NEWARK: A 13-year-old Indian boy prohibited from playing in a soccer match in New Jersey because he was wearing a turban will get to rejoin his teammates when the game is replayed.

Officials conceded a referee erred on Sunday when he refused to let Raj Thapar of West Orange play if he wore a patka to cover his hair as prescribed by the Sikh religion.

``I think the referee was a little insensitive to the situation,'' said Bob Katz, president of the board of trustees for the Mountaintop League of West Orange. ``I think he needs to be educated a little bit and be more sensitive to religious customs.''

Cork out for ODI

LONDON: England's hopes of victory in next week's opening One-Day International against Australia suffered a blow when all-rounder Dominic Cork was ruled out because of injury. The 26-year-old has not played since injuring his groin in Derbyshire's opening championship match of the season against Kent.

He has since undergone intensive treatment but hopes of his recovery ahead of the first of the three matches, at Headingley on May 22, were dashed when England confirmed he will be not considered for the squad.

Martin injured

PARIS: Last year's Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington and fellow American Todd Martin have both pulled out of the French Open after failing to recover fully from recent operations.

The Roland Garros organisers said Washington would be replaced by Canada's Sebastian Lareau, Martin is being replaced by South African Marcos Ondruska. Julie Halard of France will also miss the tournament. Her replacement in the women's singles draw is compatriot Nathalie Dechy.

Boxer killed

UKHTA: A member of Russia's national boxing team was stabbed to death at his apartment here officials said on Wednesday. Eduard Zakharov, 23, had an altercation with two men on Tuesday and his wife and another woman ran from the apartment to call for help. But Zakharov died from at least 10 knife wounds just minutes after the women returned, police said.

Zakharov won the 1993 European Junior Boxing Championship in Greece. He took part in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Brazil still lead

HAMBURG: Reigning World Cup champions Brazil maintained their lead ahead of European title holders Germany in the latest rankings issued on Wednesday by world soccer governing body Fifa. Brazil, the only South Americans in the top-10, have amassed 66.15 points. Germany have 64.02 and the 1992 European champions Denmark climbed from sixth to third place with 62.03 points.

Top 10: 1 Brazil 66.15 points, 2 Germany 64.02, 3 Denmark 62.03, 4 France 61.75, 5 Spain 61.43, 6 Italy 61.37, 7 Holland 60.52, 8 Czech Republic 60.06, 9 Romania 59.22, 10 Russia 59.10.

Europe tipped

ROME: FIFA president Joao Havelange said he expected a European country to win the race for the 2004 Olympics. ``The south of the world, and particularly South America, are pushing Buenos Aires but it will be the 111 members of the IOC who decide and of these almost half are European,'' Havelange said.

SA millions

JOHANNESBURG: A record 1,012,101 cricket fans paid to attend international and domestic cricket matches in South Africa this season.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.