A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Men banned from games in Turkey
MORE THAN 41,000 women and children filled Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to watch Fenerbahce play against Manisapor in Turkish League soccer match in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday night.
Turkey came up with a radical solution for tackling crowd violence at football matches – ban the men and let only women and children in. Under new rules approved by Turkey’s football association, only women and children under the age of 12 will be admitted to watch games – for free – involving teams which have been sanctioned for unruly behaviour by their fans.
Fenerbahce were ordered to play two home matches without any spectators after their fans invaded the pitch during a friendly against Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
Ireland climb up Fifa rankings
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland have nudged up two places to reach 29th in the latest Fifa world rankings after draws with Slovakia and Russia.
England have fallen four places to eighth despite winning back-to-back Euro 2012 qualifying matches. World and European champions Spain have edged back to first place, with Holland dropping to second and Germany static in third.
Northern Ireland fall 11 to 70th position following defeats by Estonia and Serbia while Scotland rise three to 52nd after drawing with Czech Republic and beating Lithuania.
TOP 10: 1 Spain 1605 points; 2 Holland 1571pts; 3 Germany 1290; 4 Uruguay 1184, 5 Portugal 1158; 6 Italy 1142; 7 Brazil 1132; 8 England 1089; 9 Croatia 1057; 10 Argentina 1024.
Speeding fine for Tevez
MANCHESTER CITY striker Carlos Tevez has been fined and had his licence endorsed after pleading guilty to speeding.
The Argentina international clocked 38mph in a 30mph zone in Stretford, Manchester, on November 13th last year.
The offence on the A56 Chester Road took place shortly after Manchester City’s goalless draw at home to Birmingham in the Premier League.
O'Gorman set to return for Ireland
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland women take on Group 4 top seeds France at Turner’s Cross in tonight’s 2013 European Championship qualifier at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).
Ireland manager Sue Ronan faces a selection headache as striker Áine O’Gorman returns having sat out the weekend opener in Wales due to suspension.
Denise O’Sullivan, who replaced the Doncaster Belles ace in attack, notched both goals in Ireland’s win but may have to settle for a place on the bench in her home town as Ronan looks set to opt for O’Gorman.
“The French are one of the best teams in Europe and we’ll have our work cut out,” said Arsenal midfielder Niamh Fahey.
REP OF IRELAND (probable): Byrne (Arsenal); Caldwell (Thor/KA), Tracy (Arsenal), Quinn (Peamount United), Murray (Peamount United); Fahey (Arsenal), Grant (Arsenal), Roche (Peamount United); O’Gorman (Doncaster Belles), O’Sullivan (Pitea IF), Smyth (Amazon Grimstad).
Inter show Gasperini the door after dismal start
INTER MILAN fired coach Gian Piero Gasperini yesterday after he managed only one draw and four defeats in his first five competitive games in charge. The final straw was Tuesday night’s dismal performance in a 3-1 defeat at promoted Novara, who themselves had failed to win in their first two Serie A outings of the season.
“The club thanks Gian Piero Gasperini for the effort he showed in developing the role, and expresses regret at the interruption of the working relationship,” 2010 European champions Inter said in a statement on their website (www.inter.it).
At the end of the day, the results have determined everything, Gasperini told reporters at Inter’s training ground. “I’m very disappointed. We had established a good rapport, it’s a shame to have had to interrupt it. There’s much regret all round.”
Uefa hold fast on ruling against Sion
SION’S HOPES of regaining their place in the Europa League group phase have been dealt a blow after Uefa’s member associations emphatically threw their support behind the governing body’s decision to expel the Swiss club.
In a statement today, the member nations warned that any club that refused to accept the rules of the football family “should not participate in it”.
Sion have been waging a battle in the Swiss courts in an effort to be reinstated to the competition following their expulsion for fielding ineligible players in their play-off tie against Celtic.
UEFA’s emergency panel last Tuesday dismissed a ruling from the district court in Vaud that Sion should be allowed back in the competition, while on Thursday the same court ruled that the opening round of Europa League Group I fixtures, including a 2-0 defeat for Celtic at Atletico Madrid, were invalid.
