Sport news

• NASCAR fines Tony Stewart $35,000 for criticizing officials

  21-04-2016 23:59
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR fined Tony Stewart $35,000 on Thursday after he criticized the series about a potential safety hazard during races.
  
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• Oosthuizen withdraws from Olympics

  21-04-2016 23:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen withdraws from this summer's Olympics in Rio because of family and schedule issues.
  
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• Divock Origi in wait to see if he will play again this season for Liverpool after he was injured by a late Ramiro Funes Mori tackle

  21-04-2016 23:45 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Divock Origi is sweating on the result of a scan that will determine whether he can play for Liverpool again this season.
  
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• Martin Castrogiovanni admits X-rated rant at Tigers coach Richard Cockerill was 'stupid' as Racing 92 prop returns to Leicester for Champions Cup semi-final

  21-04-2016 23:40 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  NIK SIMON: The Racing 92 prop is on much friendlier terms with Claudio Ranieri han with the Tigers coach, whom he branded a ‘c***’ on a previous visit to the East Midlands.
  
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• England's St George's Park training snub for Euro 2016 build-up

  21-04-2016 23:37 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHARLES SALE: England’s Euro 2016 squad will spend only three nights at St George’s Park in a three-week build-up to the tournament. The £105m National Training Centre inot popular with players.
  
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• Australia warned Manu Tuilagi will be 'bang-on right' for tour Down Under as returning England centre adds new layers to his game

  21-04-2016 23:34 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: Based on the latest indications, it would be a wonder if the Leicester centre is not in Eddie Jones’ starting XV for the series opener against the Wallabies.
  
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• Amir Khan keeping faith that he will once again beat the odds and come through toughest fight against Canelo Alvarez

  21-04-2016 23:34 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  JEFF POWELL IN OAKLAND: Four of us were putting the world to rights in a small room at the gym across San Francisco Bay where Amir Khan is deep in training for the biggest fight of his life.
  
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• Sunderland’s Younès Kaboul: ‘It’s break point’ in battle against relegation

  21-04-2016 23:30
  
  Frenchman who abandoned fledgling tennis ambitions for football has excelled in Sunderland’s defence since his move from Spurs and believes Sam Allardyce has the right formula for Premier League survivalIf things had worked out as Younès Kaboul initially envisaged he might now have been in the midst of preparations for Roland Garros and Wimbledon.Instead the tall, powerful, cultured Frenchman finds himself serving aces purely for summer holiday fun while earning a living marshalling
  
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• Roy Hodgson says Marcus Rashford is likely to miss out on Euro 2016

  21-04-2016 23:30
  
  • England manager set to go with tried and trusted strikers
  • Roy Hodgson backs Wayne Rooney to prove people wrongRoy Hodgson has described it as “looking unlikely” that Marcus Rashford will force his way into England’s plans for Euro 2016 and made it clear he will place his trust in more experienced forwards, with the England manager hoping Wayne Rooney will be motivated by the continuing criticism of his performances.Hodgson wants Rooney to use the scrutiny as a for
  
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• Liverpool’s Divock Origi faces six weeks out with ankle injury

  21-04-2016 23:30
  
  • Belgium international’s injury deals blow to Europa Leage hopes
  • Everton’s Ramiro Funes Mori apologises for foul that brought red cardLiverpool’s pursuit of the Europa League title has been dealt a severe blow with Divock Origi expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks with ankle ligament damage.The in-form Belgium international, who scored his 10th goal of the season in Wednesday’s derby defeat of Everton, was carried off at Anfield as a result of an ap
  
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• Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge targets 100-goal mark for club

  21-04-2016 23:30
  
  • Daniel Sturridge reached half-century in drubbing of Everton
  • Striker claims fourth goal in derby should have been credited to himDaniel Sturridge has set himself a target of 100 goals for Liverpool after reaching his half-century in the derby victory over Everton.The striker came off the bench to score Liverpool’s third in the 4-0 defeat of Roberto Martínez’s team and could reclaim his regular starting role because Divock Origi suffered an ankle injury during Wed
  
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• Joleon Lescott set to be sold by Aston Villa following relegation with club looking to rid defender as part of a summer clear-out

  21-04-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Aston Villa will look to offload controversial central defender Joleon Lescott as part of a summer clear-out following relegation. Lescott has been a controversial figure
  
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• Chelsea target Everton’s John Stones again amid squad overhaul

