Anelka charged over ‘racist’ salute
London: West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka faces a lengthy ban after being charged by the Football Association on Tuesday over an allegedly anti-Semitic salute. The 34-year-old French striker performed the ‘quenelle’ salute, putting one arm across his chest and straightening the other, during West Brom’s 3-3 draw at West Ham United in the Premier League last month. The FA said that Anelka had made a gesture that was “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper” and included “a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief”. Anelka has until 1800 GMT on Thursday to respond to the charge and if found guilty he faces a minimum five-game suspension. His team drew with Everton 1-1 at home on Monday. (AFP)
Caterham sign Kobayashi and Ericsson
LEAFIELD (UK): Formula One tail-enders Caterham rang the changes by announcing the return of popular Japanese racer Kamui Kobayashi and arrival of Swedish rookie Marcus Ericsson in an all-new 2014 driver line-up on Tuesday. The long-awaited announcement completes the 22-man grid for the season starting in Australia in March and marks a fresh start for the Malaysian-owned team who have yet to score a point in four years. The two replace Frenchman Charles Pic and Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde, who has moved to Sauber as a reserve driver. Kobayashi, who set up a website to raise the funds needed to secure a Formula One return after losing his Sauber seat in 2012, competed for Ferrari in sportscars last year. Ericsson, 23, will be making his debut after competing in the junior GP2 series last year and becomes Sweden’s first Formula One race driver since Stefan Johansson in 1991. (Reuters)
Di Resta back in DTM after Force India axe
London: Scottish driver Paul di Resta will return to DTM racing with Mercedes after losing his Formula One seat at Force India. Di Resta had made his F1 debut with Force India in 2011 after winning the 2010 DTM title for Mercedes. He went to complete three seasons with the Silverstone squad before he was replaced by financially supported Sergio Perez for 2014. (IANS)