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Raikkonen returns to form at Spa

Author: Rose Young
Date: 31/08/2009
Formula One betting

Kimi Raikkonen kept Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella at bay to clinch Ferrari's first win of 2009 at an action-packed Belgian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen started in sixth place well behind surprise pole-sitter Fisichella but produced a professional drive to win at Spa-Francorchamps for the fourth time in his career.

Both had avoided a first-lap incident which took current championship leader Jenson Button and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton out of the race.

Raikkonen was forced wide at the first corner but he was well clear of the drama when Button's Brawn GP was nudged and spun in the middle of the track.

Hamilton and Romain Grosjean were forced out alongside Jaime Alguersuari, with the biggest loser being Button, who saw his lead in the drivers' standings cut further.

When the safety car pulled off, Raikkonen eased past Fisichella and was never really put under serious pressure at the head of the field as he won Ferrari's first race of the season and broke his own duck which stretched back to the Spanish Grand Prix in 2008.

Sebastian Vettel was third for Red Bull to move ahead of team-mate Mark Webber and up into third in the world championship standings.

Can Button bounce back and win the world championship? - Latest Formula One Betting

In football, Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg during Saturday's victory over Birmingham City.

Spurs maintained their 100 per cent start to the new Premier League season with a 2-1 win over the Blues at White Hart Lane, but the victory has been soured by news of the serious injury suffered by the Croatia international.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can expect an apology from referees' chief Keith Hackett, according to League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

Wenger admitted he was bemused to be sent to the stands during the closing stages of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.

The Frenchman was told to leave the dugout by referee Mike Dean after kicking over a drinks bottle in frustration after seeing a stoppage-time equaliser from Robin van Persie ruled out for offside.

Speaking afterwards, Wenger admitted he was surprised to be sent off and LMA chief executive Bevan believes an apology will be forthcoming from Hackett from the Premier Game Match Officials Board.

Andriy Shevchenko has ended his unhappy three-year stay at Chelsea by agreeing to sign for Dinamo Kiev.

The 32-year-old Ukraine international returns to his homeland after penning a two-year contract with Dinamo.

Shevchenko scored only four goals in 30 Premier League games for the Blues following his £30million transfer to Stamford Bridge from AC Milan in May 2006.

In cricket, Andrew Flintoff has conceded he may never play again following his latest bout of surgery.

The 31-year-old all-rounder is facing up nine months on the sidelines as he recovers from a knee operation he underwent the day after helping England reclaim the Ashes.

Flintoff retired from Test cricket at the end of the Test series in order to concentrate on one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

But after going under the knife again during an injury-plagued career, the popular Lancastrian is under no illusions about the possibility of being forced into retirement.

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