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Agassi amazed by ‘golden age’ of tennis Page 18 BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett showed no signs of any lingering bad blood between them as the New York Knicks snapped their 11-game losing streak in Boston with a 89-86 win over the Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) series on Thursday. New York's Anthony and Boston's Garnett had jawed at each other throughout a testy contest earlier this month, which continued after the game when Anthony tried to confront Garnett at the Boston team bus. Anthony received a onegame suspension for his role in the incident. On Thursday, the pair exchanged a fist bump before the tipoff and were all about business. Anthony led the way with a game-high 28 points while Amar'e Stoudemire, Jason Kidd and Iman Shumpert all reached double figures to help SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 the Knicks (26-14) cement their place at the top of the Eastern Conference's Atlantic division. Garnett was restricted to just eight points, but also contributed 12 rebounds for Boston. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo added 23 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists while Paul Pierce weighed in with 22 points as the home team slipped to 20-22 for the season with their fifth straight defeat. There were 17 lead changes but none in the final quarter as Anthony hit the 20-point mark for his 21st straight game. HORENTS TO BE KNOWN AS PELICANS The NBA’s New Orleans Hornets will become the Pelicans beginning in the 2013-14 season, team owner Tom Benson announced on Thursday. Benson said the new name — unveiled complete with a logo of a stylised bird with a fierce glare — is nod to the pelican’s long association with the state of Louisiana, nicknamed ‘The Pelican State’. The pelican has been the state bird of Louisiana for more than a century and can be found on the state flag and seal. Benson also noted that the species was nearly wiped out in Louisiana, but has come back and was removed from the endangered species list in 2009. “When we purchased the basketball team, it was a priority to change the name to reflect our culture, our community and our resolve,” Benson said. “The Pelican does that.” The team kept the Hornets nickname when it relocated from Charlotte for the start of the 2002-03 season. New Orleans previously hosted the Jazz from 1974-79 until the franchise left for Salt Lake City and kept that nickname. Results: New York Knicks bt Boston Celtics 89-86; Phoenix Suns bt LA Clippers 93-88; Toronto Raptors bt Orlando Magic 97-95. WASHINGTON — The Montreal Canadiens used a fourgoal barrage to rout Washington 4-1 on Thursday and leave the Capitals still searching for their first win of the lockoutreduced National Hockey League (NHL) season. Second period goals from Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov, Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges secured back-toback victories for the Canadiens after a lacklustre seasonopening loss to Toronto. "We took advantage of our powerplay, especially in the second period," Montreal coach Michel Therrien told reporters. "The powerplay gave us a good chance to win this hockey game." Canadiens netminder Carey Price stopped 30 shots and was rarely tested before a Joey Crabb goal with 2:33 remaining ended the veteran goalie's shutout bid. "Things haven't been going our way," Capitals first-year coach Adam Oates said. "The team is probably a little fragile and we gave them a five-onthree goal, which right away took the wind out of our sails a little bit." Montreal opened the scoring early in the second period when Plekanec netted from the right-wing circle with the Canadiens enjoying a twoman advantage. Less than a minute later, the Canadiens added another powerplay goal when Markov beat back-up Michael Neuvirth to the stick side. With 11 minutes left in the period, the Canadiens made it 3-0 when Gionta caught the Capitals napping and fired an uncontested, five-foot wristshot high to the gloveside to silence a sold-out Verizon Center crowd of 18,506. Gorges completed the scor- Four Omanis in qualifiers of ITF junior tourney Page 19 Snedeker, Choi share lead as Tiger lurks KJ Choi of South Korea holds up his ball after making his par putt on the eighth hole during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, on Thursday. Mickelson finds first round taxing at Torrey Pines SAN DIEGO — Having begun this week in 'damage limitation' mode after making unwise public comments about his tax concerns, Phil Mickelson made an erratic start to the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday. A three-time champion at the picturesque Torrey Pines venue which hugs the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, Mickelson struggled on the greens on the way to a levelpar 72 in the opening round. The American left-hander offset four birdies with four bogeys on the easier North Course and knows he will have to respond with a low score on the tougher South layout in second round if he is to climb into contention. "There are some low scores out there if you play the course right and effectively," Mickelson told reporters about 7,698-yard South. "There are probably half the holes where you've got to play for par and the other half you