Ben Foster Won't Face FA Charge Over Manchester United iPod Use

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster primed himself for yesterday's League Cup final penalty shoot-out by watching footage of Tottenham's penalty takers on an iPod.

One might think that such an act was a fairly harmless and innovative way of using technology to heighten performance. Former Premier League referee Graham Poll, though, today pointed out that such a use might contravene FIFA regulations.

Poll told The Daily Mail that the use of the iPod by United, "had the potential to exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to FIFA".

However, a Football Association spokesman has today confirmed that there is no case to answer for Foster, who was not watching footage of anything that had occurred during the match, and they will not be looking further into the matter.

"What happened was not against the rules so we will not be investigating the matter further," a statement read, according to news agency Reuters.

United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele had shown Foster footage of the last shoot-out Spurs had been involved in, against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup last year, and Foster felt it was of definite benefit when speaking post-match yesterday.

"Just before the shoot-out I was looking at an iPod with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele and it contained images of Tottenham's players taking penalties," he said.

"They told me for Jamie O'Hara I should stand up and be strong and he would probably go the way he did. I have done a lot of research before but this is an innovation we have brought in at the club."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com