Football: Round-Up

Pele, now Brazil's minister for sport, has dismissed 12 ministry officials because of suspicion of corruption.

Andy Cole, Manchester United's pounds 7m striker, made an impressive return to action playing the whole 90 minutes for the reserves and scoring the opening goal in a 2-2 draw against Derby last night.

Hibernian last night signed the Aberdeen midfielder Brian Grant for pounds 70,000.

Birmingham have signed Birkir Kristinsson, the 32-year-old Icelandic international goalkeeper, on loan from the Norwegian side SK Brann as cover for Ian Bennett as the regular deputy, Steve Sutton, is expected to be out for a month after breaking a finger in training.

Football Monthly, Britain's oldest football magazine, is in danger of going out of business. The magazine, founded over 40 years ago, has three weeks left to find a buyer or go out of existence.

West Bromwich will be showing live their FA Cup third-round tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 4 January, courtesy of a giant video screen to be used at The Hawthorns.

TRANSFERS: Paul Roberts Arbroath to Forfar; Sieb Dykstra Queen's Park Rangers to Dundee Utd; Gary Matthews Clydebank to Stranraer; James Hamilton Dundee to Hearts; Colin Sutherland Clydebank to Scarborough; Ian MacFarlane Dumbarton to Clydebank; Derek Barnes Clydebank to Dumbarton; Martin Scott East Stirling to Cowdenbeath.