■SOCCER
Ireland stays with City
Stephen Ireland signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City on Thursday and then promptly declared he never wanted to leave Eastlands. The deal was due reward for the midfielder’s buoyant performance this season, which saw him nominated as the club’s player of the year — and that for a player whose future appeared uncertain after losing his way under former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. But after forcing his way into new boss Mark Hughes’ side at the start of the season, Ireland has never relinquished his place despite a total overhaul of the City midfield under the club’s billionaire owners. “I never had any doubts about staying,” Ireland told the club’s Web site.
■SOCCER
World Cup tickets sell well
FIFA says tickets are sold out for the opening and final matches of the 2010 World Cup, as well as for all possible games involving England, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands. FIFA said in a statement on Thursday that, with just over a year before play begins, the semi-finals and all the matches in Cape Town, Nelspruit and Pretoria were also sold out. Fans can apply for team-specific tickets giving them access to all the games of their favorite national team. If that team fails to qualify for the tournament, the tickets are refunded. Qualifying will end later this year. The first World Cup match is on June 11 next year in Johannesburg.
■SOCCER
Vatican praises Barcelona
The Vatican newspaper has made a rare foray into sport, praising Barcelona’s triumph over Manchester United in the Champions League final as a victory of creativity over athleticism. “Football, Finally,” was the headline in Thursday’s editions of L’Osservatore Romano, next to a photo of Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola thrown into the air by his players in celebration. “Technique and creativity have had the better of athletic vigor,” the newspaper said. The paper praised the Catalan team for teaching a “lesson in style” to a soccer world often dominated by bitter disputes. L’Osservatore Romano also commended the fans at Stadio Olimpico, saying their behavior during Barcelona’s 2-0 win Wednesday was “exemplary.”
■SOCCER
Palacios remains identified
Honduran authorities have identified the remains of the brother of Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios. Prosecutor’s Office forensic medicine director Juan Molina said DNA tests and dental records helped investigators identify bone remains as those of Edwin Palacios. Palacios’ brother was 16 when armed assailants abducted him in 2007 from his family home in La Ceiba, Honduras. He was not released despite the payment of the demanded US$500,000 ransom. Two imprisoned members of the Mara 18 gang led investigators to a shallow grave where they found the remains on May 9.
■RUGBY UNION
Horwill re-signs with Reds
Skipper James Horwill has re-signed with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds for a further two years, the Reds said yesterday. The giant lock celebrated his 24th birthday by completing contract negotiations with the Reds before the Wallabies’ squad goes into training camp next week. “I love playing for Queensland and the Wallabies and I was honored to play my 50th game for Queensland as the captain,” Horwill said. He has played 10 internationals for Australia and made his Reds’ debut in the Super 14 in 2006.
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