Football: Coca-Cola Cup - Disgruntled supporters offered a refund

Arsenal have offered refunds to any fans who were unhappy at the thought of watching a second-string side take on Birmingham in the Coca- Cola Cup third round at Highbury last night.

The club confirmed that "a couple" of disillusioned supporters had already been given their money back after complaining they did not want to watch the team without their international stars.

"When I enter a competition I set out to win it," was the reaction of George Graham, the Leeds manager, yesterday, taking a sideways swipe at Wenger and Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, for their approach to the competition.

Football League officials have warned top clubs they face expulsion from the competition if they put out below-strength sides in this week's ties. A Football League spokesman, David Cookson, said: "We have unlimited powers to act. It includes expulsion with no right of appeal."