BBC Radio 5 live

Just before we leave you, a word about tonight's 5 live Sport with Eleanor Oldroyd from 19:00 BST, which features horse racing, as correspondent Cornelius Lysaght reviews the jumps season and looks ahead to the flat racing campaign, boxing chat with Mike Costello and Steve Bunce, cricket with Angus Fraser and football with former Tottenham boss David Pleat.

And a reminder that there is rugby league tonight on 5 live sports extra from 19:55 BST, with commentary on the derby between Hull KR and Hull FC in what is the start of a busy Easter period in the Super League. And with that we say goodbye for today, many thanks for your your company, please join us again soon.

Image source, AP

Police in Thessaloniki have arrested a PAOK fan accused of dumping a crate of anchovies on the visiting Olympiakos bench, in a stunt that delayed a tense Greek Cup semi-final for more than an hour.

The game was repeatedly halted by brawls on the pitch, with three players sent off, while PAOK fans in the stands lit thousands of flares, and several were thrown on the pitch. PAOK eventually won the match 1-0.

Coventry and Peterborough rider Ryan Fisher says he is finding it difficult to ride in British speedway after his family were evicted from the country.

The 30-year-old Californian's family have not been issued visas and were not let back into the UK after flying home for Christmas. "I don't know how much more time I can go without seeing my family," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. "It's really tough and I'm pushing every day to get something done."

Fernando Alonso says Ferrari's new team principal needs time if he is to have a chance of turning around the team's form.

Marco Mattiacci has replaced Stefano Domenicali, whose resignation was announced on Monday.

"We need to give him time and see how he settles down," Alonso said. Asked if it was a problem Mattiacci had no Formula 1 experience, the Spaniard said: "It's too early to say if it'll be a very good thing or very bad."

We heard earlier from Mark Selby and Mark Allen, now world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, who warns: "Snooker has got very serious. I think some players could be a little less scared of losing.

"I think people would maybe watch it a little bit more if there was more of an effort to play attractive snooker. But people play the way they play to get a result, no matter what.

"I always believe we are in the entertainment business. It is important for people to leave a match thinking it was good, and want to come back again. The fans are buying tickets to be entertained, not to be bored."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hopeful of having striker Loic Remy and full-back Mathieu Debuchy back as he attempts to end a dreadful run of form against Swansea on Saturday.

He said: "It will be a big boost for us in terms of their experience at this level and their quality. It's nice to see them back.

"With the World Cup not far around the corner, it's important that they get the time in now."

Ben Smith
BBC Sport

"The Premier League is expected to write to Chelsea to ask for an explanation for manager Jose Mourinho's failure to fulfil recent media commitments.

"Mourinho did not speak to the media before or after Chelsea's victory over Swansea last week, while first team coach Steve Holland is set to appear at the club's weekly press conference on Friday.

"The Chelsea manager is known to be unhappy with the FA following a recent fine following a charge for improper conduct."

Fulham boss Felix Magath says he has quizzed on-loan Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby about the Spurs squad as his team prepare to face them at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

"I always ask the players - John Heitinga against Everton and now Lewis against Tottenham," he said. "I try to get all the information I can get. I'll try also to get any information from Tottenham.

"It is always a problem if you are not careful with information. Maybe it happens some time. I think Tottenham will also try to get information from us, you can not blame anyone for trying to get information. If you are lucky you can, so it is good."

Widnes centre Stefan Marsh has signed a two-year contract extension.

It means the 23-year-old, who has scored 23 tries in 40 appearances since joining the Vikings from Wigan in 2010, will be at the club until the end of 2016.

Widnes coach Denis Betts said: "This new deal is a reward for all the hard work Stef has put in since he's been here. He's a great person to have in the group, works hard, has loads of ability and we think he's got it in him to get better and better for this club."

Roger Federer with some thoughts on his next opponent at the Monte Carlo Masters, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who celebrated his 29th birthday with a 5-7 6-3 6-0 victory over Italy's Fabio Fognini.

"I've seen Jo play different kinds of quality matches lately so I'm not quite sure how he's going to play, how aggressive, how passive," said Federer, 32.