can make some birdies." Asked if it was possible for a player to win the tournament without scorching the North layout, Mickelson replied: "Sure. It's going to take some exceptional golf over on the South, but three of the rounds (this week) are on the South. "I've got to shoot something in the sixties, and see if I can get a couple of putts to go (in). I putted very poorly today so I've got to get that putter going. If I can putt well, hopefully, the mid-sixties." Mickelson, who has twice apologised this week for what he described as "insensitive" and "dumb" comments about soaring tax rates for millionaires in his native California, totalled 30 putts in the opening round. "I didn't play the best. I hit it poorly. I putted poorly," the four-times major winner said. "But I love being here at Torrey Pines. The golf course is in great shape, the greens are as firm as I've ever seen TORONTO — Instead of the regular 82-game endurance test, the National Hockey League (NHL) season has turned into a survival of the fittest as teams grapple with a rapid-fire schedule and mounting injuries in the lockoutshortened campaign. With 48 games packed into a 99-day window, injuries have already become the wild card in an unpredictable sea- them and I'll see if I can get it going tomorrow." Mickelson, who won the first of his three Farmers Insurance Open titles 20 years ago, felt he had paid the penalty on Thursday for being "very lethargic" on the first tee. "I've got to get my head a little bit more focused on the shots," the 42-year-old said. "I haven't been as mentally focused starting out, so, hopefully, I'll be able to turn that around tomorrow. "Something I'm going to be working on tomorrow is getting a better mental picture of the shot I'm trying to hit and create it, trying to hold it longer while I'm creating the swing. I haven't been as sharp as I need to be." Asked whether he had been criticised by any of the fans at Torrey Pines on Thursday because of his tax comments, Mickelson replied: "Nothing negative. There have been some good positive ones though." Mickelson hinted after last week's Humana Challenge he was considering making "drastic changes" and might leave California because of soaring federal and state tax rates but has since said he should have kept his thoughts to himself. "I made a big mistake talking about this stuff publicly, and I shouldn't have done that," he told reporters on Wednesday. "It was insensitive to talk about it publicly to those people who are not able to find a job, that are struggling paycheck to paycheck." Mickelson, a 40-times winner on the PGA Tour, has piled up career earnings of more than $67 million and considerably more via corporate endorsements and his golf course design company. According to Forbes magazine, he earned $43 million in endorsements in 2012, second only to Tiger Woods among golfers and seventh among all athletes. — Reuters son that is not yet a week old. The Toronto Maple Leafs were not quite on survival mode on Thursday but the toll taken by three games in four nights and an injury to All-Star winger Joffrey Lupul was clear in their 7-4 loss to the New York Islanders. Coming off a big away win over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto returned home and came out SAN DIEGO — While most eyes were on six-time champion Tiger Woods as he briefly moved within a stroke of the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, Brandt Snedeker launched his title defence in barnstorming style. Snedeker, who has posted four top-10s in his previous six appearances in the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, charged into a tie for the lead with South Korean KJ Choi after carding a flawless sevenunder-par 65 in the opening round. The fast-talking American birdied four of his first nine holes before picking up three more shots after the turn on the easier North Course, one of two layouts hosting the fourth PGA Tour event of the year. "Obviously, a great start," FedExCup champion Snedeker told reporters after a mainly overcast and calm day at Torrey Pines. "It was nice to be back here defending. The golf course is in great shape and to play the way I played today was nice. "I drove the ball really well, didn't make too many mistakes and, when I did, my putter saved me. "It was a great day, but I realise we've got three more of them (rounds) to go and I've still got the hard course to go, so not too much excitement yet." Choi birdied three of his all guns blazing to race to a 3-1 first period lead. The Leafs, however, ran out of gas midway through the second period as the Islanders struck five straight goals, including a pair each from Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner, to steal the win and headed to Boston for a meeting with the Bruins yesterday. "You're realistic, that is the second half of a back-to-back, last four holes on the tougher South layout to join Snedeker at seven under while Woods, who got to six under after a storming seven-under run from the fifth to the 13th, finished bogey-par-bogey-par for a 68 on the South. "I made a few mistakes out there, but I made some nice plays as well," said Woods, whose charge came immediately after he had double-bogeyed the fourth. "We couldn't ask for better conditions to score than we had today." it's not an excuse, it's just part