Toure backs Manchester City’s title tilt

LONDON - Kolo Toure claims Manchester City’s early-season results prove they are in with a chance to nab this year’s Premier League title.

Ronaldo, Rooney, Arshavin among top 10 footballers with odd off-field hobbies

LONDON - Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and Russian and Arsenal striker Andrei Arshavin are among top 10 footballers with odd off-field hobbies, reports The Mirror.

FA to use Beckham and Queen to boost 2018 World Cup bid

LONDON - England football star David Beckham and the Royal Family will be used by the Football Association (FA) to boost their bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Man U angry about referees’ seeking action against Fergie

LONDON - Manchester United has expressed anger at Premier League’s referees for trying to make FA take strict action against club manager Sir Alex Ferguson for his comment on referee Alan Wiley.

Jacques Rogge set for re-election as president of International Olympic Committee

LONDON — Jacques Rogge has presided over four Olympics, led a determined fight against doping and steadied the ship after the worst ethics crisis in the movement’s history.

When Everton striker Saha ‘wanted to pack everything in’ with depression

LONDON - Everton striker Louis Saha has revealed how a spate of injuries suffered during his four year stint at Manchester United before arriving at Everton in the summer of 2008, had driven him to the brink of quitting football with depression.

Strauss hopeful of Pietersen’s recovery for South African tour

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has said that he is hopeful of star batsman Kevin Pietersen making a full recovery to be part of the squad for the winter tour of South Africa.

Strauss says Royal Armed Forces heroics inspired his Ashes charge

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed that the Royal Armed Forces had inspired him during England’s dramatic 2-1 Ashes victory against the mighty Australians.

Capello tops football managers’ rich list

LONDON - The age when managers earned less than the players they coach is well and truly over.ccording to the sports-related website FourFourTwo, England team coach Fabio Capello is the richest manager in the world, but Roy Keane is catching him up fast.

Man U, Chelsea top football players rich list

LONDON - Six Manchester United and eight Chelsea stars top the list of richest football players as determined by the sports-oriented web site FourFourTwo.com. The list is as follows:

Strauss vows that England will shine in Australia in 2010

LONDON - Andrew Strauss has already started to plot England’s defence of the Ashes Down Under.

Steel magnate Lakshmir Mittal tops 2009 UK football rich list

LONDON - London-based steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal stands at the top of a football rich list prepared by the sports-oriented web site FourFourTwo.com.

IOC concerned that all venue plans aren’t finalized for 2012 London Games

COPENHAGEN — The International Olympic Committee is concerned that organizers of the 2012 London Games have yet to finalize plans for all the sports venues.

IOC says its concerned all venue plans aren’t finalized for 2012 London Games

COPENHAGEN — The International Olympic Committee is concerned that organizers of the 2012 London Games have yet to finalize plans for all the sports venues.

Maradona says he will quit as Argentina coach if his demands are not met

LONDON - Football legend Diego Maradona has revealed that he may resign as the Argentina coach next week unless certain conditions are met.

Gerrard sets his sights on Premier League winner’s medal

LONDON - Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard says he is proud to be nearing his 500th club appearance, but adds that his real target is a Premier League winner’s medal.

Lampard confident about moving up Chelsea’s all-time scoring charts

LONDON - England midfielder Lampard is suffering an unusual slump this season, having not found the net in 10 games, but is confident about topping the goal scoring chart for Celsea sooner than later.

Akhtar hopes knee surgery would help prolong his career

LONDON - Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is in London to meet Dr Andrew Williams, who treated English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, with the hope that the specialist surgeon would help him prolong his cricketing career.

Meet the Indian arm-wrestling champ who is just 3ft 5in tall

LONDON - Joby Matthew is just 3ft 5inches tall but his arms are so strong that he has bagged one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals at international arm wrestling competitions.

Drogba’s mum was a huge fan of Yugoslav strongman Tito

LONDON - Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito’s fighting spirit and bravery enthused football star Didier Drogba’s mother Clotilde so much that she dubbed her son Tito.

FA should banish Fergie for good, says referee union official

LONDON - The union for referees has demanded that the Football Association get tough with the Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson for accusing referee Alan Wiley of being unfit and banish him permanently.

Liverpool coach Benitez maintains unhappy silence over top boss’s comments

LONDON - Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez is maintaining an unhappy silence over club co-owner George Gillett’s latest outburst.

Drogba says Vieira will add teeth to Chelsea’s title bid

LONDON - Didier Drogba has told Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to snap up Inter Milan ace Patrick Vieira in January.

Formula One rival warns Button of maximum attack

LONDON - Formula One title rival and German Sebastian Vettel has warned favourite Jenson Button that he can expect maximum attack and has vowed to win the final two races in a late bid to destroy Button’s championship dream.

Sol Campbell eyes return to Arsenal

LONDON - Sol Campbell has spoken to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger about returning to the club.

Campbell, 35, walked out last month after just one game, despite signing a five-year 40,000-pound-a-week deal, reports The Sun.

Brazilian Robinho on course for shock Man City return

LONDON - Twenty-five-year-old Brazilian superstar Robinho is on course for a shock Manchester City return - nearly a month ahead of schedule.

76ers hold off Raptors in preseason opener

LONDON, Ontario — Louis Williams scored 17 points, Andre Iguodala added 15 points and eight assists, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 107-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.

James Johnson hits last-second jumper to lead Bulls over Jazz 102-101 in NBA preseason

LONDON — Rookie James Johnson sank a fade-away jump shot from the baseline at the buzzer Tuesday to give the Chicago Bulls a 102-101 win over the Utah Jazz in an NBA preseason game.

Commissioner David Stern still hopeful of regular-season NBA game in London

LONDON — The NBA is still planning to play a regular-season game in London before the 2012 Olympics are hosted by the British capital, although commissioner David Stern said Tuesday that there is no set schedule.

Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung completes takeover of Premier League club Birmingham

LONDON — Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung’s takeover of Birmingham is complete after his investment company Grandtop Holdings took its share of ownership past the 90 percent mark.

Buttock injured Collingwood ruled out of Champions League

LONDON - England all-rounder Paul Collingwood has been ruled out of this month’s Champions League tournament due to a torn muscle in one of his buttocks.

WAGs on tour don’t affect players’ performances: Sven Goran Eriksson

LONDON - Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson has blasted players who have blamed the presence of WAGs for their team’s World Cup failure in 2005.

Green racing car to debut in Formula 3 Championship

LONDON - The world’s first green racing car, fabricated from woven flax, recycled carbon fibre and carrot pulp, will be making its competitive debut in the Formula 3 Championship finals on Oct 17.

Walcott raring to oust pretenders to his England, Arsenal throne

LONDON - Theo Walcott is raring to have a go at all pretenders to his throne, who have taken advantage of his enforced injury-related absence and sought to threaten his position with both England and Arsenal.

Theo Walcott says he’s itching to help Arsenal overcome trophy drought

LONDON - Twenty-one-year-old England football star Theo Walcott is itching to help Arsenal end their five-year trophy drought after being a frustrated spectator since pre-season following a back injury in a friendly against Valencia.