Sports News in Brief
Spurs fire coach
LONDON (AFP) - Harry Redknapp was sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday after nearly four years in charge of the Premier League club. “This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly. Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed. This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution,” said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in a statement.
Keeper banned
DUBAI (AP) - Diego Maradona’s Al Wasl has banned its goalkeeper for next season after he hit a player on the opposing team during a GCC Champions League final. Majed Naser, who has had other disciplinary problems, was sent off after he head-butted a player on Bahrain’s Al Muharraq team during a goal celebration at the match in Dubai on Sunday. Al Muharraq won 3-1. Al Wasl won the first-leg final match in Manama, 3-1. Maradona said the incident contributed to his side’s defeat on penalties in the two-leg final that capped the former Argentina great’s disappointing first season in Dubai. Al Wasl finished eighth in the 12-team league and didn’t win any trophies.
Silva stays
PARIS (AFP) - Brazilian defender Thiago Silva’s move to Paris Saint Germain has fallen through after talks between both clubs broke down on Thursday. “PSG have decided to withdraw from talks underway with AC Milan concerning the transfer of Thiago Silva. President (club) Silvio Berlusconi has decided: Thiago Silva stays at Milan,” the Serie A side announced on their website at around the same time. AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani flew to Paris Tuesday to open talks with PSG management over the eventual transfer of the 27-year-old to the Parc des Princes.
Star retirement
LONDON (AFP) - West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has said both England and Kevin Pietersen himself could end up regretting the star batsman’s retirement from international limited overs cricket. The South Africa-born Pietersen quit one-day duty for his adopted country this month when he was told by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) the terms of his central contract would not allow him his wish of abandoning 50-over one-day matches while still playing Twenty20 internationals. Pietersen had been settling well into the role of opener and ended his ODI career with back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan.