Straits Times Interactive - SPORT

Spain, England win but Germany, Netherlands lose in friendlies

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:32:00 GMT

PARIS (AFP) - Germany and the Netherlands, two of the sides widely-tipped as potential Euro 2012 winners, suffered worrying friendly international defeats on Saturday.

Spain's Fabregas out for up to 10 days with injury

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:28:00 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Cesc Fabregas will be pushing to be fit for Spain's European Championship opener against Italy after Barcelona says the midfielder will be out injured for up to 10 days.

Webber to start on pole in Monaco Grand Prix

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

MONACO (REUTERS) - Australian Mark Webber will start Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix on pole position for Red Bull after Mercedes' Michael Schumacher set the pace in qualifying but was subject to a five place grid penalty.

Thailand to host Race of Champions and eyes F1

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:18:00 GMT

(REUTERS) - Bangkok will host 2012's Race of Champions, an annual event in December featuring winners from various motorsport series, and has plans for Formula One as well.

F1 chairman Peter Brabeck puts brake on IPO talk

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:59:00 GMT

MONACO (REUTERS) - Businessman Peter Brabeck, celebrating his appointment as Formula One chairman on Friday, said the motor racing series had not made a decision on whether to proceed with a much discussed US$10 billion (S$13 billion) listing on the stock market in Singapore.

Beckham's pay cut nearly 40% in new Los Angeles Galaxy contract

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:28:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) - David Beckham is no longer Major League Soccer's highest-paid player after his salary was cut nearly 40 per cent in his new contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Formula One: Tense atmosphere ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AFP) - Controlled explosions by security forces, train strikes, overbearing officials and unpredictable tyres have created a tense atmosphere here ahead of Sunday's annual showpiece event, the Monaco Grand Prix.

Footballers' association wants players to be sacked for racist abuse

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:26:00 GMT

LONDON (REUTERS) - The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is pushing to make racist abuse a sackable offence for professional footballers in England next season.

Olympics: Games Turkey's only 'official' 2020 bid: Rogge

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:56:00 GMT

QUEBEC CITY (AFP) - Olympics chief Jacques Rogge on Thursday declared that Turkey is officially bidding for the right to host just one major sporting event in 2020 - and it is the Olympics.

IOC-USOC revenue deal done; US can bid for games

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:36:00 GMT

QUEBEC CITY (AP) - International and United States (US) Olympic leaders signed a new revenue-sharing agreement on Thursday that ends years of acrimony between the powerful bodies and clears the way for future American bids for the games.

Electronic tennis racket makes world debut

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:24:00 GMT

PARIS (REUTERS) - A tennis racket stuffed with electronic sensors capable of tracking a player's every slice, spin and smash made its public debut at the French Open on Thursday.

Beckham's England career to be honoured at Wembley

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:12:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) - David Beckham's England career will be honoured at the team's final European Championship warm-up match, with the former captain receiving an award from the continent's governing body for players who have at least 100 international appearances.

Formula One: Maldonado targets new triumph in Monaco

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:19:00 GMT

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AFP) - Two weeks after stunning Formula One (F1) with his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, Pastor Maldonado is ready to do it again.

Guardiola eyes final Cup glory with Barcelona

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

MADRID (AFP) - Pep Guardiola leads his Barcelona side into his last game as manager in Friday's Spanish Cup final against Athletic Bilbao determined to leave the Catalan club on a high.

Referee Howard Webb urges players not to fake injury

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:10:00 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - World Cup final referee Howard Webb has urged players to stop faking injuries because it could jeopardise treatment for players who suffer cardiac arrest and other life threatening conditions.

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt flattered by Hamburg interest

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:33:00 GMT

BERLIN (AFP) - Liverpool's Dutch international Dirk Kuyt revealed on Thursday that Bundesliga side Hamburg was one of the options he was considering if he eventually decides to leave Anfield.

Fifa want referees to be tested for doping drugs

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:34:00 GMT

BUDAPEST (REUTERS) - Referees are routinely criticised for having poor eyesight, lacking fitness and getting decisions wrong but Fifa medical experts want whistlers tested for performance-enhancing drugs.

Steven Gerrard rules out retiring after Euro 2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:08:00 GMT

LONDON (AFP) - England midfielder Steven Gerrard on Thursday ruled out retiring from international football after Euro 2012.

Only 5% of Brazil World Cup projects completed

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:14:00 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) - The Brazilian government insisted on Wednesday it's not worried with the pace of preparations for the 2014 World Cup even though it announced that only five per cent of all the planned projects have been completed.

Zara Phillips carries Olympic torch on horseback

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:01:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) - Former world equestrian champion Zara Phillips carried the Olympic torch on horseback across the storied Cheltenham racecourse on Wednesday, as thousands of screaming fans watched her light the Olympic cauldron.

Drogba's talks with Shanghai Shenhua 'continuing as planned'

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

SHANGHAI (AFP) - Shanghai Shenhua's talks with Didier Drogba are continuing 'just as planned', a report said on Wednesday, raising expectations the striker will move to China after announcing his departure from Chelsea.

Van Marwijk blasts 'scandalous' Robben treatment

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:07:00 GMT

THE HAGUE (AFP) - Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has strongly criticised the 'scandalous' treatment in Germany of Arjen Robben, during the Oranje's friendly match against his club Bayern Munich.

Vettel locked in tight battle ahead of Monaco GP

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:05:00 GMT

PARIS (AP) - When Sebastian Vettel headed to the Monaco Grand Prix last season, all the talk was of how quickly the Red Bull driver would wrap up the Formula One championship.

Inter Milan to open football schools in Indonesia

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:57:00 GMT

JAKARTA (AFP) - Inter Milan will open football schools in Indonesia, the club said in the capital Jakarta on Wednesday, following a trend started by Arsenal and Liverpool.

Loew ready to unleash Germany's 'Messi'

Wed, 23 May 2012 02:36:00 GMT

BERLIN (AFP) - Teenage rising star Mario Goetze has been dubbed Germany's Lionel Messi and despite an injury-hit 2012, coach Joachim Loew has said he plans to give him a key role at Euro 2012.