day after fellow defender Jamie Carragher announced his retirement at the end of the season, Rodgers was pleased to see another local lad commit his future to the club.

Rodgers said: "Martin has shown a commitment to our vision here. He is a young player who really impressed me when I came in.

"He was exceptionally good in the games he played earlier in the season."Daily Fotball News

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge will undergo fitness test ahead of West Brom game

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will undergo a late fitness test ahead of Monday night's visit of West Brom, manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

Sturridge pulled out of the England squad for the 2-1 friendly win over Brazil at Wembley in midweek after picking up a thigh injury against Manchester City last weekend.

Rodgers plans to leave it late before deciding whether the 23-year-old, who has scored four goals in six games since joining fromChelsea at the beginning of January, is fit enough to feature against the Baggies.

He told Liverpool's official website: "Daniel we're just monitoring over the next couple of days.

"It's not overly serious but we just need to assess to see where he's at. We'll see by Sunday."

Rodgers has confirmed one player who will be available for Monday night's encounter is 18-year-old winger Raheem Sterling, who sat out the England Under-21's win over Sweden with a dead leg.

The manager also revealed he has no other fresh fitness concerns after the midweek international games.

"Raheem was on the field this morning so he'll be fine," he added. "Everyone else is fine."Daily Fotball News

Gareth Bale future may depend on Spurs' Champions League qualification, says AVB

Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham are fortunate to have Gareth Bale and his future could depend on a top-four finish.

Bale has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 17 goals for club and country and raising speculation regarding a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Spurs boss Villas-Boas acknowledges that the interest is inevitable but argues that Champions League qualification will impact on the 23-year-old's future.

"Players who are performing at this level always get the attention," said Villas-Boas, quoted in The Guardian.

"It doesn't mean that the club doesn't foresee a future with Gareth. It's intimately related to the objectives that we achieve for the season.

"Hopefully, we can do just that with the Champions League and continue to progress on what we are doing.

"It's difficult for us to have a player of this dimension playing so well, calling the attention of other teams but it's also difficult for other teams, with the economic situation as it is, to buy a player of this dimension.

"At the moment, we are very, very fortunate to have him."

He added: "I think we can reach our objectives with him at this level and if we reach our objectives, we can hopefully continue to have Gareth in our club.

"He's a player we rate very, very highly and aren't willing to let go.

"The Champions League is where most of the clubs want to be, and where most of the players want to play.

"It's part of our objectives so hopefully achieving it means we can attract better players and continue to hold on to our best players."

Villas-Boas has recently deployed the Welshman in a more central role, either as a No 10 in the hole or as an out-and-out striker,drawing comparisons with Real Madrid star Ronaldo.

Having started on the flanks, Ronaldo now operates as a centre-forward and Villas-Boas thinks all the signs are pointing towards the idea that Bale could end up doing the same.

"You can see similarities in each of the players," said the Spurs manager.

"Both of them are extremely technical players, and extremely powerful and pacy.

"It's funny to see how both players compare. They grew up as strikers, but became wingers.

"Ronaldo is now 28, and has achieved so much in his career. He is an example to Gareth as to what he can achieve."

Bale may be joined up front against Newcastle on Saturday by Emmanuel Adebayor.

Adebayor has been on Togo duty at the African Nations Cup for almost a month but despite a striker shortage, Tottenham say they are happy for the 28-year-old to return to training on Friday afternoon - less than 24 hours before the game against the Magpies.

Villas-Boas was reluctant to comment on Adebayor's whereabouts on Thursday. He would only say that the striker was "in Africa" to "take care" of some "issues".

Given that Jermain Defoe is out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury, the Spurs boss is hopeful that the Togolese will be passed fit.

"It's not a big ask for him to play on Saturday," the 35-year-old said.

"He is in good form and you have to allow the player to rest and recover. If he is ready physically we will select him.

"It's always difficult with the trips from extreme heat to cold. He will not be 100 per cent, but he's still a player that can make a difference."Daily Fotball News

Manager Ian Holloway quiet on links to West Brom's Peter Odemwingie

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has played down talk that West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is set for a move to Selhurst Park.

Odemwingie drove to Loftus Road on deadline day in the hope of securing a move to QPR, an act described by Baggies boss Steve Clarke as 'total lunacy', with the two Premier League clubs unable to agree terms.

And the 31-year-old, who missed West Brom's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, has been linked with a loan switch to the Eagles, with the view to a possible permanent summer move if the club are promoted.

When asked about the Championship club being linked to Odemwingie, Holloway said: "I haven't got a clue about that. Someone contacted the chairman.

"I was asked would I want him? I said yes.

"I don't really think that's a realistic target for us personally".

Odemwingie launched numerous Twitter outbursts against West Brom after having his transfer request rejected, but Clarke will be aware that the Nigeria international's departure would reduce his options.

Meanwhile, West Brom are set for a second attempt by Blackburn to sign winger Jerome Thomas on loan, after a £600,000 move to Ewood Park last Thursday failed to go through in time.Daily Fotball News

Premier League clubs facing points deduction if they breach new spending controls

Premier League clubs will face a points deduction if they breach new spending controls, chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed.

The 20 club chairmen agreed to two significant controls on Thursday - to limit players' wage bills from next season and to longer-term measures that will restrict the amount of losses clubs can make to £105million over three years.

Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52m will only be allowed to increase their wages by £4m per season for the next three years, but the cap does not cover extra money coming in from increases in commercial or matchday income.

Scudamore said: "As all things in our rulebook you will subject to a disciplinary commission.

"The clubs understand that if people break the £105m we will look for the top-end ultimate sanction range - a points deduction.

"Normally we stay silent on sanctions as the commission has a free range but clearly if there is a material breach of that rule we will be asking the commission to consider top-end sanctions."

The vote for financial regulations could hardly have been closer, with only 13 of the 20 clubs voting in favour, with six against and Reading abstaining.

It meant that the 'yes' vote only narrowly achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of the 19 votes cast.

Clubs sources say Fulham, West Brom, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Swansea and Southampton all voted against.

Scudamore said there would be an "absolute prohibition" on clubs reporting losses of more than £105m over the next three years with the first sanctions possible in 2016.

Of the 20 clubs in the top flight, only Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have reported losses of more than £105m over the last three years, according to the most up-to-date published accounts.

The regulations have come about against the backdrop of UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) initiative.

Under UEFA's new rules clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the possibility of exclusion from European competition from 2014/15.

Scudamore admitted that their own FFP measures would mean it will take longer for benefactor owners to achieve success, but that it would still be possible.

He said: "The balance we have tried to strike is that a new owner can still invest a decent amount of money to improve their club but they are not going to be throwing hundreds and hundreds of millions in a very short period of time.

"While it has worked for a couple of clubs in the last 10 years, and I am not critical of that, if that's going to be done in the future it's going to have to be over a slightly longer term without the huge losses being made.

"I think at £105m you can still build a very decent club with substantial owner funding but you have to do it over time, you can't do it in a season."

Chelsea won the Premier League two years after Roman Abramovich's takeover, and Manchester City's title success came three years after Sheikh Mansour's takeover.

Any club making any loss of over £5m a year will have guarantee those losses against the owner's assets.

"In some ways that's the most significant part; this is a three-year rolling system of secure funding - it's one year at the moment," added Scudamore.

The ceiling when the wage increase restrictions kick in will be £52m next season, £56m the following year and £60m in 2015-16. Only seven of the current top-flight clubs would be under that ceiling at the moment.Daily Fotball News