Today’s football news in brief

Published on 07/07/2012 02:18

Hearts have announced that Suso Santana and Craig Beattie will definitely leave the club.

Beattie, who has been linked with newco Rangers should they start next season without a transfer embargo, joined Hearts in February and will be remembered for his exuberant celebrations after scoring an injury-time winner in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic.

Suso recovered from long-term injury problems to help Hearts win the trophy and played in the final.

St Johnstone head for Turkey in Euro qualifier

St Johnstone now know they will face Eskisehirspor in the second qualifying round for the Europa League.

The Turkish club’s entry was uncertain after an appeal by Besiktas to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being excluded from Uefa competitions on financial fair play grounds. CAS have confirmed the appeal had been dismissed. Saints will play the first leg at Eskisehirspor’s Ataturk Stadium on 19 July. The return leg is at McDiarmid Park a week later.

Fifa defend “illogical” international rankings

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has defended the rankings which have placed England fourth in the world and Brazil 11th.

Valcke said: “There are teams who are playing more friendly games than others and you can see a difference which is not very logical, but the ranking is still a good picture of the level of international football. Brazil are not playing official games, just friendly games as they are already qualified.”

Bilbao coach scuffles with building contractor

Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa scuffled with a building contractor after his company failed to finish remodelling work at the Spanish club’s facility in time for pre-season training, and the coach found it looking more like a construction site than a football field. After verbally abusing and physically ejecting him, Bielsa said the club’s outdated facilities are a problem as “you can’t have a squad worth€300 million [$370 million] and not proper playing fields.”

Gyan swaps Wearside for United Arab Emirates

Asamoah Gyan’s flirtation with English football has ended with a permanent move from Sunderland to the United Arab Emirates.

A Sunderland statement said: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that Ghana international Asamoah Gyan has joined United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain on a permanent deal.

“The striker initially joined the recently-crowned Etisalat Pro-League champions on loan in September 2011 but will now remain in the Gulf state after the clubs agreed undisclosed terms.”