Sport In Brief Wenger in hot water

LONDON – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was Tuesday fined 2 500 pounds by the Football Association for an outburst at match officials during his side’s 2-2 draw with Portsmouth on December 16.

It is the second time this season that the Frenchman has been fined for his touchline conduct and he may struggle to avoid a ban from the dugout when a third charge is finally heard. Wenger was sent to the stands for the second half of the Premiership clash after angrily confronting both the fourth official and referee Steve Bennett at half-time over the free-kick which led to Portsmouth’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time.That led to fresh disciplinary charges being imposed just days after the Frenchman was fined 10 000 pounds for a touchline confrontation with then-West Ham manager Alan Pardew in October of last year.Inter a step away from title ROME – Inter Milan, who have dominated the Serie A this season, are one step away from being crowned champions for the second straight year against AS Roma today.Victory would give Inter an unbeatable 19-point advantage on Roma, assuring the champions their 14th Serie A crown with six games left this season.The tie between the top two sides was first scheduled back in February, but was postponed following the riots in Sicily.And Inter, who finished third last season but were awarded the title after Juventus and AC Milan were found guilty of match-fixing, will be looking to make the most of their home advantage for the celebrations as well as maintaining their unbeaten run this season.Smith catches Pietersen BRIDGETOWN – South Africa captain Graeme Smith won his mini-battle with bitter rival Kevin Pietersen yesterday when he caught out the England batsman in their crucial World Cup clash.Smith took a running, diving catch to dismiss the South African-born Pietersen off Andre Nel for just three off the second ball of the 17th over to leave England reeling at 53-3 at the time of going to press.Smith and Pietersen have been engaged in a bitter feud over the last two years since Pietersen switched allegiances to England in protest at the quota system in South Africa.Agassi hits wife HOUSTON – Andre Agassi accidentally hit Steffi Graf in the face with his tennis racket, cutting his wife’s lip, as the pair played a game while holding hands for a fundraiser following the US Clay Court Championships finals on Sunday.Graf got three stitches from a doctor who had paid $70 000 for a trip to play tennis with the couple, officials said.”She’s OK,” Agassi said.”It was an unfortunate accident.”The couple was in town for Agassi’s part in a reality show called ‘The Big Give,’ an upcoming Oprah Winfrey production.An auction raised at least $225 000 Sunday for a Houston-area elementary school chosen for the show.Agassi retired last year at the US Open, having won eight Grand Slam titles.Graf retired in 1999 with 22 Grand Slam titles.The couple has two children and live in Las Vegas.Nampa-Reuters, AFP and APWenger was sent to the stands for the second half of the Premiership clash after angrily confronting both the fourth official and referee Steve Bennett at half-time over the free-kick which led to Portsmouth’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time.That led to fresh disciplinary charges being imposed just days after the Frenchman was fined 10 000 pounds for a touchline confrontation with then-West Ham manager Alan Pardew in October of last year.Inter a step away from title ROME – Inter Milan, who have dominated the Serie A this season, are one step away from being crowned champions for the second straight year against AS Roma today.Victory would give Inter an unbeatable 19-point advantage on Roma, assuring the champions their 14th Serie A crown with six games left this season.The tie between the top two sides was first scheduled back in February, but was postponed following the riots in Sicily.And Inter, who finished third last season but were awarded the title after Juventus and AC Milan were found guilty of match-fixing, will be looking to make the most of their home advantage for the celebrations as well as maintaining their unbeaten run this season.Smith catches Pietersen BRIDGETOWN – South Africa captain Graeme Smith won his mini-battle with bitter rival Kevin Pietersen yesterday when he caught out the England batsman in their crucial World Cup clash.Smith took a running, diving catch to dismiss the South African-born Pietersen off Andre Nel for just three off the second ball of the 17th over to leave England reeling at 53-3 at the time of going to press.Smith and Pietersen have been engaged in a bitter feud over the last two years since Pietersen switched allegiances to England in protest at the quota system in South Africa.Agassi hits wife HOUSTON – Andre Agassi accidentally hit Steffi Graf in the face with his tennis racket, cutting his wife’s lip, as the pair played a game while holding hands for a fundraiser following the US Clay Court Championships finals on Sunday.Graf got three stitches from a doctor who had paid $70 000 for a trip to play tennis with the couple, officials said.”She’s OK,” Agassi said.”It was an unfortunate accident.”The couple was in town for Agassi’s part in a reality show called ‘The Big Give,’ an upcoming Oprah Winfrey production.An auction raised at least $225 000 Sunday for a Houston-area elementary school chosen for the show.Agassi retired last year at the US Open, having won eight Grand Slam titles.Graf retired in 1999 with 22 Grand Slam titles.The couple has two children and live in Las Vegas.Nampa-Reuters, AFP and AP