Global Sport

The 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who wants to emulate Brazilian Ronaldo, said he had no interest in his country’s World Cup campaign after former coach Aime Jacquet left him out of his final 22.

But new boss Roger Lemerre recalled him and was repaid by Anelka’s superb performance in the 3-2 victory against Russia in Moscow on Saturday.

In only his second international appearance, Anelka slotted home the first goal and set up the second for Marseille’s Robert Pires as France went into a 2-0 lead. But while Anelka is happy to be spoken of in the same breath as Papin, it is Ronaldo he wants to measure up to. “I’m trying to look like him because he is the striker I admire the most”, he said. “I don’t know if I will become such a star but I have the will to always do mybest when playing football.”

Italy’s players abandon strike plans

MILAN: Italy’s soccer players have voted not to strike in protest at media speculation that their sport is rife with drug-taking.

“The strike will not go ahead,” head of the Italian Players’ Union (AIC) Sergio Campana told a news conference following a meeting of captains from Italy’s Serie A and Serie B clubs.

He said players would continue to protest against what they see as a media witchhunt but would do so "with the utmost sense of responsibility and the highest sense of maturity.

Campana last week raised the spectre of a strike in one of the world’s premier soccer leagues. The AIC suggested a 30-minute stoppage but Campana warned it could escalate.

Fifa delegation to visit Korea, Japan

SEOUL: A six-man Fifa delegation is scheduled to visit South Korea and Japan next month to inspect preparations being made by the two countries co-hosting the 2002 World Cup finals, officials said today.

An official at the2002 World Cup organising committee said delegates of Fifa, world football’s governing body, will be in Seoul for four days from November 2.

“The delegates, including Fifa vice-president Antonia Matarrese, will tour some of the cities hosting Games and be briefed on South Korea’s preparations. They will then depart for Japan on November 6,” he said.

Lewis meets Holyfield after unification

LONDON: The long-awaited heavyweight unification showdown between Britain’s World Boxing Council (WBC) titleholder Lennox Lewis and the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Evander Holyfield of the United States has been agreed in London.

Lewis’ manager Frank Maloney confirmed yesterday that the fight would go ahead in February or March – probably at Las Vegas.

“The only thing that can stop it now is if either fighter does not agree with the terms”, added Maloney after negotiations with Holyfield’s promoter don king. Maloney added: “We have been trying to getthis fight on for so long and now it’s a privilege to be involved in a part of boxing history.”

Joe Frazier sues city over arrest

PHILADELPHIA: Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, acquitted of drunken driving charges last month, now says police used excessive force when they arrested him and damaged his reputation when they testified at his trial.

Frazier announced last night he has filed court papers indicating he will sue the city over the April incident.

“I thought that they handled me rough. I’m a very good citizen of the United States and Philadelphia, and I didn’t see a reason for police handling me that way,” Frazier said.

Frazier, 54, was returning from an appearance at a police benefit function in Hudson County, New Jersey when he was pulled over about on April 7 in his white 1989 Jaguar. He said a police officer yanked his arms behind his back and shoved him into the back of a police cruiser, where he was forced to sit at an awkward, painful angle for 35 to 40 minutes untila police wagon arrived to take him to the police station.