Football referee may escape punishment
A Japanese referee whose bizarre performance triggered chaos after last weekend's J-League curtain-raiser looks likely to escape the axe, reports Reuters from Tokyo.

Masaaki Iemoto, who was out of the J-League's list of referees in 2006, produced three red and 11 yellow cards during Saturday's game between Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Kashima have demanded an inquiry into Iemoto's decisions after they were beaten 4-3 in a controversial penalty shootout in which Hiroshima were twice allowed to retake missed kicks.

However, a senior Japan Football Association (JFA) official said on Tuesday there would be no knee-jerk response to Kashima's complaints following the Super Cup match in Tokyo.

"I don't believe any decision will be made on the basis of one game," Hideto Teshima said. "He may not have had full control of the game but I haven't heard any complaints about specific decisions."

Furious Kashima players surrounded Iemoto following Saturday's match while security staff attempted to quell a pitch invasion from Antlers fans. "We are waiting for a formal letter from Kashima," the J-League's office said. "When we receive it we will make the appropriate response."

Thailand badminton chiefs livid
Thai badminton chiefs are furious with the sport's sponsor after it carried out it's own pre-Olympics fitness tests and failed the country's top players, reports Reuters from Bangkok.

Long-time sponsors Siam Cement Group (SCG) have ruled that any player who fails the test would be denied the chance to qualify for the Games in upcoming Super series events in Europe.

However, half of the players failed, including medal hope Boonsak Ponsana, a household name who is expected to scoop the top honour at Thailand's annual sports awards later this week.

"This makes absolutely no sense. They have gone beyond the call of duty," Charoen Wattanasin, the Thai Badminton Association president said. "Even Boonsak failed the test. There will a public outcry if he doesn't go to the Olympics."

Two others who failed were doubles players, which rules their partners out of a place in Beijing.
Charoen said an urgent meeting will be called to settle the dispute. "Whatever happens, our best players will definitely be in Beijing," he said.

Ban on bringing food into Olympics village
Athletes participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics will not be allowed to bring their own food to the Games Village to ensure food safety, reports PTI from Beijing.

“Foods are banned mainly out of safety concerns and beverages are not allowed in the Olympic Village to protect sponsors’ rights,” Kang Yi, Catering chief of the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee said.

The move was in conformity with standard international practice, she said. “Athletes were not allowed to bring their own prepared food to the village at past Games, but medicines are complicated and will be treated differently,” Xiang Ping, Deputy Director of the games services department, said.

“There is no need to bring prepared food on the part of athletes as there is a great variety of food to meet everybody’s needs at the athletes’ village,” Xiang said.