Sporting Digest: Football

BIRMINGHAM CITY announced yesterday that they have abandoned plans for a new stadium and will begin work on turning St Andrews into a 25,250 all-seater stadium this time next year. City have withdrawn their pounds 2m offer for Diego Maradona, who has returned to Argentina saying he wants 'nothing more to do with football'.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION have signed the Huddersfield Town midfielder, Kieran O'Regan, for a fee to be decided by a transfer tribunal. The former Republic of Ireland international is the first signing by Albion's new manager Keith Burkinshaw, Ossie Ardiles' successor.

MIDDLESBROUGH have accepted a pounds 250,000 offer by Bolton Wanderers for their full-back Jimmy Phillips.

NOTTS COUNTY yesterday signed the Rangers striker, Gary McSwegan, for pounds 400,000.

HALF of the East European republics who joined the European Football Union last week have been barred from next season's Uefa Cup. Of the nine newcomers Russia, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Ukraine and Slovenia will take part but Croatia, Georgia, Belarus and Armenia are out. Uefa made it clear that only countries represented last season will go into the 1993-94 draw in Geneva on 14 July.

BENFICA, the Portuguese side, face a crisis after three of their players rescinded their contracts, citing unpaid salaries. The Sports newspaper, Record, claimed that Benfica's multi-million dollar striker, Paulo Futre, could be next, after receiving only two weeks' pay in the six months since he was transfered from Atletico Madrid.

COPA AMERICA Group B (Cuenca, Ec): Peru 1 (del Solar pen 14) Chile 0; Brazil 3 Paraguay 0 (Palhinha 15, 71, Edmundo 61). Final standings: 1 Peru (P 3, Pts 4); 2 Brazil (3-3); 3 Paraguay (3-3); 4 Chile (3-2). Quarter-finals: Today: Ecuador v Paraguay (Quito); Colombia v Uruguay (Guayaquil). Tomorrow: Brazil v Argentina (Guayaquil); Peru v Mexico (Quito).

EUROPEAN UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIP Qualifying tournament: Belarus 7 Estonia 0 (at Forthbank stadium, Stirling).

WORLD CUP Asian zone first round Group B (Tehran): Oman 0 Syria 0; Iran 6 Taiwan 0.