Sports News (07.06.2010)

FIFA names 30 referees for World Cup JOHANNESBURG: The FIFA Referee Committee has named 30 Referees from 28 countries ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA Refereeing Department headed by Spanish former international referee José Maria García-Aranda who refereed at both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 UEFA European Championship was responsible for coordinating and organising all of the activities involving the candidate referees. The RAP working group, a team of international experts in the fields of refereeing technique, fitness and psychology was set up by FIFA to monitor and analyse all of the information on the candidate referees, involving those responsible for refereeing in each confederation. The FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) were another key group in this process. The latest technology has been implemented in the preparation of the referees both within practical training, and interactive sessions, whilst performances at respective FIFA competitions were also analysed and evaluated. Theoretical tests undertaken exclusively in English – which has been the lingua franca for FIFA’s referees for many years – to ensure appropriate knowledge of the Laws of the Game, the regulations for FIFA competitions and the directives of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) were also a regular feature during the last three years.

	Messi wants to avoid England LONDON: Ace footballer Lionel Messi is dreaming of an Argentina vs Spain World Cup Final, but doesn’t want to face England. “People ... more
	Ronaldo’s World Cup dream for Portugal CAPE TOWN: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo reckons that winning the World Cup with his national team would be even more incredible than l ... more
	Fowler stays three clear at Memorial DUBLIN, Ohio: Rickie Fowler ended the third round of the Memorial Tournament as he started it on Saturday, holding a three-shot lead over hi ... more
	Sinkewitz learning to look the peloton in the eye LUXEMBOURG: German Patrik Sinkewitz knew rejoining the peloton would not be easy after a doping ban was curtailed for naming names also invo ... more
	Nadal reclaims French Open title PARIS: Rafa Nadal reclaimed his French Open crown in emphatic style on Sunday when he battered Sweden’s Robin Soderling 6-4 6-2 6-4 to win t ... more
	Ijaz Butt defends withdrawal of penalties on players LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt defended the removal of bans and fines on players who were penalised just three months ago ... more
	Strauss satisfied as England tame Tigers MANCHESTER: England captain Andrew Strauss said he was “pretty happy” with his side after an innings win inside three days wrapped up a 2-0 ... more
	Haddin ruled out of ODIs against England SYDNEY: Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the Australia ODI squad for upcoming matches against Ireland and England, ... more
	ECB rejects Kaneria’s suspension LONDON: Clearing the air over Danish Kaneria’s reported suspension from county cricket over his alleged involvement in spot fixing, England ... more
	Five-star Finn finishes off Bangladesh MANCHESTER: Steven Finn took five wickets as England thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 80 runs inside three days in the second Test to w ... more
	More trouble for Pawar over IPL bid NEW DELHI: The former BCCI president Sharad Pawar and his family’s claims of not being involved in a bid for a Pune franchise in the IPL has ... more
	‘IPL an easy target for match-fixers’ NEW DELHI: The organisers may insist it as clean but Deccan Chargers’ Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist feels the Indian Premier League is a ... more
	We were unconvincing throughout the series: Raina HARARE: His captaincy debut ending in a debacle, India skipper Suresh Raina on Saturday conceded that the team looked unconvincing throughou ... more
	Farah wins 10,000m in Marseille MARSEILLE: Britain’s Somali-born Mo Farah and Portugal’s Ines Monteiro took the honours in Saturday’s 10,000m European Cup race in Marseille ... more
	Count Basso among my Tour rivals, says Contador EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France: Reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will count Ivan Basso among his biggest challengers this year aft ... more
	Switzerland hold Italy as Serbia record thrilling win LONDON: Switzerland and world champions Italy drew 1-1 on Saturday in the final World Cup warmup match for both teams in Geneva. Switzerl ... more
	Winning more important than style, says Maicon JOHANNESBURG: Brazil full-back Maicon says his countrymen are more focused on winning a sixth World Cup in South Africa than maintaining the ... more
	Drogba has successful operation on elbow BERNE: Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba has undergone a successful operation on his fractured elbow although his team did not say whether h ... more
	England’s King ready to fill in for Rio Ferdinand RUSTENBURG: England defender Ledley King returned to training Sunday and is confident that his knee injury will not scupper his hopes of dep ... more
	Sharafi Mohammaden clinch 360 trophy KARACHI: Sharafi Mohammaden blanked Kalri Stars by 3-0, in the final to clinch the title of 360 Club Football League at the CDGK stadium her ... more
	‘Team is better than ’86 champions’ JOHANNESBURG: Diego Maradona has fired another salvo. With less than a week to go to the World Cup kick-off in South Africa, the Argentine m ... more
	S African president says country ready for kickoff PRETORIA: President Jacob Zuma on Sunday declared South Africa ready for the start of the World Cup and praised the world’s sporting event f ... more
	Pedrosa lands Moto Grand Prix crown MUGELLO, Italy: Dani Pedrosa of Honda won the Italian MotoGP at the Mugello circuit here on Sunday, seeing off fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo ... more
	Murray relishes return to Queen’s after pain in Paris LONDON: Andy Murray admits he can’t wait to get back on the lush lawns of Queen’s Club this week as he looks to erase his Paris pain by succ ... more
	Italy united in heralding its first ‘Queen of France’ MILAN: Italy seldom has an opportunity to herald individual success on the tennis court, so Francesca Schiavone’s French Open triumph was gr ... more
	Quieroz returns for unfinished WC business JOHANNESBURG: Born in Mozambique and a former coach of the South African football side, Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz has flown to the Rainbow N ... more

