Tennis:'Ryder Cup of tennis' to launch in 2017

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic could join forces and play on the same team after the launch of a new Ryder Cup-style tournament was announced.

The Laver Cup, named after Australia's 11-time major champion Rod Laver, will be a three-day event pitting a European team against the rest of the world.

The competition will be held annually, except for Summer Olympic years, and the first edition is set for September 2017.

Laver said: "I can see this becoming a very important part of the experience of being a top global player, with the world's best longing to earn the right to participate and thriving in this style of competition.

"It's so good to see the sport of tennis finally develop a proper counterpart event to the Ryder Cup."

Teams will be made up of six players, with four qualifying through results and the other two selected by their team captains. Matches will feature both singles and doubles ties.

The amount of prize money available will be confirmed later this year but the competition will not qualify as an ATP event and no rankings points will be on offer.

On paper, Europe would be massive favourites to win. Nine of the world's top 10 are European, the exception being world No 7 Kei Nishikori. The Japanese star's automatic selection team-mates, if the team was selected on the current rankings, would be America's John Isner, Kevin Anderson of South Africa and Canada's Milos Raonic.

Rugby:Mitchell Pearce Sydney Roosters captain says he needs help

Sydney Roosters captain Mitchell Pearce says he has "a problem with alcohol" after footage emerged of him apparently committing lewd and drunken acts.

Pearce has been stood down from training, the club are investigating and they have informed the NRL.

The 26-year-old half-back said he had to address his alcohol issues and added: "It is not an excuse but a realisation that I finally need help."

The incident is said to have happened at a house party on Australia Day.

In the video, Pearce appears to try to kiss a woman, who accuses him of wetting himself after rejecting his advances, before he allegedly simulated a sex act on a dog.

"Together with the club I'm working on a solution for me to address these issues that will come out in the next couple of days," said Pearce.

"The Sydney Roosters can confirm that Mitchell Pearce will be receiving treatment in an intensive rehabilitation facility for an extended period. Pearce has tonight departed for the overseas facility with his mother, Terri. The club's concerns for Mitchell's welfare remain paramount as he seeks treatment."
In 2014, Pearce was fined £9,800 and suspended after an incident in which he was arrested and ejected from a Sydney nightclub.

He will not return to training with the Roosters until the club "concludes its internal investigation".

Pearce, the son of rugby league legend and NRL commissioner Wayne Pearce, looks certain to miss the trip to England for the World Club Series game against St Helens at Langtree Park on 19 February.

"I'd like to unreservedly apologise to everyone for my actions over the past couple of days," added Pearce.

"My behaviour was unacceptable. I'm embarrassed and take full responsibility for my actions."

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne faces 10 weeks out

Man City forward Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will be out for 10 weeks with ankle and knee injuries.

It was initially stated by the player's representatives that he would be out for six weeks but De Bruyne himself said on Twitter: "Just got back from the specialist. I'll be out for around 10 weeks."

And he added: "I'll work hard on my recovery and hope to be back on the pitch asap. Thank you all for the supportive messages!"

De Bruyne was taken off on a stretcher in the closing stages of City's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg win over Everton.

The 3-1 score secured a Wembley final date against Liverpool on February 28 and City faced an anxious wait for the latest on the extent of De Bruyne's injury.

His representative, Patrick de Koster, told Sky Sports News HQ that the initial diagnosis for the player's rehabilitation was six weeks but the news is worse than originally predicted.

I'll work hard on my recovery and hope to be back on the pitch asap. Thank you all for the supportive messages!

"I spoke with him earlier and he's a little bit sad because he's got a tear in the ankle and in the lateral in his knee ligaments," De Koster said.

"He wants to play football and he will miss important games - the final and Champions League games. It's something that can arrive in football and the only thing to do is work hard and come back."

De Bruyne, who scored one goal and made another on Wednesday night, suffered the injury following an innocuous looking challenge from Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori.

After the match, City manager Manuel Pellegrini told Sky Sports: "I am optimistic he will not be out for the rest of the season. He has been very important to us all season."

Greg Dyke to leave FA chairman post in June after three years

Greg Dyke will not seek re-election as Football Association chairman when his term ends in June.

Dyke, appointed in 2013, had intended to stand for a further year.

However, he said that opposition to proposed reforms from some FA councillors and a minority of board members had made him reconsider.

When he succeeded David Bernstein, Dyke, 68, said England should aim to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and win the World Cup in 2022.

He believes football is in a better place financially, administratively and from a coaching standpoint than when he took over in 2013.

However, he said it would be a "fight" to convince the FA Council to see through other "much-needed, significant reform".

In a statement, he added: "I had already decided that if no reform was possible I was going to leave anyway this summer, a position I had shared with a number of colleagues.

"What I now see is that even if we get the reform through, I am probably not the best person to pick up the pieces following the inevitable discord."

Dyke, a former director general of the BBC, has pursued policies aiming at modernising the FA and increasing the number of English players in the Premier League.

He made headlines by making a throat-cutting gesture when England were drawn in the same 2014 World Cup group as Italy and Uruguay.

Earlier this month, Dyke, an outspoken critic of Fifa under Sepp Blatter, said "we should shoot ourselves" if England failed to make it out of the group stages at Euro 2016 in France.

Listen to reaction to Dyke's announcement on BBC Radio 5 live's Football Daily podcast.