  21-04-2016 23:30
  
  • Chelsea stress fresh confidence in thriving youth academy
  • Manchester City and Barcelona among rivals for John StonesChelsea will revive their pursuit of Everton’s John Stones this summer despite a recent slump in the England centre-half’s form but insist they retain confidence in a hugely successful youth team to provide “the next John Terry” in the near future.They visit Manchester City in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final on Friday, in the holders&rs
  
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• Sanchez double lifts Arsenal into third place

  21-04-2016 23:19
  Arsenal's resurgent Alexis Sanchez scored twice to help ease their top-four jitters in a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League at a less than full Emirates Stadium on Thursday. Consecutive draws had all but ended Arsenal's chances of overhauling Premier League leaders Leicester City and they began the night only a point above fifth-placed Manchester United in the battle to secure Champions League football.
  
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• Kelly Holmes: I was deprived of gold medals by drug cheats

  21-04-2016 23:00
  
  • Holmes fears she never competed in a clean race at the Olympics
  • ‘The bronzes and silvers – some of the people above me have cheated’Kelly Holmes has admitted for the first time she fears she never competed in a clean race at the Olympics or world championships. Britain’s double Olympic gold medallist also revealed her frustrations that she was deprived of major championship medals by athletes who cheated.“In the Commonwealth Games I reckon I was probab
  
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• Aaron Mauger’s running revolution gives Leicester hope against Racing

  21-04-2016 23:00
  
  Coach has transformed Leicester’s style by giving his players the confidence to ‘play every blade of grass’ and the acid test comes against Dan Carter’s Racing 92Over the years Leicester have not been a club to rush into revolution, evolving from within in a boot-room culture reminiscent of Liverpool FC in the 1970s and 1980s, but they have taken a markedly different turn this season under the influence of Aaron Mauger, the former New Zealand centre who finished his playi
  
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• Arsenal must secure Alexis Sanchez's future, but fans boycott won't force Arsene Wenger out... FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

  21-04-2016 22:54 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  SAMI MOKBEL: Arsenal will be busy in the transfer market trying to bolster their squad this summer. But their most important piece of business may be signing Alexis Sanchez to a new long-term contract.
  
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• Former Scotland captain Mike Blair takes early retirement and will take up coaching role with Glasgow

  21-04-2016 22:16 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Former Scotland skipper Mike Blair will take up a coaching role with Glasgow after announcing his retirement. Blair has seen his career ended early by a bout of concussion.
  
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• Jamie Vardy earning an extra one-game ban would be mightily excessive... his dismissal against West Ham was harsh and could see Leicester suffer in this magical season

  21-04-2016 21:29 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  LAURIE WHITWELL: All those hours spent lifting heavy moulds for medical sprints into furnaces wouldn't have been in Jamie Vardy’s mind when he raced through on goal against West Ham.
  
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• British swimmers lose no sleep over late Rio schedule

  21-04-2016 21:28
  By Alan Baldwin BATH, England (Reuters) - British swimmers and coaches are losing no sleep over the prospect of late night racing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August. With media commitments, the post-race warm down, drug testing and then the transport home, the top swimmers in Rio will not be getting to bed until the early hours. "When that was first announced we made a conscious decision not to make a song and dance about it," Britain's head coach Bull Furniss told reporters on Thursday af
  
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• Oosthuizen latest top golfer to skip Rio Games

  21-04-2016 21:16
  (Reuters) - Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on Thursday became the third high-profile golfer to withdraw from this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, citing family and schedule issues. South African Oosthuizen follows what could become a pattern, started last week by Fiji's former world number one Vijay Singh and continued on Tuesday by Australia's 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott. "I have always represented South Africa with pride so didn't make my decision without a great
  
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• Battle of Britain on cards as Anthony Joshua sets up first title defence

  21-04-2016 21:02
  
  • Tyson Fury hoping to fight Anthony Joshua if both remain unbeaten
  • Johann Duhaupas favoured by Joshua’s promoter to be next opponentTyson Fury will be praying that whoever Anthony Joshua chooses for the first defence of his world heavyweight title at the O2 Arena on 25 June, the challenger brings no more ambition than did Charles Martin at the same venue two weekends ago, when the American surrendered the IBF belt with a minimum of credible resistance.Fury, who defends his WBA
  
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• Freddie Burns learns that Leicester is the club where the team is the star | Dean Ryan

