Global Sport

Sylvester 42 was refereeing an amateur game at Charlton, Southern England, when he punched the 27-year-old player several times, giving him a black eye and obliging him to leave the field for treatment. After other players intervened to calm the referee down Sylvester pulled out his red card and sent himself for an early bath, handing the game over to a substitute. He has now said he will never run a football match again. 8220;I was sorely provoked. I just could not take any more 8212; I blew my top,8221; he said.

Dragila, Bartova set world record

SINDELFINGEN: American Stacy Dragila and Czech Daniela Bartova ended an eventful week for the Women8217;s Pole Vault Indoor world record by both setting a new best of 4.48 metres.

At the Sindelfingen Indoor Meeting they bettered the previousrecord of 4.47 metres set by Australian Emme George on Saturday in Adelaide. Dragila, who clinched the record at her first attempt, won the event ahead of Bartova, who cleared the height at her third attempt. The record has been beaten four times in the last eight days. Ukraine8217;s Anzhela Balakhonova set a mark of 4.45 at the European Indoor Championships in Valencia on March 1.

Bartova then cleared 4.46 in Berlin on Friday. Butcher, Stewart lift England

BRIDGETOWN: Openers Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart lifted England with a stand of 117 in 111 minutes in the face of an imposing Barbados total. The pair spurred England to 178 for two in reply to Barbados8217; first innings of 472 for six declared at the close on the second day of their three-day match at Kensington Oval.

Stewart stroked 52 before falling to leg-spinner Terry Rollock. Barbados, who were 328 for four overnight, owed their total to masterful 158 from consistent middle order batsman Roland Holder, who flayed the England attack.Briefscores: Barbados 472-6 Roland Holder 158 vs England 178-2 Alec Stewart 52