IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Stunning Miller goal gives Derby first win of season

LONDON: A stunning volley from Kenny Miller on his debut gave Derby County its first Premier League win of the season as it defeated previously unbeaten Newcastle United 1-0 at Pride Park on Monday.

The victory lifted newly-promoted Derby off the bottom of the table for the first time since the middle of August with four points from six matches, sending Bolton Wanderers into last place instead.

The winning goal came in the 38th minute when Miller, making a belated debut after being injured following his close-season move from Celtic, volleyed in from outside the box after a long clearance from goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

Michael Owen, who scored three times for England in European qualifiers against Israel and Russia earlier this month, had a quiet game and was substituted after 55 minutes.

Platini warns Ukraine on Kiev stadium for 2012

KIEV: UEFA president Michel Platini has warned Ukraine's soccer authorities that a Kiev stadium cannot be used for Euro 2012, to be hosted jointly with Poland, unless construction of a nearby shopping centre is halted.

A note on the Ukrainian soccer federation's website www.ffu.org, quoted by media on Monday, said federation president Hryhory Surkis had received the letter after a UEFA inspection of the site around Kiev's Olympic stadium this month.

"The partial blockage of exits from the stadium and its emergency routes, plus the limited area in which spectators can move about significantly raises the threat of poor security for fans," the site quoted Platini as saying in his letter.

Motor racing

McLaren plans appeal over Hungary sanction

LONDON: McLaren may still seek the restitution of 15 constructors' points from last month's Hungarian Grand Prix despite being told they will end the Formula One season with none because of a spying controversy.

An appeal hearing has been scheduled for Paris on Wednesday and the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday that McLaren had yet to tell it it was dropping the matter.

A McLaren spokeswoman said the Mercedes-powered team was still deliberating.

McLaren was fined $100 million and stripped of all its 2007 constructors' points last Thursday after the governing body found it had gained an advantage from Ferrari information in their possession.

That fine will be reduced by the revenue it would have received for its final championship position with the points scored up to the sanction being applied.

NFL

Titans and coach agree on contract extension

NASHVILLE, Tennessee: The Tennessee Titans and coach Jeff Fisher agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension on Monday.

Terms were not disclosed, but the Tennessean newspaper reported on its web site that Fisher received a four-year deal worth between 5.5 million and six million dollars annually from the National Football League team.

"As I said earlier in the offseason, I have never even considered leaving," said Fisher, who is in his 13th full season as the Titans' coach and his eighth as executive vice president.

Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, the Tennessean reported that the extension will keep Fisher with the Titans through the 2011 season. His current contract was set to expire at the end of this year.

(China Daily 09/19/2007 page24)