Sporting briefs

Schmid leaves: MLS champions Columbus Crew have parted company with German-born coach Sigi Schmid after he turned down a new deal. Schmid, 55, who moved to the United States in 1962, spent most of his career working as a coach at the University of California, Los Angeles where he had been a player.

Vanishing spray: Argentina will use a vanishing spray in first division games next year in an attempt to stop defensive walls from creeping forward at free-kicks. The spray, which disappears within a minute, has been used on an experimental basis in the second division for the last six months.

Advocaat: Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat has been named Coach of the Year by the Russian FA in a nationwide poll of the country's managers and experts. Although Zenit surrendered their Russian premier league title by finishing a disappointing fifth this season, the 61-year-old Dutchman led them to a UEFA Cup triumph in May and also won the European Super Cup in August.

'Spider hands': Lee Woon-jae has been named the Korean league's Most Valuable Player after the Suwon Blue Wings won this season's championship. The 35-year-old, nicknamed "Spider Hands", was recently recalled to the South Korea squad after serving a one-year ban for a late-night drinking session at last year's Asian Cup. Lee became the first keeper to win the award.

Partizan: Fighting broke out among fans in Serbia's northern city Novi Sad ahead of Partizan Belgrade's match against title rivals Vojvodina yesterday and riot police arrested about a dozen supporters. The game ended in a goalless draw leaving Serbian champions Partizan top of the first division heading into the winter break with 37 points from 17 matches ahead of Vojvodina on 34. Serbia's 12-team first division resumes on Feb. 21.

The Championship: Ipswich vs Bristol City 3-1; Watford vs Norwich City 2-1.

FA Cup: Second round replay - Kettering vs N. County 2-1.

Golf: Oliver Wilson has been picked to represent Europe against Asia at the Royal Trophy early next year, organisers said. A member of Europe's Ryder Cup team this year and currently second on the European Tour order of merit, Wilson is new captain Jose Maria Olazabal's second pick for the Jan. 9-11 matchplay contest in Thailand.

Cricket: The England and Wales Cricket Board gave security clearance yesterday for Mohali to be used as the venue for the second test in India between Dec. 19 and 23 match. England resumed their aborted tour following a security clearance. The first test starts in Chennai today.

Rugby Union: Josh Lewsey, the full-back in England's 2003 World Cup triumph, announced his retirement from international rugby. Lewsey, 32, who won 55 caps, said he would concentrate on playing for Wasps because he was no longer part of new manager Martin Johnson's plans. Lewsey played his final test last year when he scored the only try in England's World Cup semi-final win over France.

Boxing: Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis headlined the 2009 list of inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, announced this week. "I'm proud and honoured to be selected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame," he said.

Athletics: Kenyan-born runner Youssef Saad Kamel has revoked his Bahraini residency and accused the Gulf state of withholding bonuses, lack of respect and encouraging him to lie about his age. In response, the Bahrain Athletic Association said Kamel, formerly Gregory Konchellah, had been neglecting his duties and accused him of issuing empty threats. Kamel finished fifth in the Beijing Olympics men's 800m.