Francis wants action on goalkeepers

Gerry Francis, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, has called for action to be taken against goalkeepers who commit fouls outside their areas, following Jurgen Klinsmann's clash with Aston Villa's Mark Bosnich this week.

Francis is furious that Bosnich escaped without even a caution, and that no free-kick was given after the Villa goalkeeper hit Klinsmann in the face with his leg as he raced out for a high ball.

it was at first feared that Klinsmann had suffered serious facial injuries, but he has been cleared to play in tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Sunderland. Francis said: "I will be writing to the FA and Referees' Association to ask them to have a look at this issue before someone gets seriously injured."

Waterlogged pitches have put paid to today's matches at Cardiff, Crewe, Clydebank and Exeter, and there are further problems with sub-zero temperatures and snow forecast.

Frozen pitches have forced the postponement of games at Bury, Darlington, Middlesbrough, York and St Johnstone, while the third division match at Chesterfield was snowed off.

There will be pitch inspections this morning at two FA Cup venues; Queen's Park Rangers, who have a London derby with West Ham, and Burnley, who hope to entertain Liverpool. there are also inspections at the remaining 13 third-round ties in the Tennents Scottish Cup.

The former Manchester United centre-half, Graeme Hogg, has joined Notts County from Hearts for £75,000. The Scottish defender, who recently served a 10-match ban after a punch-up with team-mate Craig Levein, goes straight into County's squad for today's match at Grimsby.

Lothar Matthaus's hopes of a comeback after tearing an Achilles tendon on Wednesday have received a boost. According to his surgeon, the 33-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder may be available to play again before the end of the season. n Uefa, the governing body of European football, has announced that the European Cup final on 24 May will be staged at the Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, and the Cup-Winners' Cup final will be held at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 10 May.