Hauge threatened by permanent Fifa ban

ALAN NIXON

Rune Hauge, the Norwegian agent at the centre of the "bung" dispute which cost George Graham his job at Arsenal, is facing a complete ban and loss of his licence from Fifa, world football's governing body, on Monday.

Hauge will be questioned about his involvement in the Lars Bohinen transfer from Nottingham Forest to Blackburn Rovers and the move of Pontus Kamark to Leicester City from Swedish club Gothenburg.

Fifa's control committee will decide on the penalty at a special meeting in Paris on Monday and informed sources revealed that Hauge, who is already suspended for one year, will have his licence revoked completely - their ultimate punishment.

Officials at Fifa have investigated the Bohinen and Karmark transfers and feel there is sufficient evidence to suggest Hauge was involved, although the deals were officially carried out by a licensed Danish agent, Frank Mathiesen.

Bristol City have launched an urgent appeal for a major backer to help keep them in business. They made a loss of nearly pounds 800,000 when relegated from the First Division last season and have been losing about pounds 10,000 a week since. Directors are deciding whether to seek support for a share issue.

Jamie Redknapp, the Liverpool midfielder, will be withdrawn from the England squad for next Tuesday's international against Portugal after failing a fitness test on his hamstring injury yesterday.

Manchester City have ended their attempts to sign the Spanish international Thomas Christiansen. The club first tried to sign the player nearly a month ago but talks foundered on Christiansen's wage demands. The talks were reopened, but now City have lost patience and decided against the move.

Morten Wieghorst, the Danish international utility player, has joined Celtic from Dundee, who receive pounds 500,000 plus the defender Barry Smith.

England is the only European nation to object to the 1998 World Cup qualifying draw being based on the current world rankings, FIFA's general secretary, Sepp Blatter, said yesterday. England are ranked only 20th in the world in the FIFA rankings system, one place lower than the United States.

It is virtually certain European seedings will be based on rankings, rather than, as before, the results of previous World Cups.