Inter fan: A 36-year-old Inter fan is in a coma after falling off a railing on the second tier of the San Siro during the Serie A match against Fiorentina yesteday. The fan had allegedly jumped onto the railing to celebrate Diego Milito's successful penalty in the 1-0 victory for the home team and then fell off after Samuel Eto'o almost scored a second goal.
Novo: Rangers striker Nacho Novo is at the centre of a police investigation after dropping his shorts at the end of his side's 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen. Novo was photographed with his shorts lowered beneath his buttocks as he walked off the Pittodrie pitch after Saturday's Premier League match. The 30-year-old Spaniard could now face police action or disciplinary procedures from his club or the Scottish FA.
Genk: Struggling Belgian first division side RC Genk confirmed yesterday they had sacked coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck. Genk lost 2-0 at Mouscron on Saturday and are currently sitting 12th in the 16-team league. Vanhaezebrouck arrived at the club last July and becomes the fifth coach to be sacked in the Belgian league this season.
In Germany: Leaders Bayer Leverkusen opened up a three-point gap at the top after crushing VfB Stuttgart 4-0 with a hat-trick from striker Stefan Kiessling yesterday. Bayern Munich climbed up to fourth place on 24 points, after beating Hanover 96 3-0 with Croatia striker Ivica Olic setting up the first for Thomas Mueller and heading in the second. Mario Gomez added a third goal in stoppage time.
Silva: Valencia midfielder David Silva has been ruled out for four weeks after damaging knee ligaments, the club said on their website yesterday. The Spain international had to be substituted in the first half of his side's 1-1 home draw with Real Mallorca on Saturday after falling awkwardly in a tackle.
Rugby Union: New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has become the first man to win the International Rugby Board Player of the Year award twice after being announced as the 2009 winner. The 28-year-old flanker previously won it in 2006 and was presented with this year's award after Saturday night's victory over France in Marseille. South Africa were named Team of the Year while Ireland's Declan Kidney was named Coach of the Year for overseeing his side's superb 12 months, highlighted by their Six Nations grand slam.
Boxing: Brash challenger Koki Kameda defeated champion Daisuke Naito in a 12-round unanimous decision to capture the WBC flyweight title and extend his undefeated record yesterday. The 23-year-old Kameda, known for his showboating, had predicted a third-round knockout but it turned out to be a tactical contest, with neither fighter knocked down and the youngster landing just a few more key blows.
Motor racing: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi displayed his passion for four wheels by finishing second in the Monza rally in Italy yesterday. The 30-year-old, who won the non-world championship event in 2006 and 2007, drove well in his Ford Focus but was beaten by last year's champion Rinaldo Capello in a Citroen. Rossi, third in his class in a touring car race last weekend, has considered moving into rallying when his Yamaha MotoGP contract runs out at the end of next year.
Horse racing: Vodka became Japan's most successful Grade One winner yesterday when she clinched the prestigious Japan Cup by a nose to capture her seventh victory at the highest level. Five-year-old Vodka edged out Oken Bruce Lee in the 533.5 million yen ($6.1 million) race to cap a remarkable year in which the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained charge became the first Japanese female horse to top $10 million in prize money.