Sporting Digest: Football

UEFA yesterday decided to set up a working party to study the plan for a league-based competition proposed by its president, Lennart Johansson. He wants to merge the European and Uefa Cups into a league with a bottom tier, divided regionally, leading to a finals stage involving the strongest teams. The working party is due to report back by the end of May.

MAURICE SETTERS has called Marc Kenny (Liverpool), Ken Gillard (Luton Town), Gerard Carr (Coventry) and Kenny O'Rourke (Cobh Ramblers) into the Republic of Ireland squad for the European Under-21 Championship match against Germany in Baumtal next Tuesday. They replace six players, including the Norwich City striker Lee Power and Tottenham's Andy Turner, who are wanted by their clubs.

TRANSFERS: Richard Dryden, defender, Notts County to Birmingham City ( pounds 165,000). Paul Holmes, defender, Birmingham to Everton ( pounds 100,000). Perry Digweed, goalkeeper, Brighton to Wimbledon (loan).

WEDNESDAY'S LATE RESULTS: International friendlies (Tunis): Tunisia 0 Switzerland 1 (Knup 87); (Riberao Preto): Brazil 2 (Swierozowski og 21, Muller 43) Poland 2 (Brzeczek 3, R Warzycha 68). Libertadores Cup Group Two (Oruro): San Jose (Bol) 1 Bolivar (Bol) 0; (Santiago): Universidad Catolica (Chile) 1 Cobreloa (Chile) 1 (1-0).