RUPERT METCALF
Juninho will, after all, make his debut for Middlesbrough against Leeds United at a sold-out Riverside stadium tomorrow. Yesterday, the Football Association received international clearance from the Brazilian football confederation, clearing the way for the completion of the 22-year-old international midfielder's pounds 4.75m transfer from Sao Paulo.
"It is great news," Bryan Robson, the Middlesbrough player-manager, said. "It takes away all the publicity and the hype and leaves the lad free to get on with playing football."
Juninho took part in a full-scale practice match yesterday. "He showed up well," Robson added. "I know it is some time since he played a match but he has a lot of natural fitness."
The Norwich City striker, Robert Fleck, has been fined pounds 1,000 and warned about his future conduct after being found guilty of misconduct by the Football Association. Fleck was punished following an incident in a First Division match at Sheffield United on 9 September, when he abused an official after being substituted.
The Dutch Football Association has suspended a referee who allegedly bet on matches in the Netherlands at which he officiated. Dick Jol, who took charge of the abandoned friendly between the Republic of Ireland and England in February, allegedly placed bets at a grocery store in The Hague. Jol, 39, has described the allegations as "ridiculous".
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