of what you have to do," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle told reporters. "I think we have nine backto-backs and seven of them are in the same situation where we have the opposition here waiting while we are playing on the road. "What you do is you try to mix and match your personnel and when you do get a lead Canadians Mike Weir and Adam Hadwin, who both started out on the North course, and Britain's Ross Fisher were among a group of eight players knotted on 66. ELBOW INJURY Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, is in good position to end a run of 17 consecutive missed cuts on the PGA Tour dating back to 2011, after being hampered by a lingering elbow injury. "I've tried to have a positive outlook as bad as I've played you stick to the game plan and make the simple play. "Giving up seven goals isn't usually conducive to winning." With only a six-day training game, the first few weeks of the regular season were expected to produce some wacky results. The topsy-turvy start left the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings entering Thurs- and as much as I've struggled," the 42-year-old said. "I'm happy with the progress I'm making. My putter was just really hot today." Snedeker, who tied the North Course record in 2007 with a blistering 11-under-par 61 in only his third start as a PGA Tour member, has always felt comfortable at Torrey Pines. "The golf course just fits my eye really well," he said. "I come in hitting the ball the right speed, reading the right day's action still searching for their first win while the Philadelphia Flyers, another Cup favourite, were 0-3 out of the gate before a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers. Part of the Kings and Flyers troubles can be traced to injuries, Los Angeles losing defenceman Matt Greene for the season while Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell is set sit out two months with a broken lines and when you do that, and you have that kind of confidence, it kind of bleeds into the rest of your game." Choi, an eight-times winner on the PGA Tour, was delighted with his impressive start on the challenging South layout. "My goal today was a couple under par," he smiled after mixing eight birdies with a lone bogey. "I hope that this momentum just carries on into tomorrow and the weekend." Phil Mickelson, a threetimes champion here whose tournament preparation was distracted by unwise public comments he made about his tax concerns, struggled on the greens on the way to a levelpar 72 on the easier North Course. "It's fun to see a guy play well, it shows you what you need to do," said Mickelson, who totalled 30 putts while playing in the company of Snedeker. "I didn't play the best. I hit it poorly. I putted poorly. "But I love being here at Torrey Pines. The golf course is in great shape, the greens are as firm as I've ever seen them and I'll see if I can get it going tomorrow." The scoring average on the North course was 70.06 during the opening round while the South layout played to a mean of 71.73. — Reuters Anthony fires Knicks past Celtics TOMAS Kundratek (left) of the Washington Capitals and Colby Armstrong of the Montreal Canadiens go after the puck during their NHL game at Verizon Centre in Washington on Thursday. — AFP BRANDT Snedeker hits out of a bunker during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, on Thursday. — AFP CARMELO Anthony (right) of the New York Knicks is guarded by Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics during their NBA game at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday. — AFP Canadiens keep Capitals winless ing blitz with 1:39 remaining in the period to put the Canadiens out of sight of their shell-shocked opponents. "Some of our mistakes are pure effort," Oates added. "It's very upsetting. We're pros. You've got to be a pro and you've got to do your job." After being out-scored 10-5 in their first two contests of the 48-game season, Oates opted to start Neuvirth in goal but the move backfired in the decisive middle period when he conceded all four goals on 11 shots. Results: NY Islanders bt Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4; Philadelphia Flyers bt NY Rangers 2-1; Montreal Canadiens bt Washington Capitals 4-1; Carolina Hurricanes bt Buffalo Sabres 6-3; Ottawa Senators bt Florida Panthers 3-1; St Louis Blues bt Nashville Predators 3-0; Chicago Blackhawks bt Dallas Stars 3-2 (OT); Colorado Rockies bt Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0; Edmonton Oilers bt Los Angeles Kings 2-1 (OT). NHL season’s endurance test turns to survival of the fittest foot. Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Downie could also be gone for the season with a knee injury while Toronto will have to get by without Lupul, who ranked second among the Maple Leafs in goals (25) and points (67) last season and will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks with a broken forearm. "We didn't count on losing Lupul but these things happen LPGA Tour to launch international team event NEW YORK — The LPGA Tour has created an eightnation tournament that will identify the best team in the world when it makes its debut in 2014, two years before golf returns to the Olympic Games. The inaugural International Crown, a biennial matchplay event featuring four-player teams, will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, outside Baltimore from July 24 to 27. "We celebrate great players from all over the world on a weekly basis, but this is the first time we'll pit country versus country for global bragging rights," Ladies Professional Golf Association Commissioner Michael Whan said in a statement. "Only countries that have produced the best female teams can compete and only four players from any one country will be invited. The International Crown will take women's golf to the next level and allow fans to rally behind their homelands." Based on current world rankings, South Korea, the US, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Taiwan and England would compete for the inaugural title. — Reuters Duncan, Bosh head All-Star reserves NEW YORK — San Antonio's Tim Duncan and the Miami Heat's Chris Bosh headline the 14 players selected by NBA coaches as reserves for the 2013 All- Star Game next month. Duncan was selected to his 14th All-Star Game and he'll be joined by Spurs teammate Tony Parker, who was also named a reserve on Thursday. The Chicago Bulls, keeping themselves in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference despite the prolonged injury absence of Derrick Rose, also had two players named as reserves in Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. Noah is among five firsttime All-Stars among the Eastern Conference reserves along with Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday and Indiana's Paul George. Bosh was named to his eighth All-Star team. Joining Duncan and Parker as reserves in the West are Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, Houston's James Harden, David Lee of Golden State, Zach Randolph of Memphis and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. The mid-season exhibition will be on February 17. The starters, selected by fan voting, were named last week with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant leading all players in votes in earning a record 15th successive All-Star selection. Bryant is joined in the West starting lineup by the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Lakers teammate Dwight Howard and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New York's Carmelo Anthony and Boston's Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo will start for the East. — AFP and as you go on the fly you have to make adjustments with your personnel," said Carlyle. "I don't think you can revamp or change dramatically your line combinations. "We had two different teams playing, the one that played last night and the one that played today were two different ends of the spectrum. "We just didn't have it." — Reuters
RUSTENBURG, South Africa — Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, a noted penalty saving and taking specialist, scored from the spot to salvage a 1-1 draw against Nigeria here yesterday. Mweene's late heroics in this African Nations Cup Group 'C' clash cancelled out Emmanuel Emenike's goal with Nigeria's John Obi Mikel failing to convert a first-half penalty. The stalemate left defending champions Zambia and Nigeria tied at the top of the mini-league, with Burkina Faso and Ethiopia playing later. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi made three changes. In came Chelsea winger Victor Moses, making his Cup debut after missing the 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso with a hamstring injury. Joining Moses were Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and Fegor Ogude. Fenerbahce defender Joseph Yobo dropped to the bench after a late ankle injury, with goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama taking over his captain's armband, Dynamo Kyiv striker Brown Ideye was also out, while Celtic defender Efe Ambrose was suspended. For Zambia, defender Emmanuel Mbola and Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka were called up for Hichani Himonde and Collins Mbesuma, the scorer in the 1-1 stalemate with Ethiopia. Chisamba Lungu, who suffered an ankle injury when floored by Ethiopian goalkeeper Jemal Tassew, won his battle to be fit for this sixth Nations Cup meeting between the two sides. For the Zambians this clash on the threadbare Mbombela Stadium pitch represented the chance to avenge defeats to Nigeria in Angola in 2010 and in the 1994 final, the last of Nigeria's two titles. Herve Renard's men started ambitiously, but Nigeria's defence held firm as the titleholders struggled to capitalise on all their possession. On 25 minutes, Zambia had a lucky escape when defender Davies Nkausu felled Ahmed Musa in the box, with Egyptian referee Grisha Ghead pointing to the spot. Mikel stepped up, but his far-from-vintage low effort went the wrong side of Mweene's right post. MANCHESTER — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told supporters not to expect too much too soon from new signing Wilfried Zaha. Young England winger Zaha, 20, was undergoing a medical in Manchester yesterday ahead of a £15m (17.5 million euros) move from Championship club Crystal Palace. The 20-year-old forward has agreed a five-and-a-half year deal but is being loaned back to Palace until the summer. United will pay £10m (11.7 million euros) up front, with the fee potentially rising to £15m based on Zaha's appearances and