Football briefs: Tyne-Wear rivals are charged by FA

The charges relate to an incident which followed Black Cats winger James McClean’s 19th-minute challenge on Magpies full-back Danny Simpson.

An FA statement said: “The charge is that the clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.”

Poland hero of ‘82 Smolarek dies at 54

Former Poland striker Wlodzimierz Smolarek, a key member of the team that finished third in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, has died at the age of 54 from unknown causes.

Smolarek was capped 60 times for Poland, and scored their first goal in the 1982 finals in a 5-1 win over Peru as they

began their passage to the last four. His son Ebi also became a Polish international.

Durie poised to be given East Fife job

Gordon Durie is almost certain to be appointed East Fife manager on a permanent basis after this weekend’s league match with Cowdenbeath. The former Rangers and Scotland striker has been acting as caretaker since John Robertson’s sacking last week.

East Fife chairman Sid Collumbine said: “It is more than likely we will offer him the job.”

Call for Blatter probe into re-election

Sepp Blatter’s unopposed re-election as FIFA president last year should be the subject of an internal investigation into whether he unfairly exploited his position, according to a Council of Europe assembly committee. A meeting of the culture, science, education and media committee in Paris yesterday on “Good governance and ethics in sport” passed a draft resolution calling on FIFA to launch an inquiry and to speed up their reforms.”

Dundee re-sign Fotheringham

DUNDEE have re-signed midfielder Mark Fotheringham until the end of the season.

The former Celtic man played for the Dark Blues between 2003-2005 before heading to Germany, Cyprus and then England.

He most recently turned out for Livingston in the First Division to maintain his match fitness and saw a move to Swindon Town collapse a fortnight ago.