Football: Millwall demand action on hooligans

REG BURR, the Millwall chairman, made a simple request yesterday of the hooligans who, by throwing coins at Arsenal players during Wednesday's Coca-Cola Cup tie at The Den, have put the First Division side at risk of further punishment from the Football Association.

'What I would really like is for people who want to come and throw coins to throw them in the Serpentine instead - and then jump in after them,' Burr said.

Nigel Winterburn, the Arsenal defender, was struck by a 50 pence piece thrown from the North Stand, which followed a similar incident at the Highbury game two weeks previously when Ian Wright was felled, although a coin was not found in that instance.

Burr is demanding the 'maximum punishment' for offenders and was disappointed to learn that two fans cautioned and ejected for racial abuse were not to be prosecuted by Lewisham Police. In a separate incident, however, a similar offender was arrested and charged. 'I don't care if it's 30 people making these monkey noises - we have to make an example of them,' he said.

It was the first time officers on duty at The Den had made arrests for racial abuse, which was outlawed under the 1991 Football Offences Act. 'There are difficulties because you can't go in and arrest everybody,' Superintendent David Checkley, who was in charge of match security, said. 'You try to pick out the ringleaders and hope the others take the hint.

'The level of abuse was worse than I have encountered before. It was distasteful and something I thought we had left behind in the 1960s and 70s.'

Burr confirmed that the two fans ejected will be banned for life from the ground. Another was arrested for coin-throwing. 'All this is quite appalling and threatens to undo all we have worked for.'

Gillingham, who have won only once in the Third Division this season, yesterday dismissed their manager, Damien Richardson, and his assistant, Ron Hillyard. Richardson had been in charge since May 1989. Paul Clark, the captain, will take charge for tomorrow's game at Doncaster.

Scotland have lost defenders Dave McPherson of Rangers and Hearts' captain Alan McLaren from their squad for next week's World Cup game with Portugal at Ibrox Park, while Paul McGrath has hamstring trouble and will miss the Republic of Ireland's tie in Denmark. Stephen Froggatt, McGrath's club-mate at Aston Villa, has also been withdrawn from the England Under-21 party for the Uefa Championship game with Norway at Peterborough.

Lee Sharpe, who won a senior England cap before injuries and illness interrupted his career, will play for Manchester United's A team against Bolton tomorrow in his comeback match after viral meningitis. Martin Keown, the England defender, completed 90 minutes for Everton reserves against Huddersfield last night - his first game of the season following a knee injury.