England will continue their Test tour of Sri Lanka despite two blasts in Colombo on Wednesday that killed at least 17 people, team officials said.
   The first blast took place at 8:05 am (0235 GMT) when a disabled Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up outside the office of Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, killing his secretary.
   It happened a few minutes before the England team left for the hill resort of Kandy where the first Test against Sri Lanka opens at the Asgiriya stadium on Saturday.
   The second blast went off at 6:00 pm (1230 GMT) in Colombo’s suburb of Nugegoda where at least 16 people were reported to be killed and several injured.
   England, who are due to play the second Test in Colombo from December 9, said the series was going ahead.
   ‘We have spoken to the (British) High Commission in light of the bomb,’ a team spokesman told reporters after hearing of the first blast.
   ‘There has been no change in the travel advice we have received from them, at this stage, and it has no effect on the tour arrangements.
   ‘We always keep the tour itinerary and security arrangements under review and we won’t be complacent during the tour.’
   Team management was not immediately available to comment after the second blast.
   The attacks on Wednesday came a day after Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran declared that Sri Lankan peace efforts were a waste of time and vowed to strike back at the island’s ‘genocidal’ government.
   ‘Those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction,’ he said in his annual policy speech from a jungle hideout in his northern fiefdom.
   On Monday, the island’s defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, told AFP that his forces were now going all out to kill Prabhakaran and recapture the north of the country from LTTE forces.
   The Tamil Tigers, who launched their campaign for an independent homeland in 1972. A series of tit-for-tat clashes have left tens of thousands dead on both sides.

Pakistan’s hopes of avoiding their first series loss in India in more than two decades suffered a setback following injuries and illness to key players ahead of Friday’s second Test here.
   Pakistan, who lost the last Test series in India in 1980, were sweating over the fitness of in-form paceman Shoaib Akhtar who was hospitalised here on Tuesday due to a chest infection, making him doubtful for the match.
   Pakistan trail 1-0 in the three-Test series following their six-wicket defeat in the opening match in New Delhi on Monday.
   Skipper Shoaib Malik is recovering from an ankle injury, paceman Umar Gul from a back problem and batsman Misbah-ul-Haq from a throat infection.
   ‘All we can do is to hope that he (Akhtar) regains full fitness before the match,’ said Pakistan media manager Ehsan Malik.
   ‘Malik’s injury does not seem to be serious and he should be okay, while Gul is feeling better and likely to bowl in the nets.’
   Akhtar was the most impressive Pakistani bowler in the first Test as he grabbed six wickets, including four in the second innings.
   He rose to fame at the Eden Gardens here in 1999 when he bowled top Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid with swinging yorkers in a Test match.
   Pakistan now need to lift their all-round performance, especially batting, in order to ward off a second successive defeat against a confident India.
   The tourists were let down by batting in the opening match as they could manage just 231 in the first innings and 247 in the second, which were not enough to put pressure on the hosts.
   The biggest disappointment was the failure of middle-order batsmen Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Malik. Yousuf could contribute only 45 in the match, followed by vice-captain Younis (30) and Malik (11).
   The Pakistani skipper was looking forward to an improved performance from his batsmen in the crucial match.
   ‘More than bowling, it is the batting that we need to work on. We have to look at some of the shots that caused our downfall, and ensure that we do not play them again,’ Malik had said after the first match.
   In contrast, India solved their batting problems at the right time. They were dismissed for a below-par 276 in the first innings, but hardly faced any problems chasing a 203-target in the fourth innings.
   India won the battle of middle orders, with Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman and Dravid all contributing vital runs in their team’s victory.
   The hosts also won the duel of captains, with Anil Kumble proving he knew a trick or two more than his Pakistani counterpart. His smart bowling changes helped his team keep a constant pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.

Muttiah Muralitharan returns to his home town to become Test cricket’s most successful bowler, a feat Australia denied him but England are unlikely to prevent.
   The spin wizard, 35, begins Sri Lanka’s first Test against Michael Vaughan’s men at the Asgiriya stadium here from Saturday needing five wickets to surpass retired Australian Shane Warne’s world mark of 708.
   Not even the Englishmen doubt Muralitharan will surpass Warne during the series, most likely at Kandy itself, marking a new high in the career of one of the most celebrated and controversial bowlers of the modern game.
   Vaughan conceded Murali’s record was a formality waiting to happen, while journalists travelling with the tourists are running a sweepstake on which English batsman will give him the landmark wicket.
   It appears if the off-spinner is destined to reach the summit in this serene hill resort where he was born into a confectioner’s family in 1972 and reached the 700-wicket mark in the last Test here against Bangladesh in July.
   Murali, as he is popularly known, went to Australia for two Tests last month needing nine wickets to overtake Warne, but managed only four at the cost of 400 runs on wickets more suited to fast bowling.
   The first Test against England was originally to be played in Galle, but was later shifted to Kandy because the tsunami-wrecked stadium in southern Galle was taking time to be rebuilt.
   If records are any indication, Murali will be England’s main threat in the three-Test series.
   He has proved almost unplayable in his own country where his last 25 Tests have fetched an incredible 205 wickets - more than eight a match - an at average of 16.03.
   In those 25 Tests, he has taken five wickets in an innings 20 times and 10 wickets in a match on eight occasions.
   Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene saluted his master spinner as the ‘best bowler in the world.’
   ‘It has been a privilege to play in the same team as Murali,’ Jayawardene told AFP.
   ‘We will remember Murali not only for his record-breaking feats but also for the man he is. He remains as humble as before and is someone to be treasured for ever.’
   Murali, who made his Test debut in 1992, is keen as ever to grab wickets despite a string of injuries that once forced exasperated former team physio Alex Kontouris to describe him as a ‘bio-mechanical mess.’
   He said in a recent interview he wants to take 1,000 Test wickets and hopes to play for Sri Lanka till the 2011 limited-over World Cup to be hosted in the Indian sub-continent.
   ‘I want to achieve a little bit more because I am still hungry for wickets,’ Muralitharan said.
   The bent-arm, open-chested bowling action, which drew loud protests in the cricketing world a decade ago, helps him spin the ball sharply both ways, even on unresponsive wickets.
   The off-spinner was controversially called for throwing by Australian umpire Darrell Hair during Sri Lanka’s tour Down Under in 1995.
   Two years later, another Australian umpire, Ross Emerson, called Muralitharan during a one-day series there, prompting a bio-mechanical analysis of his bowling action at the University of Western Australia in Perth.
   The International Cricket Council, however, cleared Muralitharan’s action and his bowling action has since not been questioned by umpires.

