Home get away job done, Tampines win
Home United continued their storming start to the S-League football season, beating Brunei DPMM 3-1 in Bandar Seri Begawan last night. Croat Stipe Plazibat's brace, one an early penalty, took his tally to six goals in two games.
Rafael Ramazotti pulled one back for the hosts before Faris Ramli sealed victory.
At Jalan Besar, another Croat Ivan Dzoni's spot kick and Khairul Amri's strike was enough for Tampines Rovers to beat Hougang United 2-1, despite Fumiya Kogure's late penalty.
Maradona may be consultant in China
RIO DE JANEIRO • Argentinian football great Diego Maradona could accept a position as a national football adviser in China, according to the 1986 World Cup winner's lawyer.
Matias Morla said his client is in talks with Chinese officials to help promote and develop the game.
The announcement comes less than three months after Maradona's compatriot, Carlos Tevez, became the world's highest-paid footballer when he joined Shanghai Shenhua in a deal reportedly worth £615,000 (S$1.07 million) a week.
XINHUA
ICs to track fans at games in Russia
MOSCOW • Football fans at next year's World Cup and this year's Confederations Cup in Russia will need special identity cards before they can watch matches, football's governing body said on Thursday, in a bid to combat football hooliganism.
Colin Smith, director of competitions for Fifa, said the Russian authorities would be responsible for issuing the identity cards. The cards will include the holder's photograph and contact details and can be used instead of visas to enter the country.
REUTERS
Stoudemire sorry over remarks on gays
LOS ANGELES • Former National Basketball Association player Amar'e Stoudemire has apologised following a backlash over his comments that he would avoid a gay team-mate.
He was roundly criticised after telling Israeli website Walla Sport that he would "shower across the street" if he found out a team-mate was gay. In a statement released late on Wednesday, Stoudemire apologised and said his remarks had been meant as a joke.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
France wild card for Sharapova in balance
PARIS • French Open chiefs said on Thursday they are reluctant to grant Maria Sharapova a wild card into this year's Grand Slam event despite the two-time champion returning from a doping ban.
The Russian tennis superstar will return to the tour on April 26 in Stuttgart, the day that her 15-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium ends.
But French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said the organisers would face a moral dilemma if they handed her a wild card, which she would need as she has dropped out of the world rankings in her absence.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