• No 4th quarter heroics for Kobe in Lakers' loss

  AP – Mon Jun 7, 12:12 am ET  
  AP

  LOS ANGELES - For once, the fourth quarter didn't belong to Kobe Bryant. Full Story »
  

• Nadal defeats Soderling for 5th French Open title

  AP – Sun Jun 6, 7:40 pm ET  
  AP

  PARIS - Scurrying along the baseline as only he can, sliding through the red clay he rules, Rafael Nadal stretched to somehow dig the ball out of a corner and fling it back over the net — once, twice, three times — during a 14-stroke exchange that ended when Robin Soderling sailed a shot long. Full Story »
  

  • Slideshow: French Open

• Rose rallies to win the Memorial

  AP – Sun Jun 6, 8:06 pm ET  
  AP

  DUBLIN, Ohio - Winless for more than two years, so far down the world ranking that he was in danger of being forgotten, Justin Rose decided to stop being obsessed with results and think only about the shot in front of him. Full Story »
  
   
  

• Saints will visit area hit hard by Gulf oil spill

  AP – Sun Jun 6, 6:43 pm ET  
  METAIRIE, La. - The Super Bowl champion Saints are heading down to coastal Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana on Tuesday to visit areas affected by the Gulf oil spill. Full Story »
  

• Hart's sac fly in 10th lifts Brewers over Cards

  AP – Mon Jun 7, 12:15 am ET  
  AP

  ST. LOUIS - Rickie Weeks homered early and Corey Hart hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. Full Story »
  

• Allen's hot hand slaps Lakers as Boston draw level

  Reuters – Mon Jun 7, 2:59 am ET  
  Reuters

  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 103-94 in Game Two of the NBA Finals on Sunday, seizing home-court advantage in the series on the back of a scintillating display of long-range shooting from Ray Allen. Full Story »
  

• O'Connell fans 9 as Fullerton tops Minnesota 7-2

  AP – Mon Jun 7, 2:13 am ET  
  FULLERTON, Calif. - Colin O'Connell struck out a career-high nine as Cal State Fullerton avoided elimination by beating Minnesota 7-2 on Sunday night in Fullerton Regional. Full Story »
  

• Stampede at World Cup friendly, 16 hurt

  AFP – 56 mins ago  
  AFP

  JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - World Cup organisers sought to distance themselves on Monday from a stampede outside a warm-up friendly that injured 16 people and raised new security fears in the final countdown to the tournament. Full Story »
  

• Cyclist Contador time trials to Dauphine prologue win

  AFP – Sun Jun 6, 1:54 pm ET  
  AFP

  EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AFP) - Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador gave a glimpse of his form a month before this year's race by winning the opening prologue of the Dauphine Criterium on Sunday. Full Story »
  

• Chicago channels its inner bully

  AP – 2 hrs 47 mins ago  
  AP

  CHICAGO - It's clear by now who the real bullies are. Full Story »
  
   
  

• Spanish press hail return of King Nadal

  AFP – 9 mins ago  
  AFP

  MADRID (AFP) - The Spanish press on Monday hailed the return of Rafael Nadal, who regained the French Open crown to secure his fifth title on the Paris clay and reclaim his spot atop the men's world rankings. Full Story »
  

• Nick Price wins Principal Charity Classic

  AP – Sun Jun 6, 7:28 pm ET  
  AP

  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - The previous two years, Nick Price's final rounds at the Principal Charity Classic were filled with tough shots and even tougher finishes. Full Story »
  
  
  
  
  

  • Cotto back on top after Yankee Stadium brawl

    AP – Sun Jun 6, 5:16 pm ET  
    AP

    NEW YORK - Every time that Miguel Cotto was asked whether he was finished, so many savage fights having taken their toll, he would answer simply that his training was going well and he was ready to step back into the ring. Full Story »
    

  • Larry Dixon wins Route 66 NHRA Nationals

    AP – Sun Jun 6, 11:17 pm ET  
    JOLIET, Ill. - Larry Dixon beat defending Top Fuel series champion Tony Schumacher on Sunday night in the rain-delayed Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Full Story »
    

  • USOC's BP connections concern Olympic athletes

    AP – Sun Jun 6, 2:29 pm ET  
    AP

    Olympic athletes are wondering what impact the U.S. Olympic Committee's multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with BP could have on their future, given the continued bad news coming from the Gulf Coast oil spill. Full Story »