Football - Malaga signs Bayern Munich’s Martin Demichelis on-loan
Malaga has confirmed the signing of center back Martin Demichelis on a six-month loan from Bayern Munich. The deal includes an option for the Andalusian club to retain Demichelis for two more years. The Argentina defender played for Bayern since the 2003-04 season and helped the club win four Bundesliga titles. The move reunites Demichelis with coach Manuel Pellegrini, who coached the defender at Argentina’s River Plate. Malaga’s defence has allowed a league-worst 35 goals, leaving the team in the relegation zone and tied on points with last-place Zaragoza.
Football - Aston Villa give trial
to Colorado forward Cummings
Aston Villa is giving a trial to Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings as part of an effort to find the goals it needs to stay in the Premier League. The 28-year-old Jamaica international is training with a side sitting one point above the relegation zone after winning just one of its past seven matches. Villa manager Gerard Houllier says “he is quick and can also play on the wing ... we have not many options up front at this time.” Cummings scored a career-best 14 goals in 2010 to lead Colorado to Major League Soccer’s playoffs and a first MLS Cup title. Winger Stewart Downing is Villa’s leading scorer with five Premier League goals. Only Wigan and Birmingham have scored fewer than Villa’s 20 goals in 19 matches.
Cycling - Bruyneel loses appeal
over Tour de France ban
Lance Armstrong’s RadioShack team will be without manager Johan Bruyneel for important races in March after he lost an appeal to change the start date of a suspension imposed because he insulted officials at the 2010 Tour de France. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Bruyneel’s challenge to an International Cycling Union order to serve his two-month ban in February and March. Bruyneel wanted the suspension applied in January and February. Being banned in March forces Bruyneel to miss three stage races, including Paris-Nice, and one-day classics Milano-Sanremo and Gent-Wevelgem. However, Bruyneel can work with Armstrong in his scheduled farewell professional ride at the Jan. 16-23 Tour Down Under in Australia.
Golf - Ryder Cup winner
McDowell honoured by Queen
Ryder Cup-winning golfer Graeme McDowell is among the sports figures honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in her New Year list. The Northern Irishman was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire after a year in which he won three European Tour events and captured the decisive Ryder Cup match against the United States. Also made an MBE was English football referee Howard Webb, who this year became the first man to take charge of the Champions League and World Cup finals in the same year. Former England rugby player Mike Catt is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire after retiring in May, while Martin Broughton was knighted - for services to business rather than his stint as chairman of Premier League football club Liverpool.
Tennis - Caroline Wozniacki:
I deserve to be No. 1
Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki says she deserves to hold top spot in women’s tennis despite still hunting for her first win in a major tournament. The 20-year-old Dane, in Thailand to play Kim Clijsters Saturday in an exhibition match, finished the year as the top-ranked player but her best result in a major has been a singles runner-up trophy at the 2009 US Open. She said yesterday that she has played well all year and won six tournaments. Wozniacki added that she would go all out to pursue her childhood dream of winning a Grand Slam.
Football - South Korea beats
Syria 1-0 in friendly match
South Korea eased past Syria 1-0 in a friendly match in a tuneup ahead of next month’s Asian Cup. The Koreans, 40th in the FIFA world rankings, have set up their training base in Abu Dhabi ahead of their Asian Cup campaign which starts in Qatar on 7 January. South Korea are among the favorites, since it has World Cup experience and won the Asian Cup title twice before.
Cricket - Michael Clarke won’t
captain a team with Ponting in it
Michael Clarke is happy as stand-in captain while Ricky Ponting’s broken finger heals, but he’s vowed never to lead a side with Ponting in the starting XI. Clarke, the usual vice captain, will captain Australia for the first time to start a test when he leads Australia against England in the fifth Ashes test beginning on Monday in Sydney. England has retained the Ashes and leads the series 2-1, marking the third time that Ponting has lost an Ashes series as captain. Clarke, asked if he would captain an Australian test side with Ponting in it if asked by selectors, said: “No. I’ve always said from day one Ricky Ponting is my leader, my captain, and I’m certain he’ll be back captaining ASAP.”