Sport

Dalglish stirs up Suarez debate again

Date: 07 February 2012

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish hailed the return of Luis Suarez after an eight-game ban and once again insisted that he should not have been suspended in the first place.

Suarez, hit with the punishment after a Football Association board found him guilty of making a racist comment to Manchester United's Patrice Evra, was given a rapturous reception from Liverpool fans when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute against Tottenham at Anfield on Monday.

But the controversial Uruguay striker's first taste of action since December 26 ended in frustration as Liverpool were held to a goalless draw - and the former Ajax player was booked for accidentally kicking Tottenham's Scott Parker in the stomach.

Suarez can expect a hostile reception when Liverpool visit Manchester United on Saturday in the Premier League - particularly after Dalglish's latest comments.

"I'm delighted that the wee man is back. He should never have been away but we've taken the punishment and we've moved on," said the Liverpool manager after his side's eighth home draw this season.

"It would have been unfair to start him, he's not played since Boxing Day," added the Scot, who along with the club was heavily criticised for their defence of Suarez even after he was found guilty.

With England manager Fabio Capello watching from the stands, Suarez caught midfielder while trying to volley the ball in the penalty area.

Former West Ham player Parker was doubled-over in agony and the incident brought Suarez a yellow card - but one high-profile observer felt he was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney used his Twitter account to say: "If ref sees that kick from Suarez and books him for it it should be red."

Dalglish added: "He has not played since Boxing Day. Every time he gets on the ball we think he is going to do something."

Liverpool remain seventh in the table - four points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea with 14 games remaining.

As for Tottenham, they are in third spot, five points behind second-placed Manchester United.

Spurs were without manager Harry Redknapp, who was forced to abandon his flight to Anfield due to technical problems having earlier appeared at Southwark Crown Court in the closing stage of his trial on tax evasion charges.

Instead assistant manager Kevin Bond took charge for the night.

"It was a hard but fair contest," said Bond, after Gareth Bale spurned Tottenham's best chance in the closing stages.

"Harry couldn't quite be here. We knew what the side was going to be and how we were going to play. It was just a different voice.

"He (Harry) is our leader. We wanted him here.

"The last time I spoke to him he was on a plane but he obviously didn't make it.

"We had to work really hard and defend for our lives at the end.

"We didn't create many chances but we had the best chance of the match five minutes before the end, and it just was not meant to be.

"For Gareth Bale's chance, the goalkeeper stood up well and it was a big moment for us, but a point was a good result for us."

Lakers coach suspended after brush with ref

Date: 07 February 2012

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for making contact with a game official, the NBA announced on Monday.

Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president, basketball operations, said Brown was also sanctioned for failing to leave the court in a timely manner after he was ejected from the contest on Saturday in Salt Lake City.

With 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 96-87 loss to the Utah Jazz, Brown became upset by a no-call on Earl Watson after the Utah guard knocked over Pau Gasol while making a steal.

In moving onto the court in protest, Brown bumped referee Zach Zarba and was hit with the technical foul.

Brown will serve his suspension Monday when the Lakers visit Philadelphia, the NBA said.

After Saturday's game, Brown said his animated reaction to Watson's actions were intended to liven up his team.

"I was trying to give our team some juice and it didn't," Brown said. "It cost us points and helped those guys win the game."

Bell dropped from England one-day squad

Date: 07 February 2012

Experienced middle-order batsman Ian Bell was on Tuesday dropped from England's one-day squad after struggling to find his form during his team's 3-0 Test defeat to Pakistan.

The 29-year-old managed just 51 runs in six innings and failed to cope against spinner Saeed Ajmal, who finished with 24 wickets in the series. Pakistan romped to a 71-run win in the third Test on Monday.

Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs and Somerset batsman Jos Buttler were included in the 16-man one-day squad for the first time.

Buttler made his international Twenty20 debut against India last year but is yet to play for England in the 50-over format.

Alastair Cook will lead England in the four-match one-day series which starts in Abu Dhabi on February 13.

Stuart Broad will captain a 15-man Twenty20 squad that includes Nottinghamshire's Alex Hales for the three-match T20 series against Pakistan.

Paceman Tim Bresnan is also included subject to fitness.

"Bresnan's inclusion in both squads is subject to a fitness assessment during the preparation period as he continues his recovery following an elbow operation," said the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Bresnan was forced to return home from Dubai last month, barely three days into the tour, after failing to recover from last year's elbow operation.

"We have selected two squads that include both experienced international players and younger players who have performed strongly for England Lions in recent months and deserve an opportunity," said national selector Geoff Miller.

Buttler, 21, hit two centuries and a half-century in his last five innings against Sri Lanka A, including one century from just 56 deliveries, while 20-year-old Briggs is one of three spinners in the 16-man squad.

England ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

England T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann

F1 teams seek guidance on Bahrain situation

Date: 07 February 2012

Formula One teams are concerned about the situation in Bahrain but will leave the decision on whether to race there in April to the sport’s governing body and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, bosses said on Monday.

Last year’s grand prix at the Sakhir circuit was postponed and then cancelled due to pro-democracy protests that triggered a bloody crackdown.

Clashes have continued regularly since then, with activists saying more than 60 people have died since the unrest started, and have worsened in recent weeks as the Feb. 14 anniversary approaches.

“Like everyone, including the FIA and the commercial rights holder, we are concerned about the situation,” said Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn at the launch of the Swiss team’s new car before the first pre-season test in southern Spain.

“We, as the Sauber F1 team, are not in a position to judge that very well, so we have to trust in the FIA and the commercial rights holder who have the call on this.

“If they think it is the right thing to go then we will definitely go there,” she added.

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier, who is vice-chairman of the teams’ body FOTA, agreed it was up to the International Automobile Federation.

“We have commitments with regard to the Formula One championship, so it is not an easy decision to take,” he added.

“Right now we are awaiting feedback from the FIA on whether or not we go.”

Lotus chairman Gerard Lopez, who is close to Ecclestone, sounded in favour of going, however.

“What I’ve been hearing is that a number of guarantees have been given in terms of how everything will happen and so on,” he told reporters.

“So if things look good then there is no reason why we shouldn’t go to Bahrain.”