Justine pulls out of Fed Cup

Brussels: Justine Henin-Hardenne will not play for Belgium in the Fed Cup against the US, joining Kim Clijsters on the sidelines. “With my advisors, we decided not to play in 2007,” Henin-Hardenne said on Sunday on her website. “We took the decision because of the very heavy calendar.” The 24-year-old is currently second in rankings and will resume her season in Paris this week. The US and Belgium play the first round on April 21-22 at Delray Beach, Florida, and the pullout of Belgium’s top two players makes the job a lot easier for the Americans. Belgium’s third best player is Kirsten Flipkens, who is ranked 104th.

Liu auctions shoes

Beijing: Liu Xiang’s shoes keep getting more valuable. Liu, the Olympic 110m hurdle champion and world-record holder, has auctioned his autographed track shoes for 200,000 yuan ($25,800) at a charity event, Chinese news agency reported on Monday. The shoes were bought on Sunday by China Air, and the money will go toward the schooling of migrant children.

Van der Sar withdraws

Amsterdam: Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has pulled out of the squad for the friendly against Russia on Wednesday after breaking his nose. The Dutch soccer federation, KNVB, confirmed the Manchester United ’keeper had suffered a broken nose and concussion near the end of Sunday’s Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur.

Fans, cops clash in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro: A Brazilian match was interrupted in the first half when fans clashed with police and tear gas floated across the pitch on Sunday. TV pictures showed riot police wading in and using tear gas to quell the problem. Play resumed but fighting broke out in the second half again. There was also trouble before the Palmeiras-Santos match in Sao Paulo as rival supporters fought in the streets near the stadium. Fans hurled chairs and attacked with sticks and firecrackers. Several cars were damaged.

Romania come to Italy’s aid

Bucharest: Romania have turned down Italy’s offer of compensation after Wednesday's friendly with the world champions was cancelled. “(Head of Italian soccer federation’s international department) Sergio di Cesare told us that compensation will be paid for the inconvenience, but the Romanian soccer federation (FRF) refused the money,” director Ionut Lupescu said on Monday. Lupsecu said the offer was turned down out of sympathy.

Urge to lift ban

Rome: Italy’s football industry urged government and sporting authorities to lift a ban on soccer matches as the nation paused for the funeral of a policeman killed by rioting fans. Ministers and soccer federation officials have vowed to hammer out emergency measures. But the industry was worried that officials could decide to prolong a costly suspension imposed last Friday on a sport that rakes in an estimated six billion euros ($7.81 billion) a year. Meanwhile, Filippo Raciti’s coffin was driven through the streets of Catania on Monday to the cathedral, with thousands of onlookers applauding in a customary sign of respect.

Throughout the country, Italians paused, with Rome’s main airport suspending all check-ins for a minute of silence.

Cricket: Tri-series, New Zealand vs England, live from 8.43 am on ESPN n Soccer: Under-21, England vs Spain, 1.25 am (Wednesday) on STAR Sports.