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■SOCCER

Investors target Addicks

Championship strugglers Charlton Athletic could become the latest English club to have foreign owners after receiving an indicative offer from a group of Dubai-based investors, the club confirmed on Friday. The Addicks, who currently lie 14th in the Championship having been relegated from the Premier League last year, are the subject of an offer from Zabeel Investments, who were recently linked with buying Newcastle United. A statement from Charlton read: “The board of Charlton Athletic PLC announces that it has received an indicative cash offer from Zabeel Investments, a Dubai-based diversified investment company. The indicative offer is subject to a number of [waivable] preconditions, including due diligence, however, it is at a level at which, should the offer be made formally to shareholders, the board would recommend shareholders to accept it. There is, however, no certainty that a formal offer will be made, nor as to the terms of any offer.”



■RALLYING

Loeb leads in Corsica

Sebastien Loeb of France swept all six stages on the first day of the Tour of Corsica on Friday. The Citroen driver took a 32.3-second lead over Mikko Hirvonen into the second day. The Finn took over second place after Dani Sordo struck a wall in the third stage and broke the left-front suspension of his car. Ford driver Francois Duval is third. “There’s nothing much I could do,” Hirvonen said. “I’ve had a good day, I’m happy with the car and my driving. It’s just not enough to get him.”



■TENNIS

Sydney wants to stage Open

Australia is facing a tug of war over the site of the Australian Open after politicians in Sydney announced plans to build a multi-million dollar facility to attract the tournament, local media reported yesterday. The Australian Open, which is the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, is traditionally held in January each year in the Victorian state capital of Melbourne, which has the rights to host it until 2016. The New South Wales state government, however, is keen to build a tennis arena in Glebe, which is close to the city center, to try to win the tournament after the contract expires, local newspapers reported.



■SOCCER

Two Cubans go missing

Two members of Cuba’s national team have gone missing during the side’s trip to Washington for a World Cup qualifying match, the team’s coach told reporters on Friday. “It is always a problem for the Cuba team,” coach Reinhold Fanz told the Washington Post. “We have security, but you can’t handcuff them to their rooms.” The Post identified the players as midfielder Pedro Faife, 24, and forward Reynier Alcantara, 26. Defections have been a concern for Cuba when its sports teams travel abroad. In March, five players went missing after the under-23 team played the US in Tampa, Florida.



■RUGBY LEAGUE

England thrash Wales

England warmed up for the World Cup with a record 14-try, 74-0 rout of Wales at Doncaster on Friday. Even without the Leeds and St Helens players who will make up the bulk of their side in Australia, but who rested following last week’s Grand Final, England had too much pace and power for a youthful Wales. There were 10 different try scorers as Tony Smith’s men smashed England’s previous best win over Wales, a 60-13 triumph at St Helens in 1978.



■FOOTBALL

Cardinals’ Wilson fined

Arizona Cardinals strong safety Adrian Wilson has been fined US$25,000 by the NFL for a hit on Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards last Sunday. Wilson said on Friday that league officials also put him on notice he may face heavier fines or a suspension for future incidents. Wilson hit Edwards on the third play of last week’s game. The hit was not helmet-to-helmet, but Edwards suffered a concussion and did not return to the game. No penalty was called on the play. League officials decided that Wilson unnecessarily drove Edwards to the ground. “We’ll appeal it and see where it goes,” Wilson said. “But it’s kind of hard to appeal something when you have 15 personal fouls in your career, numerous fines for hits like that and kind of a reputation.”



■GOLF

Ballesteros’ condition stable

Doctors believe Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros suffered an epileptic fit before being admitted four days ago to a Madrid hospital, where he has now left the intensive care unit, the facility said on Friday. “Severiano Ballesteros has left the intensive care unit where he was admitted due to a partial epileptic fit, and is receiving the prescribed treatment. He is in a stable condition,” the La Paz hospital said in a statement. The 51-year-old was admitted on Monday after he suffered a dizzy spell and briefly lost consciousness. Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.



■EQUESTRIAN

Jordan dazzles in jodhpurs

British glamor model Katie Price swapped her G-strings for jodhpurs on Friday and dazzled the sober world of dressage at the Horse of the Year Show in London. The 31-year-old, who as Jordan made millions by posing topless in countless men’s magazines, gave a dressage demonstration wearing a black gold-edged jacket and white jodhpurs, topped off with a sparkly black dressage hat. She entered the ring in Birmingham to the sound of Australian husband Peter Andre’s biggest hit, Mysterious Girl. Price has been riding since the age of seven and has hopes of taking part in the 2012 London Olympics. “What’s wrong with somebody like me doing it? I think I’m bringing glamor to it and I’ve only been doing it three months,” she told the Web site of showbiz bible OK after trotting in on her mount Jordan’s Glamour Girl. Asked if she was serious about entering the London Olympics, the feisty rider said: “Never underestimate Pricey.”



■FOOTBALL

Warrant issued for Kircus

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Denver Broncos wide receiver David Kircus after he failed to show up for a court hearing in Centennial, Colorado. His lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said Kircus didn’t know he needed to be present at Friday’s hearing. Kircus pleaded not guilty to a felony assault charge stemming from a fight at a party in suburban Denver in May last year. Friday’s hearing was rescheduled for Friday. His trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 20.



■ICE HOCKEY

Alfredsson out for two weeks

Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson will be out for at least two weeks following Friday’s arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the National Hockey League club announced. A bone chip was dislodged last Sunday during a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh in Sweden. Dany Heatley will take over captain’s duties for the Senators.


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