Alan Shearer may face disciplinary action from the Football Association for apparently kicking Neil Lennon in the face during Newcastle's match at Leicester on Wednesday night. Any ban imposed would not, however, come into effect until after the FA Cup final.
The England striker and captain defended himself yesterday. "I have seen television pictures and I am amazed how bad it looks," he said. "I was brought down by Lennon near the touchline and we fell clumsily. As I tried to get up I had to tug my left foot free and the momentum of doing this looked on television like a kick.
"If I did catch him I certainly didn't mean to. I would never deliberately hurt a fellow professional."
The incident, however, has further tarnished the England captain's image and the Tottenham coach Christian Gross did him no favours yesterday when he alleged that the striker broke the Spurs defender Ramon Vega's nose with his elbow two minutes into Newcastle's match at White Hart Lane last Saturday.
"I cannot say if it was deliberate but it was a heavy challenge," he said. "Shearer is a very physical player and a very clever player. He uses his body well."
Many believe that Shearer should have been sent off at Filbert Street. A red card, with its automatic ban, would have ruled him out of the Wembley final but the referee, Martin Bodenham, did not speak to Shearer even though a linesman was only yards away when the striker and Lennon tangled.
The FA is waiting for Bodenham's match report and if, after consulting video evidence, they deem Shearer guilty they may have to act against the England captain only weeks before the start of the World Cup finals.
Newcastle's manager Kenny Dalglish yesterday de scribed Shearer as "easy prey" and even Lennon does not want to see him punished. Nursing a cut and bruised face, the combative, redhaired midfielder said: "Alan is under severe pressure and it's bound to get to him sometimes. I've seen the replay and it looked a bit naughty but I don't think there would have been such a fuss if somebody else had been involved."
Lennon upset Newcastle fans last October by gesturing towards them during Leicester's game at St James's Park.
Chelsea's Italian striker Gianfranco Zola is almost certain to miss the rest of the season - including the European Cup Winners' Cup final against Stuttgart in Stockholm on May 13th.
Zola, who damaged a groin muscle in last Saturday's 4-1 win over Liverpool, is in Italy consulting a trusted specialist. But the Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli admitted yesterday: "It is going to be very difficult for him. Franco has never had an injury quite like this and although he is hoping it will clear up in maybe two weeks, nothing more has been established."
Frank Sinclair, who injured his groin in Chelsea's Coca-Cola Cup final win over Middlesbrough a month ago, is also in doubt for Stuttgart after his recovery was stalled by a calf muscle strain.
Dennis Wise, the captain, is still hampered by a toe injury that may require surgery at the end of the season and has been ruled out of tomorrow's trip to Newcastle.
Shane Nicholson is to appeal to the Football League after being sacked by West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday following his admission that he had been a long-term user of amphetamines.
