Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in contact with Milton Keynes Dons over the England third-tier club’s vacant managerial role, the BBC reported yesterday. Gerrard, 36, announced earlier this week that he will leave the LA Galaxy in December after 18 months in Major League Soccer. MK Dons are currently 21st in League One and without a manager following the departure of Karl Robinson last month.
The BBC, which did not cite any sources, said it was unclear if Gerrard would be offered a player-manager role. Speaking on Tuesday, Gerrard said: “Although I’m going back to England to live, it’s certainly not the end of me in football terms. I’ve got a lot of things to consider over the coming weeks and months, and I’m sure I’ll be back involved in the game. I’ve got options on the pitch, off the pitch.”
Gerrard has also been linked with moves to Celtic and Newcastle United. He left Liverpool in 2015 after a glittering 17-year Anfield career in which he eight major trophies including the 2005 Champions League. He was also capped 114 times by England, making him his country’s 4th most-capped player.

FIFA open ‘disciplinary’ case against England for poppy tribute
FIFA said yesterday it has started “disciplinary proceedings” after England and Scotland wore poppies on an armband in tribute to their countries’ war dead in breach of a ban on political symbols.
“We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP when asked about action planned after the November 11 match at Wembley.

Barton slapped with
betting charge ban
Former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has received a one-match ban for violating betting rules while playing for the Glasgow giants, the Scottish Football Association announced yesterday.
Barton, 34, admitted breaching the SFA’s strict rules barring players betting on matches, even if they don’t involve their own club, in a bid to preserve sporting integrity. The once-capped England midfielder placed 44 bets on matches between July 1 and September 15 this year, having signed for Rangers in May following their return to the top flight.
The Scottish Premiership club terminated Barton’s contract last week though after a short-lived and troubled spell at Ibrox. His suspension will come into effect once he signs for a new club.

Ex-Romania defender
Prodan dies following heart attack
Former defender Daniel Prodan, who was a member of the Romania team that reached the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, has died aged 44 following a heart attack, the domestic football federation (FRF) said in a statement yesterday.
Prodan, capped 54 times by Romania between 1993 and 2001, won five consecutive league titles with Steaua Bucharest before moving to Atletico Madrid. Hard-man Prodan, who was also part of Romanian team at Euro 1996, joined Scottish club Rangers in 1998 but failed to play a single game due to a knee injury. He retired at the age of 31 and was appointed as the FRF’s sporting director.