World Sport News

Real Madrid is richest football club

2009-02-11T22:29:00.001-08:00

Real Madrid is still the top moneymaking club in world football, beating out European Cup champion Manchester United due to the plunging pound, according to the latest review of the sport’s finances.
Deloitte’s study, which ranks the 20 biggest clubs based on revenue, showed that Madrid generated Euro365.8 million in the 12 months to June 30, 2008.
The Red Devils would have ended their season leading the Football Money League if the pound had not depreciated against the Euro. Had the pound stayed steady at the June 2007 rate, United’s revenue of £257.1 million would have equated to Euro382 million rather Euro324.8 million by last June.
“Whilst Real Madrid’s 4 percent revenue growth in 2007-08 is more modest than recent years, the club has now doubled its revenues since 2002 and enjoys a lead of Euro41 million over Manchester United,” said Dan Jones of Deloitte’s sports business group.
“With the club having announced that it is budgeting for revenues of Euro400 million in 2008-09, it will be difficult for rivals to replace Real at the top of the Money League next year.”
Despite a 31st Spanish league title, Madrid’s commercial revenue dropped 5%. It is blamed on lower shirt sponsorship income following the bankruptcy of BenQ Mobile and the loss of midfielder David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
“It will be interesting to see how the club copes with the loss of the Brand Beckham effect and the challenging commercial market that clubs are now facing,” the report said.
Deloitte only used revenue as its ranking and not the wealth of individual club owners, including Chelsea’s Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Spanish league leader Barcelona was provided with an uplift, like Madrid, by individually negotiated broadcast contracts in place until 2013-14, and is third with revenue of Euro308.8 million.
“The fact that if today’s exchange rates were applied United would have finished below Barcelona, emphasises the impact that exchange rate movements have had on English clubs’ relative ranking in this year’s list,” Jones said. “Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham United can all consider themselves unlucky to have missed out on a top 20 place.”
But the list, which only contains European clubs, was still dominated by the English with seven teams, compared to six the previous year.
German champion Bayern Munich is fourth with revenue of Euro295.3 million, followed by English clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, while Italian teams AC Milan, AS Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus occupy the next spots.
Driven largely by its successful participation in the Champions League, 19th-place Fenerbahce is the first Turkish club to appear since the list was created after the 1996-97 season. Only six clubs in the top 20 did not participate in Europe’s lucrative competition.
Deloitte was investigating a period before the economic downturn took hold, but its analysts believe the strength of broadcast controls will provide a stable revenue stream in the coming years.
While Deloitte concludes that football will be resistant, not immune, to the financial meltdown, it warns club owners that they will struggle to secure credit and invest in stadiums.

The 20 richest football clubs: 1. Real Madrid, Spain, Euro365.8 million. 2. Manchester United, England, Euro324.8 million. 3. Barcelona, Spain, Euro308.8 million. 4. Bayern Munich, Germany, Euro295.3 million. 5. Chelsea, England, Euro268.9 million. 6. Arsenal, England, Euro264.4 million. 7. Liverpool, England, Euro210.9 million. 8. AC Milan, Italy, Euro209.5 million. 9. AS Roma, Italy, Euro175.4 million. 10. Inter Milan, Italy, Euro172.9 million. 11. Juventus, Italy, Euro167.5 million. 12. Lyon, France, Euro155.7 million. 13. Schalke, Germany, Euro148.4 million. 14. Tottenham, England, Euro145 million. 15. Hamburg, Germany, Euro127.9 million. 16. Marseille, France, Euro126.8 million. 17. Newcastle, England, Euro125.6 million. 18. Stuggart, Germany, Euro111.5 million. 19. Fenerbahce, Turkey, Euro111.3 million. 20. Manchester City, England, Euro104 million.

David Moyes Signs new Everton Contract

2008-10-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Manager David Moyes has ceased speculation over his future by signing a new five-year deal at Everton.
Moyes, 45, delayed signing the deal and acknowledged it may have unnerved his team after they were KO’d of the Carling Cup and the Uefa Cup.

