26 METROSPORT Friday, September 11, 2009 D Find us on Facebook. search city chase dublin. Part race, part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt, city chase is a unique adventure that will help you discover dublin as youve never seen it before! For more information and to register your team, go to www.citychasedublin.com Bigger, bolder and braver than last year, are you up for the challenge? Winners Will rePresent ireland in the World Final in salta, argentina in december dublin book your Place in the Worlds largest urban adventure series! city chase dublin is taking Place on saturday sePtember 19th! Proudly suPPorted by Sir Alex Ferguson has launched an im- passioned defence of Manchester Uniteds signing of young players. United were accused by the president of French club le Havre, Jean-Pierre louvel, of offering the parents of 16-year-old Paul Pogba a house and 200,000 in cash. Chelsea have been banned from making signings for two transfer windows for in- ducing a teenager to break his contract with another French club, lens, and a number of other complaints against eng- lish clubs have since been made. Apart from the Pogba case, Fiorentina have written to Fifa over Uniteds swoop for 16-year-old italian defender Michele Fornasier, although a formal investigation has yet to be launched. Ferguson said: There has been a lot of jumping on the bandwagon but i can assure you Manchester United have be- haved absolutely correctly in all their deal- ings with young players and their parents. There has never been a case, ever, that we have paid parents. it would be crazy to even contemplate that because it would be the biggest headache you could ever have. This was levelled [at us] by some frustrated director at the French club and hes now going to have to retract. We do it impeccably. They were always going to bring Manchester United into it because they are the biggest club but with- out any foundation, without any knowl- edge of the situation whatsoever. What other clubs do is subject to a lot of controversy at the moment but im confi- dent at our own club. Fergie defends Uniteds dealings with young stars Rio FeRdinand could return to action for Manchester United in their match at Tottenham tomorrow evening but John oShea looks certain to miss out after suffering a calf injury while playing for the Republic of ireland. United boss Sir alex Ferguson said: Rio has a got a chance for Saturday, im not sure how big a chance but he has got a chance. as for oShea (pictured), Ferguson added: He came back with a calf injury from irelands game in Cyprus and is doubtful for Saturday so we will see what hes like. No fears: Ferguson insists United have nothing to hide ArSenAl boss Arsene Wenger has been left angry after playmaker Andrey Arshavin was ruled out for two weeks with a groin injury he aggravated while on international duty with russia. Wenger, whose side head to Manchester City tomorrow, said: All the players are not back yet, so we have to wait a bit to see what damage has been done by the international games. We lost Arshavin, who played with russia [on Wednesday] and should not have played. He will be out for Saturday, for Wednesday [Champions league tie at Standard liege] and certainly as well for Wigan. i took him off at Manchester United because of a groin problem. He did not play in russias first game but played against Wales. He should not have played and is injured. You can say a lot about it but it does not do a lot. Arshavin injury irks Wenger SOCCER premier leagUe tEnniS uS OpEn By keviN aitkeN Proud Federer extends his historic semi-final streak Semi attached: Federer RogeR FedeReR admitted he was proud to make his 22nd consecutive grand slam semi- final after a hard-fought 6-0, 6- 3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6) victory over Robin Soderling. The 12th seed won a rare set but Federer continued his unbeaten streak against the Swede to set up a last-four clash with novak djokovic. on stretching his record of last- four appearances, Federer said: its not [a record] i aimed for, thats for sure but its probably one of the greatest records for me in my personal career. im just happy it keeps on going. im in for a shot again to defend my title so thats fantastic. djokovic was delighted to have reached the semis for the third year in a row as he moved past Fernando Verdasco in four sets, particularly as it was his first grand slam semi-final of 2009. The Serbian fourth seed said: it feels great. Mentally it was very important for me to overcome todays challenge and to get to the semi-finals for the first time in the grand slams in 2009. on the womens side, the fairytale run of american teenager Melanie oudin came to an end at the hands of world no.9 Caroline Wozniacki. The unseeded 17-year-old lost her quarter-final 6-2, 6-2 to the dane and then admitted her life would never be the same. ive gone from being just a normal tennis player to almost everyone in the United States knowing who i am now, she said. its definitely different but i enjoyed it. Picture:AP index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html