Adriano: Roma want to severe their relations with Adriano after the striker failed to attend a medical. The club had already warned of disciplinary action when the player, who had been in Brazil for treatment to a dislocated shoulder, repeatedly delayed his return to Italy. Adriano was back last week but failed to turn up for a planned medical yesterday.
Rumpus: Thirty-two policemen were injured and 23 fans arrested as violence marred the Sofia derby between Levski and CSKA on Saturday. CSKA won the game 3-1 at Levski’s home ground but only after 3,000 away fans were evicted from the stadium at half-time following an injury sustained by a policeman.
Frings: Torsten Frings is set to quit Bundesliga strugglers Werder Bremen at the end of the season, according to Bild. The 34-year-old is reported to have informed the club he will not be extending his contract which expires in June, with Bremen currently just above the relegation zone.
Idrissou: Striker Mohamadou Idrissou may need throat surgery, his Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach said. The 30-year-old, who has won 34 caps for Cameroon, came off after an hour of his team’s 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg on Friday night and club doctors report he has an abcess on his throat which may require an operation.
Rajevac: Serb Milovan Rajevac was named coach of the Qatari national side after Bruno Metsu was axed from the job earlier this month. Rajevac, who guided Ghana to the last eight of the 2010 World Cup, has been given a three-year contract beginning March 1. His main task will be to guide Qatar through the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Bradford: League Two strugglers Bradford have appointed Peter Jackson as their interim manager on a week-to-week basis. The Bradford-born 49-year-old, who began his playing career at Valley Parade, had been out of management since leaving Lincoln in 2009. He replaces Peter Taylor, who left the Bantams after one year in charge following the weekend 3-2 home win over Stockport.
Rugby Union: A superb performance from veteran fly-half Ronan O’Gara inspired Ireland to a 21-18 win over ragged Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield yesterday. Recalled to win his 106th cap, the 33-year-old Munster tactician scored 11 points with a try and three conversions to go alongside first half tries from Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan.
Athletics: World and Olympic double sprint champion Usain Bolt will race in this season’s Diamond League meeting in Paris on July 8. It will be the Jamaican’s third consecutive appearance in the French capital, but his first time to run the 200m at the Stade de France. Bolt, the Olympic and world champion and world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, last year clocked 9.84sec to beat compatriot Asafa Powell.
Rugby Union: All Blacks legend John Kirwan joined Japanese rugby officials collecting donations for earthquake victims. Kirwan, who now coaches the Japan national team, stood outside the Tokyo venue of the All-Japan Championship final with a collection box, receiving money and shaking hands of fans.
Marathon: Ethiopia’s Hailu Mekonnen defeated Paul Biwott of Kenya to win the men’s race of the Tokyo marathon yesterday with Russia’s Tatiana Aryasova taking the honours in the women’s event. The 30-year-old Mekonnen, who only began competing in full distance marathons last year, slowly outdistanced Biwott before the 35 kilometre (22 mile) mark to cross the finishing line in two hours, seven minutes and 35 seconds.