Vuvuzelas have been banned from all Uefa-sanctioned games such as Euro 2012 qualifiers and Champions League games.

The horns were popular at the World Cup in South Africa but critics say they drowned out fan singing and atmosphere.

The move was taken "for reasons related to Europe's football culture and tradition," said a Uefa statement.

"Uefa feels that instrument's use would not be appropriate in Europe where a continuous loud background noise would be emphasised."

European football's governing body said that "in the specific context of South Africa, the vuvuzela adds a touch of local flavour and folklore," but it then went on to make it clear they felt they were out of place at European games.

"The magic of football consists of the two-way exchange of emotions between the pitch and the stands, where the public can transmit a full range of feelings to the players.

"Uefa is of the view that the vuvuzelas would completely change the atmosphere, drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game."

Several football teams in England and also other sporting events and musical festivals had already banned the instruments, while some others left it up to fans to decide, but Uefa is the first major footballing body to impose a ban on its members.

Tottenham have secured the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart for £8m.

Spurs moved to sign the 27-year-old Netherlands international two hours before the transfer window closed at 1800 BST on Tuesday.

But the club's urgency to file the necessary paperwork before the deadline was hampered by a technical problem.

However, the Premier League sanctioned the signing after investigating Tottenham's claims on Wednesday.

Spurs faced an anxious wait as the Premier League assessed their claims with the 1700 BST cut-off point on Wednesday fast approaching for clubs to submit their 25-man senior squads for the first half of the season.

Van der Vaart becomes Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp's second deadline-day signing following the capture of Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on a season-long loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Real had disputed Redknapp's claims that Bayern Munich had earlier made an offer of more than double their bid for Van der Vaart.

Redknapp said on Tuesday: "It was a last-minute job. I think he was going to Bayern Munich on Monday for £18m and suddenly he became much cheaper.

"They let me know around 4pm (1600 BST) that he was available for £8m and, for that money, he is a top player who will definitely improve us. The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."

However, Real's statement said: "It is absolutely false that Real Madrid received a 21m euro (£18m) offer from Bayern Munich for Van der Vaart.

"In fact, the German team never showed an interest to sign the player, so the allegations made in England have greatly surprised us."

Van der Vaart helped his country reach the final of the 2010 World Cup and made his reputation as a playmaker at Ajax before switching to German side Hamburg.

Rio Ferdinand is ready to play for the Manchester United first team, according to reserves boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ferdinand has been sidelined since suffering a major knee ligament injury the day after the England World Cup squad arrived in South Africa in June.

The 31-year-old made his comeback by playing 45 minutes against Oldham's second string on Wednesday.

"Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. He is available for selection again," said Solskjaer.

In addition to missing out on the chance to captain his country at the 2010 World Cup, Ferdinand has been on the sidelines for United's opening three Premier League matches.

But Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have the centre-back at his disposal for the visit to Everton on 11 September which comes ahead of games against Rangers and Liverpool.

"Rio is always the same player," added Solskjaer. "It is a while since he has played but he was still calm.

"He has got through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him."

Ferdinand picked up the knee injury in a collision with Emile Heskey as England began training in South Africa and is eager to make up for lost time.

Solskjaer, who took Ferdinand off with the game scoreless, continued: "It was always planned that he would play 45 minutes. I am not sure he needs any more games. Rio is a naturally fit lad."

Italian striker Federico Macheda sealed a 2-1 win for United's reserves as Brazilian midfielder Anderson managed all 90 minutes as he returns from a cruciate ligament operation.

Ferdinand's comeback is too late for England's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria on Friday, 3 September and Switzerland on Tuesday, 7 September, but it will be a welcome bit of good news on the injury front for manager Fabio Capello.

Meanwhile, Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed the club have failed to reach their target of season ticket sales this summer.

In July, United were forced to take the unusual step of placing 4,000 Old Trafford season tickets on general sale, having only sold 50,000.

Gill said the number of season tickets sold was now 51,800 compared to the target of 54,000, and that executive seat sales were "on track".

The club sold 64,000 season tickets two years ago, of which 8,000 were all-important premium tickets, and only 500 fewer last season.

United's season-ticket sales have been conducted against a backdrop of a campaign by fans' group the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) urging a boycott in the hope of persuading the American owners, the Glazer family, to sell the club.

Jonathan Woodgate's future is further in doubt after Tottenham left the 30-year-old defender out of their 25-man Premier League squad because of injury.

But Manchester United have included injury-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves while striker Roque Santa Cruz makes Manchester City's roster.

Stoke have omitted forward Mamady Sidibe, who snapped an Achilles tendon.

Arsenal have not listed any Englishmen but Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are among the English under-21 contingent.

Michael Kightly has also been left out of Wolves' squad for the first half of the season because of knee problems.

