■SOCCER
Moggi charged with fraud
Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi, a leading figure in a match-fixing scandal that shook Italian soccer, was ordered by a court on Friday to stand trial on charges of sports fraud and criminal association. The trial will open on Jan. 20 in Naples, his lawyer Paolo Trofino said. The ANSA news agency said another 23 people, including club officials and referees, were also indicted by judge Eduardo De Gregorio on charges of conspiring to commit sports fraud. Former Italian soccer federation president Franco Carraro and federation secretary Francesco Ghirelli were cleared. Moggi was banned from soccer for five years by a sports court in 2006 on charges of influencing the outcome of matches. He denies any wrongdoing.
■RUGBY UNION
Wilkinson undergoes surgery
England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson underwent surgery on Friday on his injured left knee, with his Newcastle club reporting no complications, although he is still unlikely to play again before Christmas. England’s 2003 World Cup final match-winner suffered his latest injury in Tuesday’s Premiership match against Gloucester, a setback that has ruled him out of the fall Tests against the Pacific Islanders, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The 29-year-old Wilkinson’s career has been blighted by repeated injury setbacks since the World Cup almost four years ago. His latest setback came just four games into his return from summer shoulder surgery that meant he missed England’s two-Test New Zealand tour. Newcastle rugby director Steve Bates said: “Jonny has had his operation and the reports are that it went well. They are optimistic about it and we will have to see how it progresses.”
■TENNIS
Williams out of Kremlin Cup
Serena Williams has blamed a knee injury for her decision to pull out of this week’s US$2.4 million Kremlin Cup. “I was experiencing knee problems since the US Open and now I need a break to regain my top form,” the US star told organizers of the joint ATP and WTA event on Friday. She added: “I played a lot of events this year and now I need a break to recover. My aim this year is to regain the world’s top ranking. I played in the final here last year and will now lose a lot of points. But for now my only wish is to have some rest to recover and to be in my top form at Doha.”
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