SOCCER SHORTS

More soccer news in brief.

Brown decides to stay with United

WES BROWN has ended his contract wrangle with Manchester United. The defender had threatened to sever his ties after months of haggling over a new deal.

Alex Ferguson criticised Brown's agent, Paul Martin, for his role but the impasse was broken this week with a compromise four-year agreement which will extend Brown's stay at his home-town club beyond his 32nd birthday.

Ferguson will announce the news this afternoon, with Brown agreeing a weekly salary believed to be just under €63,000, a handsome rise on his previous €39,000 a week.

Meanwhile, Gerard Pique is giving strong consideration to returning to his native Spain. The 21-year-old has started the past two games in the centre of United's defence because of Nemanja Vidic's knee injury but will step down if the Serb is fit for tomorrow's trip to Blackburn and has described himself as "disappointed" at his inability to cement his place in the team.

Old Firm duo punished for scuffle

THE SCOTTISH FA have handed one-match bans to Celtic's Gary Caldwell and Rangers' David Weir following their part in the melee at the end of Wednesday night's fiery Old Firm derby.

Defenders Caldwell and Weir squared up to each other on the pitch after the final whistle at Celtic Park, and the Scotland team-mates will now miss crucial games for their respective clubs.

Caldwell will be absent for Celtic's Premier League game against Aberdeen on Saturday, and Weir must sit out Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone.

SFA disciplinary chief Drew Herbertson said: "It is the case that David Weir and Gary Caldwell are to be reported for violent conduct which means both will be suspended for the next match."

Uefa tell referees to take firm stance at Euro 2008 

REFEREES AT Euro 2008 will come down hard on players who use excessive force or show dissent if they follow instructions they were given yesterday.

The 12 referees who will officiate at the June tournament in Austria and Switzerland were handed a six-point list of instructions at the end of a four-day workshop at their Euro 2008 base near Zurich.

The instructions, compiled by Uefa, order referees to "act firmly (red card) against challenges involving excessive force . . . including the illegal use of arms and elbows."

Uefa said that players would also be expected to respect officials' decisions. "Referees can accept a spontaneous expression of frustration from players," the instructions state, "but will firmly sanction players who show dissent to the referees by word or action."

The referees have also been instructed to control holding or pushing in the penalty area prior to corners and free-kicks and to punish "simulation intended to deceive the referee" with yellow cards.

As is already the case in the Champions League, Uefa's disciplinary body will be able to use video evidence to punish players who fool the referee by diving or pretending to have been fouled.

Referees were also told to deal firmly with mass confrontations with the instructions stating that "any players involved . . . have to realise that the main protester(s), including any who run over to join in, will get a yellow card."

Fifa going ahead with player quota

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter aims to bypass the European Union and Uefa next month over plans to curb foreign players at clubs, Fifa officials said yesterday.

Uefa has so far dismissed Blatter's proposal to restrict teams to five foreign nationals on the pitch on the grounds that it conflicts with EU laws on the free movement of workers, potentially leading to widespread legal actions.

Despite Uefa's stance and EU opposition, the world game's top official will seek a "gentleman's agreement" on the matter among the national associations at Fifa's annual congress in Sydney next month the officials said.

Uefa favours reaching a deal with the EU's executive Commission on its home-grown player rule which sets a quota of locally trained players at clubs. Fifa feels that does not go far enough and allows exploitation of young players.

Keane hails Keegan effect

ROY KEANE will take his Sunderland side to Newcastle on Sunday for a derby clash which puts him into competition with Kevin Keegan for the first time, yet the Corkman is delighted to see the former England manager back in the game.

Keane said: "I was delighted to see him come back in, absolutely delighted.

"What shouldn't be underestimated, and I am not being disrespectful, is Kevin's enthusiasm."

Bruce hoping to keep star men

• WIGAN MANAGER Steve Bruce has warned Alex Ferguson he has no intention of selling two of his top stars - but appreciates the lure of Manchester United is irresistible.

Winger Antonio Valencia (22) and midfielder Wilson Palacios (23) have been linked with a summer move to Old Trafford.

"They're obviously two of the last players I would want to sell," said Bruce. "Ideally, we can't afford to let those kind of players go.

"But come on, we have to be sensible about this. If Man United come knocking at the door, how the hell can you refuse them?"

• ATLETICO Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has told Chelsea and Real Madrid to forget about signing 19-year-old Sergio Aguero.

• ARSENAL could be set to steal Palermo's Brazilian striker Amauri (27) from under the noses of Juventus, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

• RELEGATED Derby County have signed Australian international midfielder Ruben Zadkovich (21) from Sydney FC.