Fed, Murray back gay players

Supportive ... Federer and Murray insist a gay player would not be ostracised on tour. Source: Narendra Shrestha / AAP

Roger Federer and Andy Murray are adamant a player who came out as gay would not face discrimination on the world tennis tour.

Basketball star Jason Collins recently revealed he was gay, becoming the first active professional player in the United States to declare his homosexuality.

Federer believes any such revelation in men's tennis would not cause problems.

"I don't think it's a problem to be honest. We are relaxed and don't play team sport and mix a lot, not with the girls, but with the guys and we're very open," said the 17-time Grand Slam title winner.

"What would happen in this event? I don't know. I don't know if there is anyone."

World number three Murray said that there are probably some gay men on the professional tour.

But the Scot said that if a fellow competitor decided to go public, he would find sympathy.

"I would hope there are no issues on the tour," said the US Open and Olympic champion.

"You know, there have to be some players who are probably gay but I don't think other players have any issues with it and hope tennis deals with this well.

"I saw the Jason Collins thing in basketball and the player and the owners were respectful and happy about his decision and so I think it is a good thing."

Meanwhile, Federer, now the world number three behind Novak Djokovic and Murray, goes into the Rome Masters after an early exit from Madrid last week where he was the defending champion.

"I have a little more time here and I'm doing what you have to do to get ready for the match," said the 31-year-old Swiss, who took nearly two months off from mid-march March to heal a back niggle.

Federer will make his start in Rome in the second round against either Radek Stepanek, whom he beat in Madrid, or Italian Potito Starace.

The Swiss does not deny that this season has gotten off to a worse start than 2012, when he won titles in Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells and Madrid prior to the French Open.

Although his failure to reach the final of the first two Grand Slams that year saw him come in for criticism.

This year, he is the only member of the top 10 not to have played in any final.

But critics write him off at their peril.

"I was surprised how early it (2012 criticism) was, straight after the French Open (where he lost a semi-final to Djokovic).

"When you play well no one dares attack you.

"I have six weeks to play and I chose to take seven weeks off but people sometimes don't respect. Now, it's important to focus on Rome and get used to playing on clay."

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United players welcome Moyes

Welcome ... the football world reacts to news of Moyes's appointment. Source: Glyn Kirk / AFP

Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick have welcomed the appointment of David Moyes at Old Trafford and paid tribute to his success at Everton.

After Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed his retirement following 26 years in charge, the Premier League club announced that Moyes would be his successor on Thursday.

And the early reaction from within the dressing room suggests that the players view the Everton boss, who will take up his new post on July 1, as the ideal man for the job.

Ferdinand, who has played under Ferguson for over a decade at Old Trafford, said: "It was important the club made a decision quickly and got it all sorted before people could start making rumours.

"The club have acted impeccably in that respect.

"It's great to see the new manager coming in, we've never had a problem with him here at United, he's a very honest man from the players you speak to and he's done a fantastic job at his previous club Everton.

"I'm sure he'll be very, very open and sympathetic to the traditions of the club and try and continue that and not come in and try and make crazy changes in terms of the whole characteristics of the club."

United and England midfielder Carrick has also been impressed by Moyes' work at Everton and is eagerly awaiting the start of a new era.

"He's done a terrific job at Everton," he said.

"He's been there a long time and has had great success with the resources he's had. It's obviously a big change because this club's been run for so long by one person.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting him and getting good training in pre-season and looking forward to a good future.

"He's honest and fair to his players as far as I'm aware. He sets high standards just as he expects high standards of ourselves."

Former Manchester United striker Sir Bobby Charlton has given his backing to new manager David Moyes as well. 

"I have always said that we wanted the next manager to be a genuine Manchester United man," said Charlton.

"In David Moyes, we have someone who understands the things that make this such a special club.

"We have secured a man who is committed to the long-term and will build teams for the future as well as now. Stability breeds success.

"David has tremendous strength of character and recognises the importance of bringing young players through and developing them alongside world class talent.

"At United, I think David will be able to express himself.

"I am delighted he has accepted and I'm looking forward to working with him.".

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Other reaction: 

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio: "After 12 years at Everton, he has proved the quality and the style he has got because we all know you have to have a specific style.

"Manchester United is not only about a winning mentality, the style is important, and I think Moyes has proved he deserves to go one step forward and work at the top level.

"In my opinion, he's the right man - only time will tell if he is right, but in my opinion, David has done an amazing job in the last 12 years at Everton."

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez: "He's a good manager. I think that he will have a very good team, so I'm sure he will compete at the top and he can win trophies with a big club," said Benitez.

Aston Villa's Paul Lambert:  "Absolutely fabulous manager. I think if anybody can do it, and keep the continuity, David can do it. I think he will be able to handle it, no problem."

QPR chief Harry Redknapp:  "It is a fantastic opportunity for David. He has worked hard for the last ten years at Everton. It is difficult to follow Sir Alex but it is good to see a lad like David, who has done his time in the lower leagues as well, get such an opportunity."

