SOCCER DIGEST:FRANCE midfielder Franck Ribery will not appeal the decision by the French Football Federation (FFF) to ban him for three matches for his role in the teams World Cup revolt, the players lawyer yesterday.

Ribery was one of four players banned this month after the France squad boycotted a training session in South Africa in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was banished from the team for insulting then coach Raymond Domenech.

“Franck Ribery, even though he regards the sanction taken against him as unfounded and unfair, has decided not to appeal,” his lawyer, Jean-Didier Lange, said in a statement.

Anelka was banned for 18 France matches, captain Patrice Evra for five, Ribery for three and Jeremy Toulalan for one. Eric Abidal had also been summoned by the FFF but he escaped without sanction.

Evra has indicated he will appeal.

Webb says he was wrong on De Jong

REFEREE Howard Webb has admitted he should have shown Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong a red card in the World Cup final for the Manchester City player’s challenge on Spain’s Xabi Alonso.

Webb handed out a record 14 yellow cards – two leading to a red – but the Yorkshire official accepts he should have sent off De Jong. Webb said: “When I look back on the full two hours of that game, there is not much I would change. One of the things I would change is the colour of the card for De Jong’s tackle.

Mourinho slams Capello methods

JOSE Mourinho has claimed England have no future while under-fire boss Fabio Capello is in charge.

“The problem is the manager – Capello will not work for England,” said Real Madrid boss Mourinho.

“He has a one-track relationship with players,” he said. “Ask anyone here at Real Madrid. He can’t change. You cannot go around just shouting at players. They need to feel special.”

FIFA has dismissed allegations that North Korea’s coach and players were punished for losing all three of their games at this year’s World Cup.

Asian media reported the side had been publicly shamed after returning from South Africa having conceded 12 goals in the first round, but Fifa insisted it was business as usual for North Korea and that no such witchhunt had taken place.

“The (North Korean) FA assures Fifa that Mr Kim Jong-hun, head coach of the national team, and all the other members of the national team are training as usual,” Fifa said in a statement.

“The association also indicates that there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless.

“With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, Fifa has decided to close the matter.”

North Korea lost 2-1 to Brazil, were humiliated 7-0 by Portugal and easily beaten 3-0 by Ivory Coast in South Africa.

Brazilian referee stabs player

POLICE in northeastern Brazil are searching for a referee after a player was stabbed to death during an amateur soccer match in Barreira in Ceara state.

A spokesman for the Ceara military police said referee Francisco Chaves had killed 35-year-old Jose da Silva and injured his brother Francisco in a fight, after whistling for a foul against the visiting Boa-Fe (good faith) team from Redencao, and then fled the scene.

Major Marcos Paulo said Francisco da Silva kicked the referee after he blew up for the foul near the Boa-Fe penalty area, sparking the fight, and Jose da Silva went to his brothers aid only to be stabbed in the chest and killed.

“Because it was an amateur game, there was no policing so the referee fled after the crime,” Paulo said. “We’ve already made some searches and received information that he might hand himself in today but for now he’s a fugitive."

Keogh to join Cardiff City on season-long loan deal

REPUBLIC of Ireland forward Andy Keogh is set to join Cardiff City on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that a deal is imminent and paid tribute to the striker.

“It’s a racing certainty that Andy will be going to Cardiff. Andy has been fabulous here both for me and this football club. It’s a good move for him to go to Cardiff and good luck to him.

“He wants to play football and doesn’t want to be fourth in line here which I can fully understand.

“It was my decision to let him go but he goes with our best wishes and warmest regards.”

Keogh scored 23 times in his 129 appearances for the Midlands club and joins Craig Bellamy in a much-changed Cardiff City attack.

Keogh has been included in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Armenia and Andorra next month.