Fans told to mind their language Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth have threatened their supporters with lifetime bans if they abuse players or officials when the teams meet at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Some Tottenham fans taunted Sol Campbell, their former player, during Portsmouth’s 2-0 victory in September. Hampshire police are investigating 12 people arrested on suspicion of indecent or racial chanting. Since then, Harry Redknapp, the manager, and Jermain Defoe, the forward, have left Fratton Park for Tottenham.

Oxford deducted points Oxford United have been deducted five points and fined £500 for playing an ineligible player. A Football Conference disciplinary panel in Birmingham ruled that Eddie Hutchinson, the midfield player, had not been re-registered correctly to play for the Blue Square Premier club.

4 Times in as many seasons that Crawley Town have been docked points. Yesterday’s loss of four was for fielding an ineligible player

Dons savour happy ending Roberto Di Matteo will have been relieved after his ten-man Milton Keynes Dons team salvaged a point from a 1-1 draw at home to Colchester United last night. MK Dons were always in for a difficult time when Clive Platt, their former player, put Colchester ahead and their problems increased with the dismissal of Jason Puncheon, before Aaron Wilbraham headed the equaliser.

And finally . . . Atlético Madrid’s home match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday had to be stopped after fans threw snowballs at players. Bilbao won 3-2 after the restart.