“There have been many different things for different reasons,” Moyes told the club’s website of the delay.

“But we are here now. The big thing for me is that I am at Everton, as far as I am concerned, for another five years.”
Moyes, who’s been in control at Goodison Park since March 2002, has weathered a challenging start to the season with Everton presently fifteenth in the Premier League table with 8 points after 7 games.
And the manager, who’d have been out of contract at the end of the season, added: “The job is to make us better than we have been.

Djokovic, Ivanovic Reach Australian Open Semifinals

2008-01-23T00:53:00.000-08:00

Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchova and Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time, as Venus Williams followed her sister out of the tennis tournament today.

No. 4 Ivanovic ousted Williams 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to advance to her third semifinal in four Grand Slams. U.S. Open finalist Djokovic will appear in his fourth straight after routing David Ferrer and will next meet defending champion Roger Federer or James Blake, who play tonight.

Ivanovic, 20, underlined her emergence as a force in the women's game by recording her first victory over Williams in five attempts. The French Open runner-up will need to beat Hantuchova tomorrow to make it to her second major final.

``I was looking forward to some revenge,'' Ivanovic told reporters at Melbourne Park. ``I'm really happy with my performance and the way I came back in that second set.''

Her victory followed yesterday's win by Jelena Jankovic over defending champion Serena Williams, meaning three players from Serbia -- a nation of 10 million people -- will appear in the semifinals, as they did at the 2007 French Open.

It also produced an all-East European women's semifinal lineup, with Jankovic taking on Russia's Maria Sharapova.

Venus Williams, 27, lost her service three straight times in the opening set and broke back each time. The eighth-seeded American took until game eight to win a point on her second serve, then made a series of errors in the tiebreak, volleying into the net to lose a set to Ivanovic for the first time.

`Definitely Improved'

Williams, seeking a seventh Grand Slam title, raced into a 3-0 lead in the next set only to be broken for a fourth and fifth time. Ivanovic, who lost to Williams at last year's Wimbledon and French Open, saved two break points before closing out the victory in 1 hour, 46 minutes.

``She's definitely improved on everything in her game,'' said Williams, who lost her service 17 times at the tournament. ``That's really what it takes at this level.''

The 20-year-old Djokovic, a U.S. Open finalist in September, continued his run of not dropping a set as he overpowered fifth- seeded Ferrer 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.

The Serb, aiming for a first Grand Slam title, won the first seven games and saved two break points at 2-2 before breaking Ferrer in the sixth game, prompting the Spaniard to hurl his racket.

Baseline Battler

Djokovic, who won their 2007 U.S. Open semifinal, took Ferrer on at his own game, dominating from the baseline before struggling to close out the victory. He won on his fifth match point in 2 hours, 14 minutes.

``I even surprised myself the way I played in the first two sets,'' Djokovic said in a courtside interview. ``I'm happy I'm performing my best tennis at the major events. This is just the start.''

The 24-year-old Hantuchova, a former world No. 5, eased past 29th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2, continuing her revival after a five-year wait for a fourth major quarterfinal.

The Slovak, who has yet to meet a player ranked in the top 25, broke in the fourth game and won six straight to take the first set and build a 4-0 lead in the second. She lost her service twice before completing the win in 1 hour, 27 minutes.

Hantuchova burst on the scene with three straight last- eight appearances from Wimbledon in 2002 before dropping outside the top 50. The ninth seed defeated Ivanovic in their most recent of three meetings and lost the others.

`Opportunities'

``I guess everybody has different times when they mature,'' Hantuchova told reporters. ``I had to go through all those times and opportunities that I missed to be able to get here.''

The 18-year-old Radwanska, from Poland, capitulated after producing her best career performance -- including a victory over second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova -- in advancing to a Grand Slam quarterfinal at only her third major.