success. "We like to sign young players with potential," said Ferguson at a news conference yesterday. "We can develop players well as we have proved many times so hopefully the boy will enjoy it coming here. "He's a winger, only a young lad, 20years-of-age so we will see." Zaha, who joined Palace as a 12-yearold, is expected to win his second England cap against Brazil in February. Both clubs have refused to comment on a proposed deal, but Ferguson has been heavily involved in the talks, having remained in England as his squad travelled to Qatar last Sunday for a short training camp. He was named the Football League Young Player of the Year last season and Zambia ended the first half as they'd begun it, on the attack, yet unable to land a sucker punch. A more assured Nigeria emerged after the restart, and deservedly took a 57th-minute lead when Emenike raced on to Mikel's neat through pass. He controlled the ball well before shooting low into the left hand corner of Mweene's net. The Spartak Moscow striker was doubling his tally in South Africa, having scored in Nigeria's first game. That sparked Renard to alter his line-up, Mbesuma and Mulenga Mukuka coming on for captain Christopher Katongo and Lungu. Soon after, Isaac Chansa came off for Jonas Sakuwaha as Renard strengthened his attack. Mweene then saved Zambia's day. 17 SPORT OMAN DAILY Observer SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 Goalie helps Zambia hold Nigeria ZAMBIA’S goalkeeper Danny Munyao (third right) celebrates after scoring a penalty during their African Nations Cup match against Nigeria at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, yesterday. — AFP Scolari considering 50 for Brazil World Cup squad RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed on Thursday that he has a long list of 50 potential candidates in mind for his squad that will go into the 2014 World Cup on home soil. "Our staff are keeping an eye on 50 players all over the world as we try to build the best possible team for the World Cup," said 'Big Phil', who was speaking at a teleconference. Scolari, who led Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup, and recently returned to the job for a second spell following the sacking of Mano Menezes, announced his first squad earlier this week for the friendly against England at Wembley on February 6. It included Ronaldinho, now 32 and playing his club football at home with Atletico Mineiro, but there was no place for Kaka, whose career has nosedived since his move to Real Madrid in 2009. "We are not just trying players out for the sake of it, MADRID — Holders Barcelona set up a King's Cup semifinal with their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a thrilling 4-2 second leg win in Malaga on Thursday. The La Liga leaders progressed 6-4 on aggregate after drawing 2-2 in the Nou Camp last week, with goals from Pedro, Gerard Pique and late strikes from Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi putting them through. Malaga's Joaquin had quickly cancelled out Pedro's early strike in the 12th minute and after Pique netted early in the second half, Roque Santa Cruz put the hosts back in the tie after 68 minutes. However Manuel Pellegrini's side ran out of steam as the game wore on after an impressive first half and we need to be sure that their experience counts," Scolari added. "If a player is in the right shape, he will be given opportunities." The former Portugal and Chelsea coach admitted that Brazil are 'the favourites' to win a sixth World Cup, and a first on home soil. "We have to win, of that there is no argument," he said, but he also accepted that Spain, Germany, Italy and Argentina are all candidates to be taken seriously. "Spain come to mind for what they have achieved, and Germany have done a good rebuilding job since 2003. "Traditionally, and because of the way they play, Italy are among the favourites, and Argentina are because of the quality of players at their disposal." This year, Brazil will face Italy, Russia and England in friendlies, while they will also feature in the Confederations Cup, which they will host in June. — AFP Iniesta combined with Cesc Fabregas for a wonderful third after 76 minutes. World Player of the Year Messi ended the game as a contest with ten minutes to go. Jose Mourinho's Real beat Valencia 3-1 on aggregate, despite having two players sent off in Wednesday's 1-1 second-leg draw at the Mestalla. The semifinal first legs are scheduled for next week. On the other side of the draw, Atletico Madrid set up a last four encounter with Sevilla after drawing 1-1 at their city rivals Real Betis to progress 3-1 on aggregate. Diego Costa scored a valuable away goal, to add to last week's 2-0 victory at the Calderon, after a dreadful misunderstanding in the Betis defence just before halftime. Chasing a long punt over the top Betis defender Antonio Amaya did not see his keeper Casto Espinosa had raced out of the area and he headed the ball past him allowing Costa to run through and tap into an empty net. La Liga's second-placed side Atletico successfully stifled their hosts until they gave away a penalty in the final minute to concede their first goal in six games in this season's cup competition. Atletico defender Diego Godin bundled over Jorge Molina in the area and the striker netted from the