Carlo Keeps Calm

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is confident the transfer ban imposed on the club will not affect their Premier League ambitions in the short term.

World governing body Fifa recently found Chelsea guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens.

"The transfer embargo is not a problem because we have a good team and very good players," said Ancelotti.

"The club are appealing and we have to wait for a good result for us. We hope that they overturn the decision."

Chelsea, who cannot sign any new players during the next two transfer windows, tied several key players to long-term contracts in the summer and this is one of the main reasons the Italian remains optimistic, even if Fifa was to uphold the ban.

Captain John Terry and defender Ashley Cole signed new deals just a few days before Fifa banned the Premier League outfit while Didier Drogba, John Mikel Obi and Florent Malouda have also signed extensions at Stamford Bridge recently.

"We don't need other players," Ancelotti said.

"In the future, it may be a problem but we have to wait for Fifa to maybe reverse the decision.

Renault To Launch Piquet Lawsuit

Renault say they are launching legal action against Nelson Piquet Jr and his father Nelson Piquet over race-fixing allegations made against the team.

Piquet Jr has given evidence to the sport's governing body that has led to an investigation into Fernando Alonso's win at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault deny claims they asked Piquet to crash to facilitate Alonso's win and have referred to a "blackmail attempt".

Piquet Jr said: "Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear."

In a statement released on Friday, Renault said the claimed blackmail attempt was in relation to "allowing Mr Piquet Jr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season".

South Africa Threatens 'War' Over Semenya

South African officials have stepped up their defence of Caster Semenya, warning of a "third world war" if the row over her sex stops her competing.
The 18-year-old 800m world champion has had medical tests following doubts about whether she is actually female.
South Africa's sports minister, the Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, said: "Caster is a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her."

Dredge One Shot Off European Lead

Welshman Bradley Dredge is one shot off the lead after the second round of the European Masters in Switzerland.
Dredge trails South African Thomas Aitken who ended the day on 10 under after posting a second round 64.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:

T Aitken -10
B Dredge -9
MA Jimenez -9
S Dyson -8
P McGinley -8
R McGowan -8
A Que -8

Renault Called To Face Fix Charge

Formula One's governing body has summoned Renault to a hearing to answer charges that they fixed the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
The French team are accused of plotting with driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash in the race to deploy the safety car.
The incident aided Piquet's team-mate Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard going on to claim the victory.
If found guilty, the team face severe sanctions which could include expulsion from the current F1 world championship.

Tsonga Charges Into 3rd Round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga produced a superb performance to beat Jarkko Nieminen and reach the 3rd round of the US Open for a 3rd successive year.
The French 7th seed produced 45 winners and converted all 3 of us break opportunities as he outmuscled his Finnish opponent 7-5 6-3 6-4.
The 24 year old who has never reached the 4th round at Flushing Meadows faces compatriot Julien Benneteau next.

Murray Overcomes Capdeville Test

World Number 2 Andy Murray recovered from a second set blip with some superb tennis to brush aside Paul Capdeville and reach round 3 of the US Open.
Murray looked on course for a routine win when he eased through the first set but an inspired Capdeville stunned the set by taking the second.
Murray responded with some of his best tennis, though, firing 44 winners on his way to a 6-2 3-6 6-0 6-2 victory.
He will face Spain's Ivan Navarro or American Taylor Dent in the next round.

US Open First Round

Defending champion Serena Williams cruised into round 2 of the US Open with a 6-4 6-1 win over Alexa Glatch.

World number 1 Roger Federer began the defence of his US Open title with a 6-1 6-3 7-5 win over American teenager Devin Britton.

Newcastle Beat Leicester To Go Top

Bolt Sets Pace In Zurich

Jamaica's Usain Bolt followed last week's record-breaking exploits at the World Championships with another blisteringly fast 100m in Zurich.
The world and Olympic champion, who set a world record of 9.58 seconds in Berlin, came from behind to beat compatriot Asafa Powell in a time of 9.81 seconds.
Powell finished in 9.88 seconds followed by American Darvis Patton (9.95 seconds).
Powell, the bronze medallist in Berlin, said: "I have 9.6 in my legs and at my next meet i'm going to put it on the track. Everyone has to go out with that in mind, that they can beat Usain.
He's way ahead of the crowd right now but we're really playing catch-up. We'll get there somehow. Usain is taking the sport to a whole different level and we are going up there to join him."

Eduardo Charge Angers Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has accused Uefa of conducting a ''Witch-hunt'' after they charged Eduardo of diving in the Champions League clash with Celtic.
The striker appeared to dive to win a penalty last Wednesday and Uefa could ban him for up to 2 games when its disciplinary body meets on 1st September.
"I find it a complete disgrace and unacceptable," says Wenger.

Latest Transfers & Rumours

Latest Transfers

• Everton sign Diniyar Bilyaletdinov from Lokomotiv Moscow for around £9m
• West Bromwich Albion sign Colo Colo defender Gonzalo Jara for £1.4m
• Notts County have signed Sol Campbell on a 5 year deal
• Manchester City have signed Joleon Lescott from Everton for around £24m

Transfer Rumours

• Anderson has been told he can leave Manchester United after reacting badly to being omitted from the starting line-up for the community shield defeat by Chelsea
• Chelsea are keeping tabs on Benfica trio- Angel Di Maria, David Luiz and Fabio Coentrao
• Gianfranco Zola has flown out to Italy to complete the signing of Livorno striker Alessandro Diamanti
• Everton are preparing a £5m move for Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth
• Gary Megson will step up the chase for Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford
• Portsmouth have signed Aruna Dindane from Lens for £4m
• Atletico Madrid want to sign Newcastle's Spanish left back Jose Enrique in a cut price £3m deal

Twist In Semenya Gender Saga

Tests have revealed Caster Semenya's testosterone level to be 3 times higher than those normally expected in a female sample.

FA To Probe Upton Park Violence

The Football Association is to investigate the violence that marred the Carling Cup clash between West Ham and Millwall at Upton Park on tuesday. One man was stabbed as fans clashed outside the ground, while there were also 3 pitch invasions.
"We absolutely condemn all of the disorder that has occurred at Upton Park," said an FA spokesperson.
The FA confirmed that any fan identified as being involved in the violence to be banned for life, stating "they have no place in our game."

Another Loss For Liverpool