Blake must end a run of seven defeats to Federer to advance to a meeting with Djokovic and a first Grand Slam semifinal. The American has won just one of 19 sets against Federer, a tiebreak when two sets down at the 2006 U.S. Open.

``I try to learn something from all of the defeats,'' said Blake, 28. ``So far I've learned he's pretty good.''

Defending champion Federer has looked below his best in the past two rounds, needing five sets to beat an unseeded player and then struggling in the first two sets against Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.

``I know Blake's game sort of suits my game,'' said Federer, seeking a third straight Australian Open title and 13th Grand Slam. ``I've had some great matches against him where I always play my very best.''

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain will face 38th-ranked Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in tomorrow's semifinal, when Russian fifth seed Maria Sharapova will take on No. 3 Jankovic and Hantuchova will play Ivanovic. The other men's semifinal is scheduled for Jan. 24.

Beckham seeks role on Capello's England

2007-12-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

LONDON - David Beckham is eager to play under new England manager Fabio Capello — despite the stormy relationship the two shared at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old midfielder has played 99 games for England and hopes to reach No. 100 in England's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 6.

"Fabio is one of the managers players look up to and want to manage them. I hope I'll be part of his plans," Beckham told BBC Radio in an interview to be broadcast on Christmas Day. Excerpts were released by the BBC on Monday.

"I think he is a great appointment for England. Everyone wants someone leading you that has respect and success. He has definitely got that in his career."

Capello dropped Beckham from Real Madrid when the former England captain announced his move to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. But Beckham won back his place and helped Madrid win the Spanish league title last season.

"There were ups and downs with me and the manager at the time but he brought me back into the team and he had the belief in me to put me back in the team," Beckham said. "It gave me an amazing end and I was sad when he got the sack (fired) as I believe he had turned the club and the players around and given the fans what they deserved, a trophy."

Capello, who won 14 trophies with four different clubs, was appointed manager of England's ailing team on Dec. 14.

He replaced Steve McClaren, who was fired in November when England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. McClaren's first decision when he became manager in August 2006 was to drop Beckham, only to bring him back in May when England's Euro 2008 campaign was faltering.

Capello was noncommittal about Beckham's future during his first news conference on Dec. 17.

"I think Beckham, when he sets himself something, he will achieve it," Capello said then. "But I will have to make choices. I believe that Beckham is an important player for England and I will take him in serious consideration."

F1's Alonso to drive for Renault in 2008

2007-12-17T02:25:00.000-08:00

MADRID, Spain - Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is heading back to Renault. The 26-year-old Spaniard announced his return to the French team Monday after a turbulent season at McLaren.

At Renault in 2005, Alonso became the youngest driver in F1 history to win the title. He repeated in 2006.

"I am delighted to be returning to Renault," Alonso said in a statement. "This is the team where I grew up as a driver in Formula One. Now it is time for us to begin a new chapter together."

Renault said that Alonso, who agreed to a two-year contract, would drive along with Nelson Piquet Jr. The duo will make their debut testing the new R28 car at Valencia from Jan. 22-24.

"Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver lineup of 2008," Renault managing director Flavio Briatore said. "We are delighted to be welcoming Fernando back home to the team where he enjoyed his greatest success. His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known, and we look forward to forging another strong partnership."

Spanish media reported that Alonso would earn $51.3 million per season, though Renault would not confirm the figure.

Alonso had been linked with a return to Renault ever since he was released from his three-year contract with McLaren in November. A move to the French team gained momentum Friday when FIA decided against penalizing Renault for possessing confidential information about rival team McLaren.

"To be honest, the first three weeks of November, I was on a much needed vacation and during which I disconnected from Formula One," Alonso said. "The decision to choose a team did not take more than a week, as me and the people close to me were clear about what we wanted."

Alonso dismissed talk that he could have taken a year off, preferring patience while analyzing all of the possible options.

"It would have never come to me not having a drive for next season," Alonso said. "We are talking about a very important decision and since I could not get back at the wheel of a car until January or February, there was no rush."

