Global Briefing

United take title, punter takes half-million

LONDON: A punter stands to claim more than 500,000 pounds about Rs 3.15 crore from a British bookmaker if Manchester United win the English Premiership. The customer from Basingstoke placed accumulators three times in August and September with bookmakers coral, for 50 pounds, 40 pounds and 40 pounds.

So far he has correctly backed the Division One champions Sunderland starting odds 10-3, Division Two champions Fulham 11-2 and Division Three champions Brentford 5-1 in England.

Ronaldo8217;s no captain says teammate

APPIANO GENTILE ITALY: Ronaldo may be a great footballer, but the Inter Milan captaincy needs to be taken away from him and given to Diego Simeone, according to teammate Ivan Zamorano. 8220;I respect Ronaldo,8221; said Zamorano, 8220;but in my opinion, the captain of a side should be chosen by the team and not by the coach or by the club.8221;

Umpire Randell to face 15 sex charges

HOBART: Australia8217;s international cricket umpire Steve Randell may face 15 separate sex charge trials, his counsel said on Wednesday. Randell, 43, who has stood in an Australian record 36 Tests, has pleaded not guilty to 26 charges of indecent assault and one of sexual intercourse involving a male aged under 17. They involve 14 girls and a boy, and allegedly occurred in different parts of Tasmania state between 1979 and 1995.

Randell has stood down from umpiring and had been suspended on full pay from his job as Hobart City Primary School teacher until the case is finalised.