SOCCER - Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have each been banned for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee, world soccer's most powerful leaders kicked out of the sport for conflict of interest and disloyalty to FIFA in a $2 million payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.
CRICKET - Nathan Coulter-Nile's dream of a debut Australian Test cap on Boxing Day appears over after dislocating his shoulder during the Perth Scorchers' Big Bash League loss to the Adelaide Strikers.
CRICKET - Alex Ross was again the hero for the Adelaide Strikers, his powerful late-order hitting maintaining the Strikers' unbeaten start to the Big Bash with a four-wicket win with five balls to spare over reigning champions Perth Scorchers on Monday night.
RUGBY UNION - Adam Ashley-Cooper has engaged in a Twitter spat with Irish superstar Brian O'Driscoll after the Wallabies vice-captain was accused of chasing riches over silverware.
