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Football: Violence flares between fans of Lyon, Marseille

A week after celebrations marking Paris Saint Germain's first French title win in two decades descended into violence, Saturday saw similar football-related disturbances after 16 people were injured in clashes between fans of Lyon and Marseille. Lyon decried the troublemakers after "serious incidents" during the afternoon before Marseille's game in nearby Saint Etienne. Lyon indicated on their official website that the club would seek to take legal action "in view of the seriousness of what has happened and the injuries."

Football: Beckham named captain in PSG home farewell

David Beckham, who is to retire from football at the end of the season, was handed the captain's armband for Paris Saint-Germain's last home game of the Ligue 1 season on Saturday. The former England skipper will lead out the French champions to face relegated Brest at the Parc des Princes. The 38-year-old Beckham arrived in Paris on a five-month deal in January going on to become the first Englishman to win league championships in four different countries.

Football: PSG call off charity dinner due to violence

New French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain called off a dinner to be held for their charitable foundation on Wednesday due to the violence in the capital at their title celebrations on Monday. PSG had been planning a dinner at the Town Hall with Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe but the fall-out from the violence and destruction that accompanied their title party in the Trocadero neighbourhood has seen it postponed. "Following Monday's incidents in Paris, (president) Mr (Nasser) Al-Khelaifi has decided to push back this event to a later date," said a club statement.

Global economies on the mend, OECD says

Global economies are on the mend, but growth is likely to remain below trend in India, the OECD said on Tuesday. Looking at major global economies, an OECD statement said that "growth is returning to trend" in China, while in the United States the OECD's composite leading indicator (CLI) "continues to point to economic growth firming." In the 17-nation eurozone, the CLI indicated "a gain in momentum," although no detailed growth forecasts were issued.

RugbyU: Eight newcomers in France squad for NZ tour

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Tuesday called up eight uncapped players for his 35-man squad to tour New Zealand tour next month. Les Bleus, who won just one game to finish last in the Six Nations, take on the All Blacks on June 8, 15 and 22, with another game against the Auckland Blues scheduled for June 11. The newcomers are Eddy Ben Arous, Alexandre Flanquart, Camille Lopez, Remi Tales, Adrien Plante, Daniel Koetze, Bernard Le Roux and Noa Nakaitaci.

Tennis: Nadal, Serena send French Open signals of intent

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams firmed up their credentials as French Open favourites by sweeping to victory in Madrid. Nadal eased to his fifth title in just seven tournaments since returning from a seven-month injury layoff due to tendinitis in his left knee as he beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4 in little over an hour to claim his third title in the Spanish capital. He now has 55 career titles with 40 coming on clay, an astonishing record that prompted Wawrinka to describe the Spaniard as a "killer" on clay courts.

RugbyU: Toulouse look to deny Berbizier glorious farewell

Toulouse have not played like two-time defending Top 14 champions this season but on Friday they will hope that the onset of the play-offs reignites their champion mentality and they dispose of Racing-Metro. If they do so it will bring to an end the stormy Racing reign of former France and Italy coach -- and club managing director for the past season -- Pierre Berbizier, who revealed this week that he was staying on even though he had effectively been sacked on March 30.

RugbyU: European Challenge Cup results

European Challenge Cup result on Saturday: Semi-final Leinster (IRL) 44 Biarritz (FRA) 16 Played Friday Perpignan 22 Stade Francais 25 Final May 17 At Dublin Leinster (IRL) v Stade Francais (FRA) afp

Football: Evian pour cold water on PSG double hopes

Paris Saint-Germain's hopes of a domestic double this season ended on Wednesday as Ligue 1 minnows Evian eliminated them 4-1 on penalties after their quarter-final ended 1-1 after extra-time. PSG - who were knocked out of the Champions League last week by Barcelona - had taken the lead through Javier Pastore in the eighth minute. However, Tunisian international Saber Khlifa nipped in behind a static David Beckham two minutes from half-time to level.

Football: Evian pour cold water on PSG double hopes

Paris Saint-Germain's hopes of a domestic double this season ended on Wednesday as Ligue 1 minnows Evian eliminated them 4-1 on penalties after their quarter-final ended 1-1 after extra-time. PSG - who were knocked out of the Champions League last week by Barcelona - had taken the lead through Javier Pastore in the eighth minute. However, Tunisian international Saber Khlifa nipped in behind a static David Beckham two minutes from half-time to level.
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