FC Porto coach fired:

PORTO: Defending European champion FC Porto fired Victor Fernandez after six months in charge and a string of poor performances. The Spaniard reportedly was to be replaced by Jose Couceiro, who this season has coached Portuguese first division team Setubal. Fernandez said he was surprised by the club’s decision because Porto was in second place in the Portuguese first division and was through to the second round of the Champions League. — AP

Tennis stars raise money:

HOUSTON: Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Jim Courier played a little fun tennis for a big cause, helping to raise more than $518,000 for tsunami relief. Roddick defeated Haas 7-6 in the feature match of the event for the Bush-Clinton Fund for Tsunami Relief. Courier lost 6-4 to McEnroe. The Houston Chronicle reported that one person who insisted on anonymity paid $2,50,000 for 50 seats at the benefit at the Toyota Centre and the US Tennis Association contributed $25,000. — AP

Australia to play Iraq:

SYDNEY: Australia will play Iraq in a football international at the Sydney Olympic stadium on March 26, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) said on Tuesday. It will be the first time the two countries have met at senior international level for more than 30 years. Australia and Iraq met twice in March 1973 as part of Australias successful 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Australia won 3-1 in Sydney with the other match ending 0-0 in Melbourne. Iraq is ranked equal 44 on the latest FIFA World Rankings ahead of Australia (58). — AP

Nakata joins Marseille:

MARSEILLE: Japan defender Koji Nakata signed a contract to play with French first-division side Marseille through the end of next season. The 18-month deal through the end of the 2005-2006 season comes less than two weeks after Nakata started a trial with the French club. Marseille coach Philippe Troussier, a former coach of the Japanese national team, has praised Nakata for his versatility. — AP

Boonen wins first stage:

DOHA: Tom Boonen of Belgium outsprinted Mario Cipollini of Italy and Robert Hunter of South Africa near the finish line to win the first stage of the five-day Tour of Qatar by 4 seconds. Boonen won the 143km stage in 3 hours, 45 minutes, 17 seconds. On Saturday, he finished second in the Doha GP. Boonen claimed three jerseys — overall leader, points leader and best time for riders under 25 years old. Cipollini and Hunter both finished 4 seconds behind Boonen, and all 133 starting riders finished the race. — AP

Dugarry is retiring:

PARIS: French World Cup star Christophe Dugarry is hanging up his boots at age 32. The striker, who scored France’s first goal of the 1998 WC final on the way to winning the title, told L’Equipe he is retiring despite receiving an offer from Benfica. “Honestly, I could not see myself heading off again to another championship, discovering another language,” Dugarry said. The last European club Dugarry played for was Birmingham City, after previous spells with Bordeaux, Milan, Barcelona and Marseille. — AP