Alonso finished third in the 2007 drivers' standings with 109 points, though his season is better remembered by rocky relations with rookie driving partner Lewis Hamilton and a spy scandal that cost McLaren $100 million and all of its constructors' championship points.

Renault finished third in the constructors' championship in 2007 with 51 points, 153 behind champion Ferrari.

Alonso made his F1 debut in 2001 with Minardi and spent three years at Renault from 2003-06. In 105 races, he won 19 and finished on the podium 49 times.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Heiki Kovalainen drove for Renault in 2007.

"Renault had a difficult year in 2007, but I know that the team has real strength in depth," Alonso said. "I am confident they can produce a fast and competitive car and be back at the top in 2008."

World's best crown beckons for Kaka

2007-12-17T02:18:00.000-08:00

PARIS (AFP) - AC Milan playmaker Kaka hopes to crown a magnificent 2007 by being named the FIFA Player of the Year on Monday.

The Brazilian has already taken the Ballon d'Or for the best European player and was also named the world's best by World Soccer magazine beating his two Monday rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Kaka also helped AC Milan to the Champions League title in 2007 as well as the World Club Cup and European Super Cup.

"We have achieved everything we should as a team," said Kaka after Milan romped to a 4-2 win over Boca Juniors in the World Club Cup in Yokohama on Sunday.

Last week, the 25-year-old was named as World Player of the Year by World Soccer.

Barcelona's Messi, who also won the young player of the year award for the second successive year, was second and Ronaldo of Manchester United was third.

In the Ballon d'Or award, organised by France Football, Ronaldo, was second and Messi third.

World Soccer readers in 48 countries contributed to their magazine's poll and Kaka gained 52.8 per cent of the votes, making him only the second player in the 26-year history of the award to receive more than half those cast.

The only other player to do so was France's Michel Platini in 1984

Kaka has won rich praise from fellow players ahead of the awards ceremony to be held in Zurich.

"He is the complete modern player," said former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos of his compatriot.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's Edmilson praises Kaka's "humility and straightforwardness".

He added that Kaka "has the aura of a leader that should make him the player to captain the Brazil national team at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups."

In the aftermath of Sunday's World Club Cup win in Japan, Kaka donated his 128,000-euro prize, for being the tournament's best player, to charities in Milan and Israel.

Argentinian ace Messi saw his year of action come to an end on Saturday when a thigh injury picked up in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Valencia ruled him out for five weeks.

Messi will miss up to seven matches, including next Sunday's crucial title duel with Real Madrid, a huge blow for Barcelona with Messi having scored eight goals already this season.

Messi also scored a sensational hat-trick in the corresponding fixture, which finished 3-3 last season.

Portuguese international Ronaldo emerged as Manchester United's star player after inspiring the club to the Premiership title last season.

His 23-goal haul saw him voted as the league's player of the year.

His club boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that Ronaldo is already one of the world's elite players.

"I don't think Cristiano needs any endorsement from me. He gets all the endorsements he needs with his performances on the pitch, but I have said time and time again that I think the boy is a marvellous player," said Ferguson.

"He is definitely one of the best players in the world. There is no question of that and his scoring record for Portugal is phenomenal. It is almost one in two games for them which is an amazing record for a young player."

Tiger Woods Wins His Ninth PGA Tour Player of the Year Award

2007-12-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Tiger Woods was voted Golfer of the Year by his U.S. PGA Tour peers for the ninth time since 1997 after winning seven tournaments, including his 13th major.

Woods, who is hosting this week's Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, earned the honor for the third consecutive year. Phil Mickelson, a three- time winner, was the only other player named on a ballot, the PGA Tour said in a press release. Vote totals aren't disclosed.

In addition to winning the PGA Championship in August, Woods closed the season with victories in four of his last five tournaments, including two of four playoff events to capture the first FedEx Cup title. He also won two World Golf Championships events.

Woods, 31, led all players with $10.9 million in earnings, the second-highest total in tour history, and won his eighth Byron Nelson Trophy with a 67.79 scoring average.

