CESC FABREGAS insists the FA will have to ban eight Arsenal players if they punish him for celebrating the FA Cup win against Hull.
The Gunners skipper said: “Yes, I came on to the pitch after the game to celebrate but there were about eight other players who did that so maybe everyone should be suspended for that.”
The Spanish midfielder is also accused of spitting at Tigers No 2 Brian Horton.
Fab, who will be 22 next Monday, said: “As for the claims that I spat . . . my heart and my mind are totally relaxed on that matter because I have certainly not done anything wrong.”
Fabregas has until May 12 to respond to the charges, which will be heard by an independent commission.
But the case is unlikely to be dealt with before the end of the season and, with no video footage of the alleged spitting incident, Fabregas is almost certain to be cleared of the more serious charge.
Hull boss Phil Brown has also been charged with bringing the game into disrepute over his post-match comments about referee Mike Riley.
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NICOLAS ANELKA would be happy to see Carlo Ancelotti become Chelsea boss in the summer.
The AC Milan coach could take over from Guus Hiddink, who insists he will quit Stamford Bridge in June to resume his full-time role with Russia.
Hiddink has transformed Chelsea's season since replacing Phil Scolari in February.
He could leave west London having helped the team win the FA Cup and Champions League at the end of this campaign.
Yet despite the Dutchman's impact, Anelka claims winning silverware will not see him extend his stay with the Blues.
The French ace has revealed Ancelotti, who is one of the favourites take the helm, would be a good replacement.
Anelka said: "I don't know him but I think he's a very good manager so, yeah, of course.
"Hiddink did great. He changed something, not significantly, but he's why we are here today.
"I think he will leave because this is what he said already. It's too late.
"When he signed, he knew he wanted to stay four months and wanted to leave to stay with the national team.
"I think he wants to do a good job before he leaves and we have to respect that."
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FABIO CANNAVARO has rejected the chance to join Manchester City this summer.
The Real Madrid and Italy defender's contract is up at the end of the season.
He has decided to leave the Bernabeu after three years in Spain.
World Cup winner Cannavaro revealed he has offers from City and Bayern Munich but he wants to rejoin Juventus.
The 35-year-old said: "There will be the World Cup next year and I want to stay relaxed.
"Real Madrid told me I would have to wait until after the presidential election to find out about a new contract and advised me to look around.
"But I have asked my agent to see if he can find a solution.
"I didn't want to have to start from scratch with the World Cup around the corner and that's why I have turned down Manchester City and Bayern."
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MANCHESTER UNITED will bid £30million for Karim Benzema — to replace Carlos Tevez.
SunSport can reveal that boss Alex Ferguson sent his brother Martin to see striker Benzema play for Lyon last week.
Argentina ace Tevez is frustrated at a lack of action at United.
He said: “I see myself leaving United more than staying. I don’t see why I should lie.”
France ace Benzema is seen as the best striker outside of Europe’s major leagues and United will face strong competition for his signature from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea.
Benzema, 21, will be sold if Lyon miss out on a Champions League berth — and that explains Martin Ferguson’s visit to France last week.
United want to be in pole position if the French club decide to offload their star striker.
Lyon are currently third — a point above Paris St Germain — and in serious danger of missing out on finishing second in Ligue 1 and a place in Europe’s elite competition.
Tevez’s two-year loan deal expires at the end of the season and United have to pay Kia Joorabchian — the man who owns the rights to the player — the best part of £32m to keep hold of him.
Fergie is reluctant to part with that sort of money because Tevez, 25, is not a prolific goalscorer.
But the Argentinian’s tremendous work ethic has seen him become a firm fans’ favourite at Old Trafford.
Tevez added: “I know the fans chant my name and sing the song about the boss signing me.
“They have always been very good to me. It’s emotional for me.
“It’s very difficult to say whether I will be here next year. I don’t know.”
Real Madrid and Barcelona are ready to pounce if Tevez leaves in the summer — and if they lose out on their own bids for Benzema.
