■ENGLAND
Former star hurt in crash
Former England striker Mick Channon was in stable condition on Thursday after being seriously injured in a car crash that killed one of his friends. Channon, 59, suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs, a fractured jaw and a broken arm in Wednesday’s crash on the M1 motorway in Leicestershire. He was to undergo surgery yesterday to pin bones in his arm and have his jaw wired, his son Michael said. Channon, who is now a race horse trainer, was traveling with racing agent Tim Corby, 63, who was killed in the crash. Channon’s 15-year-old son Jack was also in the car, but was not seriously hurt. Corby was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, after the Mercedes he was driving went off the road and hit a concrete pillar, Leicestershire police said.Channon, who played 46 times for England in the 1970s before embarking on a highly successful career in horse racing, was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre by helicopter.
■ENGLAND
Wright-Phillips rejoins City
England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips rejoined Manchester City on a four-year deal on Thursday in a bid to revive his career after three faltering years at Chelsea. After switching to Stamford Bridge in 2005, the 26-year-old Wright-Phillips struggled to command a place in the Chelsea team, starting just 43 matches. Chelsea, who signed him for £21 million (US$36.8 million), are thought to have recouped less than half that amount, although deals were not disclosed. The signing will help allay fears that City owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s spending power has been blunted since seeking refuge in Britain earlier this month to avoid pending corruption charges in Thailand, where the former prime minister was ousted from power in a 2006 coup.
■ENGLAND
Keane vows to help striker
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has promised to help striker Michael Chopra as he “deals with some personal problems.” Reports in England on Thursday claimed that Chopra had gone into rehab at the Sporting Chance clinic. The clinic, founded by former Arsenal star Tony Adams, aims to help sportsmen and women deal with addictions. Chopra, 24, has played once this season, coming on as a substitute against Liverpool, and it has been reported that the former Newcastle player recently split with his wife after being married for one month. Keane is determined to help him get back on track. “We are helping Michael as he deals with some personal issues and he has the full support of everyone at the club,” Keane said.
■FRANCE
Wiltord in war of words
The lawyer of former France star Sylvain Wiltord said on Thursday his client did not wish to leave top flight side Rennes. “I deny that Sylvain wants to leave — I find it shocking that they should say that. He has never wanted out,” Fabrice Henon-Hilaire said. Rennes suspended Wiltord for criticizing club coach Guy Lacombe in sports daily l’Equipe earlier this month. “Lacombe talks too much”, the former Arsenal striker told l’Equipe. “It’s no longer a footballing issue — it has become personal.” Wiltord reacted after Lacombe told him he could not be sure of a place in the first-team after just six goals last season for Rennes following his move from Lyon. Lacombe has since brought the veteran back into the fold but he was not in the team to face Stabaek of Norway in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and the coach maintained that “he wants to leave.”
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
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