Fergie escapes ban

LONDON: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not face disciplinary action over his latest critcisms of a referee, the Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday. Ferguson was furious with Mark Clattenburg for sending-off Darren Fletcher during English champions United’s 1-1 draw away to Birmingham City on Sunday. Afterwards the Scot suggested Clattenburg had been inconsistent this season but the FA, England’s governing body, have decided his remarks did not mean he was alleging bias or questioning the official’s integrity. “No action will be taken in relation to Sir Alex Ferguson,” an FA spookesman said.

Ferrero limps out

AUCKLAND: The Heineken Open lost a second drawcard on Wednesday when former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero limped out of the second round with an ankle injury. The loss of the third seed as he trailed Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer 3-1 in the first set followed the withdrawal from the Auckland event on Monday of Argentina’s David Nalbandian with an abdominal injury. The Spaniard is unsure if he will be able to recover in time for the Australian Open next week, but is hoping for the best.

Nalbandian pulls out

MELBOURNE: Argentina’s David Nalbandian has withdrawn from next week’s Australian Open with an abdominal tear, tournament officials said on Wednesday. The former Wimbledon finalist, who at one time reached three in the world but has dropped to a current 63 ranking, was unable to compete this week in a tournament in Auckland after sustaining the injury while warming up. Nalbandian, 28, notified Australian Open officials on Wednesday that he was unfit to compete in the opening Grand Slam of the year. He was

making a comeback from a hip

operation that has sidelined him since last May.

USA World Cup bid

NEW YORK: Dallas, Miami and Seattle are among the 18 cities being included in the bid proposal as the United States tries to land the 2018 or 2022 World Cup tournament. The bid committee’s official bid book names 18 cities with a total of 21 stadiums. The American bid will be officially submitted to FIFA in May and a decision on the host is expected by the end of the year. The 18 cities comprise; Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, New York, Boston, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa. — AFP

CSKA loan Maazou

MOSCOW: Russian three-time champions CSKA Moscow said on Tuesday they have loaned Nigerian forward Moussa Maazou to French top flight side Monaco. CSKA said on their official site that Monaco have the right to buy the 21-year-old striker, who made his debut for CSKA in March last year, for five million euros

after his loan expires at the end of the season.

Dermitzakis fired

KOMOTINI: Greek club Panthrakikos Komotini have appointed Pavos Dermitzakis as their new coach replacing Frenchman Albert Cartier who was sacked on Wednesday. Dermitzakis will be the club’s third coach this season as they have managed just two draws from 15 games. Cartier joined Panthrakikos after the first match of the season when Romanian Ilie Dumitruescu was fired, but he failed to secure a single victory resulting in his sacking.