The Frenchman is seen as a proven goalscorer who will provide Ferguson with extra firepower alongside Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benzema burst on to the international scene last year and banged in 24 goals in 41 games for Lyon.
He has followed that up this season with 19 goals in 39 games so far.
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MICHAEL ESSIEN has told Barcelona’s moaners that Chelsea will be just as tough in next week’s Champions League semi-final return.
Barca stars Xavi and Andres Iniesta complained of being kicked during Tuesday’s 0-0 Nou Camp draw.
But Blues midfielder Essien declared: “In modern football you need to be strong.
“That is the way we play. Any time we tackled them they seemed to fall over.”
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IT’S impossible to find an English football team that does not have a sizeable contingent of foreign players these days.
And they have helped make our Premier League the best and most entertaining in the world.
It is never going to change and that is not a bad thing. We have thrown open the doors to quality players from around the world.
Flags of all nations flutter from the stands of every club in the country.
But there is absolutely no way that should extend to the England team. An exclusion zone needs to be enforced around Wembley.
I am referring to the repeated calls for Arsenal’s Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia to be called up for England — simply because he has lived here for five years.
I don’t care. I could not disagree more. He is not English.
If it came to a choice between England winning the World Cup with a Spanish keeper or not winning it, I’d rather not win.
For a start, if we cannot produce our own footballers, our own generation of keepers to play for England, then we don’t deserve to win anything in the first place.
And secondly, I would not be interested in an England team that was full of non-English players.
You’re English if you were born here or your mum and dad were born here.
In that case, I don’t care if your family comes from India, Australia, Pakistan or Jamaica — you’re English in my mind.
But someone like Almunia, who comes here from Spain and spends a few years playing for Arsenal, does not suddenly become English.
I have nothing against Almunia. He is a good keeper and he had a good game for Arsenal on Wednesday night against Manchester United.
But he is no better, in fact I don’t think he is as good as, David James, the current England No 1.
David is English, Manuel isn’t.
Almunia should play for Spain, that is his country.
But he is not exactly knocking on their door, is he?
I would rather have James in goal for England than him. David is a better keeper.
Almunia has had a tough job filling the boots of Jens Lehmann at Arsenal. Maybe if Lehmann had stayed another year he could play for England as well!
I just wouldn’t be interested in a World Cup in which England had a Spanish goalkeeper.
This is just my personal opinion.
Our energy should not be spent trying to process a passport of convenience for Manuel Almunia to play for England.
We should be devoting our time and investment into finding and developing the future generation of England goalkeepers.
I hear that Norwich City have a couple of good young kids we can bring through.
Yes, the Three Lions coach Fabio Capello is Italian. That is different.
Playing in the England team is completely different.
What can I say Manuel? ‘Lo Siento’ — sorry old chum.
HARRY REDKNAPP is an ambassador of E.ON’s Family Football campaign. E.ON is encouraging families to watch The FA Cup Final together by offering a range of benefits via www.familyfootball.co.uk
Log on to get your hands on a virtual FA Cup and to download an interactive version of The FA Cup Final match day programme.
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IT was the moment that has probably made up Carlos Tevez’s mind and spelt the end of his time at Manchester United.
The Argentine’s electric Champions League performance against Arsenal had the Old Trafford crowd in raptures for 66 minutes — then he looked up and saw his number held up on the touchline.
As he walked off to be replaced by Dimitar Berbatov, Tevez shook his head in disbelief with little regard to the fact that countless millions were watching on TV.
Actually, that was probably what Tevez wanted. To show the world how unhappy he is at the treatment he has been getting at the club.
And soon after United’s 1-0 win in the first leg of their semi-final, the striker dropped a bombshell by claiming he is set to quit at the end of the season — and would love a switch to Spain.
It is no coincidence he chose Madrid’s leading radio station Cadena COPE to say he would like a move to La Liga.
