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Republic of Ireland fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Robbie Keane will get the all-clear for the vital World Cup…

Republic of Ireland fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Robbie Keane will get the all-clear for the vital World Cup qualifying game against Portugal on June 2nd.

Keane took a bad knock on his ankle during a weekend clash with Arsenal's Tony Adams and will definitely miss Leeds' two remaining Premiership games. The striker admitted yesterday that it is likely to keep him sidelined for at least two weeks.

Arsenal won their fifth FA Cup final in nine seasons to maintain their stranglehold on women's football when an Angela Banks goal early in the second half saw off Fulham.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has denied that the club broke any rules when they signed Juan Pablo Angel from River Plate for £9.5 million in January. Ellis has spoken out after FA chief executive Adam Crozier allegedly claimed that £7 million of the fee went to agents.

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Eyal Berkovic is to hold negotiations with Celtic this week to pave the way for a permanent move to Premiership new boys Blackburn.

Martin Keown is facing a violent conduct charge and three-game ban following Saturday's 21 defeat of Leeds at Highbury. The FA are set to ask their video advisory panel to investigate two controversial incidents involving the Arsenal defender.

Leeds duo Mark Viduka and Lee Bowyer both claim to have been elbowed around the head by the England international and their manager David O'Leary has called for the panel of former managers, players and referees to recommend whether Keown should be charged with violent conduct. However, no official decision has yet been taken by the FA.