The third edition of the Dhaka Sports Carnival begins at different venues around the capital on Friday.
   About 250 participants from 14 local and foreign social clubs will take part the three-day long festival of sport first organised by the Dhaka Club in 2004. This year’s event will be jointly organised by the Gulshan Club, Cadet College Club, Uttara Club and Kurmitola Golf Club.
   Salim Bhuiyan, the president of the Dhaka Club, said the timing of the event was unfortunate with the country recovering from the effects of the devastating Cyclone Sidr while revealing the details on Wednesday.
   ‘I admit the time is not very suitable but just for our credibility we are hosting the event,’ said Bhuiyan, who said the event was suspended last year due to political turmoil.
   Rezaur Rahman, chairman of the organising committee, Sultana Shahida Chowdhury, president of Gulshan Club, Rezaul Huq Tapan, president of Uttara Club, Anwar Hossain, CEO of Kurmitola Golf Club, Md Yeasin Ali, managing director of Dutch Bangla Bank and RQM Furkan of Prime Bank were present at the briefing held at the Dhaka Club.
   The local and foreign participants will compete in a variety of indoor and outdoor games and sports. They include: six-a-side cricket, bridge, golf, squash, snooker, tennis and swimming. The bridge and snooker events will be held at the Dhaka Club, golf at the Kurmitola Golf Club course, squash at the Cadet College Club, tennis at the Gulshan Club, swimming at the Uttara Club and cricket at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
   Khulna Club, Mainamoti Golf Club, Savar Golf Club, Raowa Club, Officers’ Club, Dhaka Club, Cadet College Club, Gulshan Club, Kurmitola Golf Club, Uttara Golf Club, Balisera Valley Club, Narayanganj Club, Comilla Club and Gulshan Youth Club make up the local clubs.
   International Club, Calcutta Club, Calcutta Rowing Club, Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, The Saturday Club Limited, Singapore Cricket Club and Dalhousie Institute are the overseas participants.
   Dutch Bangla Bank Limited is the title sponsor of the event while Prime Bank, GBB Power, Poton Traders, Rupayan Housing, Ispahani Mirzapore Tea are the co-sponsors.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is willing to consider the vacant position as manager of England’s national team, he told The Sun tabloid in an early edition of its Wednesday paper.
   Asked if he was keen on the role, the Portuguese replied, ‘You will have to speak to the FA (Football Association) to see if they are interested in offering me the job.’
   ‘I cannot say what I think until they say they are interested. Tell the FA to come and get me. We will have to wait and see. But I rule nothing out.’
   Although there remains a strong body of opinion within English football that would like to see a homegrown or at ‘worst’ a British manager chosen, the FA have not ruled out appointing a foreigner to the post with respected Italian manager Fabio Capello another possible candidate together with Mourinho.
   Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is backing Mourinho to be England’s next boss.
   Manchester United chief Fergie thinks his former Chelsea rival is the outstanding candidate to succeed Steve McClaren.
   Mourinho will be the only name Fergie will put forward once the FA consults him.
   Sir Alex told The Sun, ‘Jose Mourinho should be the next England manager.
   ‘It is the job of club managers to get the most from their players technically.
   ‘It is the job of the England manager to motivate the players – and there is no one better at that than Mourinho.
   ‘If the FA consults me about it, I’ll give them a shortlist of one – and tell them to get Mourinho.’
   The FA, desperate to get this appointment right, is ready to consult every Premier League boss about the way forward.
   Ex-England chief Bobby Robson is also backing Mourinho, who he worked with at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.
   Robson said, ‘I think Mourinho is a great candidate for England.
   ‘I’d prefer an English manager. But everything depends on the solutions available and, if there’s no interesting name from within, Mourinho would be a very good choice.’
   Mourinho also got support from Michael Essien, one of his former players at Chelsea. He said, ‘Jose knows how to get the best out of high-quality players.’
   Elsewhere, Russia boss Guus Hiddink has left the door open for the FA to offer him the England job.
   The Dutch coach was expected to extend his deal with Russia after steering them to Euro 2008.
   But talks have stalled over a new three-year contract.
   The FA sounded out Hiddink when they were looking to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after the 2006 World Cup. But he refused to be interviewed.
   Hiddink’s agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told The Sun, ‘As is well known, Guus is again among the chief candidates for England.
   ‘But the Russia FA does not answer my letters and I do not know what to do. It is very strange. The Russia FA president Vitali Mutko has said that he wanted to continue working with Guus.
   ‘But ever since then, there has been no movement on his side.
   ‘I believe that after such a declaration you need to continue dialogue to try to reach an agreement. If you don’t, then you need to look for another trainer.
   ‘I have helped Guus sign a contract many times working with different federations but I have never ended up in such a situation.’
   The FA was interested in Hiddink before opting for the ill-fated Steve McClaren regime.
   But Hiddink refused to chase the job when told by close associates he would have to be interviewed.
   He did not see why he had to explain what he could bring to the table when his CV spoke for itself.
   Van Nieuwenhuizen added, ‘I do not know how long Guus is ready to wait.
   ‘Maybe Mr Mutko has changed his opinion and now does not want to continue working with Guus. I do not know.’

The Bangladesh Under-19 team lost the second of the five-match limited-overs series by 79 runs against their Pakistani counterparts at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
   The hosts batted first after winning the toss and scored 211-9 in 50 overs. Bangladesh skipper Sohrawardi Shuvo grabbed three wickets for 27 runs, Mahmudul claimed two for 28 while Rony, Nasir and Rubel took one apiece.
   In reply, Bangladesh, who lost the first game by 144 runs, were all out for 131 in 42 overs. The third match is on December 2 at the DHA ground in Karachi.