Fred Couples and Nick Price are the only other golfers to be voted Player of the Year by other tour members more than once in the award's 18-year history. Each won the award, also known as the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, twice.

Brandt Snedeker was selected as the PGA Tour's rookie of the year after capturing the Wyndham Championship and finishing in the top 10 six times. He won $2.8 million, the third-highest total for a rookie.

Steve Stricker, who ended a six-year victory drought with a win at the Barclays Championship, was voted comeback player of the year for the second consecutive season. He finished second in the FedEx Cup race behind Woods and had nine top-10 finishes.

Jay Haas, a four-time winner with 18 top-10 finishes in 27 starts on the Champions Tour, earned the player-of-the-year award on the over-50 circuit for the second consecutive season.

Australian Nick Flanagan became the first international player in the 18-year history of the Nationwide Tour to earn top honors. Flanagan won three times in 17 starts to earn an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour.

Season 2007 - Renault escape spying penalty

2007-12-07T00:02:00.000-08:00

Renault will not be penalised by Formula One rulemakers the FIA despite being found in breach of championship regulations for illegally possessing McLaren technical data.

More StoriesRenault to sue McLaren?
Team boss Flavio Briatore, and others, appeared at an extraordinary general meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council in Monaco.

Renault, the world champions in 2005 and 2006, were found in breach of article 151c of the FIA's international sporting code, namely of "being involved in any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."

Former McLaren technician Phil Mackereth was accused of taking sensitive information about the dampers from the team's cars to Renault with him when he changed jobs.

The FIA said it will explain it's reasons for not punishing Renault by the end of the week.

The decision is a slap in the face for McLaren, who were found guilty of the same breach in September when they knowingly possessed Ferrari information leaked to the team's chief designer Mike Coughlan from Ferrari's Nigel Stepney.

McLaren were fined US $100 million [£50.2 million] for their offence and thrown out of this year's constructors' world championship.

"I would like to thank Renault, our title sponsor ING and all our partners for their wholehearted support during this sensitive period," said team chief Briatore.

"I also wish to pay tribute to the team, which has handled the matter with integrity and dignity. We are pleased that we can now focus fully on on our preparations for the 2008 world championship."

The decision will give Renault the green light to sign two-time world champion Fernando Alonso next week.

Chiefs of the French manufacturer were believed to be unwilling to sanction a big money move for the Spaniard unless he would be able to score points in the constructors' championship.

Scottish lawmakers may save Trump golf resort plan after local council rejected it

2007-12-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- Scottish lawmakers on Wednesday backed government efforts to save Donald Trump's proposed $2.1 billion golf resort that would be built on an unspoiled beach near Aberdeen.

The Scottish government took the unusual step of agreeing to review Trump's application after a local council rejected it.

The project is now before the Scottish Parliament's economy, energy and tourism committee and a final decision on the project is still likely months away.

"The committee felt the decision has given a worrying message to the rest of the world that Scotland is closed for business," Tavish Scott, the head of the committee, said after the meeting.

Trump's organization has said it is considering moving the billion-pound project to Northern Ireland after Aberdeenshire Council last week threw out plans for two championship golf courses and a five-star hotel on the northeast coast.

Environmental groups and local campaigners opposed the plans to build near sand dunes that are home to rare birds, skylarks and lapwings. The area is protected as an area of special scientific interest.

"The council is being bullied," said Councilor Martin Ford who cast the deciding vote when the council became deadlocked over the proposal.

"There is an important principle at stake here," Ford said. "It is certainly true that the council has been subject to hardball corporate American tactics."

The billionaire property developer wants to turn the Menie Estate into a resort complete with two 18-hole courses, a 450-room hotel, 950 vacation homes, 36 golf villas and 500 luxury homes costing up to 1 million pounds (1.4 million euros, $2.1 million) each.