Steve McClaren:  "I think it's a fantastic appointment. He has a near identical work ethic, character, competitiveness to that of Sir Alex but he's got that longevity at Everton - to build a club and sustain that success year in, year out, at their level.

"The key thing is he will have Sir Alex at the side of him and if they get on, as I know they do, it's the master and the apprentice. He has to be open to that help. The experience Sir Alex has got will be invaluable.

"United had a plan. It's not about short-term success, it's not about sustaining it for the next one or two years, it's the next 26 years. He could be the next manager to do that. That's how they're thinking."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8702059/David-Moyes-backed-to-carry-on-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-s-good-work-at-Manchester-United

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QPR owner slams uncaring players

Slammed ... Queens Park Rangers owner lays into players for not hurting from relegation. Source: Glyn Kirk / AFP

Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes has accused his players of not caring about the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League as much as he does.

Fernandes has confirmed that manager Harry Redknapp will continue in his role next season, but the Malaysian businessman says he feels let down by the players.

"It's heartbreaking for me when we lose. I don't want to go out, I just want to stay at home," he told QPR website.

All smiles ... Redknapp and Bosingwa. Source: Twitter

"I am someone who has dealt with success and dealt with disappointment. But there is nothing I have gone through that is as disappointing as losing a football game.

"I haven't said it throughout the season because it wasn't right to be said, but it hurt me when I saw some of the players who didn't feel the way I felt. And in fact, in their case, it should be worse because this is their job, it's their life. It wasn't a good feeling."

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	35	27	4	4	43	85
2	Man City	34	21	8	5	30	71
3	Chelsea	34	19	8	7	33	65
4	Arsenal	35	18	10	7	30	64
5	Tottenham	34	18	8	8	17	62
6	Everton	35	15	14	6	14	59
7	Liverpool	35	14	12	9	25	54
8	West Brom	34	14	6	14	2	48
9	Swansea	34	10	12	12	-1	42
10	West Ham	35	11	9	15	-8	42
11	Fulham	35	10	10	15	-9	40
12	Stoke	35	9	13	13	-10	40
13	Southampton	35	9	12	14	-10	39
14	Norwich	35	8	14	13	-21	38
15	Sunderland	35	9	10	16	-12	37
16	Aston Villa	35	9	10	16	-22	37
17	Newcastle	35	10	7	18	-23	37
18	Wigan	34	8	8	18	-23	32
19	QPR	35	4	13	18	-27	25
20	Reading	35	5	10	20	-28	25

Fernandes ploughed millions of pounds into the club in an attempt to stave off relegation, notably sanctioning big-money moves for players such as Christopher Samba, Loic Remy, and Park Ji-Sung.

Some of QPR's players were criticised in the British media for smiling and laughing after the final whistle in Sunday's game at the Madejski Stadium, and Fernandes has admitted he found the images hard to stomach.

"It was probably the low point for me when I saw the reaction of some of the players. It has shocked me because it is something that is alien to me," he said.

"Whatever I have done as a job, for whoever has hired me, I put in 150 per cent. It's in my character. If I am taking someone else's money, then I am going to work bloody hard for that person.

"It's an alien concept to me that someone takes someone's salary, doesn't put 100 per cent in, thinks: 'Oh, we lost. No big deal. What club are we going to tonight?'.

"It wasn't right to say anything during the season, but I noticed everything and I am a little bit wiser for it now."

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OHIO TEEN RAPE CASE: Football Players Found Guilty of Attacking Girl

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The trial of two Steubenville, Ohio high school football players accused of raping a 16-year-old girl has ended, and the judge says he will announce the verdict on Sunday. 

Judge Thomas Lipps said Saturday he will announce his decision after reviewing evidence presented over four days in the case against a 17-year-old and his 16-year-old teammate 

The 16-year-old West Virginia girl took the stand Saturday and says she could not recall what happened the night of the alleged attack. 

She said she remembers drinking at a party last August, leaving the party then throwing up later. She testified that the next thing she remembers is waking up naked in a strange house.

The girl said she learned she was assaulted when she later read text messages among friends, and saw a photo of herself and a video made that night.

Two former friends the accuser testified for the defense Saturday that the accuser had a history of drinking heavily and was known to lie about things.

Defense attorneys went after the character and credibility of the alleged victim on the fourth day of the nonjury trial for the teen teammates in juvenile court.

The two are charged with digitally penetrating the accuser, first in a car and then in the basement of a house, while out partying Aug. 12. The 17-year-old also is charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. The two maintain their innocence.

On the stand Saturday, a West Virginia high school student said the accuser told her what happened two days after the alleged attack then, sometime afterward, told her she couldn't remember what happened.

"So two different versions?" asked the 17-year-old accused teen's attorney Adam Nemann.

"Yes," the witness replied.

Earlier, she had testified that the accuser was flirting at the party with the 16-year-old. 

Both the witness and a schoolmate testified they were angry at the accuser because she was drinking heavily at the party and because of her behavior, which they said included rolling around on the floor. They said they tried unsuccessfully to get her to stop drinking.

One of the students said she also tried to get her friend to stay at the party rather than leave with others, including the two defendants.

