Kuyt: Liverpool’s dire season continued last night as their Dutch international forward Dirk Kuyt was taken to hospital with a right ankle injury. Kuyt, who has already missed several weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, was taken off in the 29th minute of the Netherlands Euro 2012 qualifier with Sweden after falling awkwardly.
Pele: Toulouse goalkeeper Yohann Pele has been ruled out for at least six months because of a blockage in his lung. The 27-year-old has been diagnosed with a bilateral pulmonary embolism after being hospitalised yesterday. Pele has been plagued by injury and health problems since joining Toulouse.
Govou: France international Sidney Govou has incurred the wrath of his new club Panathinaikos after breaking their strict rules governing nights out. The Greek champions want a written explanation from the striker after he was reportedly seen at an Athens nightclub late Sunday. This is the third incident involving the 32-year-old former Lyon player since his arrival in Greece.
Ferdinand: A warrant for the arrest of Sunderland footballer Anton Ferdinand was issued yesterday after the Black Cats defender failed to appear in court for a driving offence. Ferdinand had been due to appear before Newcastle Magistrates Court where he was expected to face a driving ban. Ferdinand was charged after allegedly being caught using a mobile phone while driving his Range Rover in July.
Friendly: Paraguay’s attacking finesse proved too much for New Zealand as the World Cup quarter-finalists held off a second-half challenge for a 2-0 victory in a friendly yesterday. The result gave the South Americans the only win of their Asian tour after 1-0 losses to Australia and Japan and a 1-1 draw with China.
Under-21: Play-offs, second legs – Croatia vs Spain 0-3 (agg: 1-5); Belarus vs Italy 3-0 aet (3-2); Greece vs Czech Republic 0-2 (0-5); Romania vs England 0-0 (1-2); Ukraine vs Netherlands 0-2 (3-3 – Ukraine through on away goals).
Tennis: Major-winners Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin Del Potro will headline January’s Sydney International, a prelude to the Australian Open Grand Slam. Defending men’s champion Marcos Baghdatis also returns along with Sam Stosur, Australia’s top women’s player, at the January 9-15 event. “To have two Grand Slam champions confirmed as starters for January is fantastic news,” said tournament director Craig Wilson.
Asian Games: Chinese President Hu Jintao launched the Asian Games torch relay in central Beijing yesterday, kicking off a 21-city nationwide trek that will end in Guangzhou for the start of the event on November 12. Hu handed the Games flame to the first of 2,010 torch bearers at an elaborate and colourful ceremony outside the Temple of Heaven in the capital. Nearly 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete for 476 sports titles at the November 12-27 Games in Guangzhou.
Basket, NBA: Spanish swingman Rudy Fernandez was fined $50,000 by the NBA for comments detrimental to the league made by his agent, who said Fernandez no longer wants to play for Portland. The fine was imposed after Gerard Darnes made comments to a Portland radio station after Fernandez said he was homesick and no longer wanted to play in the NBA as the Trail Blazers opened pre-season workouts for the upcoming season.
Hopman Cup: Andy Murray will warm up for his next tilt at Australian Open glory at the Hopman Cup in Perth, partnering 15-year-old Laura Robson. Murray and Robson, who also paired for the tennis mixed-teams event last year, complete a strong line-up also including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Justine Henin. Murray and Robson made it to last year’s final against Spain before the Scot also reached his first Australian Open final, where he was hammered in straight sets by Roger Federer.