France homophobia

PARIS (AP):

A French amateur club has refused to register a homosexual player, leading a gay football organisation to ask the French Football Federation to impose sanctions. The organisation, Paris Foot Gay, said yesterday that club FC Chooz should be punished "to help the football world to realise that homophobia is as bad as racism and anti-Semitism".

Yoann Lemaire has played at Chooz for 14 years, but the club says it will not register him again to avoid any "trouble" with his teammates. French junior sports minister, Rama Yade, has also called for action to be taken against the club from eastern France.

Rooney scandal

LONDON (AP):

The parents of the woman at the centre of a sex scandal involving Wayne Rooney have apologised to the England striker's wife. Several tabloid newspapers claimed on Sunday that Rooney cheated repeatedly on his pregnant wife Coleen last year with a 21-year-old prostitute identified as Jenny Thompson. The allegations have produced several days of front-page coverage in the tabloids. The woman's parents, Hamish and Dana Thompson, issued a statement yesterday saying they "would never condone what has or may have happened".

The Thompsons say they "would like to offer our most sincere apologies to Coleen Rooney and her family".

Rooney scored England's opening goal in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in European Championship qualifying.

Panama beat T&T

PANAMA CITY (AP):

Edwin Aguilar, Luis Tejada and Gabriel Gomez all scored to lead Panama past Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday night. Interim Panama coach Jorge Dely left many of his regular players on the bench, looking at new faces for next year's Central American championship. Aguilar scored in the 13th and Tejada added his in the 75th. Gomez wrapped up the scoring on an 87th-minute penalty. Panama drew 2-2 on Friday in a friendly with Costa Rica, one of the regional powerhouses. Neither Panama nor Trinidad and Tobago played at the World Cup in South Africa.

Hope for Ronaldo

SAO PAULO (AP):

Brazil coach Mano Menezes believes Ronaldo is capable of playing at a high level again despite his recent struggles. The coach told Terra website that 33-year-old Ronaldo "can overcome all expectations" and "has proven many times" that he can surpass challenges. Ronaldo has suffered three serious knee injuries in his career but recovered every time. He made a successful comeback with Brazil's Corinthians last year, but has not been fit this season and has talked about possibly retiring soon. Menezes says Ronaldo may have one last "card up his sleeve".