Football - Egypt football fans attack federation headquarters
Around 300 people have stormed the headquarters of Egypt's Football Association in Cairo to protest a decision to resume the country's league games next month before bringing perpetrators of a deadly stadium riot to justice. Fawzi Ghan, who works at the association, says he saw diehard fans known as "Ultras" fire flares at the building, smash cars belonging to employees and steal an unknown number of trophies from glass display cases on the ground floor. Several security officials are among those facing trial in connection to the 74 people killed in rioting after a local football match in the city of Port Said in February. The federation shut down the league after the riot. Reversing that, officials have not decided whether fans will be allowed at coming matches.
Olympics - Swiss government backs 2022 Winter Olympics bid
Switzerland's government has pledged support for a bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Davos and St. Moritz. The Swiss Federal Council says public funds should cover 1 billion Swiss francs ($1.05 billion) of the projected shortfall from the neighboring Alpine towns staging the Olympics. A feasibility study estimated costs of 2.8 billion Swiss francs and income of 1.5 billion Swiss francs. The seven-member executive body suggests paying half the expected 60 million Swiss francs ($62.6 million) cost of bidding.
It asked the federal sports ministry to report back to lawmakers. The Davos-St. Moritz bid needs further support from voters in a regional referendum. Switzerland last staged the Winter Olympics in 1948 at St. Moritz, which also hosted in 1924.
Football - Chilean teenager completes move to United
Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez has finally completed his move to Manchester United, two weeks after being granted a work permit to join the Premier League giants. United manager Alex Ferguson has been scouting the 18-year-old Henriquez since 2008 and says the youngster "fits the profile of a United player — skilful, attacking and someone who plays the game with real flair."
Henriquez, who joins from Universidad de Chile and hasn't yet played for his country, will initially be used in the reserves or the under-21 team but could be given a run-out for the first team in League Cup matches.
Football - EPL approves Owen's move to Stoke
Former England striker Michael Owen has completed his free transfer to Stoke in time to be included in the team's 25-man squad for this season's English Premier League campaign. Owen, who was released by Manchester United this summer after three years at Old Trafford, agreed to terms with Stoke yesterday but had to wait a further 24 hours before the transfer was approved by the EPL. The 32-year-old Owen says "we have been in talks for a while and it was a club I was always keen to join." The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle striker made just four appearances last season for United. He hasn't played competitively since November because of a thigh injury. His Stoke debut could come against Manchester City on 15 September.
Football - Malaga makes changes, says it won't sell club
Malaga's Qatari owners have no intention of selling the Spanish club as they shook up the front office before the team's Champions League debut. Malaga vice-president Moayat Shatat says "the club is not for sale" despite owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani selling star players Santi Cazorla and Jose Rondon. "We've invested a lot in this project and we have no intention of abandoning it."
The owners injected €120 million (then $158 million) into the team in 2011 before a transfer strategy turnaround following claims of unpaid player wages and transfer fees.
Malaga debuts in the Champions League against Zenit St. Petersburg on 18 September.
Malaga's "new strategy" saw a new general manager named and a financial board created "to exert better control," according to Shatat.
Paralympics - IPC dismisses South African complaint about blades
The International Paralympic Committee says there is no evidence to back up a complaint made by South Africa that athletes are switching the size of their blades during the London Games. South Africa's National Paralympic Committee requested that an urgent investigation be opened into the matter following comments made by Oscar Pistorius, who accused Alan Oliveira of Brazil of gaining an unfair advantage by running on lengthened blades in his win over the South African in the 200 meters on Sunday. Craig Spence, the IPC's director of communications, says "we met with coaches of the relevant athletes" and "there was quite a look of shock on the coaches' faces when we put this to them." Spence added yesterday there will be no further investigation because "at the moment, there is no evidence."
Football - Balotelli undergoes successful Lasik eye surgery
Italy and Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has undergone successful Lasik eye surgery. The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Balotelli had the procedure Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, to avoid having photographers and reporters waiting for him outside the laser surgery clinic in his hometown of Brescia. Balotelli needs to rest now for 10 days. He is sitting out Italy's opening two World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta, and is questionable for Manchester City's Champions League opener against Real Madrid on 18 September.
Balotelli is near-sighted and has worn contact lenses for years but the lenses have caused allergies recently and an abscess that led to conjunctivitis, which ruled him out of Italy's friendly with England last month.