Van Persie: Netherlands striker Robin van Persie pulled out of the Dutch squad preparing to play Macedonia in a World Cup Group Nine qualifier today. Van Persie has been troubled by a hamstring injury he sustained during the 3-0 victory over Scotland on Saturday.
Olsen: Norway extended Egil Olsen's temporary contract as national team coach for the remainder of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Norway are bottom of Group Nine with two points from three matches after failing to win a match last year. Olsen took Norway to the World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998.
Bent: Darren Bent, who was called into the England squad as a late replacement for Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole, has been ruled out of today's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. England manager Fabio Capello has called up Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor as a replacement for the injured Bent, who damaged a tendon in his knee training late on Monday.
Nakata: Former Japan captain Hidetoshi Nakata, 32, was linked with a return to professional football after training with J-League Tokyo Verdy. The former Roma and Bolton midfielder played 77 games for his country before retiring after the 2006 World Cup.
Tardelli: Ireland assistant coach Marco Tardelli, one of Italy's best-known former internationals, has said he will whisper the Italian national anthem when the Azzurri host the Irish in a World Cup qualifier in Bari tonight. "I am a professional and I must have respect for those who employ me," Tardelli told reporters.
Poulsen sacked: Armenia have sacked coach Jan Poulsen following a 2-2 home draw with Estonia in Saturday's World Cup qualifier. The 63-year-old Dane took over the national team in January 2009 and the Armenians have since suffered four defeats and one draw. Assistant coach Vardan Minasyan will lead Armenia in today's qualifier away to Estonia in Tallinn.
Diaby: France midfielder Abou Diaby has been ruled out of today's World Cup Group Seven qualifier at home to Lithuania because of a sore right hip. Lille's Rio Mavuda has been called up to replace the Arsenal player in the squad.
Napoli: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has denied media speculation that Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, 35, will return to his hometown club in the close season. "His contract is running out at Real but I have always said he will not come to Napoli," De Laurentiis said.
Golf: Tiger Woods's thrilling victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational generated the highest overnight television rating for a golf event since his triumph at last year's US Open, according to Nielsen Media Research. Woods, playing only his third tournament since returning from injury, came from five strokes behind to seal his 66th PGA Tour title with a birdie at the last on Sunday. NBC Sports drew the best overnight golf rating since last year's US Open when Woods edged out fellow American Rocco Mediate in a play-off.
Basket, NBA: Dwight Howard passed Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest NBA player to reach 5,000 rebounds as the Orlando Magic withstood Dwyane Wade's 42 points for a 101-95 away victory over Miami Heat. Howard, 23, collected 22 points and 18 rebounds to boost his career total to 5,007. Chamberlain, the all-time NBA rebound leader with 23,924, was 25 when he reached 5,000. Orlando (55-18) won their sixth consecutive game to stay percentage points ahead of Boston (56-19) for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Swimming: Australia's triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has dropped one of her new events - the 100m 'fly - from her expanded programme at this year's World Championships in Rome. Rice qualified for five events but has decided to cut back to four, which is still one more than her programme at Beijing last year.
Rugby: A teenager was suspended for five games for flashing his buttocks at the crowd during a weekend rugby league match in northern Australia. Queensland state officials said bad behaviour would not be tolerated even though the 18-year-old argued that he had been insulted by spectators.
Tennis: Italy's Filippo Volandri has had his appeal against a doping ban partially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Italian Tennis Federation said. Volandri can return to action immediately, after a three-month ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation, which was due to run until April 14, was cancelled. In January, the 27-year-old blamed his positive test for salbutamol on an inhaler he uses for asthma.