Sehwag promises to perform better

Amid scathing criticism of its performance and strategies back home, India's stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag on Tuesday appealed to fans to repose their faith in the team and promised a fight back.

He also gave a vote of confidence to coach Greg Chappell, who is also under attack, especially from Parliamentarians, after the team's spineless display in the two matches so far.

"My message to cricket fans is that they should trust us. We are good players and we would fight back," Sehwag said ahead of the fourth One-Dayer against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Team India is in a tight spot on the present tour, be it their own wretched performance or injuries to key players or the anger swelling up back home.

Sehwag said the criticism was expected and as professional sportspersons they would take it in their stride.

"In a way, the criticism can be expected and it's not new. When you do well you are praised and when you fail, you are criticised. But yes players do get upset when families back home tell them about the reaction. However, we need to take it in stride as we are professional sportsmen and these things do happen."

Sehwag looked at Rahul Dravid's absence, due to a finger injury, as a moment of opportunity for other players.

"In a way it is an opportunity because we could have games in future when there would be no Tendulkar or Dravid. The rest of the boys have to be prepared and take over the responsibility."

Iran suspended from all international soccer -- FIFA

Iran has been suspended from all international soccer activity because of government interference in running the game in the country, world ruling body FIFA said.The move comes just five months after Iran took part in the World Cup finals in Germany and a week after they secured a place in the 2007 Asian Cup finals, winning their qualifying group by beating South Korea 2-0 in Tehran.An Iranian news agency said Iran did not accept the decision and described it as "completely illegitimate." Fans in the soccer-mad country were stunned.

FIFA's Emergency Committee, composed of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and one representative of each of the six FIFA confederations took the decision at a meeting on Wednesday.In a statement FIFA said they had decided to "suspend the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) from all international activity due to government interference in football matters and violation of Article 17 of the FIFA Statutes." Article 17 relates to the independence of FAs free of any government interference.

he FIFA statement continued: "The FIFA Emergency Committee took this decision after determining that the IRIFF was not adhering to the principles of the FIFA Statutes regarding the independence of member associations, the independence of the decision-making process of the football governing body in each country and the way in which changes in the leadership of associations are brought about."

FIFA is demanding the establishment of an IRIFF Normalization Committee appointed by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It also wants the IRIFF to draft new statutes and organize new elections.

Wayne Rooney signed a new contract with Manchester United

England striker Wayne Rooney has signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester United that ties him to Old Trafford until 2012.
The new deal was announced on the Web site of the Premier League giants on Saturday - the eve of their showdown with champions Chelsea.

The 21-year-old Rooney has scored seven goals in the Premier League this season and will be a key figure in the eagerly-awaited clash with second-placed Chelsea at Old Trafford.Rooney moved to Man United from Everton in 2004 for 27 million pounds ($52 million), a record for a teenager

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