Nothing has changed since 2011 - Bernstein

Berstein said he was "not particularly surprised" by the decision, claiming neither he nor Dyke had made "any substantial change" because pushing reforms through is "extremely difficult".

"I can understand his frustration, which matches my frustration," Bernstein told BBC Radio 5 live Sport.

He suggested only "outside intervention" from the Government or a regulator would make a significant difference.

Australian Open: Hingis and Mirza win doubles crown

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have won the Australian Open women's doubles title to make it three Grand Slams in a row.

The top seeds beat Czech pair Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in the final at Melbourne Park.

Switzerland's Hingis and India's Mirza, who had already won at Wimbledon and the US Open, will be targeting a clean sweep at the French Open.

Hingis now has five Australian Open women's doubles titles.

She won in 1997, 1998 and 1999 with Natasha Zvereva, Mirjana Lucic and Anna Kournikova respectively and again in 2002 with Kournikova.

Hingis, 35, who is a former world number one in singles, has won:

4 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles
5 Grand Slam singles titles
12 Grand Slam women's doubles titles
Mirza has also enjoyed success in Melbourne before, winning the mixed doubles title in 2009 with fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi.

The 29-year-old, from Hyderabad, also won the mixed doubles titles at the 2012 French Open and the 2014 US Open.

"Thank you to my partner, we've had an incredible year, we just keep going and going," said Mirza.

"She's an amazing champion, but I've gotten to know her as a person and it's a privilege to play with her."

Mirza is also through to this year's mixed doubles semis with Ivan Dodig.

Stay calm, I'm still here!, Neymar tells Barca fans

The Brazilian has admitted he faces a difficult decision over his future but says he currently has "happiness and health and everything to play for" at Camp Nou

Neymar has called for Barcelona fans to stay calm over his future at the club as he negotiates a new contract.

The Brazil forward's current deal expires in 2018 and he has been the reported target of interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

After revealing he would like to play under Premier League-bound coach Pep Guardiola, Neymar admitted he faces a "difficult" decision on his future - but insists he is happy for now in Catalonia.

"There is debate with all, the renewal and everything," he told BeIn Sports. "I am very happy in Barcelona, I have almost everything.

"I have happiness and health and everything to play. It is difficult to get out of here because I found a great city, a great club, some players from another planet and for me it's difficult, but we have to see everything.

"These are things that it is difficult to decide but we must be calm because I still have years at the club."

He added: "[I would tell] Barcelona fans to stay calm because I am still at the club and we have many games to win the treble, that is what we seek and work all day for Barca [to be] the best and the greatest."

People who don't like football don't like dribbling,says Neymar

Barcelona star Neymar has defended his way of playing following heavy criticism from Athletic Bilbao forward Aritz Aduriz.

Aduriz believes Neymar has to change his attitude, with Bilbao players previously accusing the Brazil international of showboating and showing a lack of respect.

However, Neymar claims his style of play is always going to receive some hard tackles, and he refuses to change his approach to the game.

"I don't provoke, my style of play is to dribble. I am a forward and I can't ask to play centrally," he told BeIN Sports.

Latest Transfer Gossips:Chelsea turn to Conte

Chelsea turn to Conte

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Chelsea have made Italy head coach Antonio Conte their top managerial target, as they look to secure a long-term replacement for Jose Mourinho, when Guus Hiddink ends his spell as interim boss. 

Source: The Daily Mail
Thursday, January 28, 2016 23:51

Man Utd join battle for Musa

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Manchester United have joined Leicester City in the battle to sign CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa, who is likely to cost around £19 million.

Source: Daily Express
Friday, January 29, 2016 08:03

Banega agrees Inter terms

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Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega has agreed personal terms with Inter, though whether he will move in January or at the end of the season is unknown.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
Friday, January 29, 2016 07:42

Arsenal target Abel Hernandez

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Arsene Wenger is keen to bolster his attacking options in the summer and is targeting a move for Hull City striker Abel Hernandez.

Source: Tuttomercatoweb.com
Friday, January 29, 2016 07:31

Chelsea move for Atletico's Gimenez

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Chelsea are desperate to make defensive additions in the current transfer window and have lined up a move for Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez, after failing to sign the Uruguayan ahead of the 2015-16 season.

Source: Evening Standard
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:34

Man United and Barcelona battle for Marquinhos

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Manchester United and Barcelona are battling to secure the signature of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos, with the Brazilian unhappy with a lack of first-team opportunities in France.

Source: Daily Star
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:31

Leicester balk at £18 million Musa pricetag

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Leicester City want to bring in CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Muse but are unwilling to pay the £18 million pricetag that the Russian club have set, with Claudio Ranieri's side hoping to reach a compromise.

Source: Sky Sports
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:12

Chelsea seek Abdennour move

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Chelsea are trying to wrap up a deal for Valencia centre-back Aymen Abdennour before the January transfer window closes, as they look to bring in defensive cover. 

Source: The Times
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:09

West Brom make Sandro loan move

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West Brom are close to tieing up a loan move for QPR midfielder Sandro, as Tony Pulis looks to bring in another defensive shield to combat a slide in form. 

Source: Daily Telegraph
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:03

West Ham line up Fletcher

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West Ham United have lined up Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher as the answer to their forward problems, as Slaven Bilic looks to improve the firepower at his disposal. 

Source: Daily Mirror
Friday, January 29, 2016 00:00