Webber ended Formula1 title race
with fractured shoulder
Red Bull driver Mark Webber has revealed his attempt to win the Formula One drivers’ title was hampered by a fractured shoulder. The Australian driver said in an upcoming biography he sustained the injury in a bicycle accident after the Singapore Grand Prix in September with four races to go. Webber needed painkilling injections in his right shoulder for subsequent races in Japan and South Korea. He led the title race by 11 points after Singapore, but eventually lost out to teammate Sebastian Vettel. In the book “Up Front - 2010, A Season To Remember,” Webber does not blame the injury for fading down the stretch in the title race, finishing behind Vettel and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari to come third. With the title on the line, Webber finished eighth at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP. Webber said the accident came on his first bike ride since breaking his right leg and fracturing a shoulder in a crash in November 2008. Only those close to Webber knew about the injury, including trainer Roger Cleary and FIA chief medical officer Gary Hartstein. The 34-year-old Australian even kept the break a secret from team principal Christian Horner. Red Bull’s two drivers spent much of the season locked in a championship fight. Horner refused to back one driver over the other as Ferrari had previously done with Alonso. Red Bull also won the constructors’ championship.
United sends Hargreaves to
Munich for treatment
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says injury-prone midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been sent to Munich to receive treatment for a hamstring problem. Hargreaves tore the hamstring last month on his first start for more than two years following operations on both knees to cure a serious tendinitis problem. Ferguson says United wants “to help the lad try to get back to a level where he can still play football.” Playing down suggestions that the 29-year-old Hargreaves’ career may be over, Ferguson says the Englishman must “fight it – there is no other way.” The Canadian-born player joined United from Bayern Munich in July 2007.
Brescia fire coach Giuseppe Iachini
Brescia has fired coach Giuseppe Iachini, two days after a 3-0 loss to Serie A leader Milan. The defeat left newly promoted Brescia in the relegation zone and in danger of an immediate return to Serie B. Brescia has won just three of 15 matches and is tied with Cesena and Lecce on 12 points, one spot above last-place Bari. No new manager was immediately appointed, with Brescia due to face Sampdoria on Sunday if Serie A players don’t strike.
Guti charged with drunk-driving in Turkey
A news agency says Besiktas midfielder Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a road accident in Istanbul. The private Dogan news agency says Guti lost control of his vehicle and crashed into an oncoming bus around 4am yesterday. No one was hurt in the accident. Dogan says the player was taken into police custody and fined for exceeding the alcohol limit. His driver’s license was temporarily confiscated. Besiktas confirmed the accident, saying the player was not hurt. Guti joined Besiktas in July on a two-year contract worth €2.7 million after 15 seasons with Real Madrid.
Players, Serie A officials to hold
emergency talks
The Italian Players’ Association and Serie A officials have been summoned for emergency talks today to try to avert a strike called for this weekend. Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete has set up the negotiations. The union is refusing to accept a proposal that clubs be allowed to force unwanted players to train away from the first team or accept a transfer, and there are other issues as well. The two parties reached an agreement in September to avoid a strike declared for 24-25 September. But the players’ association warned that if a new collective contract was not settled by 30 November then the strike would go ahead. Juventus is scheduled to face Lazio on Sunday. Leader Milan plays at Bologna.
Mourinho’s suspended ban dropped by UEFA on appeal
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has had a suspended one-match ban dropped and his team’s fine has also been reduced on appeal against claims he instructed players to deliberately get red cards so they could serve bans in a meaningless game. Mourinho is suspended for tomorrow’s Champions League game against Auxerre, but UEFA’s appeals body rescinded a further one-match ban to be imposed if he is found guilty within the next three years of what it called “improper conduct.” UEFA reduced Madrid’s overall fine yesterday for its actions in the 4-0 win at Ajax on 23 November from €120,00 to €100,000.
Newcastle fire manager Chris Hughton
Newcastle fired Chris Hughton yesterday with the Premier League club announcing that it wants to install a more experienced manager. Hughton steered Newcastle back into the Premier League in May after a season in the second-tier and had presided over a 5-1 rout of local rival Sunderland in October, a 1-0 victory at Arsenal and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Despite losing three of its last five matches, Newcastle is 11th in the standings after 16 matches. Hughton was hired by Newcastle in February 2008 as Kevin Keegan’s assistant and also served under Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer. The former Ireland defender took over as interim manager after Newcastle was relegated from the topflight in May 2009 and he was appointed on a permanent contract later in that year. That deal was due to expire at the end of this season.