Sports Digest

A round up of the other sports stories of the day...

Arsenal reportedly looking into making move for Puyol

SOCCER:Arsenal are interested in signing Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, according to widespread reports in Spain.

The experienced defender has spent his entire career at Camp Nou but his current contract expires at the end of this season.

The Spanish international had been expected to sign a new deal with the club but an agreement has still not been finalised and there continues to be speculation about his future.

The Catalan press have now reported that Arsenal are monitoring the situation and have contacted Puyol’s agent to find out what he thinks.

It is understood the 31-year-old may be ready to consider such a move but will not make a final decision on his future until early 2010.

Crowd hassle will cost Serbia points

SOCCER:Fifa have warned Serbia they could be docked points if there is further crowd problems in their two remaining World Cup qualifiers.

Serbia have been slapped with three fines from Fifa, totalling 44,000 Swiss francs (€29,000), for incidents in their matches against France, Austria and Romania.

And any similar problems against Romania tomorrow and Lithuania four days later could have more serious consequences.

“The Fifa disciplinary commission reminds the Serbian football federation that the recurrence of such incidents could lead to drastically more serious sanctions,” read a letter from Fifa published on the Serbian federation’s website, www.fss.rs. “And that includes the subtraction of points in the current qualifiers.”

Serbia are top of Group Seven, four points clear of France.

Club say Pogba not free to join United

SOCCER:Le Havre have denied Manchester United's claim that Fifa have cleared Paul Pogba to join the Premier League champions.

The two clubs have been embroiled in a feud over the teenager but the issue appeared to be resolved when United released a statement last night saying they had been authorised by Fifa to register Paul Pogba “with immediate effect”.

However, Le Havre yesterday insisted that no firm decision has yet been made by world football’s governing body.

“Contrary to what Manchester United state on their official website Fifa have not validated the transfer of Paul Pogba but, as they normally do in this type of case, have issued a provisional international certificate,” read a statement on Le Havre’s official website, hac.infoceane.com.

The Ligue 1 club have vowed to keep on fighting, confirming they will take the case to Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

League waiting for Briatore response

SOCCER:English Football League officials have delayed making any decision on whether QPR co-owner Flavio Briatore passes their "fit and proper persons" test, until they hear from him.

Briatore was banned from Formula One for his role in the Renault crash scandal, a punishment that would appear to rule him out of ownership of a League club.

The matter was discussed at yesterday’s League Board meeting, and a statement said: “After considering all the information available and in the interest of due process, the Board will seek responses from Mr Briatore before commenting further.”

Petrova shows Serena the way out

TENNIS:Serena Williams was knocked out of the third round of the China Open in Beijing by an inspired Nadia Petrova yesterday, leaving the WTA's new "crown jewel" event without a top three seed in the quarter-finals.

Williams, who will retake the world number one spot next week, lost 6-4 3-6 7-6 to the Russian to join her third seeded sister Venus and top seed Dinara Safina in exiting the tournament.

The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion had three break points at 4-4 in a third set that went entirely with serve, and scrambled back from 5-0 down to 6-5 in the tiebreak but Petrova, the number 13 seed, held her off to claim victory with a final huge forehand.

Nadal pushed hard by Blake

TENNIS:Top seed Rafa Nadal battled through a tricky second round tie against American James Blake yesterday to reach the quarter-finals of the €4.5 million China Open.

The world number two, playing his first tournament since picking up an abdominal injury at the US Open, was not at his rampaging best but again proved his fitness by winning 7-5 6-7 6-3.