Drogba hit by six match ban as Uefa throw book at Blues June 17, 2009 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba was last night hit with a huge six-match European ban for his expletive-laden remonstration following last season’s Champions League exit to Barcelona. Defender Jose Bosingwa also received a four-match ban for comments about the referee while Chelsea were handed an £85,000 fine, as governing body Uefa threw the book at the [...]
Concussion fear puts Hook’s tour in jeopardy June 17, 2009 FLY-HALF James Hook faces an anxious wait to see if his British & Irish Lions tour is over after suffering head and neck injuries in Tuesday’s bruising tour match with Southern Lions. Hook has already been ruled out of Saturday’s first Test with world champions South Africa and must now visit a neurosurgeon next week [...]
Hull of a first game for new Chelsea boss June 17, 2009 CARLO ANCELOTTI opens his account as Chelsea manager with a home clash with last season’s strugglers Hull City when the 2009/10 Premier League season gets underway on 15 August. In a relatively low-profile opening five games, Ancelotti’s Blues also host newcomers Burnley and make trips to Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke City before hosting a London [...]
Tiger’s ominously on the prowl for a 15th Major June 17, 2009 ON THE GREENS WITH SAM TORRANCE TIGER WOODS’ fantastic victory in the Memorial tournament a fortnight ago is ominous news for all those players hoping to capitalise on his supposedly drawn-out recovery from knee surgery when the US Open begins today. Winning US Opens is all about hitting fairways and greens and Tiger’s victory in [...]
Quartet face drug charges June 17, 2009 RUGBY UNION: England flanker Michael Lipman and three fellow ex-Bath players have been summoned by the Rugby Football Union to answer drugs-related charges. Lipman, Alex Crockett, Andrew Higgins and Justin Harrison – who deny the allegations – terminated their contracts with Bath after the club accused them of failing to take drug tests. An RFU [...]
Murray seeded third at SW19 June 17, 2009 TENNIS: Britain’s Andy Murray has been confirmed as the No3 seed for Wimbledon. World No1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal is the top seed for SW19, which starts on Monday, followed by five-time winner Roger Federer.
Boucher eyeing T20 final spot June 17, 2009 CRICKET: South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher insists they are ready to end their semi-final curse against Pakistan at the World Twenty20 today. The Proteas have repeatedly lost in the last four, but Boucher said: “We hope this time we can go the whole way.”
COUP FOR D’ETAT June 17, 2009 LAST year’s French Derby winner Vision d’Etat (above) scooped the most valuable prize on offer at Royal Ascot yesterday by claiming the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Ridden by Olivier Peslier, the four-year-old edged favourite Tartan Bearer into second. Elsewhere, 10-1 shot Spacious, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, edged out Heaven Sent to win the Windsor Forrest [...]
Tartan Bearer to prove he is too good in Prince of Wales’s Stakes June 16, 2009 The feature race on the second day of Royal Ascot is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Sir Michael Stoute’s TARTAN BEARER looks the one to beat in the Group One contest. Last year’s Derby runner-up showed he was as good as ever when winning a tactical affair at Sandown last time when looking to [...]
Stoute mare is Heaven Sent in Windsor Forest June 16, 2009 When Ryan Moore booted HEAVEN SENT two lengths clear at the distance in this contest 12 months ago, the race looked all over bar the shouting. However, the daughter of Pivotal became a sitting target as she idled in front and was claimed late on by Sabana Perdida. It was an understandable manoeuvre for a [...]