PARIS: France international footballers Frank Ribery and Karim Benzema were charged with having had sex with an under-age prostitute Tuesday, as magistrates cracked down on an alleged celebrity vice ring.The indictments are the first stage of a formal judicial investigation that could

LIVERPOOL: The capture of England midfielder Joe Cole shows Liverpool mean business, defender Jamie Carragher warned the club`s Premier League rivals on Tuesday.Former Chelsea midfielder Cole agreed terms on a four-year contract on Monday and has flown to Liverpool`s Switzerland training

BERLIN: Germany`s national coach Joachim Loew and his three right-hand men have agreed two-year extensions to their contracts following the team`s World Cup success, press reports said Tuesday.Loew was due to sign a new deal with the German Football Federation (DFB) later on Tuesday ahead

MANCHESTER: Claims by Didier Drogba`s agent that Manchester City had held talks about signing the Chelsea superstar were dismissed out of hand by a City spokesman on Tuesday.Drogba`s agent Thierno Seydi had suggested in a radio interview that Drogba could leave Stamford Bridge before the

LEEDS: Salman Butt has insisted captaining a young Pakistan side shouldn`t be "that much of a hassle" when he leads the team in the second Test against Australia here at Headingley.Butt was thrust in to what is widely regarded as one of the most difficult jobs in world cricket after

LONDON: Nationwide, Britain`s top home-loans provider, confirmed Tuesday they will not renew their sponsorship of the England football team, as a pre-World Cup gamble backfired on the FA.Nationwide said it was "re-focusing its marketing priorities", leaving the Football Association -- the

LIVERPOOL: Steven Gerrard has hinted he will stay at Liverpool after the Reds captain revealed he was delighted by the club`s capture of England midfielder Joe Cole.Gerrard had been linked with a move to Real Madrid after Liverpool endured a dismal campaign last season, finishing seventh

GALLE: Retiring spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed Sachin Tendulkar cheaply as Sri Lanka seized control of the rain-ravaged first Test against India on Tuesday.The world`s most successful bowler, who was eight short of the 800-wicket mark in his final appearance, trapped batting

LEEDS: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has said the support for his team in the series against Australia has come as no surprise, saying even England fans like to see Ricky Ponting`s team beaten.Pakistan were cheered on to victory in two back-to-back Twenty20 victories over Australia

LONDON: The general public will be given priority for tickets for the 2012 London Olympics and everything possible will be done to fill stadiums, the chief organiser said in a newspaper interview Tuesday.Paul Deighton, the chief executive of LOCOG, the organising committee of the London

OSAKA: Japan`s football chief said Tuesday he felt FIFA inspectors had gained a "considerable understanding" of the country`s bid to host the 2022 World Cup, including its promise of global 3-D broadcasts.The Japanese bidders gave a three-hour presentation on the World Cup plans to a

LEEDS: The International Cricket Council (ICC) should ensure the controversial decision review system is used in all Test series, according to Australia captain Ricky Ponting.The referral system is not being used in Australia`s two-match series with Pakistan in England, where the second

LEEDS: Michael Clarke may be Australia`s captain in waiting but for now the batsman is adamant his main priority is to focus on making a success of his new role at number four.Clarke was made captain of Australia`s Twenty20 side after star batsman and Test captain Ricky Ponting opted out

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar`s blood is to be used in a special edition of a huge biography of the Indian cricket legend, its publishers said Monday.A giant de luxe book, the Tendulkar Opus, is coming out in February, with 10 copies being printed using his blood.The mammoth book is designed

LEEDS: Pakistan assistant coach Ijaz Ahmed has given the strongest hint yet a recall for former captain Mohammad Yousuf is being considered.Yousuf and fellow senior batsmen Younus Khan, who has been playing county cricket for Surrey, were both given indefinite bans after Pakistan`s 3-0

DHAKA: Floodlights of the Shahid Candhu Stadium of Bogra have caused trouble for Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).   The BCB has been counting Tk 1.5 lakh each month for these lights which remained switched off for the last three and a half years.The stadium had hosted international on

GLASGOW: No play was possible in the one-day international between Scotland and Bangladesh here on Monday, with rain meaning the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.Bangladesh are due to meet the Netherlands here on Tuesday but bad weather could affect that match as well.BDST:

LONDON: England cricketer Graeme Swann has been charged with drink driving, police said Monday.The Nottinghamshire off-spinner, ranked the third best Test bowler in the world, was stopped near his home in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, central England, on April 2.The 31-year-old

SARAJEVO: Bosnia`s Football Federation (NS/FSBIH) was threatened to be excluded from international competitions as it has failed to adopt statute changes requested by FIFA and UEFA, a statement said on Monday.Only 27 out of 60 delegates backed the changes aimed at replacing an

LIVERPOOL: England midfielder Joe Cole has joined Liverpool on a four-year contract from Premier League rivals Chelsea, the Anfield club announced here on Monday.Cole, 28, has agreed personal terms with the Reds and will undergo a medical in the next 48 hours, Liverpool said in a