  21-04-2016 21:00
  
  The Tigers’ maverick No10 has begun to add maturity to his game as his side prepare to face Dan Carter and Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup semisWhen Leicester kick off their European Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Sunday afternoon we will get the chance to see a master and a rapidly blossoming apprentice face off as the hubs of their teams.We all know about the excellence of Dan Carter, Racing’s World Cup-winning, former
  
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• Simona Halep crashes out in Stuttgart

  21-04-2016 20:53 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Fourth seed Simona Halep crashed to a shock defeat to German qualifier Laura Siegemund in Stuttgart's Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.Halep failed
  
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• Kirsten Flipkens crashes out early in Istanbul

  21-04-2016 20:53 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Kirsten Flipkens crashed out of the Istanbul Cup with a straight-sets second-round defeat to world number 129 Kateryna Kozlova.Ukraine's Koz
  
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• Alexis at the double to show absent fans what they are missing

  21-04-2016 20:53 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Alexis Sanchez scored a brace as Arsenal moved up to third in the Barclays Premier League with a victory over West Brom on a night when there were
  
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• Swindon Town fine three players over ‘laughing gas’ video

  21-04-2016 20:52
  
  • Drissa Traoré, Jeremy Balmy and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill sanctioned
  • Trio have missed past three Swindon games but will be available this weekendSwindon Town have fined three of their players who appeared on a social media video apparently inhaling laughing gas.Drissa Traoré, Jeremy Balmy and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill have missed the League One club’s past three matches, pending an internal investigation which culminated in a disciplinary meeting on Thursday. Cont
  
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• Harry Kane and Dele Alli confirm 'Time to go Massimo' video calling for Leeds owner Cellino to leave Elland Road is a hoax

  21-04-2016 20:43 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Dele Alli have confirmed a video posted on social media that shows four Premier League players saying 'Time to go Massimo' is a hoax.
  
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• Harlequins buoyed by return of Joe Marler and Nick Evans to face Grenoble

  21-04-2016 20:36
  
  • Marler back in Quins squad for European Challenge Cup semi-final
  • Evans returns from broken leg ahead of scheduleHarlequins’ bid to reach the European Challenge Cup final has been boosted by the return of Joe Marler and Nick Evans for the semi-final against Grenoble at the Stoop on Friday.Marler has served his two-game suspension following the “Gypsy boy” comment he directed at Wales’s Samson Lee during the Six Nations while Evans is fit to return to the benc
  
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• Judd Trump produces tantalising display to beat Liang Wenbo in World Championship at the Crucible 

  21-04-2016 20:23 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Judd Trump produced a great escape to keep alive his hopes of a first Betfred World Championship title. He came from being 7-3 down against Liang Wenbo to win on Thursday.
  
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• Louis van Gaal: Marcus Rashford rivals the best I have brought through

  21-04-2016 20:18
  
  • Louis van Gaal says teenager is similar to Kluivert, Müller and Iniesta
  • Manchester United manager confident going into FA Cup semi-finalLouis van Gaal has brought through some pedigree young players in his time and believes Marcus Rashford has the same qualities as Patrick Kluivert, Thomas Müller, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, his former charges at Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively.“A good manager should always try to have a mix of yo
  
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• Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin admits he hopes Leicester win the title... days before facing Premier League leaders 

  21-04-2016 20:02 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin admits he wants Leicester to win the title just days before facing the Premier League leaders. The Swans take on Claudio Ranieri's men on Sunday.
  
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• Leicester's Vardy accepts FA charge

  21-04-2016 20:01
  Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has accepted a Football Association improper conduct charge following his red card in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Ham United. Premier League title favourites Leicester, who are five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur with four games remaining, will be without 22-goal Vardy for this weekend's home clash with Swansea City after he was dismissed for diving. The fact that Vardy is not contesting the charge, relating to his angry reaction to the match officials, mean
  
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• PFA Championship Team of the Year features 12 players for the first time ever after Daniel Ayala and Michael Dawson picked up equal number of votes

  21-04-2016 19:57 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Defenders Daniel Ayala of Midlesbrough and Hull's Michael Dawson received an equal number of votes to share one of the centre-back positions in the PFA's Championship Team of the Year.
  
