Football: Arsenal's Wright appeal

Arsenal have submitted an official complaint to the Football Association about Ian Wright's sending-off at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The club has made a claim of "wrongful dismissal" to Lancaster Gate. The referee, Stephen Lodge, and his assistant, John Holbrook, will now be sent a video of the incident, in which the Arsenal striker barged into the Forest defender Nikola Jerkan, who then fell to the ground.

An FA spokeswoman said: "We will be asking for their observations before deciding what action to take." Lodge dismissed Wright for violent conduct, which carries an automatic three-match ban. But he said he would be prepared to look at the video, providing the request came from the FA.

After a poll of European football writers for France Football, Alan Shearer was yesterday placed third behind the winner, Germany's Matthias Sammer, and Barcelona's Brazilian international Ronaldo in the Golden Ball award for the European Footballer of the Year. Sammer gained 144 points, Ronaldo 141 and Shearer 107. Eric Cantona was seventh.

Ilie Dumitrescu's unhappy stay at West Ham appears to be over. The Romanian midfielder is reported to have agreed a pounds 1m move to the Mexican side, America, but the deal has still to be finalised.

Kenny Dalglish was yesterday confirmed as a scout for Rangers, but he will not be on the Ibrox payroll. Dalglish was appointed business development manager for Carnegie Sports International, a company run by the Rangers chairman, David Murray. One of his duties will be to help recruit players for Rangers.

Gavin Peacock has joined Queen's Park Rangers from Chelsea. The 29-year- old midfielder, on loan at Loftus Road for the past month, has signed for a fee of pounds 800,000, which will rise to pounds 1m after a certain number of appearances.

The Everton defender Matt Jackson has rejoined his former manager, Mike Walker, by making a pounds 450,000 move to Norwich City, who have conceded 11 goals in their last two matches.

Bobby Williamson, Kilmarnock's caretaker manager, will remain in charge of team affairs at Rugby Park until the end of the season.

Sepp Blatter, the secretary-general of Fifa, football's world governing body, has urged Terry Venables' Australia to bid against England, among others, for the 2006 World Cup.