Football: Wright fined pounds 5,000 by FA for obscene gesture: Arsenal striker pays dearly for Cup final indiscretion while Barnet gain honour in defeat

IAN WRIGHT, the Arsenal striker, discovered again yesterday how expensive television appearances can be when he was fined pounds 5,000 for making an obscene gesture at a linesman during the FA Cup final replay, an incident caught by the cameras.

Last season, Match Of The Day showed the England international punching Tottenham Hotspur's David Howells, an indiscretion that prompted the Football Association to suspend Wright for three matches.

The ill discipline of Southampton and Wimbledon last term has brought them suspended fines of pounds 25,000 each. The Saints amassed 59 bookings (plus three dismissals) while Wimbledon managed 52 yellow cards and five reds. The FA also hit Sheffield United with a suspended pounds 20,000 fine.

Mark Stein, the Stoke City striker, is a target for Tottenham, who have offered about pounds 1m for the prolific 27-year-old. Last season Stein impressed against West Bromwich Albion, then managed by Ossie Ardiles, the man now in charge at Spurs.

Paul Gascoigne, a tight-lipped visitor to White Hart Lane last weekend, broke his vow of silence yesterday, but only to promote a new boot deal rumoured to be worth in excess of pounds 500,000 a year. Gascoigne, hitherto shod by Puma, has switched to the Italian manufacturers, Lotto. 'I'm hopeful they will help me score a few more goals than last season when I got only six,' the Lazio midfielder said.

Lazio yesterday signed Pierluigi Casiraghi, the 24-year-old Italian international striker, from Juventus for around pounds 3.2m. Lazio moved for Casiraghi after learning they will have to wait until next summer to sign Alen Boksic, the Marseille striker.

Plymouth Argyle have paid Derby County pounds 200,000 for their centre-half, Andy Comyn, as a replacement for Blackburn- bound Andy Morrison. Argyle received pounds 150,000 for Morrison, plus midfielder Wayne Burnett.

Dundee United have spent pounds 200,000 on Raith's leading striker, Craig Brewster, while St Johnstone have acquired Paul Ramsey, Cardiff's pounds 175,000-rated midfielder. Manchester United's Clayton Blackmore is interesting Aberdeen, although the Pittodrie manager, Willie Miller, said no deal was imminent.

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