Today's other soccer stories in brief

Rooney's antics to go unpunished

THE ENGLISH FA will take no action against Wayne Rooney for his badge-kissing antics at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Alex Ferguson admitted he substituted Rooney for his own good at the weekend after the striker became increasingly frustrated during Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Everton.

Rooney was booked for a foul on Mikel Arteta and, with tempers fraying, Ferguson hauled the England striker off. He responded by kissing his badge, a move that clearly could be regarded as inflammatory at his former club.

The FA have, however, confirmed no investigation will take place.

Low standing firm on Ballack talks

GERMANY COACH Joachim Löw has reiterated his desire to speak to Chelsea's Michael Ballack, but insists he will not be flying to London to meet him.

Löw summoned the Germany captain for a one-to-one talk after being criticised by the Chelsea midfielder in a newspaper interview last week.

Ballack's club blocked him from flying to Germany as a precautionary measure after the former Bayern Munich man underwent foot surgery recently, but Löw feels it was the player's duty and not that of his club to rule out a meeting.

"I told him quite clearly that I would have expected him to tell me that personally," Löw said yesterday.

Instead, he learned Ballack would not be coming to see him when a fax arrived at the German FA headquarters last Friday.

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had earlier invited Löw to London to speak with his player, but the manager would not consider that.

"I would never have flown to London," he added. "That has always been my stance from the beginning and I am sticking by it." Low will now wait for Ballack to be given the all-clear to fly to Germany before holding the relevant talks.

Ferguson primed for comeback

BARRY FERGUSON is on course to make his long-awaited first-team return against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

The Ibrox skipper is on the comeback trail after undergoing ankle surgery in the summer and enjoyed his first taste of competitive action in five months in a reserve match last week.

Tomorrow's Co-operative Insurance Cup tie against Hamilton has come too soon but the 30-year-old will turn out for the second string tomorrow and, all being well, finally make his comeback at Ibrox at the weekend.

"He is in our group tomorrow night but he won't play," said manager Walter Smith.

West Ham accept Cole's red card

WEST HAM have confirmed they will not be appealing against the red card shown to Carlton Cole in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.

Cole (24) was sent off by referee Phil Dowd for an injury-time foul on Arsenal midfielder Alexander Song.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola said he did not feel the challenge was worthy of a red card - but the club have decided not to pursue the matter any further.

Cole will be suspended for tomorrow night's fixture at Manchester United plus the games against Middlesbrough and Everton.