SPORT | IN BRIEF October 25, 2011 France fined for Haka response RUGBY UNION: France have been fined £2,500 for advancing towards the All Blacks’ haka in the build-up to Sunday’s World Cup final. The International Rugby Board imposed the punishment after Les Bleus encroached within the required distance behind the 10-metre line in their own half. Gresini Honda sit out Valencia GP [...]
It’s a cracker: Balotelli face of firework safety drive October 24, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY have delighted in confounding expectations this season but last night sprung a surprise equal even to their 6-1 demolition of Manchester United when they unveiled Mario Balotelli as the face of a firework safety campaign. Striker Balotelli, no stranger to controversy throughout his short career, was forced to flee his Cheshire home in [...]
Super Mario is unpredictable, just like Rooney October 24, 2011 YOU don’t have to cast your mind back far to recall a time when top talents choosing to join Manchester City raised eyebrows and prompted mutterings about money. Even in the summer when they signed Sergio Aguero, one of the most recent of their high-profile acquisitions, people were surprised. In a few months all that [...]
Auckland salutes heroes as All Blacks parade cup October 24, 2011 NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw admitted to being “blown away” yesterday after an estimated quarter of a million people lined the streets of Auckland to toast the World Cup winners. McCaw, head coach Graham Henry and the rest of the All Blacks paraded through the city with the Webb Ellis Cup less than 24 hours [...]
Major disappointments are dazzling Donald’s only regret October 24, 2011 WORLD No1 Luke Donald admits his performances in Majors have been the only blots on a landmark year that has been comfortably the best of the Englishman’s career – and promises to get even better. Donald, 33, completed the first part of a potential historic double by securing top spot in the PGA Tour money [...]
Al Fayed in ‘strange man’ blast at Hughes October 24, 2011 FULHAM owner Mohamed Al Fayed has launched a stinging attack on the club’s former manager Mark Hughes, calling him a “strange man” and insisting he was not their first choice appointment. Al Fayed penned an open letter on the Cottagers’ website in response to comments Hughes made at the weekend in which the Welshman said [...]
Sotherton U-turn for heptathlon October 24, 2011 BRITISH former Olympic bronze medal-winning heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has played down her London 2012 chances after announcing a shock return to the event. Sotherton, 34, abandoned the heptathlon to focus on the 400m 11 months ago but yesterday performed a dramatic U-turn to boost her hopes of making next summer’s Games at all. Yet she [...]
HAMMER TIME | Nolan downs Brighton October 24, 2011 KEVIN NOLAN scored his fourth goal of the season last night as West Ham beat Brighton 1-0 at the Amex Stadium and climbed to second in the Championship. Midfielder Nolan rifled the winner from distance in the 17th minute but the Hammers had to withstand sustained pressure before clinching their seventh league win of the [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF October 24, 2011 Villas-Boas waits on ref probe FOOTBALL: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will learn tomorrow whether he is to face punishment for his outburst at referee Chris Foy following Sunday’s defeat at QPR. Rangers, meanwhile, will speak to defender Anton Ferdinand today regarding his on-field row with Blues skipper John Terry, after which Terry denied making racist [...]
Balotelli sparkles as ruthless City inflict United’s worst home defeat for 56 years October 23, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD (1) vs MANCHESTER CITY (6) SHELLSHOCKED Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on “the worst result in my history, ever” after his side were subjected to their heaviest home defeat since 1955 by their bitter rivals. Two goals apiece from Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko plus strikes from Sergio Aguero and David [...]