An Italian policeman accused of killing a football fan on Sunday was placed under formal investigation for manslaughter yesterday. Riots broke out at football grounds across Italy after a highway patrol officer shot Gabriele Sandri, a Lazio fan, at a motorway service station in Tuscany.

The worst unrest, seen on television around the world, occurred outside the Olympic Stadium in Rome, where the night game had been cancelled. Fans angry over the killing of Mr Sandri laid siege to a police barracks, injuring 40 officers inside, and vandalised cars, motorcycles and rubbish bins.

Quotes of the week

Jeff Stelling gets about four months ahead of himself on Soccer Saturday. (Philippa, England).

"I know it's not enough to have just one point from two games. We now have only one hope and that is the Ivory Coast and God......." Berti Vogts, Nigeria coach. That is two hopes, surely? (Martin Belam, Greece).

"If a player plays well, he will stay in the team. Even if I sign Samuel Eto'o, Akinbiyi will still play on Saturday." Burnley boss Owen Coyle on Ade Akinbiyi's good form - although Eto'o couldn't play anyway because he's at the Africa Cup of Nations. (Abduly, UK).

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FONTANA, Calif. — NASCAR officials finally gave in to the weepers.

After trying for nearly five hours to get the two-mile oval at Auto Club Speedway dry, NASCAR called it a day, postponing the completion of the Sprint Cup series Auto Club 500 until Monday at noon.

The drivers had completed 87 of the scheduled 250 laps when a heavy downpour caused the third delay of the day.

The race finally began about 2½ hours after its scheduled noon start time, but it was slowed by two early crashes and then halted as NASCAR and track officials looked for a way to stop the weepers - places where water seeped through the seams of the 2-mile oval.

Both Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., involved in separate crashes in the early going, were critical of the track, blaming the wet conditions for their problems.

Hamlin slid up the track and hit the wall hard on lap 14 of the 250-lap event.

Photos: Suzuki Offers Truckloads of Fun at 2008 North American ...

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- After a fourth consecutive year of increasing sales, and more than 100,000 units sold for the second year in a row, Suzuki Auto carries enormous momentum into the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). With the Motor City serving as a backdrop, Suzuki showcases its X-HEAD concept, a completely contemporary vision of off-roading built on Suzuki's 40-year history of credible off-road architectures. The Suzuki X-HEAD, making its North American debut at NAIAS this year, combines form and function -- with a healthy dose of "cool factor" -- using purpose-built modules for various active lifestyles.

In addition to the go-anywhere X-HEAD, Suzuki will showcase the SXForce, a sportbike-inspired concept based on the all-new 2008 four-door SX4 Sport that embodies the company's legendary motorcycle heritage.

THE EXPAT LIFE

My kids miss home and with each visit back to the U.S. it is becoming more difficult for them to accept the fact that they live in China and we have no plans to move back soon. The first two years here it wasn't an issue -- we had nice, extended visits back to the U.S. and then returned, with no drama. But coming back last summer was tough on them and the most recent trip only served to reinforce their feelings. It is, I assume, our new paradigm.