A round-up of today's other soccer stories

Irish injury free for under-19 test

THE IRISH under-19 team are in Malta preparing for the Uefa Championship, first qualifying phase, group four which includes France, Liechtenstein and Malta.

The Irish kick off proceedings this morning as they face hosts Malta on the artificial surface in Ta' Qali. The top two teams will ensure their progress to the elite qualifying phase which takes place early next year.

Irish boss Seán McCaffrey has no injury worries going into the opening game after Kieron Thorpe (bruised ribs), Damien McRory (ankle), Paddy Madden (flu) and Shane O'Connor (dead-leg) all recovered and took part in yesterday's training session.

Aston Villa's James Collins is relishing the opportunity to feature after under-21 manager Don Givens spotted the striker in action for his club. "I have always had ambitions of playing for Ireland, to get the chance to play in a Uefa Championship qualifier would be a massive honour," he said.

Keane denies FA conduct charge

SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane has denied an English FA charge of improper conduct. The charge relates to his behaviour towards referee Martin Atkinson in their 5-0 defeat at Chelsea earlier this month.

Keane was sent to the stands for the second half after confronting Atkinson in the tunnel at half-time at Stamford Bridge.

He was unhappy with a series of decisions made by Atkinson, and revealed the referees' assessor had rung him after the match acknowledging two of Chelsea's goals should not have stood.

After finding out he had been charged, Keane said: "I haven't got a problem with referees making mistakes. What would disappoint me, particularly over the last year and particularly this season, is the number of big decisions that have gone against our football club.

"But when it is constantly going against you, clearly bad decisions, then you have a right as a manager to question or ask an official at half-time."

Keane has requested a personal hearing, with a date yet to be fixed.

Everton boss blasts FA again

EVERTON manager David Moyes may be back in front of English FA disciplinary bosses earlier than he anticipated after labelling officials at Soho Square as "a law unto themselves".

Moyes was fined €6,000 earlier this week after admitting his outburst at referee Alan Wiley during Everton's 3-2 win at Stoke City in September.

"I pleaded guilty in my situation but the panel agreed the referee was wrong and that I shouldn't have been sent off but I still got found guilty so there you go," he said.

Two wrongs don't make a right and I think that's what they tried to do there. They are a law unto themselves aren't they? They make their own rules, they bring their own people in on the panels and make their own decisions."

Reid's 'race' comments upset Rangers chairman

DAVID MURRAY'S 20th anniversary as owner of Rangers has been overshadowed by a row with the Celtic chairman, John Reid.

Murray, who will celebrate two decades at the Ibrox helm this weekend, has been upset by Reid's criticism of "racist" and "bigoted" sections of the Rangers support. The Rangers chairman believes the former British defence secretary has breached an unwritten rule by castigating the other half of the Old Firm from a position of authority.

"I think that John has to remember that he's not in the House of Commons now," Murray said, "haggling with people across the chamber. We are now in the west of Scotland, in the world of Rangers and Celtic, and I think we all have a responsibility to act in a sensible manner."

Reid hit back yesterday: "We all want to be a little indulgent towards David at the time of his 20th anniversary. But I am unsure about the points he is trying to make regarding inference and innuendo. I will continue to comment when appropriate without fear or favour. I know we all welcome David's respect for Celtic's traditions and we congratulate him on 20 years."

Today's Fixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

ENGLISH LEAGUE: Championship: Swansea v Birmingham. Two: Grimsby v Bournemouth.

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: Promotion/relegation final, second leg: Kildare County (2) v Mervue United (2).

LAST NIGHT: International: Brazil 6 (Luis Fabiano 8 24 57, Maicon 55, Elano 64, Adriano 89), Portugal 2 (Danny 4, Simao 61).