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• Leicester and Tottenham dominate PFA selection

  21-04-2016 19:53
  LONDON (Reuters) - Players from Premier League title-chasers Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur dominated the Professional Football Association's (PFA) team of the year announced on Thursday. Four players from each club were voted in with Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham United the only other clubs represented in the eleven. Not surprisingly Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who leads the scoring charts with 24, was joined by Leicester's Jamie Vardy, whose 22 goals have fuelled leader Leice
  
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• Stoke manager Mark Hughes calls for clarification on 'grappling' laws

  21-04-2016 19:52 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mark Hughes feels his Stoke side have suffered unfairly in the past when the matter has come to the fore. The 52-year-old believes there needs to more clear guidance for clubs on the issue.
  
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• Leicester and Tottenham dominate PFA Premier League team of the year

  21-04-2016 19:52
  
  • Four players each from Premier League top two in PFA XI
  • Women’s team has three players each from Chelsea and Manchester CityLeicester City and Tottenham Hotspur make up the majority of the PFA Premier League team of the year, with eight of the notional XI coming from the two sides who are contesting the title.The team was to be announced at the Professional Footballers’ Association awards on Sunday but the announcement was brought forward. Included in the side are the L
  
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• Leicester’s Jamie Vardy accepts FA charge but hopes to avoid extended ban

  21-04-2016 19:51
  
  • Vardy requests personal hearing to put case for receiving only a fine
  • Leicester striker’s case over reaction to red card to be heard next weekLeicester City have informed the Football Association that Jamie Vardy has accepted the improper conduct charge he received following his dismissal against West Ham United but the striker has requested a personal hearing in the hope he can avoid an extended ban. Related: Leicester and Tottenham offer hope by tinkering less and avoiding
  
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• Worried about Zika, MLB players question Puerto Rico games

  21-04-2016 19:49
  
  MIAMI (AP) — Players from the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed concerns about playing their two-game series next month in Puerto Rico because of the Zika virus.
  
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• Jamie Vardy accepts FA improper conduct charge but requests personal hearing as Leicester City striker faces extra game ban

  21-04-2016 19:40 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy could miss their upcoming two matches after accepting the Football Association's charge for improper conduct. 
  
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• Arsenal vs West Brom LIVE score: Plus Premier League table

  21-04-2016 19:39 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Arsenal host West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium to wrap up the midweek top flight coverage.
  
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• Rio Olympics 2016 official countdown begins as the torch is lit in ancient Olympia

  21-04-2016 19:36 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  On a glorious day at the ancient stadium in Olympia, actress Katerina Lehou, playing a high priestess, lit the torch from the rays of the sun at the temple of Hera, using a parabolic mirror.
  
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• PFA Team of the Year 2016 snub for Arsenal star Mesut Ozil as Leicester City and Tottenham dominate

  21-04-2016 19:33 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The PFA tweeted their XI on Thursday afternoon with Ozil's name left out at the expense of Dimitri Payet, N'Golo Kante, Dele Alli and Riyad Mahrez in the four-man midfield.
  
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• Oosthuizen is latest top golfer to skip Rio Games

  21-04-2016 19:13
  (Reuters) - Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on Thursday became the third high-profile golfer to withdraw from this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, citing family and schedule issues. South African Oosthuizen follows what could become a pattern, started last week by Fiji's former world number one Vijay Singh and continued on Tuesday by Australia's 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott. "I have always represented South Africa with pride so didn't make my decision without a great
  
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• Two dead after new bike lane collapses in Rio

  21-04-2016 19:10
  At least two people were killed on Thursday when part of a new cycle lane collapsed under crashing ocean waves in the Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro, the city's fire department said. The search operation is still under way." Pedro Paulo Carvalho, secretary of the municipal government, said on local television that the cause of the crash was being investigated. It was part of a more than 3 kilometre-long cycle lane opened in January in an urban regeneration project to spruce up the city for the O
  
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• Manchester United duo Michael Carrick and Daley Blind showcase their passing skills in Forex Four challenge

  21-04-2016 19:04 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Michael Carrick and Daley Blind set aside their quest to help Manchester United achieve a top-four finish this season by playing a light-hearted game with a twist.
  
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• Liverpool fans react angrily to 'Manchester United's Michael Owen' being international ambassador

  21-04-2016 18:59 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Owen's acrimonious departure to Real Madrid in 2004 and his subsequent decision to join arch rivals Manchester Unitedhas left a sour taste in some supporters' mouths.
  
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• Rafael Nadal sees off Albert Montanes to book Barcelona Open quarter-final with Fabio Fognini

  21-04-2016 18:54 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open by beating Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 Thursday. The Spaniard will now face Fabio Fognini who defeated Viktor Troicki.
  
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