The Bangladesh Olympic Association will seek assistance from the International Olympic Committee for completion of their headquarters at the Paltan Maidan.
   Construction of the eight-storied BOA House began in 2006, but after the foundation was laid the project went cold. The IOC assured $100,000 for the project and provided $25,000 as part of a first instalment. The condition was that half of the payment would be provided during the initial period of the project and the rest would be paid after completion.
   ‘We have laid the foundation of the eight-storied building and also got some money to start the project but it was not adequate to finish construction of four levels. So, we are approaching the IOC for further assistance,’ said Col (retd) M Waliullah, the CEO of the BOA.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said on Wednesday the upcoming four-Test series against India will be as great a challenge as playing in the Ashes.
   Lee said he was keen to return to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test, where he took 5-47 in his Test debut eight years ago.
   ‘Time has flown by so quickly and there are some absolutely great memories playing at the MCG, on a team basis and an individual basis,’ Lee said.
   ‘We have always said that playing against England in the Ashes is where it’s at, but I also think now playing against India is one of our greatest challenges as far as Test match cricket goes.’
   When the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was last contested in Australia in 2003-4, Australia struggled without the injured Glenn McGrath and suspended Shane Warne and the four-Test series was drawn 1-1.
   Lee led the bowling attack during the recent series win against Sri Lanka, taking 16 wickets at 16 runs each and ultimately being named player of the series.
   ‘I’m personally really, really happy with the way that I’m playing and I’m happy with the way the team’s going,’ said Lee, who has never played a Test in India but is hugely popular in the subcontinent.
   India have recently settled on former South African batsman Gary Kirsten as their next coach after Australian Greg Chappell resigned following the country’s early exit from the World Cup in March.
   Kirsten will join the team on December 3, just two weeks before they leave for Australia to play the four Tests and a triangular one-day series also featuring Sri Lanka.
   Meanwhile, Australia’s injury woes continue to mount with Test opener Matthew Hayden suffering a knee injury, which forced him out of a domestic match Wednesday.
   Fellow opener Phil Jaques has been laid low with the mumps, while batsman Michael Clarke missed a one-day domestic match Wednesday due to a hamstring complaint and all-rounder Andrew Symonds has a foot problem.
   But the most serious injury faces spin bowler Stuart MacGill, who struggled with hand numbness while bowling against Sri Lanka in Hobart last week, and may also still require knee surgery that could rule him out of the India series.
   ‘We still don’t know what to do,’ his manager Leo Karis said.
   ‘He’s assessing his options and whether that option is A, B, C or D, his main focus is playing cricket pain-free and that’s up to him to see how he does that.’
   The Indian team arrives in Australia in mid-December.

West Indies batting great Brian Lara leads the star parade at a rebel Twenty20 League that kicks off Friday in India after stirring up a storm with officialdom.
   The inaugural Indian Cricket League, fronted by India’s own cricketing legend Kapil Dev, will be played at Panchkula, an industrial town on the outskirts of the northern Indian city of Chandigarh.
   ‘We are keeping our fingers crossed. At the moment, we are excited and nervous. ICL is our baby and we are hoping everything goes off well,’ Dev said.
   The lead-up to the league has been marred by spats with the Indian Cricket Board which is planning to launch its own Twenty20 competition next year with backing from the International Cricket Council.
   The BCCI, aiming to be the sole crusader of the lucrative crowd-pulling format in cricket-mad India, has been clearly rattled by the ICL ever since it was launched in May this year.
   It has banned cricketers signing up with ICL from representing the country, forcing the new league to file an ongoing case challenging BCCI’s monopoly over the sport.
   The BCCI, which refused to provide any of its stadiums for the tournament, has also been accused of sabotage and trying to lure ICL’s star players.
   ‘We could allow the foreign players to play in the Indian Premier League if they terminate their contracts with ICL,’ BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla declared on Monday.
   ‘We have been approached by a number of players who have aligned with ICL. They want to come back. But as of now, the Board has not arrived on a consensus about a general amnesty to them.’
   A top ICL executive shot back, saying they expected such last-minute overtures from the Board.
   ‘We were expecting it. The BCCI can stoop low and do this. They tried to do it earlier as well by spreading rumours that Lara was planning to join them,’ he said in Panchkula on Tuesday.
   The ICL has not managed to lure any top current player but does boast of such internationals as Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul Haq, Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu, New Zealand’s Chris Cairns and South Africa’s Lance Klusener.
   Lara, on his part, has urged the boards to review their stand of banning players aligning with the ICL.
   ‘The reaction from the established cricket bodies was on expected lines but still I was disappointed,’ said Lara who will captain Mumbai Champs.
   ‘The intentions are quite honourable and I hope down the line people will understand what this league is all about and accept it.’
   Atapattu, who quit the game this month after a verbal bashing of the Sri Lankan selectors, also made a similar plea.
   ‘I don’t think ICL should be blocked in any way. In fact, we need more such initiatives to groom talent. They (the boards) are not doing any good by putting sanctions,’ he said.
   ‘IPL has dragged in all the current players but ICL also has fresh talent on display. That is where the difference lies, I think it will be a hit with the spectators,’ said Atapattu who will lead the Delhi Jets team.

Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi wants Shoaib Malik, the captain, to be ‘tough and demanding’ to get the most out of his players in order for Pakistan to fight back in the Test series. Pakistan are trailing 0-1 in the three-Test series after India won by six wickets in Delhi.
   ‘If a player is not performing to his optimum level, the captain must be tough and demand more. I think our team was in a position to win the first Test,’ Afridi, who was omitted from the Test squad after the one-day series defeat, told PTI.
   ‘Experience counts for a lot and [Anil] Kumble led their team well and intelligently. Malik can also do a similar job but he needs to be confident ahead of the second Test and must push the players to do better.’
   However, Moin Khan, a former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, said that Malik could not be blamed because captaincy happened too suddenly for him.
   ‘He [Malik] doesn’t have the captaincy experience,’ Moin told Cricinfo. ‘He just captained his regional side for some Twenty20 games and suddenly he becomes the captain of the national side. It is going to take time for him to develop. The problem lies with the board. They should have groomed a captain.’ Moin felt the Test captaincy could have been given to Mohammad Yousuf while Malik could have continued to be the captain in the ODIs.
   Afridi said that Pakistan were in a strong position when they gained the lead on the third evening in Delhi. However, on the fourth morning, they lost their last five wickets for 35 runs and set India a target of only 203. Afridi said that the batsmen needed to apply themselves more.
   ‘The batting didn’t go all the way after a good start. I have no doubt if we had got another 80 to 100 runs, we could have won this Test match,’ Afridi said. ‘It was disappointing to lose out in the end. I am sure the rest of the team will be eager to make a comeback in the second Test in Kolkata. But the other bowlers also need to give more support to Shoaib Akhtar.’
   ‘They must have tried hard but the results are important,’ Afridi said. ‘I was surprised that Kaneria didn’t take more wickets on this pitch. I think he was not as effective because of his shortened run-up. He will get more bite into his bowling if he goes back to his old bowling action which allows him more flight and turn.’

Tennis world number one Roger Federer will send a global televised message to raise awareness of mother-to-child HIV transmission to mark World AIDS Day on December 1, the United Nations children’s fund said on Tuesday.
   Federer, who is also a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, will star in the 30-second video message, recorded in separate English, French and German versions, to be distributed to broadcasters worldwide.
   ‘I’ve seen kids in South Africa who’ve been affected and it’s a very big problem, especially in the poorer countries,’ said Federer, whose mother comes from South Africa.
   ‘It’s important to break down discrimination and stigma. Many people always think ‘I can’t talk to this person’, but I think it’s very important to speak openly about it,’ the tennis star added.
   Federer said he was willing to play his part and use his sporting profile to help foster hope and motivation amongst those children affected by the deadly disease.
   ‘Sport creates leadership opportunities and teaches children teamwork, encouraging them to make good choices that can reduce their risk of HIV infection ... Sport is a fun way to learn lessons that will last a lifetime,’ he said.

