Snowstorm Leaves Sunderland's Fate on Thin Ice

Sunderland and Fulham will have to carry on waiting for their first home and away Premiership wins of the season respectively, after their match at the Stadium of Light was abandoned following 20 minutes due to heavy snow. Sunderland were already trailing 1-0, courtesy of Brian McBride's goal in the ninth minute, when the referee Mike Riley halted proceedings.

It had been a surprise the game had started. Riley, though, had frustrated fans when he postponed Portsmouth's home match against Arsenal last month an hour before kick-off.

Sunderland's chief executive Peter Walker supported the decision. 'It's very disappointing for everyone, particularly the supporters, some of whom have made long journeys, but the safety of the players had to be paramount,' he said. Riley confirmed that the players did not oppose the abandonment, but said he started the game in the hope that the surface water would clear up.

'The players were unhappy with the conditions because they were slipping,' he explained. 'The ball kept stopping and stopping. That's when the players risk collision injury.'

Rory Delap had already picked up an injury. He collided with his team-mate George McCartney and needed stitches to a head injury while also sustaining a suspected broken nose. However, it was unclear whether the conditions were responsible for the accident.

Sunderland's caretaker manager Kevin Ball admitted he could not see what had happened because of the sleet. 'I was getting pelted with ice, snow or God knows what. They were the biggest things I've ever been hit with,' he said.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has vowed to stay in charge of the club as long as he has the fans' backing. 'I'm often asked if I still retain the same passion for the club as I used to,' he said. 'I got involved because this is the club I support and I felt I could help.

'As long as that remains the case and the fans want me here, then I'll continue as chairman. After 20 years' involvement I'm as passionate as ever about the club and I still feel there are a lot of exciting challenges to tackle and overcome.'

Ronaldinho will miss Barcelona's game at Racing Santander today to help him recover from a bruised right leg. The Catalans, clear at the top of La Liga, want the Brazilian in peak condition for their Champions League semi-final matches against AC Milan later this month.

Bayern Munich have told Rangers to forget about trying to sign Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger this summer. Paul Le Guen, who will replace Alex McLeish as Ibrox boss this summer, is a fan of the midfielder.

'It is unthinkable that we'd sell Schweinsteiger. You never say never, but we don't want to sell', said Bayern coach Felix Magath. 'In any case I don't think a move to Rangers would be right for him.'

Rangers will be punished by Uefa's control and disciplinary panel on Wednesday for anti-Catholic sectarian chanting by their fans during the Champions League games against Villarreal.

Diego Maradona says he has a chance of coaching Argentina if Jose Pekerman does not lead them them to World Cup glory in Germany. The striker turned chat show host said: 'There is a good willingness of Argentine Football Association boss Julio Grondona to have me work as coachb of the national team.'