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Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk says he blew kisses at Spartak Moscow fans because he allegedly received racist abuse during his side's Russian Premier League game.

The 29-year-old Brazilian gestured towards the home fans during injury-time of Saturday's 2-2 draw.

"Unfortunately, the same things are happening - racism in the stands," he told Zenit's official website.

"I won't pay any attention to this. I will continue to blow kisses and answer them with the way I play on the pitch."

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Earlier we brought you news of two more injury withdrawals from the Wales squad. But it's not all doom and gloom for Warren Gatland's side...

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Phil Simmons has been suspended as coach of West Indies after expressing his disappointment at not getting the best possible one-day international squad for the forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

According to ESPNcricinfo,, external Simmons, who had blamed "interference from outside", received an email from the WICB earlier today confirmed his suspension.

Former West Indies fast bowler Eldine Baptiste will reportedly take over as coach on an interim basis.

More on the news that Harlequins number 8 Nick Easter has replaced Billy Vunipola in England's World Cup squad.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: "It's unfortunate for Billy but the scan shows an injury which will likely require six weeks' recovery. "Nick was unlucky to miss out on final selection. He is a specialist No.8 and an experienced player and we know he will make a big contribution."

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More breaking rugby news for you. England number 8 Billy Vunipola has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a knee ligament injury.

Nick Easter has been called up in his place.

Gareth Anscombe primarily plays at fly-half but can also cover full-back. The New Zealand-born 24-year-old made his debut against Ireland last month - his only cap so far.

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Hatem Ben Arfa is rebuilding his career after his acrimonious split with Newcastle, and his two goals inspired Nice to a 4-1 victory away at Saint Etienne in France's Ligue 1.

It was his second brace in four days and moved Nice up to ninth in the table.

The 28-year-old Frenchman completed his move back to his homeland in June, after Fifa rules stated he couldn't play for the club when he first made the switch in January.

French football journalist Julien Laurens tweeted: "Ben Arfa has six Ligue 1 goals so far this season, like Edinson Cavani. No one has more. Talk about redemption..."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has issued a statement indicating that he intends to continue in his role and saying that he has done "nothing illegal".

The statement reads: "President Blatter spoke to Fifa staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of Fifa.

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"On the Platini matter, President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that M. Platini had a valuable employment relationship with Fifa serving as an advisor to the president beginning in 1998. 

"He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions."

QPR have suffered a big double blow, with strikers Charlie Austin and Jamie Mackie sidelined with hamstring injuries.

Austin is out for a month while Mackie will not play for three months.

The pair were injured in Friday's Championship defeat at Fulham.

James Hook is a versatile back with 78 caps. The 30-year-old has played at fly-half, centre and full-back during his 10-year Wales career.

Hook appeared to have fallen out of favour under coach Warren Gatland but Wales's injury crisis means he has been handed an unlikely chance to shine at what is his third World Cup.

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The Press Associations chief sports reporter has been tweeting about Sepp Blatter...

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Wales duo Scott Williams and Hallam Amos have been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup after sustaining injuries in the win over England.

James Hook and Gareth Anscombe have been called up to replace them.

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Ignacio Zoco, a former Real Madrid defensive midfielder who won a European Cup and seven league championships along with the 1964 European title with Spain, has died at the age of 76.

During 12 seasons at Madrid, Zoco played 434 matches and scored 17 goals.

He made his international debut on April 19, 1961, in a match against Wales and played 25 games for Spain.

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Welsh boxer Enzo Maccarinelli is in advanced talks to face former five weight world champion Roy Jones Jr in Russia in November.

Maccarinelli, a former world cruiserweight champion, has been fighting at light heavyweight in recent years, but the proposed match against Jones Jr on 28 November would be at cruiserweight and could be for a world title.

Before that Maccarinelli is due to fight at Newport Leisure Centre on 10 October.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport Tennis writer

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Maria Sharapova’s fitness remains a concern after the Russian withdrew from her comeback match in Wuhan, China.

The world number three, who had been sidelined since Wimbledon because of a leg injury, led Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (4-7) 2-1 when she pulled out with an arm injury.

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Now then, the weekend action in the Premier league isn't quite over.

West Brom take on Everton at 20:00 BST in what should be a fascinating contest, with both clubs in decent nick and improving over recent weeks.

For the Baggies, goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is set to return after Anders Lindegaard was given his debut in the midweek League Cup defeat at Norwich. Head coach Tony Pulis is likely to bring back many of the players rested for that game.

Meanwhile, Everton defenders John Stones and Seamus Coleman have knee and hamstring injuries respectively and will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness. Forward Kevin Mirallas is suspended.

Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website from 19:00 BST.

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Rafael Nadal has vowed to put "a tough year" behind him as he prepares for what he hopes will be a return to Grand Slam winning ways in 2016.

A round-of-32 defeat to Fabio Fognini at the US Open this year meant Nadal had failed to mark a tennis season with a grand slam trophy for the first time since 2004.

"It was a tough. I was playing with too much anxiety for a lot of months, especially at the beginning of the season," Nadal told Sky Sports.

"Now I feel much better about that. Not a hundred per cent fix, but much better. I'm close to being 100 per cent fixed. And I am enjoying being on a tennis court, the practices, the competition."