Carlisle Coach Is Handed FA Fine

Carlisle United assistant manager Greg Abbott has been fined £250 and warned as to his future conduct by the Football Association. Abbott had admitted an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official at Carlisle's game at Northampton on 13 January. Cumbrians boss Neil McDonald criticised the officials, in particular referee Fred Graham, after the 3-2 defeat, claiming they were "all rubbish". McDonald felt two of Northampton's goals should have been disallowed.

United were furious that Mr Graham had allowed an apparent foul on Kevin Gall go unpunished in the build-up to Northampton's first goal, scored by Andy Kirk. Then both Mr Graham and his assistants failed to spot Cobblers' forward Scott McGleish seemingly punching the ball over the line for the hosts' second goal, with some of United's players also appealing for offside.