Dugarry faces suspension for altercation with Short
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Your support makes all the difference.The Birmingham City striker Christophe Dugarry could be facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association yesterday confirmed that they will be requesting video evidence of his clash on Saturday with the Blackburn defender Craig Short.
Short suffered a broken nose during the first half at St Andrew's after appearing to be caught in the face by Dugarry's arm when the pair jostled for the ball.
The referee, Graham Barber, failed to spot the incident, taking no action against the French player, although he was subsequently sent off for two yellow card offences in the second period. But now the FA has intervened and Dugarry could face a three-match ban if it is decided that he was guilty of violent conduct.
An FA spokesman, Andrin Cooper, said: "We are awaiting the referee's report and, if it confirms that he did not see the Christophe Dugarry-Craig Short incident, we will request video footage of the incident."
Birmingham could also be in trouble over an alleged coin-throwing incident which involved the Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Friedel called Barber's attention to events behind his goal after Lucas Neill scored the second goal in Blackburn's 4-0 win. The American then handed a coin to the official who has included the incident in his report. Birmingham have vowed to ban for life the person who allegedly threw the coin if they can identify the culprit.
There was more trouble for Rovers yesterday when the FA charged the Blackburn manager, Graeme Souness, with abusive and/or insulting words to a match official. The charge relates to comments made to the referee Graham Poll during Rovers' 1-0 home win over Tottenham on 29 November.
Souness was furious after Steven Reid appeared to be fouled by Stephen Carr but did not win a free-kick. "I said to Mr Poll, 'I didn't know you were a Tottenham supporter,' and he's taken exception to that," Souness said at the time. Souness has until 23 December to respond to the charge. Oldham also face possible disciplinary action after a bottle-throwing incident in their home match against Notts County last month.
Steven Gerrard will not be punished for his tackle on Nolberto Solano during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.
However, the FA will be considering Ashley Cole's actions following his dismissal against Leicester.
Cole already faces a three-match ban after receiving a red card for a challenge on Ben Thatcher. He could also face further punishment, possibly for the amount of time it took for him to leave the pitch.
In Gerrard's case, Poll has told the FA he saw the tackle and the issue is now closed as the men in Soho Square cannot initiate disciplinary proceedings on incidents which have been seen by the officials.
Portsmouth's Arjan De Zeeuw has had an appeal for wrongful dismissal - during the Carling Cup match against Southampton last week - rejected by the FA's video advisory panel.
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