On The Money, Despite Defeat
The British and Irish Lions returned home after losing 2-1 in a hard-fought series against South Africa. Yet the tourist's comprehensive 28-9 victory in the final Test against the world champions ensured they left Johannesburg with heads held high. It was the Lions' first Test victory in eight years and, coupled with the £5m (Dh29m) recorded in tour profits – more than double that of any previous tours – defeat is not so hard to swallow.
Ronaldo Replaced?
Sir Alex Ferguson, having sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m (Dh472m), used some of the revenue this week to strengthen his Man Utd side. The Red Devils had already signed Antonio Valencia from Wigan and on Wednesday added the trickery of French winger Gabriel Obertan to the ranks. Arsenal fans were meanwhile gifted their own share of good news when coach Arsene Wenger announced top-scorer Robin van Persie had signed a new long-term deal.
Soccer City Under Threat
More than 70,000 construction workers in South Africa went on strike this week in a bid to win the 15 per cent wage increase they are demanding. The move has cast doubts over whether the country will be ready to host next year's Fifa World Cup. Soccer City union organiser Patrick Geqeza blamed management inflexibility for precipitating the strike. At present most of the workers are being paid 2,500 rand (Dh1,126) a month.
American All-Star Shot Dead
A former NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) was shot and killed in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday. The body of Steve McNair, a former quarterback with the Tennessee Titans, was found alongside his girlfriend Sahel Kazemi in an apartment McNair co-owned with a friend. Police ruled McNair's death as murder, blaming Kazemi who they claim then turned the gun on herself. McNair, 36, led the Titans to their only ever Superbowl appearance in 2000.
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