Sporting Briefs...

Racism Incident: Argentine footballer Leandro Desabato has returned home after spending 40 hours in Brazilian police custody for an alleged racist insult during a Libertadores Cup match in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night. Desabato arrived in Argentina on a flight from Sao Paulo with several of his Quilmes team-mates and coach Gustavo Alfaro late on Friday night. Desabato was charged with slander aggravated by racism and spent two nights in custody before being released on bail on Friday.

Monte Carlo Masters: Spain's Rafael Nadal stormed back to beat French sensation Richard Gasquet yesterday and set up a Monte Carlo Masters final against defending champion Guillermo Coria. Nadal, the 11th seed, had to be at his tenacious best against fellow 18-year-old Gasquet in a gripping semi-final, eventually coming through 6-7 6-4 6-3 in two hours 43 minutes. Earlier on a cool, blustery day at the Country Club Argentine Coria posted a 6-2 7-5 victory over twice former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Family Circle Cup: Semi-final result - J. Henin-Hardenne beat T. Golovin 7-6 7-5.

In France: Ligue I - Lille vs Racing Lens 2-1; Metz vs Istres 2-1; Sochaux vs Monaco 1-1; Bordeaux vs Nantes 0-2; Nice vs Caen 0-1; Marseille vs Ajaccio 1-2; Stade Rennes vs St Etienne 2-2; Bastia vs Toulouse 2-1.

In Spain: Primera Liga - A. Madrid vs Espanyol 0-0; Sevilla vs Osasuna 0-1.

Snooker: World Championships, first round - R. O'Sullivan bt S. Maguire 10-9. First session scores - D. Gray vs A. Hamilton 4-2; S. Davis vs G. Greene 4-5; M. Stevens vs A. Hicks 6-3; A. McManus vs D. Henry 4-4.