spot. Sevilla, who beat Atletico 2-0 in the 2010 Cup final, swept aside Real Zaragoza 4-0 on aggregate in their quarterfinal. — Reuters The keeper coolly stepped up to slot home a spot kick awarded harshly when Onazi tangled with Mayuka in the box. NIGER HOLD CONGO On Thursday night, Niger created the Cup history by collecting their first point after drawing 0-0 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in a dull Group ‘B’ game. However, they remain bottom of the table with one point. Ghana are on top with four followed by Mali with three and DR Congo with two and all four teams have a chance of making the quarterfinals. The final matches in this group are scheduled for Monday with Niger facing Ghana here and DR Congo taking on Mali in Durban. Zaha needs time, says Ferguson WILFRIED ZAHA attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs. Zaha, who came through the youth academy at Selhurst Park, has scored 15 goals in 124 appearances for the Eagles since his debut against Cardiff in March 2010. Winger Ashley Young (knee) and Jonny Evans (hamstring) have returned to training but will not be considered for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Fulham. The tie marks the return of Dimitar Berbatov, 31, to Old Trafford after the Bulgarian striker, frustrated at his lack of first-team chances under Ferguson, called time on his four-year career at United in August. January transfer window should be axed, says Wenger LONDON — The January transfer window should be abolished or at least limited because it is unfair to the league, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday. While Arsenal have yet to make any new signings this month, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have been busy with purchases including French players Moussa Sissoko, Massadio Haidara, Mathiew Debuchy, Yoan Gouffran and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. "I think it (January transfers) should all be completely cut out or limited to two players," Wenger told a news conference. "It's unfair for the league, some teams who have played for example Newcastle now twice already have an advantage on teams who play Newcastle now they have bought six or seven players. "You do not face exactly the same team so I believe the number of players you could buy should be limited." Wenger did not rule out bringing in new players in this window but reckoned it was not necessary for the club. "If someone else can strengthen our squad, we will do it of course, but we have the resources inside to do well," he said. "We have two players in every position, that should be enough, plus the young players in behind. But if we find the top-class players in any position, we never refuse to strengthen our squad." He pointed out fundamental flaws in the mid-season transfer window. "It is a wrong transfer market. The only teams who sell players are teams who are in financial trouble who sell or players who are unhappy where they are," he said. — Reuters Berbatov scored 49 goals in 108 Premier League appearances for United. "He's their best player," added Ferguson. "I don't think Dimitar was a failure here. I think he did a great job here. "The problem is I had choices and at his age it's not easy to be part of those choices when he's not playing. "He wanted first-team football and we gave him the opportunity to go to Fulham. At his age it was the right thing to do. "He's done pretty well there. The problem here was the way we wanted to play, the selections we had. The hardest thing was when we had Tevez here also." Berbatov's relaxed style on the pitch attracted criticism from some fans, but Ferguson said: "Some people like to see players run through brick walls all the time. Dimitar is not that type of player. But he's a very talented boy who had a decent goalscoring record here." Ferguson has been asked by the Football Association to explain his comments made about a match official during United's 1-1 draw at Tottenham last Sunday. The Manchester United boss accused assistant referee Simon Beck of failing to give Wayne Rooney a 'clear' penalty. "I've put in my letter and we'll see what happens," said Ferguson, who labelled those who criticised the performance of keeper David De Gea at White Hart Lane as 'idiots'. — AFP Barca set up King’s Cup semifinal with Real BARCELONA’S Lionel Messi eyes the ball during their Spanish King’s Cup quarterfinal second leg match against Malaga at the Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga on Thursday. Commission halts probe into Armstrong scandal as UCI is yet to release documents LONDON — An independent commission set up by the International Cycling Union (ICU) following the Lance Armstrong scandal was suspended yesterday after it emerged it had yet to receive a document from the sport's global governing body. "We have yet to receive any documents from the UCI," an initial procedural hearing in London was told by Guy Morpuss, lawyer to the commission. Later, inquiry chairman Philip Otton, a former judge in England's Court of Appeal, said he was, 'with considerable reluctance' suspending the hearing until January 30. Afterwards, embattled UCI President Pat McQuaid told reporters: "A truth and reconciliation hearing is the best way we can examine the process. "Our procedures are the most innovative and stringent in