Keeper attacked
LONDON - Wycombe goalkeeper Jordan Archer became the second goalkeeper this season to be attacked by a fan when he was assaulted in the closing stages of his side's 1-0 victory against Gillingham in a League Two clash at the Priestfield Stadium yesterday. Archer, on loan at Wycombe from Tottenham, had placed the ball down prior to taking a goal kick when the Gillingham supporter entered the field and leapt towards the 19-year-old keeper, knocking him to the ground. The fan was quickly apprehended by a steward and Archer was unhurt and able to continue playing as Wycombe secured a surprise win.
New contract
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - Joe Flacco has his Super Bowl MVP trophy and his first NFL championship ring and now the Baltimore Ravens quarterback says it is time to negotiate a new contract. "I'm pretty optimistic," Flacco said. "There's all kinds of crazy things that can happen with these contracts that we've all seen before, but this is a great organisation." Flacco, whose contract expired on Monday, won the Pete Rozelle Trophy as he led the Ravens to their second Super Bowl title in franchise history with a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Understandably, Flacco said he didn't get much sleep after the game but it was worth it.
Nadal's knee pain
VINA DEL MAR, Chile - Rafael Nadal's ailing left knee may continue to bother him until the end of the month, his coach said yesterday. Nadal practiced for 90 minutes with Nicolas Massu of Chile yesterday, his fourth straight day of training since arriving in the country for his first match in more than seven months. Nadal opens play today in the VTR Open, playing doubles with Argentina's Juan Monaco. On Thursday, he will play singles in the second round. "The knee is much better, but they've told us he will feel some discomfort and lack of mobility until the end of the month," said Toni Nadal, the champion's coach and uncle.
Bottle thrower
LONDON - A man who threw a plastic beer bottle onto the track and shouted abuse at star sprinter Usain Bolt before the men's 100-metre final at the London Olympics has been given an eight-week community punishment. Ashley Gill-Webb will be electronically monitored and subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am. District Judge William Ashworth said Gill-Webb tarnished "the spirit of the games" by attempting to put off Bolt just as the eight finalists were settled in their blocks for the race on August 5. The Jamaican sprinter, who won the gold medal in 9.63 seconds, said he hadn't noticed the disturbance.
Cech ruled out
PRAGUE - Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has broken his little finger and will miss the Czech Republic's friendly against hosts Turkey in Manisa tomorrow. "Petr is not flying with us," national team head coach Michal Bilek said yesterday. Bilek added that Cech had broken the finger during Chelsea's 3-2 Premier League defeat at Newcastle on Monday. The 30-year-old Cech arrived in Prague but a scan showed a fracture. Bilek said he would try Dnepropetrovsk keeper Jan Lastuvka against Turkey, with Hamburg stopper Jaroslav Drobny on the bench. The Czech Republic are third in World Cup 2014 qualifying Group B, trailing leaders Italy by five points.