Sporting briefs

Ribery: Police searched the headquarters of French football team Olympique Marseille on Monday and seized documents relating to Franck Ribery’s transfer from Galatasaray to OM in 2005, a police source said. Marseille prosecutors launched an investigation last year after Ribery’s agent filed a complaint against the player and Marseille for alleged irregularities related to Ribery’s transfer from the Turkish side.

Marquez: Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is keen to agree a contract extension that would keep him at the European champions after his current deal ends next year. “I’m more than willing to resolve the situation. I would like to finish my career with Barcelona,” the 30-year-old Mexico defender was quoted as saying.

Helton: Porto goalkeeper Helton was called up by Brazil for their final 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela. Helton was needed as cover for Julio Cesar after second choice Victor was injured playing for Gremio in the Brazilian championship at the weekend. Coach Dunga had already lost defenders Lucio and Juan but opted not to replace them.

England: England manager Fabio Capello has brought goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Gary Cahill into his squad to replace the injured Paul Robinson and Joleon Lescott for this month’s final two Group Six World Cup qualifiers. Blackburn Rovers’s Robinson (hip) and Manchester City’s Lescott (calf) returned to their clubs yesterday meaning a call for Birmingham’s Hart, with one cap, and Bolton Wanderers’ Cahill, who has yet to make his full international debut.

Brana: Argentina coach Diego Maradona called up midfielder Rodrigo Brana of South American champions Estudiantes as cover for captain Javier Mascherano who has muscle fatigue. Brana will join the squad today.

Match scrapped: A Bulgarian third division match was abandoned after only four minutes when injuries left one team with only six players on the pitch. Home side Gigant Belene began their highly-anticipated clash with Chavdar Byala Slatina on Sunday with only eight players, saying they were unable to field a full line-up due to numerous injuries and suspensions.

MFA Anniversary Cup: First round – Sirens vs Mdina 1-6; Siġġiewi vs Sta Luċija 3-0.

Snooker: Stephen Hendry has targeted a return to the world’s top eight. The 40-year-old Scot came through his first-round test at the Grand Prix in Glasgow on Monday, firing in a 116 and runs of 58, 72 and 47 in his 5-2 win over Matthew Selt. Hendry said: “I was pretty comfortable. The job in the first round is to win the game. I am playing well and my goal this season is to replicate that form where it matters. If I do that I can break back into the top eight.”

Cricket: Ricky Ponting was named player of the tournament after leading Australia to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand on Monday in the Champions Trophy final. He also finished with the most runs from the two-week mini-World Cup in South Africa, scoring 288 in five matches to finish 23 ahead of team-mate and double-centurion Shane Watson.

Formula One: Recovering Felipe Massa could be back behind the wheel of a F1 car in Italy next week despite a ban on testing during the season, Ferrari said yesterday. “It is possible Felipe will drive a Formula One car in the coming days, but it’s not been decided exactly when,” a spokesman said. Massa is recovering from a life-threatening head injury that he suffered in July when he was hit by bouncing debris in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

Motor Sport: Adult fans at one of Australia’s most popular motor sport races, the Bathurst 1000, will be limited to one “slab” of beer a day as police focus on reducing alcohol-related crime. The 24-can rule would also be placed on mixed drinks for the V8 car race starting tomorrow which draws thousands to the rural town of Bathurst in eastern New South Wales state.