A 15-man West Indies cricket squad arrived here late Tuesday to take on a rejuvenated Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI tour ahead of more serious matters in neighbouring South Africa.
   There they will play three Tests and five ODI’s over Christmas and the New Year.
   After long flight delays on their complicated route from the Caribbean, the tourists’ scheduled afternoon practice session Wednesday was threatened by stormy weather, and rain was also forecast for the first match on Friday.
   West Indies have always done well against Zimbabwe, winning 25 of their 32 previous encounters, including against Zimbabwe teams much stronger than the current one.
   Overall, Zimbabwe have lost 73 of 106 50-overs matches played against other full ICC members, but they have previously beaten Australia in a World Cup 50-overs match and last month they shocked Ricky Ponting’s team with a 20-20 victory in a World Cup clash.
   Zimbabwe have just returned from a tournament against strong South African domestic teams, winning the last match by 10 wickets, in which captain all-rounder Prosper Utseya figured with
   115 not out and Hamilton Mazakadsa made 85.
   Mazakadza hit a maiden Test century against West Indies here on his debut at the age of 18, and the more senior players from the Caribbean will remember him well.
   Zimbabwe will also rely heavily for runs from unorthodox Brendan Taylor and Elton Chigumbura, and also former captain Tatenda Taubu.
   Unexpectedly back in the team from two seasons with Worcesterhire is left-arm spinner Ray Price, nephew of Major golf championship winner Nick Price. So there is now plenty of experience among the Zimbabweans.

The third Korea Cup taekwondo tournament, organised by the Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation, begins at the Mirpur Indoor Stadium on Friday.
   A total of 700 participants - 540 men and 160 women from 28 teams including DSAs and services - are taking part in the two-day meet, sponsored by the Korean Embassy in Dhaka.
   The matches will be held in 28 weight categories.

Roma breezed into the Champions’ League knockout phase and ended the UEFA Cup hopes of Dynamo Kiev after thrashing the Ukrainian champions 4-1 in their group F clash here on Tuesday.
   Roma’s Montenegran striker Mirko Vucinic, who is deputising for the injured club captain Francesco Totti, netted a double while veteran defender Christian Panucci and Ludovic Giuly added one apiece.
   Guinean striker Ismael Bangoura could only sweeten a bitter pill for Dynamo with his second-half consolation goal, but in the end it was not enough for Kiev’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
   ‘It’s an excellent result! We achieved exactly what we desired – a place in the play-offs,’ Roma manager Luciano Spalletti said.
   ‘We were very cautious about the match as we lost a set of key players ahead of it. But we were lucky to score an early goal and earn a comfortable lead before the break,’ he added. ‘We played very well today.’
   The visitors, who needed to win to clinch a place in the knockout round, got off to a flying start through Panucci, who netted the opener just three minutes into the game when Dynamo keeper Alexander Rybka failed to stop his cross from the right flank.
   Three minutes later Panucci missed a clear chance to increase Roma’s lead missing the target from just three metres out.
   However, in the 32nd minute Giuly made it 2-0 for the visitors sending the ball home after charging past the Dynamo defence on a breakaway, while Vucinic netted Roma’s third just four minutes later from Giuly’s precise pass.
   In the 63rd minute Bangoura reduced the arrears but Vucinic restored Roma’s three-goal lead 15 minutes later with a precise shot from the edge of the box.
   Dynamo have lost all of their five games so far, meaning they are sure to finish last in group F no matter the result of their final fixture, away to Sporting Lisbon in a fortnight.
   Manager Oleg Luzhny said his injury-wracked team had struggled with the standard of the Champions League.
   ‘Today I could field only those footballers who were capable to play,’ Luzhny said. ‘We have lost too many players with injuries.
   ‘However, this in not an excuse for us. We just cannot jump above the level of Ukrainian league. And, of course, that early goal unsettled us completely.’

Alex McLeish was confirmed as the new manager of Birmingham City at a news conference held by the Engish Premier League club on Wednesday, just a day after he’d resigned his post as Scotland coach.
   Birmingham chairman and co-owner David Gold said McLeish had joined on a three-and-a- half-year contract.
   The Blues, just a point above the relegation zone, were left without a manager when Steve Bruce quit earlier this month to join top flight rivals Wigan, who are second bottom in the division.
   Bruce left the Blues amidst growing uncertainty as to whether a proposed takeover by Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung would go through.
   Former Glasgow Rangers manager McLeish guided Scotland to seven wins in 10 matches after replacing Walter Smith, who quit the national side in January for a second spell in charge of the Ibrox club.
   But despite wins home and away against France, the 2006 losing World Cup finalists, a 2-1 home defeat by reigning world champions Italy at Hampden Park meant Scotland failed to qualify for next year’s European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
   McLeish told a news conference at Birmingham’s St Andrews ground that the combined attraction of day-to-day involvement and the Premier League had proved hard to resist.
   ‘The Scotland campaign was over and I really thought long and hard about staying on. I knew of some interest in the Premier League and had a desire to get back to day-to-day football.
   ‘I really enjoyed my time in the Scotland job, it was a good period for me which was not day to day but allowed me to rekindle my appetite for the club scene again.
   ‘I’ve come to a club in great tradition in football with a fervent and fantastic fan base. I look forward to the challenge.’
   Gold, alongside McLeish at the news conference, said Yeung’s planned takeover was looking increasingly unlikely.
   He also added he found it hard to understand takeover rules which prevented Birmingham giving Bruce an improved deal but allowed City to appoint McLeish.
   ‘It’s bizarre in the sense that the takeover board wouldn’t allow you to enhance an existing contract, however it is quite in order, in the event that that contract ends, it is within the power of the board to offer a brand new contract to a brand new person.’
   Asked about the takeover, Gold replied, ‘I started off believing the bid was 90 percent assured and a couple of weeks ago I reduced that to 75 per cent.
   ‘Now I believe it’s only 50 percent but only time will tell.
   ‘The (current) board must actually take charge of the club and fully act as if the takeover doesn’t happen…that’s why we brought in Alex and are looking forward to the future.’
   McLeish said he was fully aware of how the club’s financial situation would affect his ability to deal in the January transfer window. ‘I know the parameters and I’m comfortable with that,’ he said.
   McLeish’s arrival at St Andrews means he will once again be involved in a derby rivalry with Martin O’Neill, previously manager of Rangers’s arch Glasgow rivals Celtic, who is now in charge of Birmingham-based Aston Villa, seventh in the Premier League.
   Roy Aitken, McLeish’s Scotland assistant, has taken a similar role with the Blues. The new management team’s first game in charge of Birmingham will be Sunday’s league match away to Tottenham.

