Sporting briefs

Cabanas: Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas, who was shot in the head earlier this week, remained in critical condition yesterday and doctors said brain swelling was making his treatment difficult. The 29-year-old was shot at a Mexico City bar just before dawn on Monday. Police are investigating whether Cabanas was involved in a dispute that carried into the bathroom where he was gunned down.

Ferdinand: Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has denied a charge of violent conduct after an incident in the Premier League game against Hull City. The FA's regulatory commission will hear the charge today.

Tosic: Manchester United's Serbia midfielder Zoran Tosic has joined Cologne on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old, who joined United a year ago from Partizan Belgrade, has made only a handful of appearances this season.

Basturk: Blackburn Rovers have signed Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk from Stuttgart until the end of the season. The German-born 31-year-old, who played in the 2002 World Cup and has 49 caps, becomes manager Sam Allardyce's first signing in the January transfer window.

Investigation: The former head of the Chinese FA has been placed under "criminal investigation" in the probe into match-fixing in domestic soccer. Nan Yong was taken away for questioning with two CFA colleagues last week and subsequently sacked. Yesterday's move means he must be arrested or released within 14 days.

Financial woes: Cash-strapped Botev Plovdiv face an uncertain future after 16 players asked the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) for free transfers over unpaid wages and bonuses. It appears likely the BFU will uphold the claim after Botev, the country's oldest club, said they had breached contracts by failing to pay players for several months.

La liga: The Spanish federation and the professional soccer league have agreed to reintroduce La Liga matches on Mondays from next month. If clubs give the go-ahead, top-flight matches could take place on Mondays from Feb. 8.

Friendlies: Argentine vs Costa Rica 3-2; Malta U-21 vs Ferencvaros 0-1.

Basketball: Men's league - Siġġiewi vs Depiro 59-41; Loyola vs Athleta 62-100.

Alpine skiing: Britain's Alpine ski team will reach the start hut at the Vancouver Olympics despite the British Ski and Snowboard Federation facing the possibility of administration, the British Olympic Association said. Financial problems have haunted the BSSF for months given the lack of major interest in winter sports in the country. "We're working hard behind the scenes to help the governing body, to make sure they survive," Andy Hunt, the BOA's chief executive and Chef de Mission for the Winter Olympics, said.

Golf: World no.2 Phil Mickelson heads the field at this week's San Diego Open at Torrey Pines where top-ranked Tiger Woods is a conspicuous absentee. While left-hander Mickelson will launch his 2010 PGA Tour campaign at a venue where he has triumphed on three occasions, six-times winner Woods remains in hiding after admitting last month he had cheated on his wife.

Winter games: British bobsleigh world champion Nicola Minichiello faces a third eye operation this week before setting her sights on Olympic gold in Vancouver. Minichiello lost nearly all the vision in her left eye before Christmas after being struck with retinitis. Minichiello is suffering from the same eye condition that once affected Man. United midfielder Paul Scholes.

Basket, NBA: Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has been fined $35,000 after getting ejected from a game against the Charlotte Bobcats, the NBA said. The incident happened late in the second quarter of Denver's 104-93 win on Monday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Cricket: Cricket South Africa has sacked the entire selection panel, Mike Proctor, convenor of the selectors said yesterday, a day after head coach Mickey Arthur resigned ahead of a tour to India. Newspaper reports suggested that the surprise resignation of Arthur, together with the dismissal of the selection panel, was linked to the contentious issue of quotas for more black players in the national team.