Sporting briefs

Romania: Romania will seek compensation after Argentina cancelled their August 10 friendly in the aftermath of coach Sergio Batista’s departure. Romanian authorities had planned months in advance to inaugurate a stylish 55,000-seat stadium, the National Arena, on this occasion. With some 38,000 tickets already sold, the federation must now find another opponent for the Romanian squad.

Taiwo: Taye Taiwo will be unavailable for Milan in the Italian Super Cup clash against Inter on August 6 because of suspension. The left-back only joined the Rossoneri from Marseille in the summer, but he has arrived with a one-match ban to serve from his time in French football.

Khumalo: Reading have signed defender Bongani Khumalo on a season-long loan from Tottenham. The 24-year-old has successfully passed a medical at the Madejski Stadium and will be added to a Royals squad which is aiming for promotion to the Barclays Premier League this season.

Dallas: Former referees chief Hugh Dallas’s action for unfair dismissal against the Scottish FA has been settled out of court. Dallas left the SFA after being implicated in a row over an offensive email about the Pope. He was planning to sue the organisation at an employment tribunal in Glasgow this week but officials have said both parties reached agreement after a con-ciliation process with employment relations company Acas.

Di Biagio: Former Inter and Roma midfielder Luigi Di Biagio is the new Italy U-20 coach. Di Biagio, who won 31 caps for his country, has been confirmed in the role by the Italian federation who also appointed former Milan winger Alberigo Evani as coach of the U-18 and U-19 sides.

Gabbidon: QPR have signed Wales defender Danny Gabbidon from West Ham on a free transfer. The 31-year-old centre-half has signed a one-year deal with the Premier League newcomers after his contract at Upton Park expired this summer. Gabbidon had been training with QPR already and played in three friendlies on the club’s recent tour of Cornwall before today joining Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer in signing for Neil Warnock’s side.

Europa League: Third qualifying round, 1st leg – Bnei Yehuda vs Helsingborg 1-0.