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Beckham targets Chelsea match for Galaxy debut
LOS ANGELES: David Beckham expects to make his debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 21 in an exhibition match with FA Cup holders Chelsea after recovering from an ankle injury, according to his manager.
The 32-year-old midfielder twisted his ankle while playing for England against Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match a month ago and aggravated it in his final appearance for Real Madrid 11 days later.
Beckham, who is scheduled to fly into Los Angeles on July 12 before his official introduction as a Galaxy player the following day, had an ankle scan at the weekend which revealed no long-term damage.
"With the right rest and rehabilitation, he should be able to start training with the Galaxy as planned on Monday, July 16," Beckham's publicist Simon Oliveira told Reuters on Wednesday.
"Although David is being officially presented as a Galaxy player on July 13, he is still on holiday and will have that weekend off before reporting for training on the Monday."
Petacchi faces one-year ban, set to miss Tour
ROME: Cyclist Alessandro Petacchi faces a one-year ban after a dope test showed excessive levels of salbutamol during May's Giro d'Italia, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Petacchi, who looks set to miss the Tour de France starting on Saturday, told a two-hour doping hearing on Monday he had a medical certificate to use a set amount of salbutamol in his asthma inhaler and that any overuse was simply an oversight.
But the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor, Ettore Torri, decided he was still culpable and has asked cycling authorities to give the 33-year-old Milram rider a one-year ban. A two-year suspension is the maximum sentence.
The ban has to be rubber-stamped by the Italian Cycling Federation, which could take some time, meaning his hopes of beginning the Tour in London in three days time look shattered.
Laudrup waiting on Schuster before taking over at Getafe
MADRID: Former Danish international Michael Laudrup said he had agreed to take charge of Spanish side Getafe next season but was unable to sign a deal until present coach Bernd Schuster made his move to Real Madrid.
"Everything is in place between me and Getafe," Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet quoted Laudrup as saying on Wednesday.
"We have talked things through but before there is a final clarification in the other matter we cannot of course make a contract," he added, referring to the expected departure of Schuster.
Former German international Schuster has been widely tipped to take charge of Real in place of Fabio Capello who was sacked last month shortly after the club won their first league title in four years.
Spanish media say that Getafe president Angel Torres has been unwilling to release Schuster from his contract until he gets a personal call from Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon informing him of the club's interest.
(China Daily 07/06/2007 page23)
