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General Sports News

F1 teams face salary cap

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 30/04/2009

Formula One teams will be encouraged to operate within a 40million budget from next season onwards under new cost-cutting measures.

The money-saving initiate has been announced following Wednesday's meeting of the World Motor Sports Council and is likely to have an effect on betting odds in future seasons.

But while no team will be forced to operate within the budget, those who do will gain greater technical freedom in terms of car design and also be permitted to undertake unlimited out-of-season testing.

However, driver salaries, engine costs, potential penalties and marketing and hospitality budgets will not come under the 40million cap.

Meanwhile, following the WMSC gathering in Paris, it has also been agreed that the maximum number of cars in the championship will rise from 24 to 26.

The council has also confirmed the ban on refuelling during races to save costs and provide an incentive for manufacturers to increase the fuel economy of their engines.

In football, Everton defender Phil Jagielka has undergone surgery to repair the ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The 26-year-old England international sustained the problem during the 2-1 defeat by Manchester City last weekend and faces around six months out of action as a result.

Meanwhile, Fulham defender Brede Hangeland has moved to end speculation linking him with a summer move away from Craven Cottage.

The 27-year-old Norway international is currently in talks with the Cottagers over a new contract and Hangeland insists that Fulham remain his one and only focus.

In cricket, chairman Giles Clarke has defended the ECB's conduct in allowing several leading players to head to the IPL this season.

The issue has been brought into sharp focus by Andrew Flintoff sustaining a knee injury which could make him a doubt for this summer's Ashes series.

Clarke said: "We have a position now where it is in the end a matter for the player. Some Australian players decided they wanted to stay fresh for the Ashes and the World Twenty20.

"Stuart Broad took a similar approach. I think it is absolutely right that it is a decision for the player, what he wants to do.

"The view taken by the England management was that people would benefit, prior to the World Twenty20, from playing in a competition of great intensity like the IPL."

Sale Sharks forward Sebastien Chabal will return to France next season after agreeing to join Racing Metro.

Chabal, 31, has agreed a three-year contract with the newly-promoted top-flight side.

The France international had been with Sale for three seasons and helped them win the Guinness Premiership title in 2006.

However, he has been allowed to leave Edgeley Park with 12 months still remaining on his contract.

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers winger Alesana Tuilagi has failed to overturn his four-week ban and will miss Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff Blues.

The Samoan was found guilty of playing Bath's Nick Abendanon off the ball in the Tigers' Heineken Cup quarter-final victory on April 11.

Tuilagi appealed the decision, but on Thursday an independent disciplinary committee upheld the original suspension.

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