Sporting briefs

Brazil: Out-of-sorts Ronaldinho has been dropped by Brazil for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia while his Milan team-mate Kaka has been recalled to the squad after knee surgery. Ronaldinho missed a penalty in the 3-0 win away to Chile and was jeered off the pitch when he was substituted in a dismal goalless draw at home to Bolivia earlier this month. Kaka has not played for Brazil this year, having undergone a knee operation in late May.

Martins: Newcastle United's Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins faces a six-week lay-off because of a knee injury. Martins suffered an injury to his right tibia and knee joint during Wednesday's 2-1 League Cup defeat by Tottenham Hotspur. "First indications are that he will be out for about six weeks," Newcastle coach Chris Hughton said.

Asia sponsor: The Asian Football Confederation has agreed a $10 million sponsorship deal with Qatar Petroleum for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Tomasic: Croatian-born defender Igor Tomasic has announced his retirement from the Bulgarian national team to concentrate on playing for his club Maccabi Tel Aviv. "I realised that playing for both teams will be tough for me ," the 31-year-old, who won two Bulgarian league titles and two Bulgarian cups with Levski Sofia and obtained Bulgarian citizenship in 2006, said.

Lyon: Lyon will be without captain Juninho when they host Nancy this evening. The Brazil midfielder pulled a groin muscle in training and is also doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League game at Bayern Munich.

Metsu: Frenchman Bruno Metsu has been named as the new coach of Qatar's national side after walking out on the United Arab Emirates. The 54-year-old quit as Emirates coach this week.

League One: Southend vs Leyton Orient 3-0; Tranmere vs Colchester 3-4.

Olympics: France will offer the same financial rewards to their Olympics and Paralympics medallists for the first time, the Finance ministry said. The rewards, 50,000 euros for a gold medal, 20,000 for silver and 13,000 for bronze, will be exempted from income tax, the ministry added when it unveiled the 2009 budget.

Cricket: The Dubai Sports City (DSC) is confident of bringing more test-playing countries to the oil-rich emirate when construction of its new stadium is completed in February. DSC has agreed a $9 million, three-year deal with Pakistan to play one-day and Twenty20 matches in Dubai. DSC business manager Maqbul Dudhia said: "We are talking with a number of countries to come and play here and we are in the process of tying up a few deals."

Horse racing: Top Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockeys Johnny Murtagh and Colm O'Donoghue have been found guilty of breaching rules over team tactics in the Juddmonte International Stakes won by Duke of Marmalad last month. The two jockeys received seven-day bans while O'Brien was fined £5,000 after they appeared before a disciplinary panel examining O'Donoghue's riding of 66-1 pacemaker Red Rock Canyon. O'Donoghue moved Red Rock Canyon away from the rail, allowing Murtagh on Duke of Marmalade a clear passage through.

MFA Div. III: Sirens vs Kalkara Utd 2-1; Mtarfa vs Gżira 1-1.