Millwall cleared after cup brawl : FOOTBALL

Millwall have been cleared of blame for the crowd trouble that flared at the end of last week's FA Cup tie with Chelsea at the New Den. The Football Association observer reported that swift action by the police prevented rival gangs of supporters from clashing.

Joe Royle could escape censure after David Elleray, the referee at Wednesday's game with Newcastle in which Everton had two men sent off, made no reference in his report to the Everton manager's scathing criticism of him. Royle described his display as the most insensitive refereeing he had seen in more than 30 years.

Blackburn will also have to wait to discover if they are to be charged, following an incident the same night at the end of their game with Leeds in which a supporter ran on to the pitch and jostled the referee, Rodger Gifford.

Following another week of controversies involving match officials, the Wimbledon manager, Joe Kinnear, has called for video replays to be used to rule on contentious issues. "The days are gone when we can just say that referees are human and leave it at that," Kinnear said. "There's a lot of money involved now. What happens if the referee makes a crucial error that costs you a place in the Premier League and gets a manager the sack?"

Kinnear intends fighting "all the way" the charge that he brought the game into disrepute with the comments he made after the recent game at Newcastle. He labelled the referee Mike Reed a "cheat" after a late equaliser for his team was disallowed.

Wimbledon will also decide whether to contest a similar charge facing Vinnie Jones after Kinnear has talked over the matter with his captain. It is alleged that Jones directed foul and abusive comments to the Newcastle manager, Kevin Keegan.

Arsenal and Queen's Park Rangers poured scorn yesterday on a report that Les Ferdinand would move to Highbury before next month's transfer deadline. And, following a report that he was interested in signing John Salako, the Arsenal manager, George Graham, is demanding a written apology from the Crystal Palace chairman, Ron Noades.