Football: Inter go eight points clear

Inter Milan took a stranglehold on the Serie A title with a 3-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday which extended their lead over city rivals AC Milan to 10 points.

Canadian Grand Prix organizers have confirmed the race will be back on next year’s Formula One calendar after reaching an agreement with supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Zaheer Khan completed a five-wicket haul as India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the final Test in Mumbai, achieving victory inside the first hour on the fifth and final day.

Jonny Wilkinson will make his first international appearance for 18 months after he was named in England’s side to face Australia on Saturday.

Master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka completed an easy 202-run victory over New Zealand on the final day of the first Test in Galle.

Everton have confirmed the signing of Russia midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov from Lokomotiv Moscow for an undisclosed fee.

Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick as Manchester United condemned bottom club Portsmouth to a 4-1 home defeat in Avram Grant’s first match in charge in a game featuring three penalties.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson admits an English Football Association charge of improper conduct after he publicly questioned the fitness of referee Alan Wiley.

David Beckham’s commitments with Los Angeles Galaxy have forced him to withdraw from the England squad to face Brazil in a friendly in Qatar.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso will sign for Primera Liga giants Real Madrid on Wednesday after the two clubs agree a transfer fee of around $50 million for the Spanish international.

Eight-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy delights his home supporters by claiming pole position for the San Marino MotoGP at Misano on Sunday.

American billionaire Stan Kroenke (above) increases his stake in English Premier League club Arsenal to 28.9 per cent, while Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung finally completes his takeover of Birmingham City.

World number two Rafael Nadal slumps to a shock straight sets defeat to Swede Robin Soderling in their Group B opener at the ATP Tour Finals in London. Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic survives a scare to beat Nikolay Davydenko in three sets.

Nearly two years after pleading guilty to a U.S. federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation, Michael Vick was reinstated to the National Football League on a conditional basis, according to an NFL statement.

Manchester United return to the top of English Premier League with a 5-0 crushing of crisis club Portsmouth, while Liverpool keep their Champions League bid on track with a 1-0 victory in the derby against Everton.

Formula 1 will continue to take place in Britain for the next 17 years after a deal is struck between Silverstone’s owners and the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone.