<![CDATA[Straits Times Interactive - SPORT]]> en-us Copyright 2005 Straits Times Interactive. 23 Nov 2009 22:00 GMT 23 Nov 2009 22:00 GMT 60 <![CDATA[Straits Times Interactive]]> http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/others/rss/sti_rss_logo.gif 120 31 <![CDATA[Henry considered quitting]]> PARIS - THIERRY Henry says the outcry over his hand ball in France's World Cup playoff against Ireland pushed him to the brink of international retirement, and the Barcelona striker is upset that he was not backed by his own federation.

Henry spoke about the fall out from his already infamous hand ball incident that has tarnished his reputation in separate interviews with sports daily L'Equipe and a French radio station on Monday.

]]> 24 Nov 2009 01:48 GMT <![CDATA[Chicago boxer dies after bout]]> PHILADELPHIA - A FORMER national Golden Gloves boxing champion died two days after collapsing following a bout in Philadelphia.

Boxing promoter Dominic Pesoli said 25-year-old Francisco Rodriguez died Sunday night after losing a USBA super bantamweight bout against Teon Kennedy on Friday night.

]]> 24 Nov 2009 00:17 GMT <![CDATA[Wigan players to refund fans]]> LONDON - WIGAN Athletic's players have agreed to refund the club's travelling fans after Sunday's humiliating 9-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

'As a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed ... and this is something we feel we owe the fans,' captain Mario Melchiot told the club's website (www.wiganlatics.co.uk) on Monday.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 23:44 GMT <![CDATA[French bonus claims ridiculed]]> PARIS - FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech on Monday dismissed claims that he had received a bonus of 862,000 euros (S$1.78 million) for successfully guiding the side to next year's World Cup finals.

The combative 57-year-old - whose team reached the finals in controversial circumstances last Wednesday as Thierry Henry's double handball set up the decisive goal in the 2-1 aggregate victory over the Republic of Ireland - told France Bleu that France Football's claims over his bonus were way over the mark.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 23:06 GMT <![CDATA[Fifa to hold extraordinary meet]]> LONDON - FIFA will hold an extraordinary meeting before next month's World Cup draw to discuss Thierry Henry's handball in the qualifiers and the discovery of a match-fixing ring by German police.

The trouble surrounding the Algeria-Egypt qualifier could also be on the agenda of the world governing body at an executive meeting to be held in Cape Town on Dec 2, two days before the World Cup draw.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 22:45 GMT <![CDATA[Messi injured, may not play]]> BARCELONA (SPAIN) - BARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi's fitness for Tuesday's Champions League match against Inter Milan will be a game-time decision.

Messi, who limped out of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao with a leg muscle injury, was the focus on Monday as Guardiola fielded several questions about the 22-year-old midfielder's health.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 22:34 GMT <![CDATA[Bryans hit by defeat]]> LONDON - AMERICAN duo Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan saw their hopes of ending the year as the world's best doubles team fading away as they lost their opener 6-4 6-4 to Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram at the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday.

They now have to win the title here and hope Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic lose their next two matches after the pair's defeat on Sunday in the first of three round-robin matches.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 22:30 GMT <![CDATA[Soderling torments Nadal ]]> LONDON - ROBIN Soderling is unlikely to be on Rafael Nadal's Christmas card list this year after once again getting under the Spaniard's skin at the ATP World Tour Finals.

Nadal's slim hopes of reclaiming the world number one spot from Roger Federer were hit when he lost 6-4 6-4 to the Swede on Monday in the first of his three round-robin matches.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 22:12 GMT <![CDATA[James hopeful over injury]]> LONDON - PORTSMOUTH'S England goalkeeper David James has played down the latest injury he suffered in the warm-up for Sunday's Premier League game at Stoke City.

'I had a scan this morning and it's just a minor tear, so in some respects I'm happy. We thought it could be worse,' the 39-year-old told Talksport radio on Monday.

]]> 23 Nov 2009 22:08 GMT