Sporting briefs

Totti bemused: Captain Francesco Totti is bemused by Roma's poor form but hopes their recent woes will come to an end tomorrow at second-placed Udinese. Last year's Serie A runners-up have collected just seven points in their first seven games. "We don't know the reasons, things are going like this at the moment," Totti said. "Let's hope this crisis ends Sunday against Udinese."

Inter relieved: Champions Inter are relieved after tests showed the muscle strain Esteban Cambiasso suffered in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Anorthosis Famagusta is not serious. The Argentina midfielder, however, is still expected to miss the leaders' game against Genoa tomorrow.

Ancelotti pleased: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with their 3-1 win at Heerenveen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday as the side continue their good run. There is also growing excitement at David Beckham's possible short-term loan from Los Angeles Galaxy. "The team is improving. We are better balanced and more concentrated," Ancelotti, whose side visit Atalanta tomorrow, told reporters. "The news about Beckham is pleasing. He's a serious lad, a professional and these are all positive signals."

Richards out: Manchester City could be without defender Micah Richards for the home match against Stoke City tomorrow. Richards was taken off against Newcastle on Monday with an ankle injury and according to manager Mark Hughes it is still swollen.

Dowie sacked: Queens Park Rangers have sacked manager Iain Dowie after only 15 matches in charge. The London club, owned by Formula One chiefs Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore and Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, are ninth in the Championship table. Player coach Gareth Ainsworth has been appointed caretaker manager.

FIFA bans: FIFA has suspended Kuwait's national football association with immediate effect following a long-standing dispute over the running of the association. FIFA's executive committee said it had also confirmed a decision by the Oceanian football confederation to suspend the Samoan FA over financial irregularities.

League One: Tranmere vs Crewe 2-0.

League Two: Grimsby vs Bradford 1-3.

MotoGP: American Nicky Hayden was quickest in free practice for the season-ending MotoGP in Valencia, edging out Honda team-mate and 2007 race winner Dani Pedrosa by less than a tenth of a second on a rain-swept track. Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo was third fastest on a Yamaha ahead of his team-mate and 2008 world champion Valentino Rossi. The Italian was unhurt after falling in the afternoon session.

Cricket: New Zealand Cricket is investigating the possibility of launching a franchise-based Tri-Nations Twenty20 competition with Australia and South Africa. NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said he had been in discussions with counterparts in Australia and South Africa about plans to implement the city-based regional franchise event by 2011. Vaughan said the tournament would dovetail with the lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament in India, allowing international players to appear in both.

Motorcycling: Spaniard Sete Gibernau will come out of retirement to compete in the 2009 MotoGP championship with Ducati, the twice world runner-up has said. Gibernau retired in November 2006 after an injury-plagued season following a spectacular crash in Catalunya, having lost his ride with Ducati. His best performances were in 2003 and 2004 when he finished second behind Valentino Rossi in the world title race.

Basket, NBA: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's injured right knee is not considered serious and he would be monitored on a daily basis. Bryant collided with team-mate Josh Powell during the second quarter of the Lakers' pre-season game against the Charlotte Bobcats in midweek and did not return. Initial reports suggested the league MVP's injury was serious. The new NBA season opens next week.