Sporting Digest: Football

Tim Flowers, the England and Blackburn goalkeeper, will miss the first two games of the 1998-99 Premiership season after being sent off while warming up during a match at Coventry.

Liverpool have won the Premier League's Fair Play award for the fourth consecutive year.

Swindon goalkeeper Fraser Digby, 31, is among eight players handed free transfers by manager Steve McMahon.

Sporting Lisbon have sacked coach Carlos Manuel after the club finished fourth in the Portuguese league.

South Africa hope to play either Iceland or Ireland in a World Cup warm- up match after Romania canceled its exhibition on 6 June. John Moeti and Barnsley's Eric Tinkler have been omitted from their squad to play in Argentina on 25 May.

Manchester United have asked the FA for a 3.00pm kick-off in next season's Charity Shield against Arsenal on 9 August, because they fear a late start could hamper their Champions' League preparations. United are due to play the first leg of their qualifying tie three days later.