Sports

Victories for Russia and Czech Republic in World Cup qualifiers
Hamburg - Two own goals helped Russia to a 3-0 victory over Finland in a World Cup qualifier Wednesday while the Czech Republic got its first win of the campaign against Slovenia. Petri Pasanen and Veli Lampi were the unfortunate players to put into ...

Teammate Del Potro to challenge Madrid holder Nalbandian - Update
Madrid - Argentine Davis Cup teammates David Nalbandian and Juan Del Potro set up a repeat of their grudge match from a year ago at the Madrid Masters as both advanced into the third round on Wednesday. Holder Nalbandian, who is trying to back up a s...

Iran defeats North Korea in Asian World Cup qualifying game
Tehran - Iran kept on course for a place at the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory against North Korea in an Asian Group B World Cup qualifier played in Tehran's Azadi stadium. Bundesliga player Mehdi Mahdavi...

Spanish government backing up indignant Atletico Madrid - Feature
Madrid - The indignation of Spanish giants Atletico Madrid at having their stadium closed by UEFA for two matches is shared by the Spanish government. On Tuesday UEFA, football's ruling body, decreed that Atletico's Estadio Vicente Calderon should be...

Demolition complete on deadline at troubled Ukraine stadium
Kiev - Ukrainian engineers on Wednesday completed demolition work adjacent to a stadium critical for the Euro 2012 football tournament, within a tough deadline set by the UEFA. UEFA officials had made removal in three months of a partially-built shop...

Ballesteros 'stable' after having brain tumour removed
Madrid - Spanish former golfer Severiano Ballesteros was stable and conscious after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, doctors said Wednesday in a medical report. The operation, performed at the La Paz Hospital in Madrid, started Tuesda...

Nalbandian nails comeback to open Madrid title defence with a win
Madrid - Holder David Nalbandian had to fight past stubborn opponent Tomas Berdych at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday while American qualifier Robby Ginepri stunned fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko. Argentine seventh seed Nalbandian was playing his first...

McQuaid confirms four-bans doping in cycling
Hamburg - Cyclists caught doping face a four-year ban from next year onwards as the ruling body UCI will double the punishment for cheaters. The cyclingnews website said Wednesday that UCI boss Pat McQuaid has confirmed the tougher measures which are...

Domenech keeps France coaching job - Summary
Paris - Raymond Domenech will remain France coach and is to lead the team to the 2010 World Cup, the French football federation FFF said on Wednesday. The FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said after a board meeting that Domenech will fulfil his ...

Official: Bundesliga less affected than others by financial crisis
Frankfurt - Germany's Bundesliga is less affected than other leagues by the global financial crisis, a football league (DFL) top official said in an interview published on Wednesday. The Bundesliga may be a little less glamorous than other leagues, ...