Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, March 17
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday: FIFA South Africa responds to FIFA allegation on World Cup votes CAPE TOWN - South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula, who previously denied that his country paid $10-million to secure votes for the right to host the 2010 World Cup, will comment at a media briefing on FIFA's allegation that executive committee members had in the past "sold" votes in World Cup hosting contests, including for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. (SOCCER-FIFA/SAFRICA, expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, by Mark Gleeson and Nick Said, 400 words) FIFA hold first executive meeting under Infantino ZURICH - Soccer's governing body FIFA hold their first executive committee meeting, where last year's financial report will be presented, since Gianni Infantino was elected president last month. (SOCCER-FIFA/EXCO, expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, 300 words) MOTOR RACING Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (to 20) F1 drivers talk up prospects at Albert Park MELBOURNE - Champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel face the media ahead of the season-opener at Albert Park. (MOTOR-F1/, expect by 0600 GMT/2 AM ET, by Ian Ransom) SOCCER Europa League last 16 second leg EUROPA LEAGUE Man United bid to overturn 2-0 Liverpool lead LONDON - Manchester United need to overturn a two-goal deficit against their bitter rivals Liverpool to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League while holders Sevilla are goalless in their tie with Basle. (SOCCER-EUROPA/ expect first take by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Toby Davis, 600 words) Premier League We will bring you all the latest news ahead of the next round of fixtures. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout) Serie A Buffon nears new Serie A record MILAN - Irrepressible Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, unbeaten in his last 10 league games, will set a Serie A record for the longest period without conceding a goal if he can keep his goal intact for the first four minutes of the derby against Torino on Sunday. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, 400 words) La Liga Barcelona at Villarreal, Real Madrid host Sevilla MADRID -Barcelona can extend their winning streak in the league to 13 matches if they see off fourth-place Villarreal away, while Atletico Madrid are at bottom club Sporting Gijon looking to keep pace with the leaders and Real Madrid host Sevilla. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1300 GMT/9 AM ET, by Ed Dove, 500 words) Ligue 1 Monaco up next for newly crowned champions PARIS - Imperious Paris St Germain return to the Parc des Princes having routed Troyes to win their sixth title in record time last weekend, with second-place Monaco looking to spoil the party. (SOCCER-FRANCE/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1300 GMT/9 AM ET, by Ed Dove, 500 words) RUGBY England name team for grand slam bid LONDON - Coach Eddie Jones names his side for Saturday's game in Paris against France when victory for his team would complete England's first grand slam since 2003. (RUGBY UNION-ENGLAND/ (PIX) expect by 1030 GMT/6:30 AM ET, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words). France name team for England match PARIS - France coach Guy Noves will name his team to face Grand Slam-chasing England in Saturday's match in Paris, with the French looking to bounce back from Sunday's surprise defeat at Scotland. (RUGBY UNION-FRANCE/ (PIX), expect from 0930 GMT/5:30 AM ET, by Ed Dove, 200 words) TENNIS ATP/WTA: BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells (to 20) Cilic, Raonic try to punch tickets to semis Croatian 10th seed Marin Cilic battles Belgian 15th seed David Goffin in a men's quarter-final clash at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden while Canada's Milos Raonic, seeded 12th, will also be seeking a berth in the semis. (TENNIS-MEN/INDIAN WELLS, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words) Former champ Azarenka eyes berth in semis Former champion and 13th seed Victoria Azarenka faces Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia while 18th-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova faces Russian Daria Kasatkina in women's quarter-final action from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (TENNIS-WOMEN/INDIAN WELLS, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words) NBA NBA has sights set on India as its new frontier TORONTO - The National Basketball Association which already turned China into its biggest foreign market, now has India's 1.3 billion population in its crosshairs as it hopes to tap into the cricket-crazed subcontinent for its next growth spurt. (NBA-INDIA/ (FEATURE), expect by 1400 GMT/10 AM ET, by Steve Keating, 898 words) CRICKET World Twenty20, India (to April 3) Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Kolkata (1400) Sri Lanka kick off title defence against plucky Afghans KOLKATA - Defending champions Sri Lanka kick off their World Twenty20 campaign at Eden Gardens with a tricky Group One clash against Asian rivals Afghanistan, who came through the qualifiers to join the Super 10 stage. (CRICKET-WORLD/SRI LANKA, expect by 1730 GMT/1:30 PM ET, 400 words) MOTORCYCLING Rossi and Marquez renew rivalry with Qatar kickoff LONDON - The MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar this weekend with fresh challenges and old rivalries; Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez facew off for the first time since last year's toxic finale while Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo seeks his fourth title in the category. (MOTOR-MOTOGP/, expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin, 400 words) GOLF PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational (to 20th) Every shoots for third in a row at Bay Hill Matt Every, the world number 163, sets out to work his local magic again when he opens his bid for a third successive Bay Hill victory against a daunting field that includes Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson among others competing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational that ends the four-event Florida swing. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 350 words) ATHLETICS World Indoor Championship (to 20) Athletics tries to put focus back on the track PORTLAND, Oregon - The world indoor athletics championships begin with no Russians, few stars and the sport engulfed in a doping crisis as officials hold their breath hoping to put the spotlight back on the track. (ATHLETICS-WORLD/, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 400 words) (Asia desk editor: John O'Brien +65 6870 3971)
