Uefa set to increase Butt's suspension

The Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt could face a three-match European ban for his moment of Uefa Cup madness on Thursday night.

The Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt could face a three-match European ban for his moment of Uefa Cup madness on Thursday night.

The 29-year-old England international lost his cool with the Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin captain, Abas Suan, two minutes after replacing Kieron Dyer in last night's stormy 2-0 victory at St James' Park, grabbing the player by the throat.

Butt will receive an automatic one-match ban for his sending-off but Uefa's disciplinary officials have the discretion to increase that to two or three games depending on their view of the severity of his misdemeanour.

Ronny Johnsen's agent Rune Hauge claims the Norwegian defender's new contract at Newcastle runs until the end of the season - not 1 January as has been reported.

"That is wrong," Hauge said. "The thing is that the contract has a clause which says that both Newcastle and Ronny can decide to terminate the deal on 1 January if certain conditions apply at the time.

"If Newcastle buy a new defender who keeps Ronny out of the team, he can find another club in January. And if Ronny gets injured and is unable to play for Newcastle, the club can terminate the deal."

John Carver is to stay with Newcastle after accepting the post of academy director. Carver was relieved of his duties as first-team coach when Graeme Souness brought in his own backroom staff last weekend, but was offered a new job and will take over at the end of the month.

But the Magpies are now looking for a new goalkeeping coach after Simon Smith resigned on Thursday.