Derby off: The Bundesliga derby between Hamburg and St Pauli in the north German city today has been called off after heavy rain made the Hamburg stadium pitch unplayable. Officials from the German Football League took the decision last night and a new date for the game will be announced this week.
Santon: Davide Santon was named in the Italy squad for this week’s U-21 friendly at home against England. Santon is struggling for form but coach Ciro Ferrara still opted to have him in his squad just days after his loan move from Inter to Cesena. Federico Macheda, on loan at Sampdoria from Man. United, is also in the party for Tuesday’s game.
Rio out: Rio Ferdinand will miss England’s midweek friendly against Denmark after sustaining a calf injury before Manchester United’s shock 2-1 defeat at Wolves. The defender could also struggle to be fit in time to be part of Man. United’s Champions League knock-out squad later this month.
Awards: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and striker Dimitar Berbatov have been named manager and player of the month for January. United won four and drew one of their five matches in January to extend their unbeaten 2010/2011 campaign until that stage. It is the 25th time Ferguson has picked up the award and the second for Berbatov.
Totti: Roma captain Francesco Totti will miss tonight’s big match at the San Siro against champions Inter. Totti was ruled out after suffering a severe bout of flu during the week. Roma will also have Philippe Mexes missing due to suspension.
Toulalan: Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan looks set to commit his long-term future to the club. The 27-year-old’s current deal is due to expire in June 2012, but he is keen to remain at the Stade Gerland. “We should reach an agreement soon that will take me through to 2015,” he said.
Cricket: An anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC yesterday banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for ten years, Mohammad Asif for seven years and Mohammad Aamer for five years for their role in a spot-fixing betting scam. The decisions came after a lengthy nine-hour hearing at the Qatar Financial Center, and following much argument after the players’ lawyers requested the verdict be adjourned as it could affect the criminal case against the players in London.
Tennis: Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from this week’s ATP Rotterdam tournament, event director Richard Krajicek announced. The Serbian world number three has injured his shoulder, according to an article on the tournament website. Djokovic had been in line to be the top seed at the event and will be replaced in the draw by Thiemo de Bakker. In Djokovic’s absence, the favourites in Rotterdam will be Andy Murray and Robin Soderling.
Rugby Sevens: Teenager Declan O’Donnell bagged a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand beat England 29-14 in the Wellington final of the IRB Sevens World Series. The win put New Zealand level with England at the head of the table after three rounds with 64 points, 12 clear of defending champions Samoa. England, who beat Samoa in the semi-finals, scored first and last in the final but in between had no answer to the speed of O’Donnell, who finished as the top try scorer of the tournament with 10.
Swimming: Aaron Peirsol, a five-time Olympic champion who still owns world records in the 100- and 200-metre backstroke, has retired from swimming. Peirsol told the Austin American-Statesman, his hometown newspaper, that he will not compete at next year’s Olympics, drying off at age 27. “Retiring is such a strange word. I’m 27 years old. I’ve still got stuff to do,” Peirsol said. “But to do this right, you have got to give it 110 per cent. I can’t give it 110 per cent anymore.”