WORLD OF SPORT

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Rooney rides shotgun to Everton training Everton striker Wayne Rooney was given a lift to training yesterday after he was banned for two years for drink-driving. Rooney, 31, was disqualified from public roads for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order by a judge on Monday after he pleaded guilty to drinkdriving. Rooney, wearing a black baseball cap, arrived at the club’s Finch Farm training complex in the passenger seat of a black Range Rover to prepare for the club’s League Cup tie at home to Sunderland tonight. The former England captain issued a statement following his court appearance in which he apologised for his “unforgivable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong”. Stockport Magistrates’ Court in northwest England heard Rooney was almost three times over the legal limit when he was stopped driving a Volkswagen Beetle on September 1.

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Burkina Faso fuming over Fifa decision

The Burkina Faso Football Federation has challenged Fifa’s ruling to replay a World Cup qualifying game because the referee was corrupt. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the Burkinabe football body filed an appeal against Fifa’s decision to order a November replay of South Africa’s 2-1 win over Senegal last year. Burkina Faso officials said the ruling by Fifa was “an abuse of power.” Fifa banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey for life for awarding the penalty that led to South Africa leading 1-0. Burkina Faso top the qualifying group on goal difference over Cape Verde with two games left. Senegal trail by one point but could lead after the replay. Only the group winner will advance to next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Rossi back in training 18 days after leg fracture

Valentino Rossi has returned to training just 18 days after suffering a double leg fracture, his Movistar Yahama MotoGP team confirmed. Rossi underwent surgery in Ancona, in eastern Italy, on September 1, a day after a crash in training, discharging himself from hospital the following day. Rossi, 38, rode his first couple of laps around the Misano circuit before the session was cut short by rain, his team said. “The evaluation of Rossi’s physical condition was inconclusive,” the team said with a decision expected midweek on whether the Italian will attempt to take part in this weekend’s Aragon MotoGP. Rossi missed the San Marino GP but remains fourth in the standings, 42 points behind world champion Marc Marquez of Spain.