Strike threat: The Scottish Senior Referees Association have issued a veiled threat over the possibility of industrial action in the wake of the three-game ban handed out to Celtic captain Neil Lennon on Tuesday. The 34-year-old was involved in an ugly clash with referee Stuart Dougal following his dismissal after the 3-1 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox on August 20th.
Dougal has expressed his disappointment at the three-game suspension for Lennon. But now the SSRA are currently balloting members over the possibility of industrial action. An SSRA spokesman said: "In the wake of recent developments relating to the safety of match officials during games, we are currently canvassing the opinion of our members.
"Feedback we will receive will allow us to formulate our next steps. The association are well aware of the groundswell of support for referees which exists at many levels of the game, for which we are extremely grateful."
Gilberto to stay
Arsenal fans still lamenting the loss of Patrick Vieira will have been lifted by yesterday's news that Gilberto has pledged his long-term future to the club. Gilberto, whose existing contract was set to expire at the end of the season, has put pen to paper on an improved deal that will keep the industrious 28-year-old midfielder at Highbury until 2009.
A club statement read: "Arsenal are delighted to announce that Gilberto has signed a long-term extension to his contract.
Butt admits charge
Birmingham midfielder Nicky Butt is facing a further two-match suspension after admitting a charge of abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following his sending-off against Portsmouth on Saturday. The former Manchester United star still has two matches of a three-game ban to serve for being red-carded by referee Dermot Gallagher for violent conduct after kicking out at Portsmouth striker Dario Silva. But Butt has now also admitted an additional charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards a referee's assistant as he left the pitch shortly before half-time at Fratton Park.
The 30-year-old has requested a personal hearing when the FA disciplinary commission reviews the case on September 27th.
Campo injured
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Ivan Campo has fractured a bone in his foot and and will be out for up to two months, the Premier League club said yesterday.
"He could be out for six to eight weeks," manager Sam Allardyce told Bolton's website. "He ran into a tackle in training, got caught and broke his foot."
Rooney banned
Wayne Rooney will not be seen in Champions League action until November after the Manchester United striker decided to accept his two-match ban. The England international was expecting to serve a one-game suspension after being red-carded in last week's draw with Villarreal for sarcastically clapping referee Kim Milton Nielsen right under the Danish official's nose.
But Rooney learned yesterday Uefa had doubled the punishment in response to the player's four-letter tirade before he left the pitch.
Cisse goes nude
Liverpool's Djibril Cisse will appear nude in the 2006 calendar published by the French rugby union club Stade Francais. The French daily newspaper Le Parisien carried the naked picture of the French international striker yesterday showing his back and side with him posing with a football on his right, heavily tatooed, thigh.
Emulating the world-famous Pirelli calendar, Stade Francais first launched a black-and-white calendar in 2000 in which their players were naked. This year's issue goes on sale at the end of the month.