"This is not about a golf course, it's about a massive housing development. You could pave a golf course with gold and it still would not cost a billion," environmental campaigner Mickey Foote said.

The project would create 1,440 jobs across Scotland, Councilor Debra Storr said.

The Trump Organization claims it has received more than 50 offers of land to build the resort.

"An option to buy land in Northern Ireland has been signed and the clock is ticking on that at 30 days," said Neil Hobday of Trump International Scotland.

"Mr. Trump has been extremely impressed by the speed with which the Scottish Government has intervened," Hobday said.

He said Trump still wanted to build the course in Scotland.

Jose Mourinho is available, but will England come calling?

2007-12-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AP) -- Back-to-back league titles in his first seasons in English soccer suggest Jose Mourinho would be the ideal man to revive England's national team.

All the former Chelsea manager is waiting for is an approach from the Football Association

If the FA stays true to form, however, the call may never come.

The traditionally conservative leaders of English soccer have a reputation for hiring coaches who toe the party line and keep a diplomatic silence on controversial issues.

Sven-Goran Eriksson couldn't avoid hitting the headlines for his colorful private life but never said anything out of line about soccer matters. Steve McClaren, fired two weeks ago after England failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 championship, also refused to criticize his rivals, referees or, more important, his bosses.

Look at the list of coaches the FA has hired over the years.

Ron Greenwood, Bobby Robson, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan also did nothing to antagonize the FA. But they didn't win anything at international level. The FA refused to appoint the man regarded the best for the job, Brian Clough, because he was considered something of a liability.

Clough led Derby County and Nottingham Forest to their first league titles and took Forest to consecutive European Cup triumphs during a golden era for English club soccer. But Clough didn't get the job he really wanted -- coach of England -- because he didn't fit the FA's mold.

When Derby was beaten and eliminated by Juventus in the 1973 European Cup semifinal, he called the Italian players "cheats." As Forest manager, he described a referee after a UEFA Cup semifinal loss to Anderlecht as "crooked" and, during a league game, chased and punched a fan who had run onto the field.

Mourinho has some of the Clough style of management. While Mourinho called himself the "Special One" because of his achievements and potential to win more, Clough said: "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one."

Mourinho is fluent in several languages and speaks his mind on a variety of issues, mostly to support his players, often to justify his opinion and sometimes to rile the opposition.

It's a style that has made the Portugues coach popular with fans of his own team but infuriated his rivals. During his 3 1/2 years at Chelsea, Mourinho became friendly with Manchester United's Alex Ferguson but upset Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez.

His colorful quotes also made him very popular with the media. But the FA may be terrified of appointing someone who may even be critical of his own bosses, the same people who have failed to find anyone to lead the team to a title since Alf Ramsey in 1966.

Appointed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after leading FC Porto to the 2004 Champions League title, Mourinho left the Blues in September after warring with billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

It was Abramovich, rather than Mourinho, who brought in AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko. The coach felt the owner was undermining his authority.

Mourinho's media adviser, Eladio Parames, said Monday the former Chelsea manager would be interested in hearing from the FA.

"It would be an honor. He likes English soccer, the English people, the country, the players. It would be something he'd consider," Parames said. "But he's not waving his hand in the air trying to get (the FA's) attention. If he's approached, he'll reply."

The FA isn't exactly waving its hand, either.

While many potential candidates have been mentioned in the media -- from former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello to former England captain Alan Shearer -- the FA says there's no hurry to appoint anyone.

Because England failed to qualify for next year's European Championship -- the first time since the 1994 World Cup it didn't reach a major championship -- the national team has nothing but exhibitions to play before qualifying starts next season for the 2010 World Cup.

But that means talented players like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole have no one to guide them for the foreseeable future. David Beckham is stuck at 99 international appearances not knowing whether he will reach the 100 mark.

If England is going to make a run for a major title, the FA can't afford to dither or wait for another yes-man to come along.

Mourinho is available now and waiting for the call.

