Football: Gannon to make complaint

POLICE officers from Stoke-on- Trent will travel to Stockport today to interview Jim Gannon, the Stockport County defender, who has decided to make a formal complaint following an incident involving Stoke's Mark Stein after the Second Division match at the Victoria Ground on Wednesday, writes Phil Shaw.

As the teams left the pitch at the end of the game, which Stoke won 2-1, Stein struck Gannon, who had to be restrained by colleagues and police, and left the ground with a purple bruise under his left eye. He rang Stoke police yesterday to inform them that he wished to pursue the matter.

A police spokesman, Superintendent David Ainge, said: 'At this stage we're not taking any action, but obviously it depends upon the result of the investigation into any complaint that Mr Gannon is going to make.'

Lou Macari, the Stoke manager, who also became involved in the fracas, claimed that the South African-born Stein was provoked by comments made by Gannon. The referee, Alan Dawson of Jarrow, confirmed that Stein would be reported to the FA for 'violent conduct'. Stoke and Stockport, whose five meetings last season included two bitter play-off matches, play each other again on 3 April.