Global Sport

The 81-year-old Havelange, who has stated his preference for Fifa secretary general Sepp Blatter to succeed him, also alleged yesterday that Germany were trying to take over world football by supporting Johansson’s bid.

“Every federation, big and small, has the right to vote and to be heard. I will be very concerned for the future of football if certain people take hold of the reins,” he added in an interview with France Football Magazine.

Fina plans tougher drug penalties

SYDNEY: World swimming’s governing body FINA planned to increase the ban for masking agents in the wake of four positive tests at last month’s World Championships, an official said today.

Australian swimming president Terry Gathercole said FINA had indicated it would toughen the penalty for usingdrugs to mask steroid abuse from a maximum two years to come in line with the minimum four-year bans for harder drugs.

Zimbabwe crash to innings defeat

DUNEDIN: Zimbabwe fell predictably to New Zealand A to lose by an innings and nine runs on the third day of a first class cricket match at Dunedin.Trailing by 204 runs after the first innings, when they made 67 all out, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 195 during the middle session of the third of four scheduled days.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 67 & 195 (Murray Goodwin 78; Heath Davis 3-50, Chris Drum 5-65) lost to New Zealand A 271

Aussie aid for Bangladesh cricketers

DHAKA: Australia offered today to train some Bangladeshi cricketers. The official BSS news agency said foreign minister Alexander Downer, on a two-day trip here, extended his country’s assistance to train up young cricketers and provide 24 Bangladeshi students scholarships.Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy last April, earning a place in the next year’s World Cupfinals.

Friendly neighbour defends Woods

MELBOURNE: Mark O’Meara stuck up for his neighbour and golf rival Tiger Woods today in response to criticism of the youngster by Nick Price.Price, a winner of three majors, said last week that Woods needed mature advice to help him keep in line. Woods has been criticised for his occasional off-hand treatment of sponsors and fellow players.

O’Meara, who lives in the same exclusive complex as Woods near Orlando, Florida, rejected Price’s suggestion. He said the emergence of Woods had spurred him and a lot of his fellow professionals to a higher level.

Prince Hamed meets his match

SHEFFIELD: WBO featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed is a married man. The flamboyant Hamed married Eleasha Elphinstone in a traditional Islamic ceremony in this north England city, a statement said. The statement said the bride had converted to Islam but gave no other details about her.Hamed, who turns 24 on Thursday, has a 29-0 record with 27 knockouts.

Formerboxing champ Tarzan’ dead

BRUSSELS: Cyrille Tarzan’ Delannoit, the former European middleweight champion, died today at the age of 71.

Delannoit was Belgian champion between 1947 and ’49 and won the European title in the 1948 when he beat future world champion Marcel Cerdan of France on points over 15 rounds.

Delannoit was one of only four boxers to beat Cerdan in the Frenchman’s 110-fight career.