Azam kick earns him a 12-week ban October 6, 2009 GLOUCESTER hooker Olivier Azam was last night handed a 12-week ban for kicking England captain Steve Borthwick in the eye. The Frenchman had only just returned from a nine-week eye-gouging ban when he clashed with Saracens star Borthwick in their Premiership clash on 27 September. Borthwick needed five stitches after being hurt in a ruck [...]
Massa prepares for F1 return October 6, 2009 RECOVERING Ferrari driver Felipe Massa could take the wheel of an F1 car next week for the first time since his life-threatening accident in July. The Italian team said a date would be allocated for a test session only once Massa had completed a second day on their driving simulator. A Ferrari spokesman said: “It [...]
Long schedule is taking its toll October 6, 2009 THIS is the week England players have been looking forward to all summer. Aside from an Ashes decider or a Champions Trophy semi-final, this, at last, is their reward for the longest summer of their careers – the week off. As the only cricket nation in the Northern Hemisphere, England are the only team who [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF October 6, 2009 Khan faces Salita in title defenceBOXING: Amir Khan will make the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Dmitriy Salita at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, on Saturday 5 December. Khan, who won the title after out-pointing Andreas Kotelnik in July, takes on the American, who has won 30 and drawn one of his [...]
DENG INSPIRES BULLS AT O2 October 6, 2009 LONDON-raised Luol Deng enjoyed the perfect homecoming last night as his Chicago Bulls edged out the Utah Jazz in a thrilling finale to their NBA pre-season game at the O2 Arena. Deng, the Team GB star, finished joint top scorer with 18 points and added five assists to help the Bulls to a 102-101 victory [...]
Loyal crowds galvanising top clubs against the recession October 6, 2009 TOP FLIGHT clubs have again demonstrated their ability to resist the effects of the downturn by posting strong attendance figures for the start of the season. Experts had expected clubs to feel the pinch more than ever in the current campaign, the first since Britain officially entered recession in January. But Premier League outfits have [...]
It’s Bellamy to the rescue as Dunne returns to haunt City October 5, 2009 ASTON VILLA (1) vs MANCHESTER CITY (1) CRAIG BELLAMY struck a second-half equaliser to rescue a point for Manchester City after former captain Richard Dunne had threatened to derail their impressive start to the season. Ex-captain Dunne, who moved to Villa on transfer deadline day to make way for City’s melee of big-money stars, headed [...]
FA plead innocence in England broadcast row October 5, 2009 THE Football Association has pleaded innocence in the decision not to televise England’s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine, insisting the matter was out of their hands. Saturday’s match at the Dnipro Stadium is the first international not broadcast on television but is available exclusively to subscribers online. The decision has been met with widespread anger [...]
Ton-up Shane is the Aussie hero again October 5, 2009 SHANE WATSON smashed a second successive unbeaten century to help Australia retain the Champions Trophy with a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in Pretoria last night. Fresh from his brilliant 136no in the semi-final against England on Friday, the Aussie all-rounder was the hero again, smashing a masterful 105no in response to the Black Caps’ [...]
Al Faraj completes Portsmouth takeover October 5, 2009 SAUDI property tycoon Ali Al Faraj last night completed his takeover of crisis club Portsmouth after acquiring a 90 per cent share in the Premier League club. Former owner Sulaiman Al Fahim completed his own buy-out of the club just six weeks ago but funds never materialised and players and staff went unpaid. Arab businessman [...]