League confirms Baggies' victory

The Football League yesterday confirmed that West Bromwich Albion's 3-0 lead in the abandoned "Battle of Bramall Lane" will stand as the result.

Sheffield United had three men sent off in last Saturday's explosive First Division game, and when two more were injured the match was halted in the 82nd minute as the Blades had one less than the minimum permitted seven players on the pitch. The League's board of directors' unanimous decision to opt for the award of three points – rather than a replay – gives the Baggies 70 points, eight behind second-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A League spokesman, John Nagle, said: "The board were absolutely clear that any other decision would be grossly unfair and set a precedent that would not be in the best interests of the game." However, this is not the end of the matter for the Blades, as the Football Association is expected to reveal next week whether it will serve United with a charge of failing to control their players.

The FA is also probing an alleged incident in the tunnel after the abandonment of the game, and the League has pledged to fully support the governing body's investigation.

Wet Bromwich's attempt to sign the Everton winger David Ginola broke down yesterday when the Frenchman rejected a loan move to The Hawthorns until the end of the season.

Olivier Dacourt yesterday insisted he would not be leaving Leeds for Lazio after the Leeds chairman, Peter Ridsdale, admitted the club had received a verbal offer, believed to be in the region of £16m, for the French midfielder.

Leeds are expected to accept the offer today if it is submitted in writing, but Dacourt, who is thought to favour a summer move to Juventus, yesterday made it clear he has no intention of joining the Rome club.

The Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate will learn tomorrow, when the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Italy at Elland Road is announced, whether the Football Association has lifted his ban on playing for the national side.

Woodgate and his club-mate Lee Bowyer were both suspended from England international duty following their trial in relation to an assault on an Asian student.

The Republic of Ireland captain, Roy Keane, has pulled out of Wednesday's friendly international against Denmark in Dublin because of a hip injury.