A supporter celebrates a winning move by Iran's National Football Team in Malaysia.

BANGKOK, Thailand, Dec. 14--Iran’s beleaguered football federation is yet to respond to demands by the sport’s top bodies to halt political interference in its domestic game, 10 days after promising to find a solution.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said that following a high-level meeting with an Iranian sports delegation in Kuala Lumpur, nothing had been resolved, Reuters reported.
“The AFC has not yet received a response from the Iranian delegation since last week’s visit,“ a spokesman said on Friday.
Soccer’s top bodies and the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) have been at loggerheads for months over the IFF’s refusal to bar members of the state-run Physical Education Organization (PEO) from running in its presidential elections.
FIFA and the AFC last week agreed to allow officials from the powerful PEO to become members of the IFF’s General Assembly but refused to let a politician take the top post.
The Iranian delegation said it would inform the AFC of how it planned to tackle the problem within 48 hours of the meeting but the AFC are still in the dark.
The dispute surrounds the candidacy of Mohammad Aliabadi, one of Iran’s vice-presidents, head of the PEO, and prime candidate to win an election that was initially scheduled for Dec. 6.
That poll was postponed after FIFA said it would not recognize the result.
Iran were temporarily suspended from international matches in November last year because of political meddling in domestic football, mainly by the PEO.
The standoff has prevented Iran from hiring a new national team coach ahead of 2010 World Cup qualifiers starting in February.
German Winfried Schaefer and former French national team coach Jacques Santini are reported to be candidates for the post.

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--Mohammad Reza Davarzani, head of Iran’s Volleyball Federation, is optimistic that the Iranian team will emerge on top of Asia within the next two years.
“Undoubtedly, we will be the best Asian team in 2009 and win the championship. Iran deserves to be among the world’s top teams. We have hired Zoran Gajic, well-known international coach, to guide the team,“ Mehr News Agency quoted Davarzani as saying.
Asked about the 2008 Olympics qualification, Davarzani said, “We are 40 percent optimistic about proceeding to the event. Iran has set its eyes on the 2010 Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou, China.“
Stressing that there is no problem over Gajic’s job, Davarzani noted that many top coaches hold two jobs simultaneously.
“For instance, Hungary’s coach works in Fenerbahce and the coach of Poland has also signed a contract with one of the Argentinean clubs,“ he said.

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--Iran’s National Football Team will play a warm-up game against Qatar ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Based on an earlier agreement, Iran’s Azadi Stadium will host the game on January 9, said Mehr News Agency.
Iran was drawn against United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Syria in Group E of the 2010 FIFA Qualifier.
The Iranian team will play against Syria in the opening match slated for Feb. 6, 2008, in Tehran.

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Dec. 14--Iran and North Korean reached an agreement on boosting bilateral sports cooperation on Friday.
The two parties have agreed on promoting exchanges related to coaching and their sport teams in the meeting held in Pyongyang, IRNA reported.
Mohammad Aliabadi, president of Iran’s Physical Education Organization, signed the agreement with the North Korean compatriot and will be back on Saturday.

NEW YORK, Dec. 14-- Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford has been given a one-match suspension after striking a player on the head, the NBA said on Thursday.
According to Reuters, Horford struck Toronto’s T.J Ford during the fourth quarter of the 100-88 loss to the Raptors on Tuesday. Ford fell to the floor before being carried off on a stretcher and spending the night in hospital.

LONDON, Dec. 14-- Formula One champions Ferrari say they are prepared to close the McLaren spy controversy on a sporting level while continuing legal action against the individuals concerned.
“Ferrari respects the proposal of the FIA President to cancel the extraordinary general meeting of the World Motor Sport Council... thus bringing this incident to a close from a sporting point of view,“ the team said in a statement.
“However, it is confirmed that criminal actions underway in Italy and civil ones in England are still continuing,“ Ferrari added.
According to Reuters, McLaren apologized to their rivals, the governing International Automobile Federation and fans on Thursday after conceding that Ferrari information fed to the team earlier in the year had gone deeper than suspected.
They also proposed to freeze development on three systems that would have featured in their 2008 car after FIA suspicions that they might be contaminated by Ferrari data.
FIA President Max Mosley in return sought the cancellation of a February 14 meeting to assess McLaren’s 2008 car that could have imposed further penalties on the team a month before the start of the season.
The decision should allow Formula One to start the New Year with a clean slate and without the threat of further damage from a controversy that has hung over the sport since July.

KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec. 14-- Shoaib Malik is to retain the Pakistan captaincy until the end of next year despite the series defeat against India, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Thursday.
“We will stick to our decision to name him as captain for the year (2008). We will give him our full backing and we feel he can mature into a good captain in time,“ Ashraf told Reuters.
The 25-year-old Malik’s captaincy and own form have come under the microscope after Pakistan’s one-day and test series defeats at home to South Africa and then the disappointing showing in India.
Malik led Pakistan in the one-day series in India, which the hosts won 3-2, and the first test in New Delhi which India won by six wickets before going on to complete a 1-0 series triumph.
Vice-captain Younis Khan was the captain for the last two tests as Malik was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Ashraf said the board had made Malik the captain this year keeping in mind the future of Pakistan cricket.

