FIFA rejects Iraq request
FIFA rejects Iraq request
KUALA LUMPUR: FIFA, football's world governing body, has told Iraq it must play its 2004 Olympic qualifier against Vietnam next month at a neutral venue as the threat of war looms closer, an official said Wednesday.
Iraq had been due to play Vietnam in Baghdad in their first leg match on April 5, but Iraqi officials have now been ordered to find another venue for the game, the Asian Football Confederation spokesman said.
"We are sending a letter to Iraq today asking them to confirm a new venue outside of Iraq," the AFC official said. The official said FIFA informed Iraq of its decision last Tuesday. --AFP
;JP; ANPAs..r.. Putbrief-badminton-discrimination No more discrimination: Shuttlers JP/9/BRIEF
No more discrimination: Shuttlers
JAKARTA: Local badminton players, most of whom are of Chinese descent, urged the government on Wednesday to abolish regulations that discriminate against ethnic Chinese.
"We must show proof of citizenship to enroll in school or when doing business," Tan Joe Hok, former All England Badminton champion, told reporters after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz at vice presidential palace.
During the meeting, Joe Hok was accompanied by former badminton champions Lim Swie King, Alan Budi Kusuma, Heryanto Arby, Hendrawan, Imelda Wiguna, Chandra Wijaya and Ferawati Fajrin.
Joe Hok said his children had to produce Indonesian citizenship documents (SKBRI) every time they enrolled in a new school here, Antara reported.
He earlier reported the case to Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who claimed that such discriminative regulations had been repealed. --JP
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Soccer-Sunderland Sunderland to name new manager JP/9/Brief
Sunderland to name new manager
SUNDERLAND, England: Sunderland has called a news conference scheduled for 1000 GMT on Wednesday at which it is set to name a replacement for sacked manager Howard Wilkinson.
"There will be a management announcement," a club spokesman said on Tuesday.
Media reports say former Ireland coach Mick McCarthy is favorite to land the post.
Sunderland, which is bottom of the premier league and facing relegation, sacked Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill on Monday after the team managed only two wins in 20 league games under their leadership. --Reuters
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Cycling-Kivilev Kivilev in a coma after fall JP/9/Brief
Kivilev in a coma after fall
SAINT-ETIENNE, France: Kazakhstan cyclist Andrei Kivilev was in a coma late Tuesday following his fall in the second stage of the Paris-Nice race, according to his team doctor here.
Kivilev, the Cofidis team rider who came fourth in the 2001 Tour de France, lost consciousness after his fall and was rushed to hospital where he has been undergoing tests.
"He has cerebral oedema (tissue bruising)," said the Cofidis team's doctor Jean-Jacques Menuet, adding that the 29-year-old was still on a life support system.
"We still have to wait a few hours before we can make a full diagnosis," he added. --AFP