SunSport revealed back on October 17 that Real Madrid had begun trying to unsettle Tevez, whose complicated contractual arrangement at United has yet to be resolved.
And as he aired his frustration, Tevez was sending a clear ‘come and get me’ message to the Spanish giants.
Tevez said: “It’s true I’ve spent a lot of time on the bench and I’d like to play more. But every time I’m given a chance I do all I can to do well and take full advantage.
“Yes, it’s like that, it’s true I see myself more leaving United than staying here.
“I don’t see why I should lie to people or anything because the fans support me a lot as you can see. So I don’t have any reason to lie to them.”
Tevez walked off to a huge ovation on Wednesday, underlining his popularity with the fans despite a lack of goals.
But for the striker it was the culmination of a nightmare season in which he has had to spend long spells on the bench.
The United hitman has scored three goals in 16 Premier League starts this season and blames the lack of continuity in the first team for his poor return.
It is a huge question whether Tevez’s lack of goals is down to Alex Ferguson’s team selection — or the other way around.
One thing is certain, Tevez will keep running himself into the ground for boss Fergie even though he is set to quit Manchester come the summer.
He added: “While I wear the United shirt I will leave my life on the pitch. You can see that in every game I play. I respect people a lot and I’m grateful to them.
“My future? I don’t know what will happen for my future. I would like to go to Spain, yes, but I don’t know yet.
“I have no preference for a team . . . we’ll see.”
Tevez insisted United’s 1-0 first-leg win over arch-rivals Arsenal gives the Red Devils a huge advantage in their quest to reach the final in Rome.
Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia pulled off a string of blinding saves — including one from Tevez — to keep the visitors’ European hopes alive.
But Tevez believes United’s own clean sheet will prove crucial, although he warned his team-mates against any complacency ahead of next Tuesday’s return at The Emirates.
Tevez added: “It’s true if it wasn’t for Almunia, who had a very good game, we could have had a much bigger advantage.
“But we finished the game with a good feeling because we played very well in every way and we beat Arsenal.
“We have to respect Arsenal and there are still 90 minutes to play. We won by the narrowest margin. It’s important they didn’t score a goal but nothing has been decided yet.”
Tevez’s outburst on Cadena COPE on Wednesday night came just days after he had also revealed he was fed up with life in Manchester and wants to be somewhere where his beloved daughter Florencia is happy.
Tevez, 25, said: “I want a country perfect for my family. I especially want my daughter to be comfortable.
“With respect to the fans and the history of Manchester United, I don’t want to leave the club. But from a personal aspect, my exit will be the best solution.
“I need continuity in the team to offer my best. If this doesn’t happen I believe this will be my last year.”
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BAYERN MUNICH want Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink to be their next boss.
The German giants sacked Jurgen Klinsmann yesterday after a torrid season.
And Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer says he wants an experienced manager to take over at the club.
Beckenbauer admits it would be very difficult to convince Hiddink, who will leave the Blues at the end of the season, to join them.
But he said: "I hope we can get a coach who is somewhere in the class of Guus Hiddink."
Ex-Blues boss Phil Scolari, Frank Rijkaard, Roberto Mancini and Bernd Schuster are also in the frame.
Beckenbauer claims fan power forced ex-Germany coach Klinsmann out.
He said: "We thought Klinsmann would have a bonus thanks to what he did at the World Cup.
"But there were many fans who were against him from the very first day.
"We under-estimated the effect of this atmosphere against him."
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ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO will return to Chelsea this summer after his nightmare loan spell at AC Milan.
The Ukrainian returned to Milan from the Blues last summer but he has failed to start a match for the Italian giants this season.
Shevchenko's agent Fabio Parisi admits he will be back at Stamford Bridge, where he still has a year to run on his contract.
Parisi said: “Shevchenko is a player on loan at Milan from Chelsea and I think he will return to London.
“Frankly, I don’t think it’s possible that the Rossoneri decide to keep him.
