FOOTBALL: Obama wants a US-hosted World Cup in 2018 or 2022
US President Barack Obama has sent a letter to football's ruling body to back America's bid to host either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup. The United States last hosted the competition in 1994.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Arsenal to face familiar foes Man United in semis
It will be an all-English Champions League semi-final: Arsenal eased past Villareal (3-0) and will face Manchester United, who defeated Porto (1-0) thanks to a Ronaldo screamer. Barcelona are the only non-English side still in the running.
TENNIS - MONTE CARLO: Federer and Nadal advance into third round
Favourites Rafael Nadal (n°1) and Roger Federer (n°2) qualified for the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters by beating Juan Ignacio Chela and Andreas Seppi, respectively. Nikolay Davydenko also progressed after a win over Ivo Karlovic.
FORMULA ONE: Button relieved as FIA says diffuser cars are legal
The court of appeal of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has cleared Jenson Button's team Brawn GP, along with Toyota and Williams, of charges that the rear diffusers on their cars broke Formula One rules.
CRICKET: Flower appointed new England coach
Andy Flower was on Wednesday named as the new England coach by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The 40-year-old former Zimbabwe and Essex batsman was unveiled as the man to lead England's bid to win The Ashes.
FOOTBALL: Liverpool remembers Hillsborough disaster, 20 years on
Twenty years to the day after the Hillsborough disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during an FA Cup semi-final, the city of Liverpool comes to a standstill to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Chelsea see off defiant Liverpool to set up Barcelona clash
Liverpool came within inches of one of the greatest comebacks in football history before bowing out of the Champions League after a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea move on to a semi-final against Barcelona, who saw off Bayern Munich.
BOXING: Ten-times world champion de la Hoya retires
Thirty-six-year-old Mexican-American boxer Oscar de la Hoya has announced his retirement from the sport. Known as the "Golden Boy", de la Hoya won the world championship title 10 times, and has a record of 39 victories and 6 defeats.
TENNIS: Simon and Monfils sent crashing out of Monte Carlo
France's Gilles Simon and compatriot Gael Monfils were defeated in their opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters. Monfils lost 6-3 6-1 to Serb Janko Tipsarevic as sixth seed Simon lost 7-5 6-1 to Germany's Andreas Beck.
MOTO GP - QATAR: Stoner edges Rossi in first battle of the season
2007 champion Casey Stoner (Ducati) won the first event of the season at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Australian was followed by Italian Valentino Rossi and Spanish team mate Jorge Lorenzo. Next GP will take place April 26 in Japan.
TENNIS - MONTE-CARLO: Rafael Nadal ready to start his quest on clay
World number one Rafael Nadal is set to begin his annual quest on clay at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The Spaniard, who has won the event four times, will begin the tournament on Wednesday against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Liverpool and Bayern in need of miracle
Liverpool and Bayern Munich will be hoping to produce the mother of all upsets as they take on Chelsea and Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final fixtures. The Reds lost 3-1 at Anfield, while Bayern trail Guardiola's men by four goals.
TENNIS - WTA: Jankovic wins first season title in Marbella
World N.4 Jelena Jankovic won the first edition of the Marbella tournament after struggling to defeat the local favourite Carla Suarez Navarro in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-3). It is the Serbian's first title this year.
TENNIS - ATP: Injured Frenchman Gasquet won't play at Monte Carlo
French tennis hope Richard Gasquet won't play at the clay season opening tournament in Monte Carlo. The player has suffered a shoulder injury but hopes to be able to compete at the Barcelona Open on April 20.
FORMULA ONE: Brawn buys Honda team for symbolic pound
Honda's troubled Formula One team was sold to former team principal Ross Brawn in March for one symbolic pound sterling, according to a Japanese newspaper. British Brawn GP won the two Grand Prix first seasons.
UEFA CUP: French clubs under pressure, Manchester City sunk in Hamburg
Marseille made a bad start at the UEFA Cup quarter final by losing in Ukraine against Shakhtar Donetsk, 2-0. Paris-St-Germain drew against Dynamo Kiev (0-0) and Manchester City lost the plot in Hamburg, 3-1.
BASEBALL: Angels rookie pitcher Adenhart dies in accident
Los Angeles Angels rookie Nick Adenhart and two others have been killed in a car accident here just hours after the pitcher made his Major League Baseball season debut.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Barcelona crush Munich, Liverpool lose against Chelsea
Barcelona enjoyed a very straightforward win (4-0) against Bayern Munich at Camp Nou in the first leg of the Champions League quarter finals. Chelsea won in style against Liverpool 3-1.
TENNIS: Russia's Safina to replace Serena Williams as world number one
On April 20, Russian Dinara Safina will depose American Serena Williams as world number one in the WTA rankings despite never having won a Grand Slam title. Safina is the second Russian woman, after Maria Sharapova, to hold the top spot.