Nadal and Federer to play for charity
After only three Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer matches in two seasons, tennis fans will get two straight doses of the sport’s biggest rivalry come Christmas. Nadal announced yeterday the two will play a charity match for Africa in Zurich on 21 December, then the next day in Spain for Nadal’s charity foundation. Nadal says they “wanted to take advantage of our head-to-head rivalry over recent years ... and help people who need it.” The top-ranked Nadal, who will play the Paris Masters before closing with the ATP World Tour Finals in London, said he is feeling some fatigue from a successful season in which he won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Uchimura wins men’s all-around at Gymnastics worlds
Kohei Uchimura has comfortably retained his world all-around title at the world gymnastics championships, despite a heavily taped sore left shoulder. Philipp Boy of Germany was second, and Jonathan Horton of the United States took bronze. Uchimura gave a command performance with six consistently good scores to win the title with 92.331 points for a huge 2.283 margin over Boy. Horton was 2.467 back.
Gascoigne arrested fo drug possession
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has reportedly been arrested for possession of drugs. According to press reports in Britain, the 43-year-old Gascoigne spent Thursday night in police custody.
Northumbria Police say “a 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug” and is in custody while further inquiries are made. Police say another man of the same age has also been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs. Gascoigne was warned by a court on Wednesday he could face a 12-week jail sentence after pleading guilty to drink-driving. The 1990 World Cup star has been plagued by alcohol and mental-health problems since retiring from football in 2005.
Ciro Ferrara named Italy under-21 coach
Former Juventus defender and manager Ciro Ferrara has been named coach of Italy’s under-21 squad after the side failed to qualify for the 2011 European Championship and 2012 Olympics under Pierluigi Casiraghi. Former Juventus goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi was appointed as Ferrara’s assistant coach.
Casiraghi’s contract wasn’t renewed after Italy lost a play-off with Belarus last week that eliminated the Azzurri from both the Euros and Olympics. Ferrara was an assistant coach to Marcello Lippi when Italy won the 2006 World Cup. He was then named Juventus manager for the 2009-10 season but was fired midway through the Serie A campaign.
Serbia adopts tougher law against hooliganism
Serbian lawmakers have urgently amended the criminal law to pave the way for tougher penalties against far-right hooligan violence.
The parliament voted yesterday in favour of extending pretrial detention for those taking part in the riots from eight to 30 days in prison. The urgency in adopting the changes was prompted by fears of violence at a football derby match between Red Star and Partizan in Belgrade today. Fears about today’s match increased after dozens of people were injured when extremists clashed with police as they tried to disrupt a gay pride march in the capital last Sunday. Two days later, Serbian hooligans rioted in Italy during a Euro 2012 qualifying match, causing it to be called off after seven minutes.
Russia pulls out of 2022 World Cup bidding
Russia has formally withdrawn its bid to host the 2022 World Cup. The decision yesterday was a formality once the United States pulled out of the 2018 contest last week, leaving a four-way race between European bidders. FIFA rules say the World Cup cannot be played on the same continent for two straight tournaments. Russia is competing with England and the joint bids of Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal to host in 2018. The 2022 contest is between the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Qatar. FIFA is currently investigating unnamed bidders for alleged vote-trading collusion.
Hagi agrees deal to coach Galatasaray
New Galatasaray coach Gheorghe Hagi has pledged to revive the team following their disappointing start to the season.
The former Romania great signed with the Turkish club yesterday. He replaces Frank Rijkaard whose contract was terminated this week. The Anatolia news agency said Hagi, who previously coached Galatasaray in 2004-05, had agreed to an 18-month deal.
Hagi said he would strive to “be more successful” than his previous stint with the team when it won the Turkish Cup.
The Romanian played for Galatasaray when the team won the UEFA Cup in 2000.
Former Blackburn and Turkey player Tugay Kerimoglu also became the club’s new assistant manager.
PSV say captain Ibrahim Afellay will leave club
PSV Eindhoven said their captain, midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, will not renew his contract when it expires at the end of the season. In a statement posted on the club’s website yesterday, PSV said that “for several reasons, it is unrealistic to extend the contract.” It now appears likely Afellay, who last week scored his first two goals for the Netherlands in a 4-1 defeat of Sweden, will leave the club at which he began his professional career in the January transfer window. PSV said Afellay has agreed to do “his utmost not to leave without a reasonable fee for the club.” The announcement came after the club said it lost €17.5 million for the 2009-10 season from a €9.2 million profit a year earlier.
BOV: League Div III: St Venera L-Attard 1-2;
Qrendi-St Lucia 1-2