FA tries to mediate in Keane case

The Football Association is attempting to mediate between the Manchester clubs in an effort to prevent football being dragged through the courts once more. Its intervention follows the announcement by Alf Inge Haaland and his Manchester City employers that they are considering suing Roy Keane after the United captain admitted in his ghosted autobiography that he intended to injure Haaland during the last Manchester derby.

Adam Crozier, the FA's chief executive, has spoken to both clubs. He said the conversations must remain private, but added: "You cannot stop people on the outside doing what they feel is right for them but in an ideal world football should deal with its own issues."

While the FA may save Keane from a legal fight it is still likely to punish him heavily. Having admitted to finding Keane's admission, as described in serialised extracts, "alarming", Crozier has now had the chance to read Keane's description "in context". He is now awaiting Keane's reply to a request for his observations before considering whether to charge him with bringing the game into disrepute. That decision is expected next week.

Though the case is not being pre-judged, precedents are already being looked at within the FA. These include the £20,000 fine and suspended six-month ban imposed on Vinnie Jones in 1992 after he presented a video glorifying football violence. Further back, Jack Charlton was merely required to apologise after he said he kept a "little black book" detailing players he wished to settle scores with.

It is suspected that United will wait for the FA's verdict before arranging Keane's pending knee operation. If they do, Crozier admitted, the FA would be powerless to delay any punishment until he was fit.

Crozier confirmed that Jonathan Woodgate would be available for selection for England's friendly against Portugal on 7 September. Woodgate has been banned from playing for England since he was charged in connection with an attack on an Asian student in January 2000. He served 100 hours community service after being convicted of affray last December.

"You cannot punish people for ever," Crozier said. "He has served his time and done all the right things since his trial." The squad is named on Monday.

It is still too early to put the bulldozers into first gear, but the FA at last believes they will soon begin demolishing the old Wembley to make way for a new National Stadium.

This time, Crozier insisted, the deal really is almost completed. On Friday full planning permission was gained from Brent Council and Crozier said, "we are very hopeful the [construction and financing] contracts will be completed in the next two weeks."

The 90,000-seat stadium could take 36 to 38 months to build, but could be open well before the 2006 FA Cup final.