NEWS

 

Latest Headlines - 31 July 2010

TOP STORIES

*Liverpool 2-0 Rabotnicki Skopje (agg 4-0) *
Joe Cole impressed on his competitive debut as Liverpool booked their spot in the Europa League play-offs draw with a 4-0 aggregate win over Rabotnicki. Cole's curling cross after a corner set up David Ngog to nod in before the French striker soon created the second. Ngog was hauled down by Fernando Lopes and the recalled Steven Gerrard poked home the penalty as half-time loomed.

*Fabregas back in Arsenal picture *
World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas returned to training with Arsenal, boosting the club's chances of securing the Spain midfielder's future at the Emirates. The 23-year-old continues to be linked with Barcelona, who had a bid of £29m rejected by the Gunners in June. But his appearance in Arsenal's pre-season team photo is sure to help boss Arsene Wenger's quest to persuade his captain his future remains in London.

*B Wa tson shines as Woods wobbles *
Bubba Watson fires a first-round 64 to lead the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational by two shots as Tiger Woods looks set to lose his world number one ranking.

*Pompey beats tax authorities *
English Championship club Portsmouth has won a High Court fight with Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which challenged a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) signed off by the majority of Pompey’s creditors.  HMRC claimed it was owed £13 million more than the £24 million the club acknowledged, which would give the tax authorities the right to block the CVA. According to the ‘Football Creditor Rule’, football-related creditors should be favoured by the clubs when paying off debts. HMRC said it plans to question the status of this rule legally, but will not appeal in the Portsmouth case.

*Major League Baseball sets foot in Australia *
North America’s Major League Baseball has agreed a deal with the Australian Baseball Federation to create a new league in the country that will serve as a pathway for players from Australia, Japan and Korea to break into the professional game.

OTHER SPORT...

*Massa: I’m not n° 2 driver *
Felipe Massa insists he is not playing second fiddle to Fernando Alonso in the wake of the 'team orders' controversy at the German Grand Prix. The Italian team appeared to give Massa a coded order to allow Alonso through to win and have been fined $100,000 and could yet face further punishment.

*Hughes to take over at Fulham *
Mark Hughes has been confirmed as Fulham's new manager, signing a two-year deal with the west London club. Hughes, 46, had been out of work since being sacked by Manchester City in December 2009 and replaces Roy Hodgson. The Welshman will be unveiled as manager on 3 August and his first match in charge will be a friendly against Werder Bremen four days later.

*Hamilton : no team orders *
Lewis Hamilton says there will be no team orders at McLaren even though he is ahead of team-mate Jenson Button in the drivers' world championship. Ferrari appeared to tell their drivers to swap position in Germany last weekend, but Hamilton ruled out McLaren employing such tactics. "We do not operate with team orders," said the 2008 world champion ahead of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.  "It's the way Jenson wants it, the way I want it, the way the team wants it."

* Contador to exit Astana *
Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will leave Astana at the end of this season after the Spaniard rejected the team's offer to extend his contract. In three seasons with Astana, Contador, 27, won two of his three Tour titles, a Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta title.  Contador joined Astana in 2008 after the Discovery Channel team was disbanded following the Pinto-born rider's Tour triumph in 2007.

* Fabregas speculation winged *
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has sought to draw a line under speculation over Cesc Fabregas by insisting his captain will not leave the club this summer. Arsenal's stubborn resistance was reaffirmed by Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa, who this week revealed that the Gunners were refusing to sit down and negotiate with the Catalan club.

* Raul off to Germany *
Former Spain striker Raul has joined German side Schalke after ending his 18-year career with Real Madrid. The 33-year-old, who announced his departure from the Spanish giants on Monday, had hinted he could make a move to a Premier League side in England. But on Wednesday he signed a two-year deal with Schalke, who finished second in the Bundesliga last season.

* First up Pakistan *
Captain Andrew Strauss insists England will not be distracted by the upcoming Ashes when they begin their Test series against Pakistan on Thursday. England face Australia, their fiercest rivals, at the end of 2010 but must first tackle Pakistan in a four-Test series which begins at Trent Bridge.

* First up Pakistan *
Captain Andrew Strauss insists England will not be distracted by the upcoming Ashes when they begin their Test series against Pakistan on Thursday. England face Australia, their fiercest rivals, at the end of 2010 but must first tackle Pakistan in a four-Test series which begins at Trent Bridge.


