NICE: Former England batsman Geoff Boycott is to appear before a French court in nearby Grasse today to face charges of causing grievous bodily harm to former girlfriend Margaret Moore.

The 58-year-old Boycott, now a television cricket commentator, was sentenced in his absence last January to a three-month suspended sentence, a 50,000 French francs fine and one franc in damages.

Boycott ignored several orders to appear in court and eventually appealed against the sentence in June.

Moore, 45, accused Boycott of hitting her in October, 1996 during a row in a hotel room at Cap D'Antibes on the French Riviera.

Guyana spin to Red Strike victory

OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA: Penetrative spin bowling had carried Guyana to an emphatic 52-run victory over the Leeward Islands in the final of the Red Stripe bowl One-day cricket tournament at Kaiser Sports Club.

Replying to Guyana's 226 for seven made in 50 overs yesterday, the Leewards tumbled from 78 for one to be bowled outfor 174 in 45.5 overs. It was sweet revenge for Guyana, which lost in he 1997 final to the Leewards.

Apart from fast bowler Reon King, who picked up the first wicket off captain Stuart Williams for three in the third over, Guyana's spinners shared the remaining wickets.

Brief Scores: Guyana (in 50 overs) 226-7 (C Lambert 65, A Gonsalves 41) beat Leewards (in 45.5 overs) 174 (W Cornwall 45, R Morton 48, McGarrell 2-37, Hooper 2-22, Cush 4-37)

English football goes yellow at night

LONDON: The English football league has announced that fluorescent yellow balls would be used at matches during the winter months.

``The future's bright, the future's yellow,'' said league spokesman Chris Hull, representing the English first, second and third divisions, yesterday.

``The fluorescent yellow pigment will make the ball more visible for players, referees and the media as well as the public.''

Hull said three clubs -- first division Crystal Palace and Swindon and second division Luton -- hadstaged trials with the new ball and its first official outing would be at third division Mansfield against Barnet on November 20.

Hoddle demands evidence of bust-up

LONDON: Glenn Hoddle has challenged his critics to produce a tape recording of his alleged dressing room bust-up with captain Alan Shearer after England's Euro 2000 qualifier in Luxembourg.

Newspaper claims of an argument between Shearer and Hoddle have been denied by both men, but radio personality Danny Baker claims a tape of the alleged row exists.

Hoddle said yesterday: ``If it's true that's great. Let's get hold of it and then we'll all find out the truth.''

Brazil coach cleared of charges

SAO PAULO: Brazil's new national football coach, Wanderley Luxemburgo, has been cleared of charges he had molested a hotel manicurist in 1996, news reports said.

An appeals court in Sao Paulo yesterday unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that had found Luxemburgo innocent of charges he had sexually molested LaudineideCavalcante in May 1996 in a room at the hotel Vila Rica in the city of Campinas.

US gymnast Brian Babcock dead

HOUSTON: Brian Babcock, who bounced back to champion status in gymnastics after just missing a spot on the 1984 Olympic team, has died of complications following a bone marrow transplant. He was 38.

Babcock, who earlier this year learned he had a leukemia-like cancer before he even felt sick, received a bone marrow transplant on August. 14. Though doctors told him he had a 50-50 chance to live, the gymnast remained optimistic.

Flo Jo's dreams stay on track

LOS ANGELES: The late Florence Griffith Joyner put in a lifetime of hard work to reach her goals, and the accomplishments didn't stop when she died.

A line of athletic shoes and clothes that she had been working on will be introduced as planned, her husband announced yesterday.

Griffith Joyner, Olympic gold medalist and holder of world records in the 100 and 200 metres, died on September 21 in her sleep at her home inMission Viejo. She was 38.

There has been speculation that Griffith Joyner may have had unsuspected heart problems, but results of an investigation into the cause of death were still pending, said Lt Hector Rivera, a spokesman for the county sheriff and coroner.

Injured rugby players win right to sue

SYDNEY: International sports administrators may face expensive damages claims if an Australian court upholds an action by two paralysed former rugby players.

The New South Wales court of appeal ruled yesterday that the two men, Luke Hyde and Peter Worsley, could sue the International Rugby Board for negligence. Rugby union's governing body drew up new rules in 1986 which the men claim led to them being made quadriplegic.