Soccer Shorts: Jose Mourinho was partially vindicated last night when his Premier League fine for making an illegal approach for Ashley Cole was cut from £300,000 to £75,000. The Arsenal full back's fine was also reduced to £75,000, from £100,000.
The three-man English Premier League appeals panel dismissed both appeals but considered that the penalties had been disproportionate.
The panel ruled that Mourinho was less culpable for the meeting between Chelsea executives, Cole and his adviser, Jonathan Barnett, in January, since he had not instigated it. However, in the eyes of the panel, his attendance meant he had been in breach of rule Q2 of the managers' code of conduct.
"All we can say is that we have had a very fair hearing," said Mourinho's barrister Jim Sturman. Cole does not share the sentiment and is understood to be preparing an application at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas yesterday fell silent on the subject of Michael Essien's £24 million transfer to Chelsea after he was pictured boarding a helicopter believed to belong to Roman Abramovich.
Reports that Aulas spent yesterday discussing the transfer aboard Abramovich's yacht are believed in France to be reliable and it is expected that the transfer will be authorised by the end of the week. (Guardian Service)
Arsenal need a hand Arsenal yesterday refused to comment on newspaper reports stating Sebastien Viera's proposed move to Highbury has collapsed after the Uruguay goalkeeper failed a medical.
It is thought that Arsene Wenger had agreed a £3-million fee with Nacional Montevideo for the 22-year-old but has since stopped the deal. Wenger is now short of time to find an able deputy to Jan Lehmann.
Arsenal could be forced to play 18-year-old Mark Howard in goal for the club's first two Champions League matches this season as Lehmann is suspended after squirting water at an official after Arsenal's European exit against Bayern Munich last term. Normal second choice Manuel Almunia is recovering from a broken hand.
Newcastle rebuffed
Newcastle's attacking options were further reduced last night after chairman Freddy Shepherd admitted defeat in his efforts to sign Nicolas Anelka.
Having received no encouragement from Real Madrid's Michael Owen, the Magpies were hopeful of attracting the Fenerbahce marksman to St James' Park after just six months in Turkey.
However, the Turkish club told Newcastle the 26-year-old Frenchman was not for sale, forcing manager Graeme Souness to look elsewhere with the start of the new season just five days away.
There was some good news for Souness yesterday when it was revealed Alan Shearer is in line to lead his team out at Arsenal on Sunday as he continues his battle against a calf injury. The striker played no part of Newcastle's 7-1 victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Monday but the club yesterday admitted both Shearer and goalkeeper Shay Given, who is recovering from a groin problem, probably would have played had it been a Premiership fixture.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan defender Francesco Coco's proposed loan move to St James' Park has broken down after the clubs failed to agree terms over the 28-year-old Italian's proposed move.
Savage treatment
Robbie Savage has failed to win a recall to the Wales squad for next week's friendly against Slovenia at Swansea.
His absence raises serious doubts over his chances of being involved in the World Cup qualifying double-header against England in Cardiff on September 3rd and Poland in Warsaw four days later.
The 30-year-old has not played for Wales under new manager John Toshack since his vitriolic attack on the new regime last season.
The Blackburn midfielder initially retired from international football, but has since said he was wrong to attack Toshack in public and wants to be considered for selection again.
Oman back in frame
While bemoaning the fact player-manager Gareth Farrelly is out for up to six weeks with a chipped bone in his left ankle, sustained in their 1-1 draw with UCD a fortnight ago, Bohemians are boosted by the return from suspension of defender Ken Oman and from injury of strikers Dominic Foley and Tony Grant for Bray Wanderers' visit to Dalymount Park tonight. Right back Stephen Rice, however, remains out with a dislocated shoulder.
Bray wait on striker Eamon Zayed, who suffered an ankle injury during their 2-2 draw in Derry City last Friday. Paul Caffrey (knee) remains a doubt while fellow midfielder Colm James may not be available for family reasons.
In Brief . . .
Manchester City have offered a trial to former Barcelona stalwart Pep Guardiola (34) . . . Sunderland have completed the £1.1-million signing of Sheffield United striker Andy Gray (27) . . . Bolton are in talks with Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata (28) with a view to the Fiorentina player joining on a one-year-loan deal . . . Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has revealed midfielder Mehdi Nafti is likely to miss the whole season with a ligament injury . . . Everton defender Per Kroldrup, a £5-million summer signing from Udinese, may need surgery to clear up a groin injury . . . Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia (32) has agreed a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2008. . . . John O'Shea (24) and Darren Fletcher (21) are to sign new four-year contracts with Manchester United.
