Newz Forum: SOCCER: Football News 05/04/04

Duncan Ferguson was handed a four-match ban and a 10,000 fine by a Football Association disciplinary commission hearing.Everton striker Ferguson was charged with violent behaviour and improper conduct for an incident involving Leicester midfielder Steffen Freund and a subsequent gesture to the crowd during the Barclaycard Premiership match at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, March 20.

Everton were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute when Ferguson picked up his second yellow card of the game in the space of three minutes.He was dismissed by referee Barry Knight after wrestling Freund to the ground.Earlier, Ferguson had picked up his first yellow card for elbowing Nikos Dabizas.



Claudio Ranieri watched Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink fire Chelsea to a battling 1-0 victory over Tottenham and then warned his players they were about to enter a crucial stage of the season.The Blues visit Highbury on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Arsenal. That is followed by Barclaycard Premiership appointments with Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge and then a trip to Aston Villa.



The feelgood factor surrounding Millwall has pushed the price of the club's shares up by 50%.The club's value has shot up 5m overnight after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Sunderland from 12.5m to 17.5m.The win not only booked a cup final appearance but also secured qualification for the UEFA Cup.Chairman Theo Paphitis, who said he would run naked through the streets of London if the Lions won, owns 7% of the share capital.



Birmingha m chairman David Gold believes that extending Mikael Forssell's loan spell from Chelsea for another season would be "the best bet for everyone".Forssell has three years of his contract left but has made it clear that he does not want to return to Stamford Bridge just to play a bit part in their plans.He has reaped the benefits of his first full season of top-flight football in England and has scored 18 goals for City to lead their push for a European spot.Chelsea will not make a decision until the end of the campaign on the future of the 5m-rated Finland international.Birmingham manager Steve Bruce would dearly like to secure the services of Forssell on a long-term basis.