Rome’s Stadio Olimpico could lose the right to host the 2009 Champions League final if there were further violent incidents at Tuesday’s quarter-final between AS Roma and Manchester United. Stabbings by roving gangs armed with flick-knives happen often around the stadium, with violence flaring during United’s last two visits to Rome.
There were also incidents at Roma’s knockout round game with Real Madrid last month.
England coach Fabio Capello is being investigated by an Italian state prosecutor on suspicion of withholding information from a court, according to a judicial source. The prosecutor intends to bring a case against former Juventus coach Capello and ex-Juve director Antonio Giraudo after they gave evidence in a trial of six men accused of fostering unfair competition through the use of threats or violence as part of Italy’s Gea World sports agency, the source said.
Under Italian law, a person found guilty of withholding information in court can be jailed for up to six years.
World champion Sebastien Loeb won his fourth successive Rally Argentina to take over at the top of the overall standings in the 2008 title race. The French Citroen driver, who also won the previous round in Mexico, finished two minutes and 33 seconds ahead of Australian Chris Atkinson’s Subaru Impreza, with Spain’s Dani Sordo in another Citroen taking third place.
It was Loeb’s 39th career victory in the World Championship, another record for a man who has won the last four world titles. He took over the lead in the standings from Ford Focus driver Mikko Hirvonen, who was fifth after failing to recover from mechanical problems on the opening day. Read the rest of this entry »
Dani Pedrosa on the Honda won his home Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez from Yamaha Factory pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Britain’s James Toseland battled from eighth on the grid to finish sixth, although the Yamaha Tech 3 rider was passed on the last corner by Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi.
Nicky Hayden ended the race in a comfortable fourth on his Honda while reigning world champion Casey Stoner - winner in Qatar but struggling this week on his Ducati - went into the gravel twice and finished 11th.
Kawasaki’s John Hopkins managed an improved seventh position after 12th in Qatar, passing Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso, who was as high as fifth with only five laps to go. Read the rest of this entry »
Andy Murray struggled with his serve throughout and failed to take advantage of two match points before losing to Mario Ancic of Croatia 6-2 2-6 7-6 in the second round of the Miami Masters. Murray, the 13th seed, received a bye into the second round so the result is another massive disappointment for the Scot. Murray has won titles this year at Doha and Marseille but having just watched Ancic, serving at 4-6, save one match point with a winning forehand volley, Murray double-faulted away his second opportunity to close out the match.