Briefs

No appeal: Manchester United will not appeal against a four-game ban imposed on defender Patrice Evra for his part in a fracas at Chelsea in April. Evra was banned by the FA on Dec. 5 after being found guilty of four charges of improper conduct for clashing with a Chelsea groundstaff member. The Old Trafford club said the FA decision was "flawed in many respects" but no appeal would be made.

Hleb: Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb has been voted Belarus's top player for the sixth time in the last seven years. In a nationwide poll of the country's football experts, the 27-year-old was picked ahead of BATE Borisov striker Vitaly Rodionov and Rostov midfielder Alexander Kulchy.

Pia stays: The US women's team's Olympic gold medal-winning coach Pia Sundhage has been handed a new four-year contract, the US Soccer Federation said. The Swede took over the team in November 2007 and guided them to the win over Brazil in the Olympic final at the Beijing Games in August.

CSKA deal: CSKA Moscow have signed a five-year sponsorship deal with sportswear company Reebok to make shirts for the Russian premier league club. CSKA president Yevgeny Giner said he was still looking for a title sponsor to replace a $30 million, three-year contract with VTB, that expired this month.

In England: FA Cup, second round replays - Blyth Spartans vs Bournemouth 1-0; Droylsden vs Chesterfield 0-2 (abandoned on 72nd minute).

Cricket: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) yesterday announced that its current four-year sponsorship deal with Vodafone will not be renewed past January 2010. During the 12-year partnership, England enjoyed their first Ashes win (in 2005) since 1986-87.

Athletics: Romania's Olympic marathon champion Constantina Tomescu was named Balkans sports personality of the year in the annual poll organised by the Bulgarian state news agency (BTA). Tomescu, who turns 39 in January, beat last year's winner Rumyana Neykova, of Bulgaria, who became the Olympic women's rowing single scull champion.

Boxing: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will fight Britain's David Haye in June, the Ukrainian's manager told the BBC. Bernd Boente said: "We agreed to do the fight next summer in London, it could take place at Wembley, but maybe it's too big. I'd personally prefer Chelsea (Stamford Bridge). I've been there a couple of times and I'm a fan."

Ice hockey: The opening game of the 2010 world championship will be played outdoors at the home stadium of Bundesliga club Schalke 04, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said. The IHHF hopes the move will attract a record-breaking crowd.