"When I told her not to leave, I was trying to, like, pull her back into the party. She was trying to shrug me off," she testified. "She kind of hit me."

The accuser was also expected to testify Saturday.

The case has riveted the small city of Steubenville amid allegations that more students should have been charged and led to questions about the influence of the local football team, a source of pride in a community that suffered massive job losses with the collapse of the steel industry.

The witness, whose lawyer was present during her testimony, appeared, like all of the trial's teen witnesses, reluctant to be there.

The day after the party, when she and another friend picked up the accuser from the house where she'd stayed, the accuser said she had no memory of the night before, she testified under questioning by defense attorney Walter Madison.

"We didn't have sex, I swear,"' she said, describing the accuser's comment.

The witness said she'd seen the girl drink heavily in the past and that she no longer speaks to her.

The case has featured disturbing testimony from teens, both in person and in graphic text messages, and has shined an unwelcome light on what students in the community once considered private conversations. Some teenage witnesses winced at times as they were forced to read adult language from texts.

She repeatedly said she couldn't remember statements she made to police last September about the night of the party. Midway through her testimony, special judge Thomas Lipps agreed to let her listen to a 40-minute recording of her statement to refresh her memory.

On Friday, three teenage boys granted immunity for their testimony said the accuser was drunk and didn't seem to know what was happening to her that night.

The three teens spoke Friday of the West Virginia girl's behavior the night of a party and described her being digitally penetrated in a car and later on a basement floor.

One witness testified that he took a video of the 17-year-old and the girl in the car, then deleted it later that morning. He testified he saw the 17-year-old unsuccessfully try to have the girl perform oral sex on him later in the basement of his house. He also testified that the girl was intoxicated and slurring her words.

Another witness testified he saw the 16-year-old's encounter with the girl in the basement, as did the other witness. A witness also confirmed that he filmed a 12-minute video, later passed around widely online, in which another student joked about the attack.

One testified that he saw the 16-year-old's hand in the "crotch region" of the girl, a less descriptive version than he gave last fall in another hearing.

If convicted, the two teens could be held in a juvenile jail until they turn 21.
 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Editors’ Note: The Associated Press named the minors charged due to the fact they have been identified in other news coverage and their names were used in open court. FoxNews.com will not name the defendants.

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Unruly players earn Saints fine

Angry ... Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino and the players surround the referee. Source: Chris Radburn / AAP

Southampton have been fined £20,000 ($A29,250) after accepting a Football Association charge of failing to control their players in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Norwich City.

The Barclays Premier League strugglers were charged for the angry reaction of their players when referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a late penalty to Norwich for a foul on Grant Holt by Luke Shaw.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	28	23	2	3	37	71
2	Man City	28	17	8	3	27	59
3	Tottenham	29	16	6	7	15	54
4	Chelsea	28	15	7	6	26	52
5	Arsenal	28	13	8	7	21	47
6	Liverpool	29	12	9	8	20	45
7	Everton	28	11	12	5	9	45
8	West Brom	29	13	4	12	2	43
9	Swansea	29	10	10	9	4	40
10	Fulham	28	8	9	11	-5	33
11	Stoke	29	7	12	10	-8	33
12	West Ham	28	9	6	13	-9	33
13	Newcastle	29	9	6	14	-10	33
14	Norwich	29	7	12	10	-18	33
15	Sunderland	29	7	9	13	-9	30
16	Southampton	29	6	10	13	-12	28
17	Aston Villa	29	6	9	14	-26	27
18	Wigan	28	6	6	16	-22	24
19	Reading	29	5	8	16	-21	23
20	QPR	29	4	11	14	-21	23

Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc saved Holt's subsequent attempt from the spot but the visiting players continued to protest after the final whistle and were joined on the pitch by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"The FA has today fined Southampton £20,000 after they admitted a charge of failing to control their players,'' read a statement on the FA website.

"The incident occurred following the awarding of a penalty to Norwich during the match at Carrow Road on Saturday 9 March.''

Speaking before the charge was accepted, Pochettino said: "``I don't really feel bad about it because I had full respect for the referee.

"I went to speak with him and perhaps I should have waited until he came to the dug-out to speak to him, but I was always on speaking terms.

"That is the kind of person I am - a spontaneous person.''

Southampton, who host Liverpool this weekend, are currently four points above the Premier League relegation places.

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3/5 EPL players go bankrupt: reports

Bad stat ... EPL stars are getting poorly advised. Source: Jon Super / AP

Three out of five Barclays Premier League soccer players are bankrupt within five years of retiring, research suggests.

Despite earning an average of £30,000 ($45,000) a week, many footballers in Britain are given bad investment advice, according to XPro, the football charity.

One in three gets divorced within a year of retiring, the research said, which can be a further financial drain.

Brad Friedel, Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeper, and Lee Hendrie, the former Aston Villa star, have both been declared bankrupt.

Friedel ran up debts opening a US football academy and Hendrie owed £200,000 in taxes.

Geoff Scott, from XPro, said: "Even if they manage careers some aren't aware they need to put money away for the taxman."

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