Leicester City players Tony Cottee and Andrew Impey have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over the way they allegedly distributed tickets allocated to them for this year's English League Cup final.

But another 25 City players and officials will also be in the dock on a misconduct charge for allegedly failing to assist an FA inquiry into the matter.

The FA have conducted a sixmonth inquiry into alleged illegal ticketing which caused segregation problems and led to violence in the first half of City's clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

The club have 14 days to respond to the charge and to decide whether to seek a personal hearing. But anyone found guilty by the FA faces the possibility of a lengthy ban in receiving further FA tickets.

Middlesbrough have signed Juninho on a short-term contract until the end of the season subject to a successful application for a work permit. The Brazilian midfielder left the Riverside Stadium two years ago after the club's relegation to the First Division but, after falling out of favour with Atletico Madrid, the Teessiders have brought Juninho back.

Middlesbrough have also signed Ibrahim Ba on a contract until the end of the season from AC Milan.

David Seaman has become the fourth player to pull out of the England squad ahead of their European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Poland as Kevin Keegan's injury problems continued.

Seaman, suffering with a calf injury, has now followed Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand and Darren Anderton out of the squad - leaving Nigel Martyn as his likely replacement in goal.

Manchester United will have to begin their campaign to retain the European Champions Cup without another defender. The club had hoped to bring Moroccan international Nourredine Naybet in before Tuesday's European deadline but could not clinch the signature in time and has dropped out of the chase.

But the club have signed goalkeeper Massimo Taibi from Italian side Venezia. The 29-year-old has signed a four-year contract.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has told Newcastle to forget any approach for John Gregory. Newcastle are looking for a successor to Ruud Gullit, who quit the club on Saturday after a poor start to the season.

"I am assured that the press speculation about Newcastle United is just that and no contact has been made by John or that club," Ellis said.

"In any event, any approach would be rejected immediately. John's future is with Aston Villa where he continues to receive the full support of myself and the board."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson is being urged to forgive Benito Carbone following the Italian star's shock weekend walk-out on the Owls. Wilson has been involved in talks with chairman Dave Richards over the last 48 hours, the duo discussing the future of Carbone, who could yet face the sack for "gross misconduct".

The 28-year-old striker stormed out of Wednesday's dressing-room at The Dell and immediately flew home to Italy for an agreed weeklong holiday, one which began 90 minutes early.