Football: Walker runs into trouble for head-butting

DES WALKER, whose quest for as anonymous an existence as possible for an England defender was sabotaged when he was sent off last Sunday, is to to be charged by the Football Association with bringing the game into disrepute.

That was confirmed yesterday after the referee, Mike Reed, submitted a report about an incident immediately after the Premiership match at Portman Road when the Sheffield Wednesday captain head-butted the Ipswich midfield player Simon Milton.

Walker, who was fined by his club and who has since apologised for the incident, will now hope his punishment will be the same as if he had been sent off a few seconds earlier during the 90 minutes of play - an automatic three-match suspension. 'Des has only been booked five times before,' his manager, Trevor Francis, said by way of mitigation, 'and this was his first sending-off. That's an incredible record for a defender.'

Everton, who grasp good news like a prized possession at the moment, received some yesterday when they learned their on-loan striker from Rangers, Duncan Ferguson, will be able to complete his three-month stay. He was due to appear in court in Glasgow on Tuesday on a charge of alleged assault, but a defence motion has delayed the trial until 9 January.

The club poured coolish water over reports that Christian Karlsson, the Trelleborgs defender, would begin a trial on Monday.

Wolves have joined the chase for the Brondby defender Marc Rieper.