Sporting Digest: Football

BARNET could face a Football Association investigation after switching their FA Cup third-round tie against Chelsea to Stamford Bridge. The FA are unhappy that a Second Division club should have to make such a switch, which is due to police concern over spectator safety at their 5,300-capacity Underhill ground.

RANGERS reappointed Hugh Adam to their board of directors yesterday. Adam started Rangers' pools scheme, which provided millions of pounds for the development of Ibrox.

SEAN McCARTHY, Oldham's pounds 500,000 signing from Bradford, will be out for three weeks after suffering a thigh strain on his home debut in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Swindon.

KAZUYOSHI MIURA, the Japanese international striker, scored a hat-trick yesterday to take Verdy Kawasaki to a 4-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds and the title in the second stage of the J League. They advance to the championship decider next month against the first-stage winners, Kashima Antlers.

TUESDAY'S LATE RESULTS: Neville Ovenden Combination Second Division League Cup first round (corrected result): Birmingham 3 Swansea 1. FA Youth Cup Second round replay: Norwich City 1 Chelsea 0.

AUTOGLASS TROPHY Area quarter-finals draw: Northern Section: Carlisle United v Mansfield Town; Lincoln City v Chester City; Stockport County v Scunthorpe United; Huddersfield Town v Crewe Alexandra. Southern Section: Swansea City v Port Vale; Bournemouth or Leyton Orient v Brentford; Colchester United v Wycombe Wanderers; Fulham v Reading. Ties to be played week beginning 10 January.