Image source, AFP

West Brom manager Tony Pulis has been speaking about the news that goalkeeper Ben Foster has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

"It's rotten news for Ben because he's been so consistent," Pulis told the club website., external

"He kept seven clean sheets in 10 games but we have a very able man to step forward in Boaz (Myhill), who has performed well when he's come into the team.

"We've got the international break coming up which I hope will give our medical team the chance to work on Ben's rehab and we will reassess later."

This morning we're asking you to have your say on the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland...

Brian Murphy: Good manager, if they brought him in around January then yes but it's too late now, if I was a Sunderland fan I'd be asking why Poyet wasn't removed before now.

Simon Lethbridge: They're not in the bottom three now so he probably only has to not do any worse. I predict he'll win a few, keep them safe, get offered a longer contract, and then they'll struggle again next season

Keep your comments coming in on Twitter at #bbcsportsday and via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

UCI president Brian Cookson has branded Lance Armstrong "completely disrespectful" for aiming to ride the Tour de France route this summer for charity.

Former England footballer Geoff Thomas has convinced Armstrong to take part in his charity fundraising mission, riding the Tour route one day ahead of the professional peloton.

Cookson said the UCI has no authority to stop Armstrong's bid, but urged the American, who has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, to think again.

"I'm sure that Geoff Thomas means well, but frankly I think that's completely inappropriate and disrespectful to the Tour, disrespectful to the current riders, and disrespectful to the UCI and the anti-doping community. I think Lance would be well-advised not to take part in that," said Cookson.

Referees in Cyprus have threatened strike action after a top match official's car was set on fire in the sixth such attack in a year.

It would be the second time this season that fixtures have been disrupted by protest action by referees. In addition, the league has had to deal with allegations of match-fixing.

Police said that a company car assigned to Cyprus Referees Association chief Leontios Trattos was found on fire in the car park outside his Nicosia apartment block with forensic investigations revealing the fire was probably started with a flammable liquid.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

Foster, 31, was replaced by understudy Boaz Myhill during Saturday's game against Stoke City after hurting his leg challenging Peter Crouch for a high ball.

A man has been arrested for the alleged racial abuse of Reading winger Garath McCleary during their 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bradford.

The 27-year-old Jamaica international was in the process of taking a corner just before half time when the situation arose in front of the Bradford fans at the Madejski Stadium.

Police confirmed a 36-year-old man from Bradford was arrested.

He has been bailed until 16 April pending further inquiries.

Image source, Getty Images

First he took his world number one ranking. Now Rory McIlroy has trumped Tiger Woods again - this time by replacing him as the face of a popular golf video game.

Woods has been the face of EA Sports's PGA Tour game since 1998 but he is being succeeded by 25-year-old McIlroy.

However, Tiger can comfort himself with the knowledge that he still comfortably leads McIlroy on major titles - 14 to four.

Image source, Getty Images

Some big news from the NFL overnight: a star linebacker has decided to retire due to fears over concussion.

Chris Borland, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, had only played one season in the League.

Speaking to ESPN's Outside the Lines, Borland said: "I just want to do what's best for my health. From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk."

49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement: "While unexpected, we certainly respect Chris' decision."

Image source, Getty Images

Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan will be heading to Derbyshire this summer.

The 38-year-old has signed a deal with the county to replace Martin Guptill as their overseas player.

Elite performance director Graeme Welch said: "It demonstrates our growing reputation within the game. Dilshan is a proven match-winner who has shown this time and time again on the world stage."

Dilshan is currently starring at the World Cup with Sri Lanka and he will be in action when Sri Lanka take on South Africa in the first quarter-final overnight.

Image source, as.com

While Spanish newspaper As features Atletico Madrid's key Champions League last 16 game against Bayer Leverkusen, it also reports that Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is putting in extra training at the club as he bids to turn around his form.

Image source, L'Equipe

Let's have a look at what's making the news on the continent this morning.