“I don’t know what kind of rapport he has found with Carlo Ancelotti and his team-mates, the only problem is that he is a player on loan and, given how the season has gone, I think Andriy will return to Chelsea.
“If that’s to stay there or not is to be seen, it depends on who will be the coach and what he wants to do.
“But I don’t think the doors of Italy will re-open for him next season.
“Anyway, Sheva will decide on his own, he’s quite calm, he doesn’t need anyone’s help. However, another country seems to me the more likely option.”
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AC MILAN are confident of signing David Beckham permanently this winter.
England star Beckham was expected to return to LA Galaxy last month but Milan extended his loan deal until the end of the season.
The agreement sees Beckham return to America for the rest of the MLS campaign.
Beckham's Galaxy deal ends in November and Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti wants him on a permanent contract.
Tottenham are also interested in the midfielder.
But Ancelotti said: "Beckham will return to the United States and will stay there until the end of his contract, which expires in November.
"Then Milan will buy him in the winter transfer market.
"David has proved himself to be an exemplary professional and I honestly didn't expect him to play at such a high level."
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JUVENTUS are ready to test Rafa Benitez’ resolve with a renewed bid to sign Xabi Alonso.
The Italian giants were close to landing him last summer, before eventually opting for Danish international Christian Poulsen from Seville instead.
But Benitez’ admission that he will have to offload some of his Liverpool stars to bring in his big names targets has alerted them once again.
And Italian super-agent Ernesto Bronzetti, who advises on all of Milan and Juve’s transfers, last night confirmed that Alonso is back on the hit list.
Bronzetti revealed: “I will try and bring in Alonso for the Juventus central midfield. There was a long chase last summer for his signature, of course, so it is a road we know. ”Pairing him with Momo Sissoko would be a title-winning midfield. The problem is that it would be very hard and expensive to take such an important player away from Liverpool.”
A year ago Benitez was ready to use Alonso’s sale to help fund his bid for Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, before that move was eventually blocked.
He retains a strong interest in the Villa skipper, but with Valencia duo David Silva and Raul Albiol also on his wish list, there will be some high profile departures from Anfield.
Ironically Alonso has been one of the Reds’ best performers this season, and Benitez is unwilling to let him go.
Yet the Kop boss has admitted: “Clearly he’s a good player, if he wasn’t we wouldn’t have signed him. But if they were asking for him at the right price - in football everybody has a price.”
A source close to Alonso said: “He’s happy in Liverpool, at the moment, but you never know what will happen in football.”
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HARRY REDKNAPP admits he was wrong to embarrass Darren Bent earlier this season.
The Tottenham boss has changed the club’s fortunes since arriving at White Hart Lane.
But he blew his top when Bent headed a sitter wide against Portsmouth in January, despite having an open goal to aim for.
At the time, Redknapp said: “My missus could have scored it.”
But he concedes his comments were harsh and has now offered an apology to England hitman Bent.
Redknapp said: “I must admit myself I think I made a mistake after one game, I did cane them a bit.
“I didn’t get a response from that and someone I respect told me that wasn’t my style.
“I criticised a few of the players and it really doesn’t work for me, it’s not really the way I manage.
“I get more out of the players by telling them what they can do rather than what they can’t do. That has always been my way.
"They responded but I felt that was a mistake on my part. I felt I rectified that and lifted them and we’ve gone on from there.”
Bent, 25, has scored 17 goals this season but he has still been linked with a summer move away from Spurs.
The ex-Charlton striker is not automatically guaranteed a starting place at White Hart Lane.
But Redknapp added: “I think this is the club to play at, there are only the top four, other than that they couldn’t do any better than Tottenham.
“I’d stay, I’d stay and fight for my place. It’s a club going places and we could have a great season next year.
"It’s a squad capable of pushing the top four.
“We need a few new additions in a couple of areas. They are the areas I want to improve.”
Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Julian de Guzman claims Spurs are monitoring him.
He said: “I know they have been watching me in games but I haven’t spoken with anyone."
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AC Milan