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General Sports News

F1 teams cleared to race

Author: Rose Young
Date: 26/03/2009

Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams have all been cleared to race in Sunday's season opening Australian Grand Prix despite protests about the legality of their cars.

Online betting favourites Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Renault had asked the sport's governing body, the FIA, to rule whether the diffusers on their cars contravened new rules brought in for the 2009 season.

Following a six-hour hearing it was ruled that the cars are all legal and may compete in Melbourne.

However, the issue is not yet settled as the protesting teams have appealed and this will be heard after the second race of the new season in Malaysia on April 5.

In football, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has rejected suggestions that he doesn't want Ledley King to play international football.

Redknapp has been at loggerheads with the Football Association and England coach Fabio Capello this week after King was called up to the squad for the forthcoming games against Slovakia and Ukraine.

The Spurs skipper reported for duty on Tuesday before being sent home only hours later when the England medical staff agreed with Redknapp's previous assessment that King was unfit.

Meanwhile, Capello hopes 'a crazy man' criticism of Wayne Rooney will help the striker calm his fiery temper.

Capello singled out the hot-headed Manchester United striker at a team meeting ahead of Saturday's friendly with Slovakia at Wembley.

The hardline Italian was unhappy with the 23-year-old's behaviour in United's 2-0 defeat at Fulham last weekend.

Rooney was sent off for two bookable offences - the second a petulant reaction to a refereeing decision - but Capello was particularly unhappy with his reaction as he left the Craven Cottage pitch.

Middlesbrough have been fined £6,000 by the Football Association after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to control their players.

Boro were hauled before the FA following the behaviour of their players during Premier League match against West Brom on January 17.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has backed Steven Gerrard to be named PFA player of the year this season.

The Reds skipper is believed to competing with Manchester United pair Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs for the award.

Benitez though believes his skipper is currently playing the best football of his career and should be recognised.

European football has been rocked after UEFA charged Macedonian club FK Pobeda over match-fixing allegations relating to a Champions League qualifying match in 2004.

FK Podeba's president and one player have also been charged.

Meanwhile in tennis, former world number one Kim Clijsters has announced she will return to action almost two years after retiring.

The 25-year-old Belgian will make her comeback at the US Open.

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