Dein steps in to warn players against strike

The Football Association vice-chairman David Dein warned that the Professional Footballers' Association is playing a "dangerous game" as the players would ultimately be the losers of any strike. Dein called for common sense to prevail as the PFA sends out ballot papers on a proposed boycott of televised games.

The Arsenal vice-chairman, fearful of the spread of mis-information, insisted that more money is spent on players' wages than is received in TV revenues. He pointed out that the the PFA receive far more than their counterparts in Europe and that performance rights for appearing in televised games are already covered in their club contracts.

Dein also suggested that Premiership players up their annual PFA subscriptions from the £75 paid by their Third Division colleagues .

The 20 Premier League clubs approved a £30m offer over three years to the PFA this week out of the money raised by the top-flight's new TV deal, but the PFA turned this down, sticking to their claim for a 5 per cent share of this cash, equal to just over £25m a year.

"The players are paid huge sums of money to play for their clubs and appear on television. The players cannot expect the same money twice," said Dein.

Grimsby Town's minds were distracted from the humdrum of Division One life yesterday by a dream draw away at either Arsenal or Manchester United in the Worthington Cup fourth round.

The Mariners, who put out Liverpool in extra time in the week, can smugly await the winner of the delayed third-round tie, to be played in the week beginning November 26. Leeds host Chelsea in the pick of the other ties.

The Croatian Zvonimir Boban, who won four scudetti with Milan, has walked out on Celta Vigo and ended his career at 33.

Bayern Munich have paid £6.4m to Hertha Berlin to reserve the services of Sebastian Deisler, 21, for next season.