PARIS: The French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday denied having unfairly targeted Patrice Evra, after the player said he was still awaiting an explanation for his five-match international ban."We`re not against him, we`re treating him as we`d treat anyone," the FFF`s legal director,

WELLINGTON: Australian fast bowler Brett Lee is poised to play domestic Twenty20 cricket in New Zealand as he seeks a career swansong at next year`s World Cup, a report said Wednesday.Lee retired from Test cricket earlier this year after a string of injuries but is desperate to cap his

JOHANNESBURG: The skill and experience of Anil Kumble and the precocious talent of Virat Kohli took the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament with a six-wicket win over the Highveld Lions on Tuesday night.Bangalore restricted the Lions

MADRID: Jose Mourinho said Friday he would like to accept an invitation to take charge of Portugal`s national team for their next two Euro 2012 qualifiers but it depends on Real Madrid giving their blessing."I don`t say no but I am the coach of Real Madrid and I have a contract for the

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, who previously blew the whistle on match-fixing in the country`s national team, Friday suggested a delay in the live broadcast of matches to curb spot-fixing."I guarantee that even a delay of 30 seconds in live telecast of matches will put an

LONDON: A police file detailing evidence on claims that Pakistan cricketers accepted cash bribes to take part in spot-fixing during a match against England has been handed over to prosecutors.Scotland Yard said evidence that there was a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers will be considered

WELLINGTON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rebuked New Zealand umpire Tony Hill for publicly airing his belief that Pakistan players deliberately bowled no-balls, a report said Friday.Hill and compatriot Billy Bowden officiated in Pakistan`s Test against England at Lord`s

LONDON: Andrew Flintoff predicted England would have no trouble winning the Ashes in Australia "quite convincingly" without him, soon after announcing his retirement from all cricket.The 32-year-old all-rounder finally admitted defeat in his longstanding battle against a knee injury that

PARIS: Liverpool and Manchester City enjoyed a Europa League cruise on Thursday as a tournament often derided as the Champions League`s poor relation gorged on a feast of 78 goals and three hat-tricks.England midfielder Joe Cole scored the quickest European goal in Liverpool`s history -

NEW DELHI: The president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday vowed to maintain the "sanctity" of the game after meeting Pakistan`s cricket chief over the spot-fixing betting scandal. Sharad Pawar held talks at his home in New Delhi with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman

LONDON: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday after years of battling injury.Flintoff, 32, retired from test cricket last year following the Ashes victory over Australia but had hoped to represent England again in one-day

MILAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic got off the mark for AC Milan with a brace to down Auxerre 2-0 in the Champions League at San Siro on Wednesday.The 24-million-euro signing, who missed a penalty on his debut away to Cesena on Saturday, started to pay back his big fee as he netted twice in the

MUNICH: Germany stars Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose netted late goals to seal Bayern Munich`s 2-0 win over Roma in their Champions League group stage encounter on Wednesday.The Group E match was heading for a 0-0 draw until Mueller, the top scorer at the World Cup, lit up a dull night

LONDON:Captain Cesc Fabregas produced an outstanding individual performance as Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a a stylish 6-0 rout of Braga on Wednesday.The Spain midfielder, who had been blocked from moving to Barcelona in the summer, scored two goals himself.Russia

ZILINA: Nicolas Anelka scored twice for Chelsea to help the English champions breeze past MSK Zilina with a 4-1 win on Wednesday in their Champions League opener.Michael Essien opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a low shot after an Anelka pass from the left wing.In the 24th

MADRID: Real Madrid`s bid to win a 10th European Cup began with a 2-0 win over Ajax at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Group G opener on Wednesday.Coach Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with Inter Milan at the Bernabeu in May and his European bow with Real was a success with an own

WELLINGTON: New Zealand umpire Tony Hill suspected Pakistan bowlers were deliberately sending down no-balls against England last month but did not link the tactic to corruption, a report said Thursday.Hill and compatriot Billy Bowden officiated in the Test at Lord`s, which is at the

NEW DELHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt on Wednesday travelled to India for meetings with the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the spot-fixing scandal, reports said.Butt was due to meet ICC president Sharad Pawar on Thursday, a source was quoted as saying

KARACHI: Afghanistan`s new cricket coach, Rashid Latif, vowed Wednesday to guide the national team to Test status within two years, a day after leaving his Pakistan job over spot-fixing comments.The 41-year-old former Pakistan cricket captain agreed to take on the head coach role after

LONDON: Fast bowler Wahab Riaz has become the latest Pakistan cricketer to be questioned by police as a result of the `spot-fixing` row engulfing the team`s tour of England.A brief statement issued by Scotland Yard here on Tuesday said: "We can confirm that today, Tuesday, September 14,