Dominic Fifield

and Keir Radnedge

Leeds United's Alan Smith is braced to receive a three-match ban. The 23 year old will attend a hearing at FA headquarters in Soho Square today charged with improper conduct after throwing a plastic bottle into the crowd during the 3-2 League Cup defeat by Manchester United at Elland Road on October 28th.

Smith was initially arrested by West Yorkshire police over the incident and was sent home from Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for the friendly against Denmark in November, but was not charged with a criminal offence with the investigation subsequently dropped.

However, the FA consider his action serious and the length of his ban will be determined by whether the panel deem there was violent intent in Smith's reaction.

Smith was quick to voice his contrition at the time, apologising if he "offended any Leeds fans" and speaking to the family of the supporter he had struck. Yet the forward's record precedes him. Smith has been sent off eight times in his career. His booking against Arsenal on Sunday was his ninth of the season.

Meanwhile, the Football Association may bring a misconduct charge against Yeovil's manager Gary Johnson after he accused Liverpool players of cheating in Sunday's victory over the third division side.

An FA spokesman said it would be examining comments attributed to Johnson immediately after the game at Huish Park, which Liverpool won 2-0 thanks to goals from Emile Heskey and a disputed penalty awarded for a foul on Harry Kewell.

Asked about Liverpool's approach, Johnson said: "They respected us enough to every now and then cheat." Johnson later diplomatically avoided any contentious comments about the ease with which Kewell subsided under a challenge from Hugo Rodrigues.

Rodrigues was more forthright than his manager, however, claiming that Kewell admitted diving. The defender said he had confronted Kewell after the game and told the forward he had not made contact with him. Rodrigues said Kewell replied: "Yeah, I know you didn't, but this is football, man. I had to dive."

Kewell yesterday denied the charge. "I've got nothing to be ashamed about," he said. "If you look at the situation, he's touched me. If a defender touches a striker in the box it's a penalty. I don't know what he has to complain about. He came up to me during the game and asked me why I dived. I said to him: 'Did you touch me?' And he said 'yes'.

"He got his foot stuck, his knee stopped my movement, stopped me going towards goal and denied me a shot at goal. That is a penalty in my book. I wouldn't dive. It's not fair on the opposition. Some strikers are known for doing that but I'd never consider trying to con the referee."

Liverpool will be without their injured midfielder Steven Gerrard for tomorrow's Premiership match at Chelsea though they remain hopeful that Michael Owen will be fit for the game at Stamford Bridge.

World Cup winner Rivaldo has ended speculation about his future by joining Brazilian champions Cruzeiro.

Guardian Service