The 24-year-old winger has not played since November 2009 and is likely to be sent out on loan once he is fully fit.

Hargreaves has made only a solitary substitute appearance in the last two years for Manchester United as he battles tendinitis.

Santa Cruz figures in City manager Roberto Mancini's 25-man Premier League squad, despite much speculation that the Paraguayan striker would not. <!-- S ILIN --> <!-- E ILIN -->

Santa Cruz joins up with Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo in a fearsome array of firepower which will be at Mancini's disposal.

The new Premier League rule required clubs to name a squad of 25 senior players by 1700 BST, 1 September, with only players under the age of 21 allowed to supplement that line-up until January.

The Premier League says the new rules are designed to increase the number of young "home-grown" players in the Premier League, with a long-term aim of giving more options to the England manager.

In August Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Woodgate might be forced to retire unless he underwent surgery on his injured groin.

"He's been all around the world, he's seen two specialists and he's going to get one more opinion," said Redknapp.

"No-one could have tried harder but he just can't find a cure for it. The operation seems a last chance."

Former England defender Woodgate made only three appearances last season and has not played since November 2009.

Also omitted from the Spurs squad submitted to the Premier League today was goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, with new loan signing Stipe Pletikosa now providing back-up to Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan.

The 29-year-old, who has made more than 250 appearances for Everton since joining in 2002, passed a medical and agreed personal terms on Wednesday.

Fenerbahce will have the option of signing the player on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.

Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are Everton's first choice centre-backs, while John Heitinga and Jack Rodwell are also able to play in that position.

Yobo, who captained Nigeria at the World Cup this summer, has not featured for the Toffees this season.

The 29-year-old played down reports that he was forced out of Goodison Park, saying that his desire for regular football was the reason for the move.

"I'm a fighter, I hate to sit on the bench and get paid," Yobo told BBC Sport.

"As a professional footballer I want to be on the pitch as long as I am fit to play.

"I spoke with the coach [David Moyes] and he understood my position.

"It was better for both parties that I seek first team football elsewhere."

Yobo also spoke highly of Moyes who signed him during his first full season in charge of the Toffees.

"I have never had any problems with the coach, he is great man and I am a professional footballer fired up by challenges," he said.

However, a reported bust-up with Moyes following his decision to travel for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in January saw him slip down the pecking order at the club.

Yobo's contract with Everton runs until 2014.

Britain's Andy Murray got his US Open campaign off to a seamless start with victory over Lukas Lacko in the first round at a sweltering Flushing Meadows.

In temperatures nudging 100 degrees in New York, Murray eased past the Slovakian world number 71, 6-3 6-2 6-2.

The British number one produced his full repertoire of shots as he wrapped things up in under two hours.

Murray, 23, will face Dustin Brown in round two after the Jamaican beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.

And he received a further boost with the news that seventh seed and potential quarter-final opponent Tomas Berdych had suffered a shock defeat by Michael Llodra.

<!-- S ILIN --> Berdych beat Murray convincingly in the fourth round of the French Open in May, and went on to reach his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. <!-- E ILIN -->

Murray, who reached the US Open final in 2008, never looked in danger of suffering a similar fate to the Czech as he comfortably saw off Slovakia's Lacko, who was making his tournament debut.

The Scot, seeded fourth, looked at ease in the Arthur Ashe Stadium despite the sizzling heat which had already seen women's 10th seed Victoria Azarenka collapse on court in her second-round match against Gisela Dulko.

"I managed to get through in straight sets so I'm pleased, but it was a lot tougher than the score suggests," said Murray.

"Everyone in my box always tells me it's a lot tougher watching in the heat than playing but I'm not so sure. They were brutal conditions."

Murray began with two aces and only had to wait until the fourth game to break, a lovely drop shot and a clinical lob proving enough as he consistently controlled the tempo of the contest.

Lacko's best chance seemed to be at the start of the second set when he produced an outrageous shot with his back to the net to help him break back at 1-1, but after that Murray once again took control and two more breaks enabled him to go two sets in front.

With his opponent tiring Murray took advantage to go through his full array of shots, with the drop-shot proving a particularly successful weapon against the 22-year-old.

Lacko double-faulted twice in the third game of the third set to once again hand Murray the initiative and after clinically breaking again in the seventh game, the Scot served out to love to secure a straight-sets win and get his championship bid off to a solid start.

"It wasn't necessarily the best tennis, but the conditions were tricky out there," he said.

"It was very windy on the court. It was a guy I've never played against on the tour. I haven't really seen much of him play, so it took a little time to get used to his game. But I did enough to win in straight sets, and that was the most important thing.

"You'd rather win as quickly as possible in any condition, whether it's cold or hot, in the Slams, but the only important thing is to win the match.

"If it's in five sets it's not ideal, but you just want to try to win."