sport, we were the first (sports) federation to introduce a biological passport in 2008 and we want to eradicate doping in cycling." McQuaid, who said he had resigned on Thursday from an International Olympic Committee body evaluating candidate cities for the 2020 Games because 'my sport needs me', added: "We want a truth and reconciliation commission with Wada (the World Anti-Doping Agency). "We cannot do it without them," McQuaid, UCI chief since 2005, said. "The foundation board of Wada have to change the Wada code to give an amnesty. Their next meeting is in May -- they can change that regulation straight away." Asked how long the whole process might take, the Irishman replied: "It's very difficult to know the timescale...But I don't want a cloud hanging over the sport for the next year or two years." Earlier, after the UCI revealed it had 16 files of documents, an angry Tanni Grey-Thompson, the British Paralympic champion who is one of the three members of the commission, asked: LONDON — Harry Redknapp has spoken out in support of Chelsea's Eden Hazard following his red card for kicking a ball boy against Swansea, instead labelling the actions of the ball boy involved as 'disgusting'. The comments from QPR manager Redknapp came after the ball boy at the centre of the row, 17-year-old Charlie Morgan -- who is also the son of Swansea's biggest shareholder -- took to Twitter after a 'crazy 24 hours' and confirmed that he would not be pressing charges against Hazard. Hazard was sent off by referee Chris Foy for kicking Morgan in the closing stages of Wednesday night's Capital One Cup semifinal second leg at Liberty Stadium, which ended 0-0 as the Swans advanced to the final 2-0 on aggregate. The Belgium playmaker lost patience when Morgan refused to hand over the ball after it had gone out for a goal-kick. Morgan fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him, with the 22year-old then trying to kick it from under him but appearing to instead make contact with the youngster. However, Redknapp said he sympathised with Hazard and holds Morgan responsible for the incident. "Hazard toepoked the ball under the boy's body. Why is the kid lying on the ball in the first place?" "You can imagine the "When we will get the files?" Ian Mill, lawyer for the UCI, said the governing body 'had no desire to suppress or conceal the documents'. But he said the UCI had been taken aback by the commission's call, in a press release last week, for an amnesty and a truth and reconciliation process which he thought went beyond their original remit of looking into the UCI. He added the UCI could not offer an amnesty to cyclists who admitted doping offences as this would breach existing Wada rules. Last week the Wada, the United States Doping Agency (USADA) — the organisation whose investigations into Armstrong led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping offences — and pressure group Change Cycling Now all said they were withdrawing from the hearing because of the lack of an amnesty. "This commission still strongly believes an amnesty is important for the good of professional cycling generally," Otton said Friday as he announced the hearing had been suspended after the commission had deliberated for 45 minutes. "But the UCI has been unable to establish an allembracing agreement... In the circumstances, the commission has decide with considerable reluctance to adjourn the procedural hearing until Thursday, January 30." Otton added: "The commission recognises the immense public interest in how Lance Armstrong and the US Postal team were able to engage in systematic doping without detection or sanction." Armstrong indicated last week he would participate in a truth and reconciliation process during a television interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey. And McQuaid said: "We heard Lance Armstrong say he will be one of the first in the door. It's important he discloses a lot more than he disclosed on TV." — AFP Redknapp brands Swansea ball boy ‘disgusting’ frustration — you're a player trying to reach a cup final but there's this kid behaving like an idiot who won't give you the ball back. "Hazard didn't kick the kid, he kicked the ball underneath him, but the whole thing got blown out of all proportion. "I can think of a lot of players who would have kicked a bit harder than he did. He just toe-poked the ball away. "The boy was tweeting before the game that he's a super time waster. The way he behaved was disgusting." In the early hours of Friday, Morgan tweeted: "Crazy 24 hours. Spoke to Hazard and I will not be pressing charges. Be in touch." Despite that, South Wales Police have been obliged to continue investigating the incident after receiving three complaints. "Three calls have been received from members of the public living in Sussex, Kent and west Wales which are being followed up," a police spokesman said. Hazard was assumed to have avoided criminal charges when the matter was dropped after he and the teenager met and made mutual apologies. It then emerged Morgan was the son of millionaire Swansea Director Martin Morgan. Charlie's parents Martin and Luisa Morgan own almost a quarter of the Premier League club and their son enjoys a lifestyle most professional footballers would envy. — AFP
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