'Poacher turned gamekeeper'

Cardiff owner defends hooligan bodyguard

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- Cardiff City owner Sam Hammam on Friday defended his choice of a convicted soccer hooligan as his private bodyguard.

Hammam, whose second division club ousted Premier League leader Leeds 2-1 in a fiery third round FA Cup tie on Sunday, said he would not sack 37-year-old Neil MacNamara.

Hammam was accompanied by MacNamara as he walked around the sidelines near the end of the tie at Ninian Park. Hammam's walk allegedly incited some of the fan violence at the end of the game.

MacNamara is reportedly known to the National Criminal Intelligence Service unit's hooligan division. But Hammam said MacNamara's past was a benefit rather than a hindrance.

"Mac is like a poacher turned gamekeeper," Hamman said. "He knows how to handle certain situations. He knows what is going on in a fan's mind. He knows how to handle it and how to keep them quite. Usually poachers can become the best gamekeepers. I have no worries about Mac."

Fan disorder at the FA Cup tie was being investigated by the English and Welsh Football Associations on Friday.

Missiles were thrown at players on the pitch, including referee Andy D'Urso, and a pitch invasion after the match saw Cardiff supporters taunt visiting Leeds fans.

South Wales police Friday arrested eight men over the violence after four were arrested on Sunday. Police said the arrests also related to the disorder at Cardiff's league match against Bristol City last month.

The disorder has prompted a change in time for Cardiff's next FA Cup tie against fellow division two club Tranmere on Jan. 27. The game, at Tranmere's Prenton Park, will kick off at 1:30 p.m. local time rather than 4 p.m. to avoid a repeat of crowd trouble.

The capacity of the 16,587-ground will also be reduced to provide improved segregation between rival supporters.

Millwall match marred by violence

LONDON (AP) -- Millwall vs. Birmingham was the day's only match in English soccer -- and predictably it was marred by crowd trouble.

In the latest of a recent spate of hooligan incidents in English soccer, fans at London club Millwall pelted a linesman with plastic bottles and a meat pie in Thursday night's division one game.

In addition, both managers -- Mark McGhee of Millwall and Steve Bruce of Birmingham -- were given red cards and banished from the bench.

Birmingham substitute midfielder Curtis Woodhouse was also sent off in the 1-1 draw at Millwall's The New Den stadium.

The missile-throwing incident occurred after just eight minutes when linesman Phil Barston called a play offside.

McGhee and Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis pledged to clamp down on the troublemakers and managed to identify one of them. Paphitis said he would be banned for life from Millwall matches.

"We don't care if it's a meat pie, it's not acceptable," Paphitis said. "The culprit has been apprehended already. He will be prosecuted and then he will be banned for life."

McGhee suggested the violence was a "copy cat version" of recent missile-throwing incidents in matches between Cardiff and Leeds and Tottenham and Chelsea.

"You wonder if they have been encouraged by the scenes at the weekend at Cardiff, and you wonder if they are here on a regular basis. We are totally committed to try and eradicate it," McGhee said.

Henry, Hayles, Fox charged

LONDON (AP) -- Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was charged with misconduct by the Football Association on Friday for confronting a referee at Highbury last month.

Henry had to be restrained by players and police as he tried to get at referee Graham Poll after Arsenal's 3-1 loss to Newcastle on Dec. 18.

The Frenchman was furious after Poll sent off Ray Parlour for two bookable offenses and awarded a controversial penalty for Sol Campbell's challenge on Laurent Robert.

Alan Shearer converted the penalty to give the Magpies the lead and Robert added another goal before the final whistle.

If Henry is found guilty by the FA, he will face a possible ban and fine.

Fulham striker Barry Hayles and West Ham's Australian defender Hayden Foxe were charged with misconduct for their clash during a Premier League game at Upton Park on Nov. 3.

If found guilty, the two players face a three-match ban and fine.

It was the second time in 24 hours that Hayles was charged by the Football Assocation.

Nearly all 22 players on the pitch were involved in the melee during the Dec. 8 game at Craven Cottage.

Fighting broke out after a late tackle by Fulham's Luis Boa Morte on Everton defender David Weir. Players from both teams joined in and both Boa Morte and Weir were sent off by Phil Dowd, who was in his first game as a Premier League referee.

The charges against Fulham and Everton could lead to a deduction of points although the teams are more likely to face hefty fines.

On Thursday, he was charged with violent behavior for an on-field brawl with Everton players in a Premier League game on Dec. 8. Both clubs were charged with failing to control their players.

Hayles would face a six-match ban if found guilty of both offenses.

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