Ronaldo's wife gives birth to another girl
Ronaldo's wife has given birth to the striker's third child in Sao Paulo. Corinthians says Ronaldo's wife, Maria Beatriz Antony, gave birth to a healthy baby girl early yesterday. Maria Alice was born weighing 3.45 kilograms and measuring 50 centimeters. Ronaldo, in his second season in Brazilian football after playing in Europe for most of his career, also has a 15-month-old girl with Antony and a 10-year-old boy from a previous relationship. The boy, Ronald, also was born on 6 April.
New Livorno coach faces tough task
New Livorno coach Gennaro Ruotolo wants his club to put "every ounce of sweat" into the final six games of the season to avoid relegation. Introduced yesterday after being called back to replace the fired Serse Cosmi, Ruotolo guides a team that is last in Serie A and faces a steep challenge to avoid going back down to Serie B. The coaching switch came after a 1-1 draw with Genoa on Saturday. Ruotolo already guided Livorno at the start of the season, but was removed in favour of Cosmi after failing to post a victory in eight matches. Livorno are tied with Siena with 26 points each, behind Atalanta with 31.
Guerrero under prosecutors' investigation
A district attorney has opened an investigation into a bottle-throwing incident involving Hamburger SV striker Paolo Guerrero. The Peru international has already been given an undisclosed club-record fine by Hamburg. He is also the target of an investigation by the German football federation. The incident happened after Hamburg's 0-0 draw with 10-man Hannover in the Bundesliga on Sunday, as the players were leaving the field for the dressing room to the jeers of disappointed home fans. Guerrero, who was a second-half substitute, aimed a full plastic drink bottle at the fan and hit him on the shoulder. The fan reportedly shouted at Guerrero, "Go back to Peru!" The fan, who has not filed a complaint, was examined by medical personnel at the stadium. He did not appear to be injured.
Fans must wrap up at WCup's coldest venue
Fans headed to Bloemfontein for the World Cup should pack gloves, scarves and warm coats. Close to the center of South Africa, Bloemfontein is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters and is likely to get the coldest weather of the nine World Cup cities with temperatures likely to drop to minus-2 degrees Celsius at night. That contrasts sharply with daytime figures which could easily rise to 27 degrees Celsius – a curious mixture for followers of some of the 10 teams headed for the city's Free State Stadium.
FIFA dress code rules Iran's girls out of Olympics
Iran's girls football team has been kicked out of the Youth Olympic Games because FIFA rules prevent players wearing an Islamic head scarf. Thailand was nominated to replace the barred Iranians, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a story on its Web site.
"FIFA decreed that the wearing of Islamic hijab was not in accordance with the laws of the game," the report said. Iran's national Olympic committee had called on FIFA, football's world governing body, and the International Olympic Committee to review the head scarf ban. The hijab is worn by girls and women to observe Islamic dress code. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke rejected the Iranian Olympic panel's request in a letter to the national football federation. FIFA maintains football's international rule book which contains a section on players' on-field equipment.
Clemente takes over at Valladolid
Former Spain coach Javier Clemente will lead Valladolid for its last eight games of the season as the club tries to avoid relegation. Clemente replaces Onesimo Sanchez with Valladolid second last and seven points from safety. Clemente says "it will be difficult" to stay up but "not impossible." His work begins Saturday when Valladolid plays Tenerife, who are one place higher. The 60-year-old Clemente led Spain from 1992-98 and spent two years with Serbia after having led Athletic Bilbao for three spells. Clemente's last job was at Murcia in 2008, but he failed to keep that club from dropping into the second division.
Benzema-Pato swap denied
The agent of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has rubbished claims that his client is moving to Milan in exchange for Alexandre Pato. Benzema has found it hard to adjust to life in Madrid after moving from Lyon last summer and many feel he might be sold at the end of this season. Benzema's agent, Karim Djaziri said: “I have not read any of these rumours. “The only thing I can say is that Karim is very happy at Real Madrid. “I have not heard anything about this and I don't usually pay attention to transfer rumours.
Yesterday’s local and UK results
MFA Div III - Sirens-Attard 3-3; Xghajra T-Kirkop U 0-0
England - League One - Huddersfield T.-Oldham Athletic 2-0
Scotland - Division I - Morton-Inverness 0-2 ; Ross County-Queen of the South 1-1
Division II - Brechin-Dumbarton 0-1; Peterhead-Stenhousemuir 0-1
Division III - Berwick-Stranraer 1-0; Elgin City-Annan Athletic 1-0; Livingston-Montrose 1-0