Premier League strugglers Derby County on Wednesday named former Wigan coach Paul Jewell as their new manager.
   The Midlands outfit sacked Billy Davies on Monday and chairman Adam Pearson moved swiftly to snatch the highly-regarded Jewell who had turned down an offer to move back into his old job at Wigan.
   But it appeared former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince, now in charge of Milton Keynes Dons, may have been Derby’s first choice after the leaders of League Two, English football’s third tier, said they’d rejected County’s approach to speak to him before Jewell’s appointment.
   Jewell told a news conference that he was facing one of the toughest challenges of his career to keep Derby in the top flight. They are currently bottom of the league and have won just once in the Premiership this season.
   Asked if he could succeed, Jewell replied, ‘Absolutely. If I don’t believe it, if the players don’t believe it, if the fans don’t believe it we have no chance.
   ‘It’s going to be very difficult but I’m not here to wave the white flag. We’re not adrift.’
   Jewell has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Pride Park and insists although the appointment has been a speedy one he is ready to dig in for a long haul with the club following six months out of the game.
   ‘I’ve taken time out of football to reflect on how I can get better,’ he said. ‘That time has not just been spent playing golf, I’ve done a lot of travelling and watched a lot of football.
   ‘We’re in a struggling situation but all is not lost and I’m here for the long term to try and get the club strong and upward and in the right direction.
   ‘Every challenge is a big challenge – be it Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday or Wigan,’ Jewell added as he recalled his previous managerial posts.
   ‘But this one really excites me. There is a lot of history in this football club but the history doesn’t count for a lot these days,’ Jewell said of a side that were twice crowned champions of England in the 1970s.
   ‘I think we can move the club forward.’
   Jewell stressed he’d only been contacted by Pearson on Monday and that nothing had been discussed in terms of money for transfers – a major concern for Davies during his time with the Midlands club.
   ‘The chairman called me yesterday, it was the first time I’ve spoken to him ever – despite what people might think.
   ‘People always ask about money but we want to move forward, there will be money available if and when we want to strengthen. People talk about the January window but you have to be careful about who you bring in.

Australian football may be forever in the debt of David Beckham after ‘Becksmania’ enticed 80,000 fans to watch an international club friendly.
   Los Angeles Galaxy’s 5-3 loss to Sydney FC was immaterial. It was the prospect of watching the international football phenomenon strut his stuff for the first time in Australia that attracted the fans in their droves to Sydney’s Olympic stadium on Tuesday.
   Only Australia’s World Cup final eliminators have drawn more home fans than the 80,295 at Tuesday’s exhibition.
   Charismatic Beckham didn’t disappoint his legion of admirers, stroking home a signature ‘Bend it like Beckham’ free-kick in the first half and even getting steamed up enough to earn himself a yellow card for a square-up tackle.
   Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley declared it as the night football, jostling for media exposure with the rugby codes and Australian Rules, came of age in this country.
   ‘The true value in this event is the legacy to the game,’ Buckley said on Wednesday.
   ‘The thing about athletes like David Beckham is that they transcend their sport and get a much broader group of people interested in the game in some shape or form.
   ‘That can only be a positive and only a handful of athletes have been able to achieve that.
   ‘It might not have satisfied some of the purists in the football world, but it will certainly leave a lasting legacy for those 80,000 fans to get excited about the game and either come out and support A-League or national team matches after this,’ he said.
   Former national coach Rale Rasic believes, on a marketing level, the David Beckham experience is so powerful the English superstar’s Sydney visit will create a new wave of young players across Australia.
   ‘It is going to have a tremendous effect on the game in Australia for many years to come,’ said Rasic, who took Australia to the 1974 World Cup finals. ‘The effect has already begun, because people have been talking about the Beckham visit for months. I don’t think you can underestimate the power, in a marketing sense, of this one man.
   ‘The effect we’re going to see in Australia, from him being here, is that all these seven-, eight-, nine- and 10-year-olds will be playing football long after he has left the country because they will have been touched by the excitement of it all.
   ‘I really believe that in eight or 10 years from now we will get players coming through to the professional level who will have been sparked by what they saw when Beckham came out here – and that some of them will be stars. That’s how powerful he is as an influence.’
   The appeal of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar, who earns one million USD a week playing for Galaxy, is widespread with youngsters, women, families, football fans all in his thrall.
   And even when there were fears that he mightn’t see out the game after injuring his ankle in a tackle in the 28th minute, the 32-year-old icon toughed it out for the fans, who had paid big money to watch him play.
   ‘I always try to stay on the field whether I’m injured or get kicked in games, it’s part of the game,’ said Beckham, who lasted the whole game.
   ‘I’m quite a stubborn person so when I want to play and when I want to stay on there are not many people who can bring me off and convince me to come off.
   ‘The first time I heard about the 55 minutes I was contracted to play here was yesterday, but I wanted to stay on for the whole game, there were so many fans and they expect you to perform and be out there for as much as possible.’
   The Beckham road-show continues on to New Zealand for LA Galaxy’s second and final tour match against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.

Saudi Arabian goal-machine Yasser Al Qahtani, nicknamed ‘The Sniper’, was on Wednesday named Asian player of the year and said he wanted to move to Europe, with Middlesbrough leading the chase.
   At a glittering awards ceremony in Sydney, Iraq was voted Asian team of the year while former UEFA president Lennart Johansson received a special ‘Diamond of Asia’ award for his services to Asian football.
   The Swede, 78, was UEFA head for 17 years until he was ousted by French legend Michel Platini in January.
   Al Qahtani beat off challenges from Iraqi stars Nashat Akram and Younis Mahmoud to become the fourth player from his country to pick up the accolade in the 14 years that it has been handed out.
   The Al Hilal striker, 25, got the nod after ending the Asian Cup as joint top-scorer along with Younis and Naohiro Takahara of Japan.
   His knack of finding the back of the net prompted Riyadh giants Al Hilal to pay over $5 million to prise him away from Al Qadisiya in 2005, and he is now attracting interest from Europe.
   ‘I’m so proud I’m lost for words,’ he said.
   ‘I think the award will do a lot for us as players to popularise our names in Europe and have European clubs follow Asian players.’
   He confirmed that English Premier League club Middlesbrough were interested in his services, but while he has ambitions to play overseas he said he would only move if the circumstances are right.
   ‘Every player wishes to play in Europe but having said that, I also play for a very big club and there has to be a benefit for me and my country if I am to go to play in Europe.
   ‘If I do go to Europe, I’d prefer Spain or England.’
   Asia’s top European-based stars, such as Japan’s Shunsuke Nakamura, China’s Zheng Zhi, and Australia’s Mark Viduka, were overlooked for the award which is conditional on the player attending the ceremony.
   For European-based players, it is a near-impossible task with Champions League games on Wednesday and weekend fixtures to prepare for.
   In other awards, Ubzkekistan’s Rauf Inileev won coach of the year.
   A host of coaches, however, were ruled out of contention as the fine-print stipulates that they must be an Asian national.
   This ended any hopes that Brazilian Jorvan Viera had of being recognised for steering Iraq to their first Asian Cup title, which helped unite the country’s bitterly divided communities in a rare moment of jubilation.
   But Iraq did scoop the Asian Football Confederation team of the year award in recognition of their exploits at the Asian Cup which they won for the first time.
   Iraq Football Federation chief Hussain Saeed said it would boost his team ahead of World Cup qualifying, where they are drawn in a group of death with Australia, China and Qatar.
   ‘I’d like to dedicate this to the people of Iraq, everybody who supported us,’ he said.
   ‘I hope it brings joy and smiles to our nation.’
   For the first time this year the women’s awards were separate to the men.
   North Korea’s ace striker Ri Kum-suk was handed the women’s player of the year gong in Kuala Lumpur earlier in the month, edging out Japan’s Homare Sawa and Australia’s Collette McCallum.
   AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red of Japan won club of the year while Australia’s Mark Shields, who was in charge of the Asian Cup final, was named best referee.

