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A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Celtic apologise for anti-poppy sign

CELTIC have apologised for an anti-poppy banner that was displayed during the 9-0 victory over Aberdeen at Celtic Park on Saturday. Fans among a section of supporters called The Green Brigade, unfurled a banner during half-time which read:

“Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops.”

Celtic responded to the controversy by issuing a statement on the club’s website which said: “The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park.

“We are currently investigating the matter and, clearly, we apologise for any offence caused.”

Some fans of the club, which has a strong Irish Catholic heritage, refuse to support the Poppy Appeal because of the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, while the Green Brigade are known for demonstrating support for Irish republicanism at games.

Pulis would like to see poor referees relegated

STOKE manager Tony Pulis has advocated the introduction of a relegation system for referees in an effort to stop poor decisions.

Pulis was angry Stoke were denied a penalty on Saturday when Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole appeared to handle Kenwyne Jones’ header on the goal-line.

And he told BBC Radio 5 live: “Every club should have one vote (annually) and mark referees after every game. Then they have a chance of being relegated to the Championship. It would be a great system.”

Pulis said that after the game at the Stadium of Light, which Stoke lost 2-0, his players were despondent after they felt they were on the wrong end of another example of bad refereeing.

Pulis would also like to see the top-performing Championship officials promoted.

“If the top three (referees) in the Championship got the opportunity to work at the top level, I think it would certainly clear a few referees minds.”

Van der Vaart player of the month

TOTTENHAMS Rafael van der Vaart has been named as Premier League player of the month for October, with Evertons David Moyes taking the manager of the month award. Van der Vaart, a deadline-day signing from Real Madrid, scored three goals during the month as well as laying on another for Roman Pavlyuchenko against Fulham.

Everton took 10 points from their four league games this month to earn Moyes his award, beating Birmingham, Liverpool and Stoke and drawing with Spurs.

FORMER Dutch international Edgar Davids has left Crystal Palace by mutual consent after less than three months with the club. The 37-year-old signed for Palace on a pay-as-you-play deal in August but had been limited to just seven appearances before leaving the club on Monday. Davids revealed on his official website: “I have decided that my journey as a player at Crystal Palace has come to an end. I want to thank all the people who supported me and gave me one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

Healy left out of Northern squad

RECORD scorer David Healy has been omitted from the Northern Ireland squad to face Morocco in a friendly at Windsor Park on November 17th.

Healy (30) marked his debut for Doncaster on Saturday by scoring in the victory against Millwall following his arrival on a one-month loan deal from Sunderland.

However, Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has chosen to leave out a striker with 35 goals in 84 games to his credit, although none in the last two years.

NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD (v Morocco, Windsor Park, November 17th): Taylor (Birmingham), Tuffey (Inverness), Blayney (Linfield); J Evans (Manchester United), Craigan (Motherwell), McCartney (Sunderland), McAuley (Ipswich), Hughes (Fulham), Baird (Fulham); McCann (Peterborough), Brunt (West Brom), Gorman (Wolves), C Evans (Manchester United), Davis (Rangers), McGinn (Celtic), Clingan (Coventry), McCourt (Celtic); Feeney (Oldham), Lafferty (Rangers), Patterson (Plymouth).

Fifa give €70,000 to Togo goalkeeper

TOGO goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale will receive a donation of €70,000 from Fifa after being seriously injured during an armed attack on his teams bus before the start of the African Nations Cup in January.

Fifa said in a statement on its website (www.fifa.com) yesterday that president Sepp Blatter had told Obilale in September that a payment of €18,000 would be made from the governing body’s humanitarian fund but it had now decided to raise that sum.

The 25-year-old keeper, formerly with French side Pontivy, needed surgery for gunshot wounds to his back and abdomen following the attack in the Angolan province of Cabinda which killed two members of Togos soccer delegation and the bus driver.

Obilale is still continuing his rehabilitation, Fifa said.

Huddlestone escapes ban

TOTTENHAM midfielder Tom Huddlestone has escaped disciplinary action for his apparent stamp on Bolton’s Johan Elmander after coming on as a substitute during Spurs’ 4-2 Premier League defeat by Bolton on Saturday.

An FA spokesman confirmed, however, that Huddlestone (23) will not be charged.

The decision has been taken because referee Chris Hoy has confirmed to the FA that match officials did see the incident.

Ronaldo accepts libel damages

REAL Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages yesterday over a claim he put his injured ankle at risk by “living it up” in a Hollywood nightclub.

The player was not at London’s High Court for the settlement of his action against Telegraph Media Group Ltd over a July 2008 story “Ronaldo back in the limelight”.

His solicitor Allan Dunlavy told Mrs Justice Sharp it caused embarrassment, offence and distress to the player who, as a professional, was concerned both as to his own reputation and how it might be perceived by his then club, Manchester United, manager Alex Ferguson and the fans.

Dunlavy said the newspaper now accepted the allegations were untrue, apologised, and had agreed to pay Ronaldo substantial damages and his legal costs in full.

The agreed statement settling the case was read out on the day a five-day trial of the action was due to start, with Ronaldo scheduled to give evidence yesterday.