Leave Ronaldo alone, Inter tells fans
APPIANO GENTILE Italy: Over 3,000 Inter Milan fans turned out to welcome their idol Ronaldo on Friday as his club pleaded with supporters to leave the Brazilian in peace. Ronaldo flew back from holiday on Thursday, claiming that the drama shortly before the World Cup final, when he suffered convulsions in his hotel room, was all behind him. Though tests have failed to reveal the cause, Inter Milan coach Gigi Simoni called on the Inter faithfuls to take it easy with the 21-year-old. Simoni said: quot;Ronaldo needs to be left in peace, there’s too much attention on him. If we can make him relaxed, we’ll all be doing him a favour.

Schmeichel blasts Laudrup
LONDON: Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel on Friday launched a scathing attack on compatriot Brian Laudrup for quitting international football. Laudrup, 29, who joined English Premiership club Chelsea from Rangers this summer, decided to retire from the international scene after Denmark’s World Cupquarter-final defeat by Brazil in France last month. Schmeichel said Laudrup’s absence has blown a hole in Denmark’s plans for the future — especially as his older brother Michael had quit too.

Turkey blacklists Djorkaeff
ANKARA: The Turkish Football Federation has discarded France’s international striker Youri Djorkaeff from a list of players for a world team that will play Turkey in October for his alleged anti-Turkish views, the Anatolia news agency has said.