Sport

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been charged by the Football Association in relation to a comment posted on social media.

"It is alleged that the comment was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brings the game into disrepute," said an FA said its official website.

Cole has until 6pm on Thursday, March 5 to respond to the charge.

The Scottish Football Association has fined Mike Ashley £7,500 after finding him in breach of its dual ownership rules.

A religious blogger called Adam Johnson has been mistaken for the Sunderland footballer who was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Sunderland winger Johnson was arrested on Monday and later bailed by police, but it was Christian writer, Johnson, who owns the @adamjohnson Twitter handle, who received much of the social media backlash.

• Sunderland footballer Johnson arrested by police

Louis van Gaal has backed Michael van Praag's bid to become FIFA president.

Van Gaal knows Van Praag as he worked under him at Ajax and with the Dutch national side.

Van Praag, the head of the Dutch Football Association, is one of three candidates vying to unseat current FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the others being Asian Football Confederation vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and former Portugal international Luis Figo.

And the Manchester United manager believes his 67-year-old compatriot is capable of heading world football's governing body, although he concedes it will be a tough job beating Blatter, who is determined to extend his 17-year reign.

• Van Gaal: Wait until next season to see best of Di Maria