The soccer stadium where seven people died after the stands collapsed will be destroyed and a new one will be built in its place.
   At least 40 others were injured Sunday night in Salvador, a coastal city of Bahia state. The accident was the worst in Brazilian soccer history and raised questions about the country’s readiness to host the 2014 World Cup.
   Gov. Jacques Wagner said Tuesday the Fonte Nova stadium will be imploded. He did not give a timetable for the demolition, but the new stadium is expected to be completed by 2014.
   ‘We already have a project under way that not only includes a stadium but also a shopping center and parking lot,’ Wagner said.
   Victims fell about 50 feet through a hole that opened in the concrete stands as fans stormed the field to celebrate a scoreless tie that promoted the Bahia team to the second division.
   In a report issued November 1, architects flagged the stadium as being in the worst condition of 29 major Brazilian soccer stadiums surveyed ahead of the World Cup.
   Brazil had not planned to play any World Cup games in Fonte Nova, and soccer’s governing body said Monday the collapse should not affect Brazil’s hosting of the tournament.

The sale of television rights worldwide is likely to continue to generate booming revenues for soccer clubs and controlling bodies, industry experts said on Tuesday.
   The increasing number of television broadcasters and the emergence of other media platforms, like mobile technology and the Internet, present a rosy outlook for organisations like FIFA, UEFA and the English Premier League, whose products enjoy worldwide popularity.
   ‘Emerging technology and particularly the entrance of telecommunications companies into the broadcast world will continue to see rights fees grow’ said Phil Lines, head of media operations at the Premier League.
   ‘Football is a form of entertainment people can readily identify with and remains the cornerstone of many TV broadcasters’ offerings,’ he said at the Soccerex international business convention at the Sandton convention centre.
   ‘There are more players on the playing ground,’ added Philippe Le Floc’h, the director of marketing and media rights for UEFA, Europe’s governing body.
   England’s Premier League recently concluded sales of their TV rights worldwide for a three-year cycle, starting this season, which generated income of £2.3 billion ($4.76 billion).
   Of this, 700 million pounds was earned from foreign markets, said Lines.
   ‘I think the overseas markets will continue to grow but I still expect the money generated from the British market to stay up in front.’
   UEFA earned 2.4 billion euros ($3.56 billion) from sales of the UEFA Champions League rights through until 2009 and project revenues of one billion euros for the 2008 European Championship, to be staged in Austria and Switzerland next June.
   Le Floc’h said it was a 30 per cent increase on the last tournament in Portugal in 2004.
   ‘Ours are European-based competitions but have become global products,’ he added.
   Lines also predicted a return to centralised sales of TV rights despite differing strategies in countries like Italy and Spain, where clubs have individually been attempting to sell the TV rights to their matches.
   ‘We have benefited from never moving away from the collective sale of our matches. Broadcasters know that when they buy our rights they are going to get the complete package.
   ‘If you make it a high quality product that is easy to deliver, then it is also easy to buy,’ Lines added.