Prodrive rule out 2008 Formula One entry

2007-11-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

With just under four months to go before the start of next season, new entry Prodrive have admitted they will not be able to take up their place on the 2008 Formula One grid.

The Banbury-based company had hoped to use a chassis supplied by McLaren for their 2008 debut, but those plans were placed in doubt following a dispute over the legality of customer cars - and hence the team’s entry.

“Prodrive has always been committed to competing in Formula One with what has become known as a ‘customer car’,” said the statement issued on Friday. “It has been well known that our entry was made on this basis and that our entire business model was built upon this premise.

“Over the past 18 months we have put considerable effort into securing an agreement for the supply of cars and engines from McLaren and Mercedes, as well as financial backing from a partner new to the sport. It was therefore particularly disappointing to face a last-minute legal challenge to our entry, when our plans have been public knowledge for over a year.

“This legal challenge and continuing delays to the new ‘Concorde Agreement’ represent a fundamental change in circumstances, therefore we must now realistically rule out the possibility of Prodrive being on the grid in 2008.”

Despite ruling out an entry next season, Prodrive did stress that they have not abandoned their goal of competing in Formula One racing.

“We are hopeful that a new 'Concorde Agreement' between the FIA, FOA and the teams will provide clarity as to the terms on which this might be possible. When this new agreement is reached, we will be in a position to consider the extent to which we can adapt our plans for participation in the future.”

The company, led by former BAR team boss David Richards, beat 21 other entrants in April 2006 to become the 12th team on the Formula One grid for the 2008 season.

Federer edges Sampras in Malaysian exhibition match

2007-11-22T20:41:00.001-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Roger Federer overcame Pete Sampras' stubborn resistance Thursday to beat the retired legend 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) in their second Asian exhibition match.

The top-ranked Swiss star won their last encounter 6-4, 6-3 in South Korea on Tuesday, but the latest clash in Malaysia took nearly 90 minutes and proved a bit more difficult.

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Their age difference became the decisive factor -- at 26, Federer was never in danger of losing against an opponent a decade older who retired from competitive tennis five years ago.

Nevertheless, Sampras, who has won a record 14 Grand Slams, showcased his big serves and hit ferocious forehand returns down the line -- the hallmarks of his 1990s heyday.

The pair traded point for point in both sets in Malaysia's Malawati Stadium, where Sampras had the crowd gasping at his ability to prevent Federer from steamrolling over him.

"I was impressed with Pete tonight," Federer told reporters. "He played some unbelievable shots, but then again he is capable of doing that. He had an incredible serve which was so difficult to read tonight."

Federer -- who has won 12 Grand Slam titles -- said he knew that Sampras would improve after their first match in Seoul "and tonight he didn't prove me wrong."

Sampras acknowledged Federer's superiority in the match.

"I am happy with my performance tonight. I hung in there right until the end," he said.

Sampras retired in 2002, a year after his only previous meeting with Federer at Wimbledon. Federer won that fourth-round match in five sets.

They are playing three Asian exhibition matches this week that will culminate in a final get-together in Macau on Saturday.

England loses to Croatia, fails to qualify for Euro

2007-11-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

WEMBLEY, England (AP) - England will miss next year's European Championship in a huge embarrassment to the nation that invented modern soccer.

Needing only a draw at home in its final qualifier, England allowed two quick goals, got an equalizer off David Beckham's cross and then lost to Croatia 3-2 Wednesday.

It's the first major tournament England will miss since the 1994 World Cup, and is likely to lead to the departure of coach Steve McClaren, who benched Beckham for the first half and started a relatively untested goalkeeper, whose blunder on his first touch led to the game's first goal.

McClaren, much criticized since replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson in August 2006, is unlikely to stay on.

Graham Taylor quit six days after England failed to qualify for the '94 World Cup.

"No, I'm not stepping down,'' said McClaren, who made a quick exit after the final whistle.

"Ultimately I take responsibility and I accept that. It is my job to get us qualified and I failed to do that. I don't want to discuss my future.''

