No problem with Jose, says Schweinsteiger

A defiant Bastian Schweinsteiger has told Jose Mourinho he could still help Manchester United if given a chance. The midfielder insisted there is "no problem" with the manager, despite being excluded from the English club's first-team squad.

Schweinsteiger will retire from international football following today's friendly between Germany and Finland at Borussia-Park. Yet the 32-year-old believes he can still play at the highest level after being demoted by Mourinho.

THE GUARDIAN

Maradona puzzled by 'stolen' passport claim

BUENOS AIRES • Diego Maradona was not able to leave Argentina over the weekend for Dubai because his passport had been reported "stolen", according to his lawyer.

"It's a very rare occurrence," said Diego Morla, the football legend's lawyer. "They told him his passport had been reported as stolen despite Diego holding it in his hands! Diego is really surprised by this saga, which has strangely happened right after he criticised the government."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Sports body chief quits after Australian slump

MELBOURNE • Simon Hollingsworth, the head of Australia's main sports funding body, the Australian Sports Commission, has stepped down. His decision came after the country posted its worst finish on the Olympic medals table since 1992 and won half the number of gold medals it had targeted.

Hollingsworth's controversial Winning Edge funding programme attracted heavy criticism from Australian Olympic Committee head John Coates.

REUTERS