Barcelona, Inter Milan, Roma and Sevilla all guaranteed their places in the knock-out stages of the Champions League after the penultimate round of games in Europe’s elite club competition on Tuesday.
   The quartet join the already-qualified Arsenal and Manchester United from Groups E-H.
   The two other qualifying spots from that side of the competition will be decided in the final round of pool games on December 12, with Fenerbahce and PSV Eindhoven battling for second place in Group G, and Rangers hosting Lyon in a Group E showdown.
   Barcelona were made to work hard for their 2-2 draw in Lyon, the home side twice coming from behind to draw level.
   A goal for each team inside the first seven minutes set the tone for a high-tempo match which also featured two second-half penalties for either side.
   Andres Iniesta gave the Catalans the lead, but Juninho equalised four minutes later with a 30-yard free-kick that went high and missed all of its targets, but bounced over the diving Victor Valdes into the goal.
   Barca again took the lead with a Lionel Messi penalty in the 58th minute after the Argentinian was fouled by Sebastien Squillaci as he strode towards goal.
   But with 10 minutes remaining Lyon were given a lifeline as the referee pointed to the penalty spot for an Eric Abidal foul on Abdul Kader Keita.
   Juninho’s effort wrong-footed Valdes and levelled the scores at 2-2 in the 79th minute.
   Lyon will now travel to Ibrox to face Rangers, who went down 3-2 to Stuttgart but are ahead of the French team on goal difference and need only a draw to qualify.
   Ciprian Marica gave Stuttgart their first victory and their first points of the tournament with his 85th minute winner, poking in Ludovic Magnin’s cross to settle a pulsating match.
   Substitute Charlie Adam had put Rangers ahead with his first touch of the ball in the 27th minute, but Cacau brought Stuttgart level with a cheeky back-heel in first-half stoppage time.
   Stuttgart’s Mexican international Pavel Pardo scored with a second-half thunderbolt from 20 yards, but Barry Ferguson capitalised on lapses in the German defence to equalise before Marica’s strike.
   ‘Lyon was always going to be an important game,’ Rangers manager Walter Smith said.
   ‘We have a big night to look forward to at Ibrox and if we show the same endeavour I’ll be pleased.’
   Inter Milan secured top spot in group G with a 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce at the San Siro.
   An own goal from Brazilian defender Edu, a clever finish from Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a late clincher from Chilean substitute Luis Antonio Jimenez lit up an otherwise dull affair.
   The three points mean that Inter have 12 points from five games and cannot be caught, while Fenerbahce, second on eight points, will be feeling uneasy following PSV Eindhoven’s 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow, which moved them up to seven points. CSKA are out of contention with just one point.
   Fenerbahce host the Russians in two weeks’ time while PSV entertain Inter in matches that will decide who claims second spot in the group.
   Inter’s Serie A rivals Roma made sure of their qualification with a 4-1 routing of winless Dynamo Kiev in Group F.
   Roma’s Montenegran striker Mirko Vucinic, who is deputising for injured club captain Francesco Totti, netted a double while veteran defender Christian Panucci and Ludovic Giuly added one apiece.
   Guinean striker Ismael Bangoura scored a second-half consolation goal for the home side.
   ‘It’s an excellent result! We achieved exactly what we desired—a place in the knockout phase,’ Roma manager Luciano Spalletti said.
   Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo hit a stoppage-time stunner that clinched a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon that ensured the English side will finish top of Roma’s.
   United trailed after Tomasz Kuszczak misjudged Abel’s long range strike but Carlos Tevez came off the bench to equalise and Ronaldo stole the points at Old Trafford with a superb free-kick.
   In southern Spain, Sevilla gained revenge for their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the opening game of this season’s Champions League when they turned the tables with a 3-1 win.
   First half goals by Seydou Keita and Luis Fabiano, followed by a late penalty by Fredi Kanoute, put them on top of Group H after an early strike by Arsenal’s Eduardo Da Silva had put the London side in front.
   Sevilla now have 12 points from their five games, with first place in their group vitally important to keep them away from European giants and former winners like Manchester United and AC Milan in the draw for the last 16.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard played down the significance of his red card and Ronaldinho’s rare start on the bench after watching the side secure top spot in Champions League Group E on Tuesday.
   Goals from Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi earned Barca a 2-2 draw away to Olympique Lyon. Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho only came on for the last 20 minutes.
   Ronaldinho has been in the headlines for his patchy form and identified by Spanish media as the possible ‘black sheep’ that Edmilson had referred to when criticising team mates for their lack of commitment last week.
   He had pulled out of Saturday’s squad hours before their Primera Liga match at home to Recreativo Huelva complaining of fatigue.
   ‘We have a big squad without a fixed starting 11. All the players accept they may be substitutes and he accepted it well,’ Rijkaard said.
   ‘At halftime, I asked him if he was up to coming on and he said he was and was very enthusiastic and motivated.’
   Rijkaard has also been questioned in the media over his handling of dressing room disputes and the side’s poor away form.
   Just before the halftime break in Lyon, he earned his first red card as Barca coach for some uncharacteristic haranguing of the referee following a heavy challenge on Messi.
   ‘I wasn’t highly-strung. I only wanted to catch the referee’s attention for an action that merited a red card that hadn’t been signalled,’ Rijkaard added.
   ‘I knew it could have consequences. When no ones sees play that could injure people, someone has to say something. I think the referee was a little fairer in the second half.’
   Barcelona coach Franck Rijkaard achieved their objective of finishing top of the group in order to avoid being matched with the other big guns in the draw for the next round.
   And he said, ‘We have to be happy with qualifying, although we played better than our opponents and I believe we should have won the match.
   ‘One of our aims was to finish top of the group so that we can be sure of being the hosts in the return leg (of the two leg knockout phase).’
   Lyon coach Alain Perrin believed they should have taken all three points, and now he is not looking forward to their December 12 visit to Glasgow, where Rangers held Barcelona to a scoreless draw.
   ‘I believe we deserved to win the match, so I’m frustrated,’ said the Frenchman. ‘But I’m happy we managed to come back into it twice, especially as Barcelona don’t give the ball up easily.’
   He added, ‘I would have preferred to win because I don’t fancy the prospect of facing Rangers in Glasgow for our final group game. It will be like a final.
   ‘As it stands Rangers are in a good position. We’ll have to be careful in Glasgow, and concentrate fully on what we have to do to qualify.’

Inter Milan secured top spot in group G and a place in the Champions League knock-out phase with a game to spare after a 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce at the San Siro here on Tuesday.
   An own goal from Brazilian defender Edu, a clever finish from Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a late clincher from Chilean substitute Luis Antonio Jimenez lit up an otherwise dull affair.
   The three points mean that Inter have 12 points from five games and cannot be caught, while Fenerbahce, second on eight points, will be feeling uneasy following PSV Eindhoven’s 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow, which moved them up to seven points. CSKA are out of contention with just one point.
   For Inter coach Roberto Mancini, topping the group was the perfect way to celebrate his 43rd birthday.
   ‘It’s a lovely present. I thank the players, especially as it wasn’t an easy match,’ he told Sky Sport.
   ‘It was important to qualify tonight because until December 23 we won’t have a single day of rest.
   ‘In Serie A we are playing to our limits, some difficult matches await us (and) we need to be on top form.’
   Fenerbahce host the Russians in two weeks’ time while PSV entertain Inter in matches that will decide who claims second spot in the group.
   Fenerbahce’s Brazilian coach Zico acknowledged that everything rests on the final group games, where they will attempt to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time.
   ‘This was an important game but not a decisive one. The decisive one will be against CSKA Moscow in December,’ he said.
   ‘We need to be calm and confident because we are in this position on merit and I believe we can take the decisive step against CSKA.’
   For a game played in Europe’s premier football competition there was an alarming dearth of European players on show in Milan.
   Inter lived up to their full name – Internazionale – by fielding a side without a single Italian in the starting 11, proving it is not just Arsenal and Chelsea who have a monopoly on fielding foreigners.
   In fact, including Fenerbahce’s two Brazilian-born but naturalised Turks, there were 15 South Americans – including nine Brazilians - in the starting 22.
   However samba flair was conspicuous by its absence in a first half in which neither side could find any rhythm, nor muster an effort on target.
   The game exploded into life soon after the break, though, as Argentine forward Julio Cruz fired just over the bar for the hosts.
   The ball was quickly transferred down the other end and Brazilian striker Alex curled a shot from 20 yards just wide of the upright.
   But a minute later and Inter had the lead. A neat through ball from Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso split the Turks’ defence and Brazilian full-back Maxwell crossed into the box where Edu sliced the ball into his own net under pressure from Cruz.
   Ibrahimovic sealed the victory on 66 minutes with a clever finish that foxed both Roberto Carlos in front of him and Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel – it was his fifth goal in this season’s competition.
   The Swede almost bagged a second with a fierce free-kick from 40 yards out but Demirel tipped it away for a corner.
   Honduran substitute David Suazo had a chance to score a third late on but he failed to beat Demirel in a one-on-one shoot-out.
   With just over a minute left to play, Marco Materazzi made his entrance for Inter, and finally there was an Italian on the pitch.
   Jimenez did add gloss to the final score in stoppage time as he latched onto Cruz’s through ball to beat Demirel.

