FIFA have replaced the German referee heavily criticised after the

World Cup qualifier in Rotterdam between England and Holland for his

next game in the tournament.

''After analysing the performance of Karl-Josef Assenmacher. . .the

FIFA Referees Committee have decided to replace him for the game between

Belgium and the Czech and Slovakian republics on November 17,'' FIFA

said yesterday.

England manager Graham Taylor slammed Assenmacher for failing to send

off Dutch captain Ronald Koeman last Wednesday after the defender pulled

down David Platt when he was clear on the edge of the penalty area. A

few minutes later Koeman scored the opening goal and the Dutch won the

game 2-0, effectively depriving England of any chance of qualifying for

next year's finals.

* CELTIC defender Tom Boyd received a boost on the eve of the UEFA Cup

tie against Sporting Lisbon. The SFA have wiped out a recent booking

received by the full back.

Boyd was shown the yellow card by referee Hugh Dallas on the advice of

a linesman during the premier-division match against Hibs. But an SFA

official said yesterday it was a case of mistaken identity.

* THE sponsorship by Tennents of the only major indoor football

tournament in Scotland, the Sixes, has ended. The SFA and the brewers

have agreed to finish their contract after 10 years but the sponsors

will divert the money involved into promoting the Tennents Scottish Cup,

which is due to run for another four years.