Soccer digest

Today's other stories in brief

Sno returns to the Netherlands

AJAX HAVE announced the signing of Celtic midfielder Evander Sno on a three-year contract. The 21-year-old returns to the Netherlands after two seasons at Parkhead, in which he was unable to establish himself as a first-team regular.

Sno - a product of the Ajax youth system - joined Celtic from Feyenoord in the summer of 2006.

Rangers yesterday completed the signing of Fulham and Northern Ireland midfielder Steven Davis on a four-year deal.

Scotland escape sanctions

SCOTLAND WILL not face any sanctions from Uefa after Northern Ireland's national anthem was booed and jeered by Scotland supporters before last night's goalless friendly at Hampden.

The home fans ignored earlier pleas from the Scottish Football Association to treat God Save the Queen with respect.

Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said that while the game was outside their jurisdiction, there was nothing in their rules which could be used to punish disrespect of that nature. "Friendly matches are in the domain of Fifa, it is not Uefa's responsibility," he said. "Unfortunately this is not a new thing but there are no sanctions we can impose."

After the game, attended by 7,000 Northern Ireland fans in a crowd of over 28,000, the SFA issued a statement claiming it was "disappointed" in the actions of a section of the Scotland support.

The statement read: "The SFA is obviously disappointed that a minority of of our fans chose not to respect the visitors' national anthem.

"The Tartan Army have a richly-deserved reputation as fantastic ambassadors for their country.

"We do not condone this kind of behaviour."

Hamburg accept City's bid for defender Kompany

HAMBURG HAVE accepted a bid from Manchester City for Belgium defender Vincent Kompany, according to the German club.

Details of the agreement regarding a possible move for the 22-year-old Belgium international were not disclosed in a statement posted on Hamburg's official website.

But Kompany's future at Hamburg has been called into question in recent days after he fell out with club bosses over his continued involvement for Belgium at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Hamburg had ordered Kompany to return from the Games in time for their first Bundesliga game of the season last Friday despite the Red Devils' run to the final four in Beijing.

His appearance in the season-opening fixture against Bayern Munich now appears set to be 39th and last for the club since joining from Anderlecht in 2006.

"We wish Vincent all the best for his future," said Hamburg's director of football Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

Benitez and Parry clear the air

LIVERPOOL MANAGER Rafael Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry have vowed to "move forward together" after holding clear the air talks at Anfield.

The working relationship between the two had come under pressure over Liverpool's activity in the transfer market - particularly over the Gareth Barry transfer saga. Benitez is thought to be frustrated over the club's inability to secure one of his main targets for the summer.

But with the talks being described as "positive", Parry and Benitez are continuing to work on strengthening the squad before the window closes at the end of the month. Liverpool are focusing their attentions on bringing in a left-sided midfielder with both Albert Riera and Stewart Downing having been linked with the club.

Spain's Under 19s won the Midlands tournament in style last night in Athlone, their 2-0 victory handing the Republic of Ireland their third defeat

Mario Gasper opened the scoring after 12 minutes from 25 yards out. The lead was extended three minutes after the break when a mix-up between substitute goalkeeper Ger Hanley and defender Callum Morris allowed Yago Falque to stroke the ball into the empty net from the edge of the box.

REP OF IRELAND: Thorp (Crystal Palace), Oyebanjo (Histon), Morris (Newcastle Utd), McArdle (Sunderland), O'Connor (Liverpool); Devitt (Hull), Clifford (Chelsea), Kelly (Norwich), Henderson (Arsenal), McCrory (Plymouth); Daly (Manchester City) Subs: Hanley (Salthill Devon) for Thorp (h/t), Gunning (Blackburn) for McCrory (65 mins), Madden (Bohemians) for O'Connor (74 mins), Collins (Trieste) for Daly (84 mins), McNamara (Drogheda Utd) for Devitt (91 mins).

SPAIN: Marina; Gaspar, Fernandez, Rochela, Rios; Lazaro, Ripolles, Lopez, Luque; Sanmartin, Falque. Subs: Morgado, Pulino, Saez, Martinez, Gonzalez, Romero, Enrich.

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).