The Sports Matrix: Friday 22 July 2011

Bin Hammam faces crucial hearing

Mohamed Bin Hammam will face Fifa’s Ethics Committee today with the prospect of a life ban at the end of the two-day hearing. According to a leaked report, there is evidence, which he denies, that he tried to bribe members of the Caribbean Football Union. MORE

Chandhok to race for Team Lotus

India’s Karun Chandhok will replace Jarno Trulli for Team Lotus at this weekend’s German Grand Prix as the outfit continue their search for a first Formula One point. Chandhok raced for fellow strugglers Hispania for the first half of last season. MORE

Farah warned of home discomfort

Mo Farah has been warned of the pressures he will face running in the Olympics next year. “It’s natural there’s going to be pressure competing at home,” his coach, Alberto Salazar, tells i. “It’s impossible to block out.” MORE

Fabregas to miss Germany trip

Cesc Fabregas will not be on Arsenal’s pre-season trip to Germany today, as the midfielder waits to see whether he is about to move to Barcelona. The same hamstring injury that kept him away from the Far East will stop him from going to Germany. MORE

Williams ‘has lost respect’ for Woods

Caddie Steve Williams says he has lost “a tremendous amount of respect” for Tiger Woods after being sacked by the former World No1. “You could say I’ve wasted two years of my life,” he said after staying with Woods despite the golfer’s personal issues. MORE

Young loves life at United after 7-0 win

Ashley Young said he was “delighted” with his start to his Manchester United career, despite not scoring in the 7-0 defeat of Seattle Sounders. Wayne Rooney scored a 20-minute second-half hat-trick after replacing Michael Owen. MORE

O’Brien entrusts Abbey ride to son

Eighteen-year-old Joseph O’Brien will ride St Nicholas Abbey – trained by his father Aidan – in tomorrow’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The precocious youngster was joint-champion apprentice of Ireland last year. MORE

Villas-Boas: Don’t focus on Torres

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has told the media not to focus on Fernando Torres’ lack of goals. “I would not turn it into an obsession, like you people are trying to do,” he said. “The most important thing is to win. It doesn’t matter who scores.” MORE

Schleck closes in on yellow jersey

Andy Schleck moved to within 15 seconds of leader Thomas Voeckler after breaking away from the pack near the end of the 18th stage. His brother, Frank, is third. Mark Cavendish retained the green jersey, with just three stages remaining. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

Test cricket is not just about the grace of superior talent. It is also about the need for a relentless competitive instinct, as shown by Jonathan Trott yesterday. Once again England have a huge debt to the man from Cape Town. MORE

India rocked by hamstring injury to star bowler Zaheer

India will be desperate for good news about Zaheer Khan’s hamstring after their lead bowler limped off having taken both England wickets on day one at Lord’s. England finished on 127 for 2. “It’s important to see how things come out”, said coach Duncan Fletcher regarding the injury. “It is best to wait and then we’ll have a better idea of how we are going to progress in the future.” Fletcher said that Zaheer “bowled very well, and was probably the one who could have got us a third wicket so he was quite a loss when he went off.” Zaheer dismissed Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss as India pinned back England, having asked them to bat. Cook was lbw for 12, while Strauss was caught in the deep for 22. Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen rebuilt, and when rain ended the day’s play Trott was unbeaten on 58, Pietersen on 22. MORE

Pyrah’s 117 leads Yorkshire charge

Yorkshire staged a remarkable fightback in the Roses match yesterday, recovering from 45 for 8, to reach 239 all out, thanks to 117 from Rich Pyrah and 52 from Ryan Sidebottom, in a stand of 154. Lancashire finished the day 33 for 3, 122 runs ahead. MORE

Brabants’ 2012 hopes in peril

Tim Brabants’ prospects of defending his Olympic title next year were hit yesterday as he failed to qualify for next month’s canoeing World Championship. The Olympic K1-100m champion has struggled with injury and lost in a head-to-head qualifier.