Sporting briefs

Bad weather: Five Ligue 2 matches were cancelled in France because of weather conditions, the French league said in a statement. The matches (Dijon vs Amiens, Chateauroux vs Angers, Reims vs Strasbourg, Sedan vs Troyes, Metz vs AC Ajaccio) were scheduled for today but temperatures in the northern half of France have dropped some 10 to 15 degrees below zero in recent days and the pitches are frozen.

Veron: Former Lazio midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has hinted that he would welcome a return to the Serie A club. The Argentine international won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup with Lazio before leaving for Manchester United in 2001. "I'll be very happy if he has thought about signing me back. My door is always open and I will never close it," Veron said.

Manchester United: Manchester United have signed Belgian defender Ritchie De Laet on loan from Stoke City for the rest of the season. The 20 year-old, who has not featured for Stoke in the Premier League, will play for the reserve team.

Arsenal: Arsenal defenders William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre have been ruled out of action for up to three weeks manager Arsene Wenger told reporters yesterday. Silvestre limped off during last weekend's FA Cup victory over Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium with a thigh injury, while former club-captain Gallas has developed a hamstring problem.

In Spain: King's Cup last 16, first legs - Mallorca vs Almeria 3-1; Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao 1-1.

Rugby: England and Gloucester centre Mike Tindall was banned from driving for three years and fined £500 ($750) yesterday for his second drink-drive offence, a court ruled. Police had pulled over the 30-year-old - a member of the team who beat Australia in the final to win the 2003 World Cup - while he was on his way to Twickenham to commentate on England's Six Nations game against Ireland in March last year.

Cycling: Spanish Olympic gold medallist Joan Llaneras brought his professional career to a close with victory in the Rotterdam Six-Day track event with partner Peter Schep. In a statement released by his team Spiuk, Llaneras said he was "satisfied and proud" of his achievements. The 39-year-old won gold in the men's points race at the Beijing Olympics last year, eight years after winning gold in the same event in Sydney.

Tennis: US Open champion Serena Williams has recovered from a hamstring injury that forced her withdrawal from the Hopman Cup and is ready to challenge for her fourth Australian Open title, Williams said. The world number two, who will play at next week's Sydney International in preparation for the grand slam event, said she was planning on reclaiming the world number one ranking this year.