http://www.channelnewsasia.com Latest Channel NewsAsia Sports News http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images_v1/top_mcnilogo.gif http://www.channelnewsasia.com 129 137 2008 MediaCorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT www.channelnewsasia.com http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019587/1/.html LONDON : A replay of the controversial World Cup play-off between France and the Republic of Ireland is out of the question, the French Football Federation (FFF) said Friday, even as skipper Thierry Henry said he would back the idea following his handball gaffe. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:34:54 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019588/1/.html PARIS : Bottom-placed Albi pulled off the upset of the Top 14 season so far with a nail-biting 24-23 victory over league leaders Perpignan on Friday. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:19:42 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019548/1/.html JOHANNESBURG : Rain caused the abandonment of the first one-day international between South Africa and England at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:57:23 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019570/1/.html LONDON : Roger Federer admits the prospect of finishing the year as world number one ahead of Rafael Nadal will fuel his bid to win the ATP World Tour Finals in London. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:24:35 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019582/1/.html PARIS - World football's governing body FIFA on Friday announced its decision to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) until further notice "because of government interference". AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:15:39 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019574/1/.html DUBLIN - Irish football chiefs renewed Friday an appeal for FIFA to order a handball-marred World Cup playoff with France to be replayed, after Thierry Henry said a re-match would be the "fairest solution." The Football Association of Ireland "called on the French Football Federation ... to join with it and the captains of both the French and Irish teams, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, to request a replay from FIFA," it said. Earlier Friday the French captain repeated his admission that he had controlled the ball with his hand before the decisive goal in Wednesday's disputed match in Paris, but insisted it had been an "instinctive" reaction. In a statement released in Dublin after a meeting of its management board, the FAI said that only a replay "would protect the integrity of the game worldwide and the pride of the French national team". It noted that the French Football Federation had said it would "comply with whatever FIFA decides and welcomed the French team captain's statement that a replay would be the fairest solution". "Lastly, the FAI's Board of management noted FIFA's earlier response on the issue and has sent a separate reply," it said, referring to a FIFA statement saying that it would not order a replay. Irish captain Keane also welcomed Henry's admission that a replay would be the fairest option. "As captain of the French team, to make such a statement took courage and honour, and all of us recognise that," he said. "As captain of the Republic of Ireland team, I would also be happy for a replay to happen in the interest of fair play so that whichever team qualifies, can do so with their heads held high. "We can only hope that the French Football Federation might accept the wishes of both captains in the best interests of the game," added Keane. - AFP /ls AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:06:52 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019556/1/.html LUANDA : World Cup qualifiers Ghana and Ivory Coast will clash in the first round of the African Nations Cup after the draw here Friday placed them in Group B with Burkina Faso and Togo. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:36:40 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019547/1/.html EDINBURGH : Digby Ioane has been ruled out of Australia's Test with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday as a result of a shoulder injury. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:17:15 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1019501/1/.html BOCHUM, Germany : In what one UEFA official called Europe's worst ever match-fixing scandal, investigators said Friday criminals may have netted over 10 million euros manipulating 200 games in nine countries. AFP Sports Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:03 GMT