MIAMI, USA, Dec. 14-- The Washington Wizards eased to a 104-91 road victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, DeShawn Stevenson leading the visitors to a third straight win with a season-best 26 points.
According to Reuters, Antawn Jamison chipped in with 16 rebounds and 16 points, Caron Butler contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds and Brendan Haywood added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Wizards continued to perform well without the injured Gilbert Arenas.
“Everybody is just stepping up night in and night out,“ Butler told reporters.
“DeShawn Stevenson made real big baskets tonight, Brendan Haywood did an unbelievable job on Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal), and collectively, we just did a good job of making shots.“
Chris Quinn led Miami with 22 points, Udonis Haslem added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Dwyane Wade had 17 points.
Miami’s O’Neal took only six shots in the game and finished with seven points and six rebounds.

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens leaves the field during the third inning of Game 3 of their MLB American League Division Series baseball game in New York, Oct. 7.

HOUSTON, USA, Dec. 14-- Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens has “vehemently“ denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs, his attorney said on Thursday in response to a bombshell baseball report.
Lawyer Rusty Hardin told reporters Clemens had never tested positive for steroids and was being falsely accused by a former trainer who feared federal prosecution, Reuters wrote.
“Roger Clemens adamantly, vehemently or whatever adjective can be used, denies he has ever used steroids or whatever the word is for improper substance,“ said Hardin, a prominent defense attorney in Houston, where Clemens lives.
“There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today,“ he said.
Hardin spoke after former US Sen. George Mitchell released his findings in New York from a 20-month investigation requested by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig.
The report, which named 77 players who allegedly used steroids and other drugs to improve their performance, said Clemens got injected with steroids while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees by the former trainer for both teams, Brian McNamee.
Hardin said McNamee initially denied any reports of steroid use, but changed his story when federal authorities threatened to prosecute him.

Italian football club AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf (r) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring against Urawa Reds of Japan in the Club World Cup semifinal in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday.

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec. 14--Italian powerhouses AC Milan lived up to their pre-tournament promise by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0 to reach the final against Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup on Thursday.
Brazilian striker Kaka, who won the prestigious French Ballon d’Or for the Player of the Year, produced a pin-point cross from the left for midfielder Clarence Seedorf’s goal in the 68th minute, AFP wrote.
Boca, the Argentine giants, beat Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in the other semi-final on Wednesday to meet Milan who are aiming for the first Club World Cup for Europe.
“I knew Kaka would cross the ball back. So I went straight into the line,“ Dutchman Seedorf said. “I was concentrated to kick it good, keep it low and that was good.“
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “Boca Juniors are a different type of team from Urawa. They are opponents who have experience and history.“
“But we came here to bring the Cup to Europe. We just try hard to accomplish our goal,“ he added.
“I expect Boca Juniors to play aggressive, they are not a defensive team. For us, it’s important to win the trophy. Both teams try to win the Cup. It will be a more difficult game than against Urawa. But we have high motivation.“
Although the European champions allowed Urawa to hit the first couple of shots at goal, they took control after 10 minutes with Andrea Pirlo firing a shot from a free kick, which keeper Ryota Tsuzuki dived to save.
Roared on by a partisan home crowd, Urawa fought back bravely before the break, but Takahito Soma’s shots were too long and Keita Suzuki’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Brazilian keeper Dida.
AC Milan dominated the second half, attacking the Japanese goal repeatedly with shots by Marek Jankulovski, Seedorf, Kaka and Alberto Gilardino.
And it was just a question of when the Italians would score the first goal.
Kaka said he saw Seerdorf and striker Flippo Inzaghi in front of the goal. “I fed the ball to Seedorf because he was more ready to catch it.“
“We must prepare ourselves for the final as anything could happen,“ he said. “We made a few mistakes and we need to readjust ourselves.“
Urawa’s German coach Holger Osieck was proud of his team’s performance despite the defeat, saying: “I congratulated my players in the dressing room for their gutsy and good performances.“
The final game will be held on Dec. 16.

Fabio Capello

LONDON, Dec. 14-- Italian Fabio Capello is on the verge of becoming England’s second foreign manager on Thursday after the Football Association (FA) board approved his appointment.
Subject to final contractual agreement, the 61-year-old will succeed Steve McClaren, who was sacked last month after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, and become the second foreigner in the job following Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson (2001-06), Reuters said.
Capello had talks with FA officials on Wednesday then traveled to his home in Switzerland, leaving his representatives to negotiate further on Thursday.
“Discussions have continued throughout the day between the FA and Fabio Capello’s advisers,“ director of communications Adrian Bevington said in a statement.