Sporting briefs

FIFA warning: FIFA has warned South Africa that an election to choose the head of the national federation must not put preparations for next year's World Cup at risk. Secretary-general Jerome Valcke said FIFA was prepared to take over some operations of the Local Organising Committee if it saw a threat to the tournament from campaigning. The election pits the LOC's two top officials - CEO Danny Jordaan and chairman Irvin Khosa - against each other.

Ambrosini: Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini has extended his contract by a year until June 2011. The 32-year-old midfielder, who took the armband from the retired Paolo Maldini, had been in negotiations for months but failed to land a longer deal. New coach Leonardo started Ambrosini on the bench for Milan's two league games this term, including the 4-0 derby hammering by Inter.

Cost cut: Uruguay want to use "people power" to revive their World Cup chances in tonight's qualifier against Colombia and are flogging tickets at two for the price of one in a bid to pack out the 60,000-capacity Centenario stadium. Uruguay's hopes were severely dented on Saturday by Peru, who themselves have lost all hopes of qualifying but still upset the visiting Uruguayans 1-0 in Lima to leave them in seventh place in the South American group.

Lafferty: Striker Kyle Lafferty will miss Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Group Three leaders Slovakia today with a knee injury. The 21-year-old Rangers forward, who scored Northern Ireland's goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw in Poland, was withdrawn after undergoing a scan on the injury sustained in that match.

Wrong colour: A clash of shirt colours has cost struggling Chinese Super League side Shenzhen three points and 100,000 yuan ($14,650) after it caused the delay of their home match against Shanghai on Aug. 30. Both teams play in white but Shenzhen forgot to provide their players with a change - as they were obliged to do as hosts - resulting in a nearly one hour kick-off delay as officials scoured the city before finding a batch of blue shirts.

Motorcycling: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has not completely ruled out one day racing for Ferrari in Formula One. The Italian considered joining Ferrari three years ago but stuck with bikes. He had said his F1 dream was over but talked to the team about filling in for the injured Felipe Massa at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix before deciding against it. "I wasn't ready. But you never say never," he told Italian television.

Basketball: Serbia shocked world champions Spain 66-57 in their opening EuroBasket Group C match on Monday. Nenad Krstic led Serbia with 17 points as his team outplayed their opponents, who were runners-up to Russia in the last Eurobasket in 2007. Eurobasket is taking place in various cities across Poland until September 20.

Motor racing: Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had successful plastic surgery on his fractured skull at a Sao Paulo hospital on Monday. The operation lasted four hours and after a short stay in hospital, the Brazilian was able to leave and continue his rehabilitation ready for a return to racing next year.

Golf: Steve Stricker went to the top of the PGA Tour's points list when he won the $7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship by one stroke on Monday. The 42-year-old birdied the final two holes to edge fellow Americans Scott Verplank and Jason Dufner. Stricker collected $1.35m.

Cycling: Britain's Mark Cavendish outsprinted a large field to claim the opening stage of the Tour of Missouri on Monday. Cavendish, who won six stages of the Tour de France this year, crossed the finish line of the 120.7 km circuit around St Louis in two hours, 43 minutes, 55 seconds. The race concludes in Kansas City on Sunday.

Hockey: India have suspended a national hockey camp for U-18 players after medical tests revealed that a majority of the 55 players present were overage. Hailing from various academies around the country, the players were vying for spots in the team for November's Asia Cup in Myanmar. The federation have made tests mandatory following complaints that many juniors were not declaring their true ages.