Southampton midfielder David Prutton admits he has "let everybody down" after being charged by the English FA with two counts of improper conduct following his sending-off during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
The 23-year-old has issued public apologies to referee Alan Wiley, his assistant, the fans and Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires who bore the brunt of his crass tackle that earned his second yellow card.
But it is unlikely to save him from a lengthy ban after he manhandled Wiley - even though Prutton insists that, in his fury at the red card, he did not even know it was the referee he was pushing.
But Prutton, who went into Saturday's match with nine bookings already this season, admitted: "I was stupid. I should have known that but I could only see it when I saw the reaction of my family and friends afterwards. I'm not proud of it at all."
Everton to sign goalkeeper
Everton have agreed a deal to sign young Cambridge goalkeeper John Ruddy at the end of the season. The 18-year-old has impressed for the English League Two side this season and has been tipped for a future in the top flight. Ruddy had a trial at Manchester United earlier this season and has also been linked to Arsenal and Celtic. But David Moyes is set to secure the deal to sign the goalkeeper, agreeing an undisclosed fee.The deal is expected to keep the England under-19 international at Everton until 2007.
Silvestre accuses Arsenal
Mikael Silvestre has accused Arsenal of setting a trap for him at Highbury earlier this month. The Frenchman was sent off for the first time in his United career after headbutting Freddie Ljungberg during United's 4-2 win. B ut Silvestre believes the Arsenal players tried to goad him into a dismissal, and he admits he fell for it. "I fell into a trap. It was a mistake. I'll know next time what is going to happen, so I won't fall into that trap again. Also, I wasn't prepared for the game mentally - I was prepared to win the game, to win battles, to win challenges, but not to face that attitude."
In brief . . .
Martin Jol, the Spurs coach, has been linked with the vacancy at Ajax following Ronald Koeman's resignation and there is speculation in Holland that Jol is the club's number one target . . . Bayern Munich's influential playmaker Mehmet Scholl will miss his side's return Champions League clash with Arsenal with a thigh muscle injury . . . Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved is almost certain to miss the Champions League second leg match against Real Madrid after suffering concussion in Juve's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Madrid on Tuesday . . . Scottish Cup semi-final draw: Hearts v Celtic, Dundee United v Hibernian. Ties to be played on the weekend of April 9th and 10th.
