Egypt protest traps Nigeria's Sunshine Soccer stars in hotel

Egyptian soccer players are protesting the suspension of their domestic league have
briefly prevented Nigerian side Sunshine Stars from leaving their Cairo hotel on Sunday for an African Champions League match against local side Al Ahli.

Domestic leagues were suspended after a Feb. 1 soccer stadium disaster in which 74 people were killed.

The Egyptian soccer players and their supporters marched to the Egyptian presidential palace to press their demand for a resumption of the league before heading to a nearby hotel where the visiting Nigerian team were staying.

They even clashed with Al Ahli fans who arrived at the scene in an effort to make sure the Nigerian players could get to the ground because they fear that Al Ahli would be automatically disqualified.

The protesters and fans scuffled and threw rocks before the clashes abated and the Nigerian side left for the match, the second leg of the African Champions League semi-final.

The hardcore Ahli fans, or "ultras", involved in Sunday's trouble are the same group that has been demanding the postponement of the domestic league until they see justice has been served over the February stadium disaster in Port Said.

Many of the dead were Ahli fans who had travelled to Port Said for the away match against Al Masry. The government was blamed for failing to send enough police to the game, many fans believing the trouble was sparked by hired thugs.

source Yahoo news

Football Fans Riot Senegal-Ivory Coast

After Didier Drogba scored his second goal from the penalty kick that put the Ivory Coast up in the second-leg match 2-0, and 6-2 on aggregate violence erupted as Senegal fans began lighting fires in the stands, causing a haze of smoke over the stadium.

Ivorian fans jumped to escape the violence, as Senegal fans tried attacking them and police fired tear gas into the stands.

The match was suspended in the 76th minute and abandoned 45 minutes later.

Ronaldinho in tears after a goal

Ronaldinho in tears after scoring the first goal in Atletico-MG's 6-0 win against Figueirense. The shot floated into the far top corner of the goal.

Ronaldinho, 32 knelt down and began to cry as his teammates crowded around him. People are used to his smiles but not this time, his stepfather died of a heart attack on Friday.

West Ham United's Winston Reid knocked out

 Winston Reid of West Ham United was knocked out during a heavy clash with QPR goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the first English Premier League match to feature two New Zealanders.

All Whites captain and Queens Park Rangers defender Ryan Nelsen and West Ham's Winston Reid both Kiwis started for their respective teams in the Hammers' 2-1 win at QPR's Loftus Road.

Reid was later sitting up and talking in the dressing room and wasn't concussed, as reported.

He confirmed he suffered no major injury via tweet "thx 4 everyones tweets all good great win for the team and great start to the season #COYI".

The win moves newly-promoted West Ham up to seventh on the table after six games, while QPR are yet to claim a win and sit at the bottom of the 20 team league.

source nzherald.co.nz