 * Murray splits from coach *
British number one Andy Murray has sacked his coach Miles Maclagan. Former professional player Maclagan, 35, joined Murray's coaching team at the end of 2007. Murray is currently in Los Angeles where he is taking part in the Farmers Classic, his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals. The 23-year-old Scot will continue working with Spaniard Alex Corretja in the run-up to the US Open and review the situation after Flushing Meadows. His support team will remain unchanged, with strength and conditioning coach Jez Green and physio Andy Ireland alongside him for the US hardcourt season and Matt Little still part of the set-up.

 *Ferrari not happy *
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has slammed the "hypocrisy" of those who have criticised Fernando Alonso's victory in Sunday's German Grand Prix. Ferrari have been fined $100,000 for appearing to give Felipe Massa a coded order to allow Alonso through to win and referred to F1's governing body. But Montezemolo replied: "Enough of the hypocrisy. This has always happened."

*Federer to test Annacone *
Roger Federer is to work with coach Paul Annacone for a "test period" as the 16-time Grand Slam champion looks to get back to winning ways. The Swiss will team up with Annacone as the American works out the remainder of his contract as men's head coach at the Lawn Tennis Association until November. Federer has slipped to third in the rankings after losing in the quarter-finals of the last two Grand Slams. Annacone is a former coach to Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.

  *Maradona finished as Argentina coach *
Diego Maradona's reign as Argentina coach has ended, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed. Maradona admitted he wanted to stay in the job ahead of a meeting with AFA president Julio Grondona on Monday. But, after Maradona rejected demands to change his backroom team, the AFA voted not to renew his deal and made under-20 coach Sergio Batista caretaker boss.

 * Liverpool: Torres Yes, Mascherano No? *
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson expects star striker Fernando Torres to remain at the club this season. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield, but Hodgson claims the Spaniard will check in for pre-season preparations on Monday. Meanwhile, it seems Javier Mascherano wants to leave the Anfield club: the Argentina international, 26, has been linked with a move to Italian side Inter Milan and a reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez all summer and, following his return to training on Monday after a post-World Cup break, he has told Hodgson he wants to leave.

 

Event Listing: July 2010

Here's a detailed listing of sporting events in July 2010.