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-gasp winner against Sporting Lisbon will allow him to let his Manchester United stars put their feet up.
   It was the perfect ending for Ferguson. With only seconds to play it looked as though United would need a point from their last group fixture at Roma to guarantee they won the group.
   That would have meant taking a full-strength side to Italy on December 12 – just four days before the Premier League champions face Liverpool.
   But Ronaldo’s blistering free-kick in stoppage time means the tie is irrelevant and Ferguson can leave several key players at home to rest ahead of the crunch domestic clash.
   ‘It’s important in the sense that when we go to Roma I will certainly be using all my squad,’ Ferguson said.
   ‘In fact maybe one or two won’t even travel because there’s obviously an important game coming up against Liverpool. But we’ll still play a team we hope can win the match.’
   Ferguson should have Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville available by the time United travel to Anfield.
   The Scot revealed Rooney is set to feature against Fulham on Monday after a quickly than expected recovery from an ankle injury.
   United captain Neville is also ready to step up his return from injury in a reserve match today.
   Ferguson acknowledged his side were fortunate to extend their 100 per cent record in Europe this season – they are the only club to have won all five group matches – after a lethargic first half.
   ‘I don’t think we were a great deal better than Sporting but we certainly increased our game in the second half. We had more speed and tempo and we just edged it narrowly,’ he said.
   For long spells United looked physically and mentally spent after their battering at Bolton on Saturday.
   Tomasz Kuszczak gifted Sporting the lead in the 21st minute when he was caught out of position by Abel’s swerving shot from way out on the right flank.
   It was an awful piece of goalkeeping by the Pole but Abel deserved credit for his opportunist strike.
   Sporting were harshly denied a second goal when Liedson alertly poked home from close-range, only to see an offside flag rule out his effort even though replays showed he was level with Darren Fletcher.
   United played with far more energy in the second half and equalised in the 61st minute.
   Louis Saha touched Patrice Evra’s cross back to Ronaldo and his shot was turned in by Tevez despite Marian Had’s attempted block.
   United pressed for a winner and it was inevitable Ronaldo would have the last word against his former club once again.
   He scored the winner when the sides met earlier this season and repeated the trick with a powerful 30-yard strike after Liedson fouled Anderson.
   Unlike in Lisbon, Ronaldo celebrated his goal this time and he explained, ‘It was a fabulous goal. I’m very happy, not just because I scored but because of the win.
   ‘Sporting people know this is my job, my club is Manchester. The first game, in Lisbon, was different. ‘I respect these people, they like me and I like them too.’
   Sporting’s coach Paulo Bento admitted he fears midfielder Miguel Veloso, a transfer target for United, is certain to leave after another composed display.
   ‘I am sure we are going to lose him taking into account the names we are hearing who are interested in him. I’m not sure he will be with us next season,’ Bento said.
   ‘We always get frustrated when we lose. But although we missed our first objective, which was to stay in the Champions League, we are happy to have our second objective of getting into the UEFA Cup.’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger did not regret his decision to field a new-look team after they slipped to their first defeat of the season in a 3-1 loss at Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday.
   However, the Frenchman strongly criticised the fourth official after being sent off 10 minutes from the end of the match for complaining about what he felt was time-wasting by Sevilla captain Daniel Alves.
   ‘The fourth official was very busy tonight. I’ve been involved in over 100 games in the Champions League and his behaviour was absolutely shocking,’ Wenger told a news conference after the match at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
   ‘Alves was down wasting time and when the guy (team physio) came on the pitch he stood up and two minutes later he was sprinting.
   ‘I asked the referee why he sent me off and he said he would explain after the game but he couldn’t give me another reason.’
   Asked if it was a risky strategy to field a weakened team with the leadership of the group at stake, Wenger replied, ‘Yes it was, but I don’t regret it because I wanted some players to be exposed to the top level and I’m happy I did that.
   ‘For me an unbeaten record in the Champions League is not important, what it important is to qualify and we’ve got the Premier League too.
   ‘We’ve got a lot of big games coming up and we’ve got a big December. We have to make some difficult choices and for me December is based on the (Premier League) championship.
   ‘I’m not worried because we didn’t have the usual team out. We started well but we relaxed...we gave away two goals when we were in charge and Sevilla then made it a very physical game in the second half. They deserved to win.’
   Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez was delighted at how his team recovered from back-to-back losses in the league to Villarreal and Real Mallorca to end Arsenal’s unbeaten record and wrest the leadership of Group H from the English side.
   ‘It was a magnificent performance from the team,’ he said. ‘I just hope we can continue to show the same sort of attitude as when we went down 1-0 against a great team like Arsenal.
   ‘Perhaps it is a state of mind. It is easier to come back against a team like Arsenal who play attacking football than one like Mallorca who sat back and defended.’

Villarreal midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme has said he hopes a move to Boca Juniors will help him secure a place in the Argentina squad for the 2010 World Cup.
   ‘I am a simple person and all I want is to play football every Sunday,’ Riquelme was quoted as saying in Spanish media on Wednesday.
   ‘This move is the only chance I have to play at the next World Cup, which is the thing that motivates me most.’
   Riquelme’s former club Boca and Villarreal are set to close a deal that will allow him to move back to Argentina.
   ‘People should know that of the three parties I am the one who has made the biggest effort and that I have offered to play a year for free with Boca.
   ‘I have told Villarreal they do not have to pay me what they owe me for another year and a half (the outstanding time left on his contract with them).’
   Riquelme also revealed he had spurned an offer from Tottenham Hotspur.
   ‘I thank them for their interest but my family and I want to return home,’ he said.

Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players after Michael Essien was sent-off during their 2-0 Premier League win away to Derby last weekend.
   Several Chelsea players, including England captain John Terry, surrounded referee Andre Marriner after he’d issued a straight red card to Essien for a push on Kenny Miller in stoppage time.
   The Football Association charge came as the governing body rejected Essien’s appeal against his expulsion.
   ‘Chelsea FC have been charged for the behaviour of Chelsea players towards referee Andre Marriner during the match at Derby County on Saturday November 24.
   ‘The club were charged with failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion following the sending-off of Michael Essien for violent conduct, and have until 12 December to respond.
   ‘At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, Essien had a claim for wrongful dismissal rejected. He will therefore serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect.’
   Chelsea, who are away to Norwegian side Rosenborg in the Champions League on Wednesday, are now set to be without Essien for the Premier League games against West Ham and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge as well as their visit across London to league leaders Asenal on December 16.
   Already this season Chelsea have been fined 30,000 pounds (60,000 dollars) and warned as to their future conduct by the FA after admitting failing to control their players during the 2-0 league defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 23.
   They were charged for the reaction of players to the sending-off of Mikel John Obi for a challenge on Patrice Evra.
   Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke was also fined 5,000 pounds (10,000 dollars), suspended until the end of the season, after admitting a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards match officials at the end of that same fixture.
   The west London club are currently fourth in the table, five points behind Arsenal.