Refs’ row: Scottish football faces a potential shutdown next weekend after the country’s leading referees voted to refuse appointments. Press Association reported that referees took the decision at a meeting yesterday after becoming disillusioned with attacks on their integrity and personal values from some clubs and individuals. Referees have become increasingly concerned about their safety in the wake of the criticism.
Higuain: Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain was ruled out of Real Madrid’s Champions League match with Ajax tomorrow because of a back problem. The 22-year-old France-born forward scored in the 5-1 defeat of Athletic Bilbao on Saturday but is not fit enough to make the trip to the Netherlands.
A-League: Brisbane Roar extended their unbeaten run to 12 games but had their A-League lead trimmed to three points following a 1-1 draw with North Queensland Fury at the weekend. Brisbane lead Adelaide United, who have a game in hand after 17 rounds. Adelaide maintained the pressure on Roar with a 2-0 victory over Melbourne Heart in Melbourne on Friday.
Gallas: William Gallas looks set to remain Tottenham captain after leading his new side to their first victory at Arsenal for 17 years. Luka Modric wore the armband the previous weekend, with regular skipper Ledley King and understudies Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone all injured. But Redknapp said: “William should be captain in all honesty. He has captained teams before, so there is every chance we’ll look at that.”
Grant: Under-pressure West Ham United manager Avram Grant has just three games left to prove to the board that he is the right man for the job. The future of Grant, who has managed just one Premier League win this season, was plunged into further doubt following a spiritless 3-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday. With the club rooted to the foot of the table, the board will reluctantly be forced to axe the manager they appointed in June, unless he can quickly turn things around.
Tennis: Famed Indian doubles pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will team up again at the Australian Open in January, ending a nine-year separation on the circuit. The return of the duo, nicknamed the ‘Indian Express’ was announced by Bhupathi on his Twitter page, sparking celebrations in India’s tennis fraternity. “So the Indian Express rolls again at the Aussie Open next year,” Bhupathi wrote. “Our first slam in nine years... you heard it here first people.” The duo has won three Grand Slam titles together – the French Open in 1999 and 2001 and Wimbledon in 1999 – while Paes has bagged a career 12 Grand Slam titles and Bhupathi 11.
Cricket: Dashing batsman AB de Villiers became the highest scorer in a test innings for South Africa when he made 278 not out against Pakistan on the second day of the second Test at Abu Dhabi Stadium yesterday. The 24-year-old beat the previous best score in a Test innings of 277 hit by current South African skipper Graeme Smith, against England at Birmingham in 2003. De Villier’s best helped South Africa declare their first innings at 584-9, soon after tea. He hit 23 boundaries and six sixes during his record-breaking 418-ball knock.
Golf: Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter capped a near-perfect week of clinical putting and masterly strokeplay with his 10th European Tour crown at the 2.5 million US dollar UBS Hong Kong Open yesterday. The 34-year-old Englishman survived Matteo Manassero’s back nine charge to win by a single shot from the Italian and England’s Simon Dyson, finishing the tournament on a 22 under-par 258. His score was the lowest four-day total in the history of the Hong Kong Open, helped by a phenomenal 10-under 60 for the second round.
Boxing: Argentina’s Sergio Martinez knocked out American Paul Williams with one explosive second-round punch to retain his World Boxing Council middleweight world title. The left hook caught Williams on the jaw and sent the American toppling face-first to the canvas 1:10 of the second round. As Martinez began to celebrate, doctors entered the ring to tend to Williams, who was able to get to his feet after several minutes. Martinez, who improved to 46-2-2 with 25 knockouts, avenged a defeat to Williams last December, when the American won their action-packed encounter by a 12-round majority decision.