"I have to make sure I play aggressive myself and not become too passive just because we're on clay."

Image source, Getty Images

Costa Rica goalkeeper David Ospina says he believes the Brazuca balls to be used at this year's World Cup gives the advantage to strikers because goalkeepers will not be able to judge its flight.

"It is made for goals - they are making them with that in mind," the 25-year-old Nice player added. "This one floats a lot and the fans will like it. But keepers will have to work hard and adapt to it."

More from Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who insists his side being favourites for the Premier League title will not affect their preparations for Sunday's lunchtime visit to Norwich.

"We look to win the game at the weekend. We're still in check with reality in terms of where we're at," he says. "We've made great progress this season and our objective to qualify for the Champions League was always going to be a very difficult one because of the competitive nature of the league.

"But we're still on course for that, and if we can get a win at the weekend then that would rubber stamp that for us."

Novak Djokovic is into the last eight of the Monte Carlo Masters after a comfortable 6-0 6-1 win over Spain's Pablo Carreno, the world number 62, in just 47 minutes.

His next opponent will be either fifth seed Tomas Berdych or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.

Image source, Reuters

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has revealed he remains in the hunt to sign Wolfsburg striker Ivica Olic.

"Ivica Olic is a player that we like and one that we are pursuing," he said of the 34year-old

"He is a quality player and somebody I have met on a few occasions, and I really like him. He has played at the top level for the duration of his career, he possesses incredible pace and he is technically very, very good. We have to give the guy time to make the decision that he feels is right."

Many thanks for your thoughts on who should be the manager of the season.

Adi Parker:, external Has to be either Rodgers or Pulis. Who would have thought at Christmas both teams would be where they are now?

Amos McFarlane:, external To go from seventh to top, with little spent and not much squad change is phenomenal. Rodgers is a genius.

Harry Sheppard on Facebook: Tony Pulis. Took Palace from the brink of destruction at the bottom, to a possible top half finish. While as a fellow Bristolian I love Ian Holloway, he had to go and Pulis was the right bloke for the job. Rodgers has Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard and a billionaire American owner, Pulis has Jason Puncheon and Simon Jordan's legacy.

Rafa Nadal is battling a wardrobe malfunction that has forced him to alter his serving routine at this week's Monte Carlo Masters.

When he has failed with his first serve, Nadal has had to ask for another ball rather than taking one from his shorts, because he has been experiencing problems with his pockets.

"The ball comes out of the bottom of them and gets in the way," the Spaniard said after beating Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-1 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. "We'll try to sort it out for the next tournaments but here it won't be possible."

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd is the only non-Celtic player on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Premiership player of the year award.

The 30-year-old former Rangers player joins Kris Commons, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk among the top four players.

History will be made as horse racing takes place for the first time in the UK on Good Friday - at Lingfield in Surrey and Scottish track Musselburgh.

Lingfield's finale to a new all-weather racing championships boasts a total of £1m in prize money for seven races.

Track officials expect a crowd of about 6,000, with Musselburgh set to welcome 4,000 racegoers.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Here's what you can listen to on Friday on Radio 5 live sports extra, and at 02:55 BST it's first practice at the Chinese Grand Prix. Second practice begins at 06:55 BST, while at 12:00 there is rugby league commentary on St Helens against Wigan.

The Championship match between Bournemouth and Sheffield Wednesday is from 15:00 BST, with Blackpool against Burnley from 17:10, before the Premiership rugby union contest between Harlequins and Leicester from 19:30 completes another busy schedule.

Image source, GBWBA

15-year-old Joy Haizelden and Fi Tillman will make their GB major championship debuts in June's Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Canada after being named in the squad today.

Haizelden is the youngest member of coach Miles Thompson's squad, which also includes fellow teenagers Charlotte Moore (15) and Maddy Thompson (19).

GB are the current European bronze medallists and will be looking to improve on their sixth place finish at the last World Championships in 2010. They will face London gold medallists Germany, Canada, China, Japan, and Brazil in Pool B.