Jun 11-Jul 11 Football World Cup - M South Africa
Jun 21-Jul 04 Tennis Wimbledon - M/W/X London, ENG
Jun 23-Jul 02 Softball World Championship - W Caracas, VEN
Jul 01-Jul 04 Golf Alstom Open de France - European Tour Paris, FRA
Jul 01-Jul 04 Golf AT&T National - PGA TOUR Newtown Square, PA, USA
Jul 02-Jul 04 Motorcycle Racing World Championship - O Barcelona, ESP
Jul 02 Athletics World Challenge - M/W Madrid, ESP
Jul 03-Jul 04 Judo Grand Slam - M/W Moscow, RUS
Jul 03-Jul 25 Cycling - Road Tour de France - M France
Jul 03 Athletics Diamond League - M/W Eugene, OR, USA
Jul 03 Cricket One Day International M - ENG - BAN London, ENG
Jul 04-Jul 11 Cycling - Road Österreich Rundfahrt - M Austria
Jul 05-Jul 10 Tennis Collector Swedish Open Women - W Båstad, SWE
Jul 05-Jul 11 Tennis Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships - M Newport, RI, USA
Jul 05-Jul 11 Tennis GDF SUEZ Grand Prix - W Budapest, HUN
Jul 08-Jul 11 Golf John Deere Classic - PGA TOUR Silvis, IL, USA
Jul 08-Jul 11 Golf The Barclays Scottish Open - European Tour Glasgow, SCO
Jul 08 Athletics Diamond League - M/W Lausanne, SUI
Jul 08 Cricket One Day International M - ENG - BAN Nottingham, ENG
Jul 09-Jul 11 Autosport Formula 1 - GP Great Britain Silverstone, ENG
Jul 09-Jul 11 Autosport WRC - Rally Bulgaria Bulgaria
Jul 09-Jul 11 Rowing World Cup - M/W Lucerne, SUI
Jul 09-Jul 11 Tennis Davis Cup Quarterfinals - M World
Jul 10-Jul 18 Hockey Champions Trophy - W Nottingham, ENG
Jul 10 Athletics Diamond League - M/W Gateshead, ENG
Jul 10 Cricket One Day International M - ENG - BAN Bristol, ENG
Jul 10 Rugby Union Tri Nations Tournament M: NZL-RSA Auckland, NZL
Jul 12-Jul 18 Tennis Catella Swedish Open - M Båstad, SWE
Jul 12-Jul 18 Tennis ECM Prague Open - W Prague, CZE
Jul 12-Jul 18 Tennis Internazionali Femminili di Palermo - W Palermo, ITA
Jul 12-Jul 18 Tennis MercedesCup - M Stuttgart, GER
Jul 12 Athletics World Challenge - M/W Athens, GRE
Jul 12 Cricket One Day International M - ENG - BAN Birmingham, ENG
Jul 13-Jul 17 Cricket Test Series M - PAK - AUS London, ENG
Jul 15-Jul 18 Golf Reno-Tahoe Open - PGA TOUR Reno, NV, USA
Jul 15-Jul 18 Golf British Open - European Tour,PGA TOUR St Andrews, SCO
Jul 15-Jul 23 Swimming World Championships Open Water - M/W Roberval, CAN
Jul 16-Jul 18 Motorcycle Racing World Championship - O Ernstthal, GER
Jul 16 Athletics Diamond League - M/W Paris Saint-Denis, FRA
Jul 17-Jul 18 Triathlon World Championship Series - M/W Hamburg, GER
Jul 17-Jul 25 Cycling - Road Tour de Qinghai Lake - M China
Jul 17 Rugby Union Tri Nations Tournament M: NZL-RSA Wellington, NZL
Jul 18-Jul 22 Cricket Test Series M - SRI - IND Galle, SRI
Jul 19-Jul 25 Tennis Atlanta Tennis Championships - M Atlanta, GA, USA
Jul 19-Jul 25 Tennis Banka Koper Slovenia Open - W Portorož, SLO
Jul 19-Jul 25 Tennis International German Open - M Hamburg, GER
Jul 19-Jul 25 Tennis Nürnberger Gastein Ladies - W Bad Gastein, AUT
Jul 21-Jul 25 Cricket Test Series M - PAK - AUS Leeds, ENG
Jul 22-Jul 25 Golf Nordea Scandinavian Masters - European Tour Stockholm, SWE
Jul 22-Jul 25 Golf RBC Canadian Open - PGA TOUR Etobicoke, CAN
Jul 22 Athletics Diamond League - M/W Monaco, MON
Jul 23-Jul 25 Autosport Formula 1 - GP Germany Hockenheim, GER
Jul 23-Jul 25 Motorcycle Racing World Championship - O Monterey, CA, USA
Jul 24-Jul 25 Triathlon World Championship Series - M/W London, ENG
Jul 24-Jul 28 Cycling - Road Tour de Wallonie - M Belgium
Jul 24 Rugby Union Tri Nations Tournament M: AUS-RSA Brisbane, AUS
Jul 25-Aug 01 Tennis Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad - M Gstaad, SUI
Jul 26-Jul 30 Cricket Test Series M - SRI - IND Colombo, SRI
Jul 26-Aug 01 Tennis Bank of the West Classic - W Stanford, CA, USA
Jul 26-Aug 01 Tennis Istanbul Cup - W Istanbul, TUR
Jul 26-Aug 01 Tennis LA Tennis Open - M Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jul 26-Aug 01 Tennis Studena Croatia Open Umag - M Umag, CRO
Jul 27-Aug 01 Athletics European Championships - M/W Barcelona, ESP
Jul 28-Aug 01 Cycling - Track European Championships - M/W Apeldoorn, NED
Jul 29-Jul 31 Autosport WRC - Rally Finland Finland
Jul 29-Aug 01 BMX World Championships - M/W Pietermaritzburg, RSA
Jul 29-Aug 01 Golf 3 Irish Open - European Tour Killarney, IRL
Jul 29-Aug 01 Golf The Greenbrier Classic - PGA TOUR White Sulphur Springs, WV, USA
Jul 29-Aug 02 Cricket Test Series M - ENG - PAK Nottingham, ENG
Jul 30-Aug 01 Autosport Formula 1 - GP Hungary Budapest, HUN
Jul 31 Cycling - Road Clásica San Sebastián - M Spain
Jul 31 Rugby Union Tri Nations Tournament M: AUS-NZL Melbourne, AUS