Clubs in Riverside rumpus fined by FA

Mike McGrath
Friday 01 April 2005 00:00 BST
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Middlesbrough and Everton have been fined by the Football Association and warned about their future conduct after the "mass confrontation" when they met at the Riverside Stadium in January. Both sides will have to pay an £8,000 fine after admitting to failing to control their players in the 1-1 draw.

Middlesbrough and Everton have been fined by the Football Association and warned about their future conduct after the "mass confrontation" when they met at the Riverside Stadium in January. Both sides will have to pay an £8,000 fine after admitting to failing to control their players in the 1-1 draw.

A statement from the Football Association read: "At a Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Middlesbrough FC and Everton FC were both severely reprimanded, warned as to their future conduct and fined £8,000. The clubs had admitted breaches of FA Rule E22a for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion."

The scenes were sparked when Everton striker Duncan Ferguson was brought on as a substitute by manager David Moyes in the 74th minute. The former Scotland international's header set up an equaliser for midfielder Tim Cahill. Shortly after that, Ferguson made a rash challenge on the Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer following a corner, leading to a melee in the hosts' six-yard area.

The Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé could make a comeback from a broken leg before the end of the season, the club's manager Rafael Benitez said yesterday. The French international has been out since breaking his leg in two places during Liverpool's game at Blackburn five months ago.

Doctors then ruled him out for the rest of the season. Benitez, however, believes he could still play a part in Liverpool's run-in to the domestic championship and Champions' League.

Benitez said: "Cissé is now training again with the team. He is doing all the warm-ups and he's kicking the ball again. He's running well and doing a lot of hard work with the physios with the ball.

"After talking with my assistant Paco Ayesteran, who controls the fitness coaching, we no longer believe it's impossible he'll play this season."

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