■SOCCER
Web cheats eye Cup fans
At least one unauthorized Web site is touting tickets to next year’s soccer World Cup in South Africa, Australia’s consumer watchdog said yesterday as it warned of potential fraud in online ticketing. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said an international review of thousands of Web sites, including some 1,400 ostensibly based in Australia, underscored the need for consumer vigilance. “In this year’s sweep, the ACCC identified an unauthorized site offering tickets for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa at www.worldcupticketing.com,” commission deputy chairman Peter Kell said. The Web site, written in poorly worded English, offers to “deliver at your door step” tickets to all rounds of the World Cup as well as “best deals for world cup final match ticket for South Africa Soccer Cup.” Last year, scores of Australians were reportedly caught in an alleged global scam believed to have conned people worldwide into buying non-existent tickets for the Beijing Olympics.
■SOCCER
Bouquets sold for charity
Thousands of bouquets laid at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park Stadium after the death of former England soccer manager Bobby Robson have been turned into garden compost and will be sold to raise money for charity. Proceeds from the compost, costing £10 (US$16) a bag, will go to the Bobby Robson Foundation. Robson, who died of cancer in July aged 76, managed Newcastle from 1999 to 2004. “The flowers were laid with huge respect and affection for Sir Bobby and we didn’t want to see them go to waste,” Julie Clay, a local florist who thought of the idea, told the BBC, adding that 80 bags had already been sold.
■BASKETBALL
Iverson leaves Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson has left the National Basketball Association team and headed to his home in Atlanta to deal with personal issues. Iverson, who has expressed his displeasure at not starting for the Grizzlies this season, is in his first year with the team. The nine-time all-star missed the first three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury.
■BOXING
Dawson beats Johnson
Chad Dawson defended his International Boxing Organization title with a unanimous decision over Glen Johnson in a light heavyweight fight in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday. Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs) won on all three judges scorecards 115-113, 115-113, 117-111 over Jamaica’s Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KOs).
■MOTOGP
Stoner takes pole
Ducati rider Casey Stoner maintained his excellent end of season form to clinch pole position for the Valencia Grand Prix on Saturday. The Australian, who missed three races with a mystery illness before coming back last month to win at home at Phillip Island and in Malaysia, clocked the fastest lap of 1:32:256 at the season-ending event in Spain. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was second fastest on 1:32:519 ahead of Spanish compatriot Jorge Lorenzo (1:32:537) and Lorenzo’s Yamaha team mate and world champion Valentino Rossi in fourth (1:32:922). Rossi clinched his second successive MotoGP title in Malaysia, the Italian’s seventh in the premier class and his ninth motorcycling championship overall including his triumphs in the 125cc and 250cc categories. Stoner is third in the championship standings on 220 points and trails second-placed Lorenzo by 25, the amount a rider is awarded for a race victory.
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