French sports paper L'Equipe leads on tonight's Champions League clash between Monaco and Arsenal, warning the French side: "No slipping!"

The paper says: "The Monegasques have everything in their favour to join PSG in the quarter-finals. They will rely on their defensive solidity to eliminate the Gunners."

Image source, AP

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan will miss the remainder of the World Cup with a pelvis injury, team physiotherapist Brad Robinson has confirmed.

Left-armer Irfan, who has taken eight wickets in five matches so far, underwent an MRI scan after sitting out Pakistan's seven-wicket win over Ireland on Sunday with pain in his hip.

After an initial scan proved inconclusive on Monday, the seven-foot bowler underwent further tests on Tuesday where it was confirmed he had suffered "an obvious stress fracture in the pelvis", according to a Pakistan Cricket Board statement.

Pakistan will wait until after the quarter-final before deciding whether to call up a replacement.

This morning we're asking you to weigh in on the big sporting story of the day, the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland. We'll bring you some of the social media comments shortly, but first, here are a selection of your responses in the 'Have Your Say' section underneath the BBC Sport article.

Clearsighted: It's a shame that some English managers were overlooked for this role. Whilst O'Shea and Wes Brown are there even if they appointed the best manager in the world (Ian Holloway) they would still have trouble saving them from relegation.

Richwebb101: The players never seem to get blamed by the people in charge. The fans also, in large numbers, always turn on the manager. Poyet was not in charge of transfers, and the players the people in charge have bought are not good enough to be any higher than relegation candidates. Until Sunderland get a Manager, not a Head Coach, they will continue to struggle.

Feldybhoy: Bad appointment IMHO. You only need to look at Felix Magath to see how appointing a manager with zero Premier League experience at a team in the bottom half works out.

Image source, Guardian

The Guardian leads on the managerial situation at Sunderland - correctly identifying Dick Advocaat as the club's preferred short-term choice, and suggesting that Derby's Steve McClaren could come into contention when Advocaat's spell ends at the end of the season.

There's also an interesting interview with Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who says he does not believe his job is under threat., external

Image source, The Sun

Dick Advocaat's arrival in Sunderland makes the back page of the Sun while Liverpool's Premier League win over Swansea and Reading's FA Cup win over Bradford are also featured.

Image source, Daily Telegraph

Let's have a look at this morning's back pages. The Daily Telegraph leads on Liverpool's victory against Swansea in the Premier League - quoting Jordan Henderson's confident rallying cry ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.

There's also a mention of Arsenal's tough Champions League assignment against Monaco tonight - Arsene Wenger says his team will still believe even though the odds are stacked against them.

Image source, Getty Images

Want more breaking managerial appointment news? Well, you're in luck.

League One side Oldham Athletic have appointed Dean Holden as their manager until the end of the season. Holden had been in caretaker charge following Lee Johnson's exit to Barnsley last month.

Holden, 35, only ended his playing career last year - here he is in action for Shrewsbury.

As ever on Sportsday, we want to hear from you this morning. We'd like you to weigh in on this morning's big news - the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland.

What do you reckon? Can Advocaat keep the Black Cats up, or is it a bad move to appoint someone with no previous Premier League experience?

Let us know your views on Twitter at #bbcsportsday, or via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

As we mentioned earlier, last night also saw a win for Liverpool, who beat Swansea 1-0 in the Premier League.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side can finish second in the table if they continue their good form.

"Manchester City's result at the weekend gives us an opportunity to finish second," Rodgers said.

"Our mentality, the run and confidence we have at the moment we're just going to take that into every game and see where it takes us."

Image source, Getty Images

Let's turn our attention back to last night's action now.

Reading are into the FA Cup semi-finals after a comfortable 3-0 win in their replay against Bradford.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Garath McCleary scored inside the first 10 minutes, before City's Felipe Morais was sent off and Jamie Mackie sealed the win.

The Royals will face Cup holders Arsenal in their first FA Cup semi-final in 88 years.