Football: FA rebukes Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH HAVE been warned by the Football Association that they face a heavy fine if they fail to control their crowd after a fan invaded the pitch and assaulted a player for the second time in a year.

The Oxford United winger, Joey Beauchamp, was confronted and shoved in the back by a supporter during the 2-2 home draw against Pompey at Fratton Park on 28 December. Crisp packets and a drink container were also thrown at Beauchamp, who was sent off for a tackle on the Portsmouth defender Russell Perrett.

Portsmouth, who have debts of pounds 7m and are in the hands of administrators, escaped without a fine but have been told by officials at Lancaster Gate that future incidents will have "serious consequences".

Liverpool have had their appeal over Jamie Carragher's controversial dismissal against Charlton rejected by the Football Association. A disciplinary committee saw a video of the England Under-21 international being sent off at The Valley on 13 February after being judged by the referee Mike Reed to have struck the Swedish forward, Martin Pringle. Liverpool's manager, Gerard Houllier, was incensed by Reed's decision to dismiss Carragher for the offence, which carries a three-match ban.

The FA has decided against selecting the Leeds pair of Jonathon Woodgate and Alan Smith and Everton's Francis Jeffers for the England Under-18 squad which will play a trio of European Championship qualifying matches in Spain next month. The Leeds manager, David O'Leary, had criticised the timing of the event and was upset when Woodgate and Smith had to report for duty when injured for the recent against France.

Everton have dropped a mistaken identity appeal over a booking for the Frenchman, Olivier Dacourt, and he will now be banned from their FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle or Blackburn.