Beckham, too, hopes to be around for the 2010 World Cup. McClaren dropped him last year, then brought back the 32-year-old midfielder.

Wednesday's game was the first time Beckham had not started an England match since the 1998 World Cup.

"I'm not retiring,'' Beckham said.
"I have always said that from the moment I was taken out of the team and the moment I came back into the team. I'm not stepping down.''

Russia beat Andorra 1-0 on Dmitry Sychev's goal in the 39th minute to climb one point ahead of England and finish second to Croatia in Group E.

Niko Kranjcar and Ivica Olic put Croatia ahead 2-0 in the first 14 minutes, but Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch scored in the second half.

Mladen Petric got the goal that knocked out England in the 77th minute, eight minutes after he entered the match.

"I read in your papers that no Croatian player would start on your team,'' Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said to the English reporters.

"I mean, seriously, wake up.''

England, eliminated in the quarterfinals of last year's World Cup, was missing Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and John Terry because of injuries, and they watched from the team dugout.

They came on the field after the final whistle to support their teammates.

Beckham, Lampard and Gerrard, all visibly upset, stayed for a while on the field, acknowledging the crowd as Croatia's players celebrated in front of their cheering fans.

"You should see the dressing room - so disappointed to have let so many people down,'' McClaren said.

"Explanations are for later. It's very difficult to reflect after a huge disappointment, losing a game like that in front of our fans and in front of the nation.''

England, whose qualification chances dwindled when they wasted a second-half lead and lost at Russia last month, had been given new hope when Russia was beaten at Israel on Saturday.

But playing against a team that already clinched a berth in the 16-nation field, England failed to take advantage.

"We just didn't perform tonight and that's the end of it,'' Beckham said.

"We've felt we'd been given that second chance and you have to take them when they're given to you and it was handed to us on a plate like that.''

With Beckham on the bench, England fell behind when Kranjcar's 25-meter (yard) shot dipped, bounced off the field and went into the net off an arm of goalkeeper Scott Carson, who made his international debut in a friendly last week.

McClaren used Carson in place of Paul Robinson, whose play has been shaky of late, and started Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of Beckham in an effort to inject speed.

Robinson, who had played 41 England matches and was the starting goalkeeper at the World Cup, wasn't even in the squad.

But McClaren said he still backed his decision to play Carson.

"Ultimately, on a pitch like that, there's going to be mistakes and we made too many,'' McClaren said. "It's a massive pain.''

Olic made it 2-0 in the 14th minute, beating an offside trap, taking a pass from Eduardo da Silva and going around Carson before putting the ball into a corner of the net.

Beckham came on at the start of the second half in his 99th international appearance, and Jermaine Defoe came on to add offense, moves that brought cheers from fans who had jeered at halftime.

Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 56th after Defoe was fouled by Josip Simunic in the penalty area.

Beckham's cross in the 65th set up the equalizer from Crouch, who chested the ball and volleyed it past goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Petric lifted Croatia back in front with a 30-meter (yard) shot that beat Carson to the far corner.

"We fully deserve to win,'' Bilic said.

"We were a better team in the first half and especially the second half. Maybe it was a lack of concentration that stopped us from scoring more goals.''

Heavy rain left the field at Wembley Stadium waterlogged in patches at each end.

The penalty and corner areas were covered by surface water while both teams warmed up.

Field staff worked to remove divots.

Lineups:

England: Scott Carson, Micah Richards, Wayne Bridge, Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott, Sol Campbell, Gareth Barry (Jermain Defoe, 46), Frank Lampard, Peter Crouch, Shaun Wright-Phillips (David Beckham, 46), Joe Cole (Darren Bent, 80).

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Vedran Corluka, Dario Simic, Robert Kovac, Josip Simunic, Darijo Srna, Luka Modric, Niko Kovac, Niko Kranjcar (Danijel Pranjic, 75), Ivica Olic (Ivan Rakitic, 84), Eduardo da Silva (Mladen Petric, 69).