Rome - After weeks of embarrassing results, Roma seem to be over one of their worst ever season starts, which practically cut them off from the race for the Serie A title.

The red-yellows from the capital were again expected to be among the toughest opponents for title holders Inter Milan after coming second in 2007 and 2008, but their reputation and hopes were badly dented by six defeats in the first nine games.

With a 16-point deficit from the leading champions after 13 games, Roma had to cut down their ambitions at home.

But they still have good hopes to do well in the Champions League.

Hamburg - The fans loved it, some of the players as well, but the ruling German football body DFB was not amused about a referee showing two yellow cards simultaneously during a second division match on the weekend.

On Sunday, referee Thomas Metzen dug deep into his shirt pockets and threw up his hands with a yellow card in each one to book Mainz 05 player Miroslav Karhan und St Pauli Hamburg's Florian Bruns.

News reports on Tuesday said that Metzen has received a warning from the DFB and was told never to do this again. He reportedly escaped further sanctions and told the Bild daily that "it was a mistake."

London, Nov.

London, Nov. 25 : Manchester United and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been defended by his coach Alex Ferguson for reacting to the abuse dished out to him by Stoke City and Aston Villa fans.

The Sun quoted Ferguson as saying: “There has been some criticism that he could not take it on Saturday. But I wonder how many people would take it when they are walking down the street and so many people keep hitting you over the head with a baton. How many times can you take it?

London, Nov. 25 : Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson says that he will always remember the night he stood up his hero Frank Sinatra.

The Manchester United manager had a London dinner date with Ol’ Blue Eyes himself but cancelled after seeing his Reds crash to a shock defeat against Charlton in April 1989.

Ferguson was so incensed by the 1-0 loss at Selhurst Park he bombed out the legendary crooner to start an immediate inquest on the coach back to Manchester.

It is an example of the passion that has kept him at the top for over 20 years.

London, Nov. 25: Manchester City has announced that it is ready to pay 20 million pounds to secure the services of Chelsea star Ashley Cole.