Sporting briefs

Rosicky: Tomas Rosicky will not be back in action for Arsenal until March at the earliest, manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website (www.arsenalfc.com) yesterday. The Czech midfielder has not played since January because of complications from a hamstring injury that eventually required surgery.

Hareide: Norway's national soccer coach Aage Hareide resigned on Monday after his team failed to win a match during 2008. The Norwegian Football Association (NFF) said it would take its time to find a replacement for Hareide. Norway's next match is a friendly against Germany in February next year. After drawing four and losing four matches in 2008, Hareide said he lacked motivation for another year at the helm. "The bottle's empty," he said.

Quaresma: Inter's18.6-million-euro signing Ricardo Quaresma has won the 2008 'Golden Bin' award after being elected Serie A's worst player of the year by listeners of Rai radio show Catersport. The winger, who has failed to make an impact since moving to Inter in the close season, gained almost twice as many votes as his nearest rival, Atalanta's former Italy striker Christian Vieri, the show said.

Eduardo: Arsenal's Brazilian-born Croatia striker Eduardo will make his comeback from a broken leg and ankle in a reserve match against Portsmouth on Dec. 16, the club said. The 25-year-old sustained the injuries in an away match at Birmingham in February following a challenge by Martin Taylor.

Kinnear: Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has been charged with using abusive and insulting words towards referee Mike Riley, the English Football Association announced. Kinnear, 61, was sent to the stands during Newcastle's match against Stoke City on Saturday after contesting the award of a free kick.

Torino: Torino have sacked coach Gianni De Biasi and reappointed his predecessor Walter Novellino, the Serie A strugglers said. Fans threw eggs at the players after Sunday's 4-1 home defeat by Fiorentina left the team fourth from bottom. It is the end of De Biasi's third stint in charge of the club.

In England: Premier League - West Ham 0 Tottenham 2 (King 68; O'Hara 89). The Championship - C. Palace vs Southampton 3-0.

In Italy: Serie B - Rimini vs Vicenza 0-1.

Swimming: Alain Bernard, of France, broke the 100 metres freestyle short-course world record at the French national championships in Angers on Sunday. Bernard, who won the long course gold at the Beijing Games, clocked 45.69 seconds to better by 0.14 seconds the record Swede Stefan Nystrand set in Berlin in 2007.

Golf: Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal has replaced compatriot Seve Ballesteros, who recently underwent brain surgery, as captain of the European Royal Trophy team. The two-times major winner stepped in after Ballesteros decided he had insufficient time to recover for the Jan. 9-11 contest against Asia, organisers said.

Marathon: Australia's double Commonwealth Games marathon gold medallist Kerryn McCann has died from cancer aged 41. McCann was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She died peacefully at her home south of Sydney with her husband and three children by her side. McCann competed in the marathon at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. She won the gold medal in the Commonwealths in 2002 and successfully defended her title in Melbourne four years later.

Tennis: A hamstring injury has forced Serena Williams to pull out of next month's Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. Meghann Shaughnessy will replace Williams and pair up with James Blake in the United States team for the annual mixed team event.