Inter Milan coach Gasperini sacked after poor start to season

Gian Piero Gasperini has paid the price for Inter Milan's poor start to the season, being sacked as coach following the 2010 European champions' 3-1 defeat by newly-promoted Novara on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old took charge in June, but under his guidance the 18-time Italian Serie A titleholders earned just one point from their opening three league matches to languish in 17th position in the table -- one place outside of the relegation zone.

Inter also lost to arch-rivals AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup in August and to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor in their opening European Champions League match.

"F.C. Internazionale announces that this morning's training session at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti in Appiano Gentile was run by [assistant coaches] Daniele Bernazzani and Giuseppe Baresi," Inter's website reported on Wednesday.

"The club would like to thank Gian Piero Gasperini for the dedication he has shown in his work and regret having to end the relationship with the coach."

Inter slump to defeat against Novara

Inter president Massimo Moratti appeared to confirm that Gasperini faced the ax when questioned about the former Genoa boss on Wednesday before meeting with the coach.

Asked if Gasperini would remain with the Nerazzurri, Moratti replied: "I don't think so. We'll decide what to do today but he seems to be in a very difficult situation, whichever way you look at it."

On Tuesday's defeat, Inter's second in three league matches, Moratti said: "When you lose in such a way, there's nothing you like."

Gasperini replaced Brazilian coach Leonardo at Inter, having been sacked by Genoa in November 2010.

During a four-year spell with Genoa, Gasperini led the club to a fifth-place finish in Serie A in 2009 and qualification for the Europa League.

"Results are what decide everything, I'm very disappointed," he told journalists on Wednesday, AFP reported.

"I had a great relationship with the directors and it's a shame that it's had to come to an end. Everyone feels regret."

Inter, whose solitary point this season came from a 0-0 draw against Roma, face a trip to Bologna on Saturday before traveling to Russia to take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Rugby World Cup 2011: Samoa's Fuimaono-Sapolu escapes punishment

Centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu will not face disciplinary action following a Twitter rant after Samoa's 17-10 loss to Wales.

He had accused the International Rugby Board of "unfair treatment" as Samoa played for the second time in four days while Wales had a week off.

He compared Samoa's treatment to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid before apologising.

World Cup organisers have said they have accepted an official apology.

"Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) officials met with the Samoa team management today to discuss comments made by a member of the Samoa squad via the public social media network Twitter," read the statement."While RWCL believes the nature of the comments to be inappropriate and has warned the Samoa Rugby Union regarding future social media conduct, RWCL has accepted an official apology and is satisfied with the proactive measures the Union has outlined to RWCL to address the matter.

"There will be no further action and RWCL considers the matter to be closed."

Fuimaono-Sapolu posted a string of messages on Twitter, criticising the World Cup fixture scheduling.

The Gloucester centre, 30, later apologised for accusing the IRB of exploitation and comparing Samoa's treatment to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid.

But he stood by his complaint there has been an injustice.

He Tweeted: "C'mon guys, obviously rugby does not even come close to what Hitler did! There still is injustice and exploitation in this instance.

"Delete the analogies. Apologies. Issues of injustice remain.

"Just feel for our people who paid for us to participate, especially the poor children who gave their lunch money."

Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua insisted his side's four-day turnaround was "not an excuse" for the defeat in Hamilton but Fuimaono-Sapolu was enraged.Fuimaono-Sapolu originally Tweeted: "IRB, Stop exploiting my people. Please, all we ask, is fairness. If they get a week, give us a week. Simple. #equ[al]ity #justice."

He later added: "Ok, it's obvious the IRB are unjust. Wales get 7 days, we get 3. Unfair treatment, like slavery, like the holocaust, like apartheid.

"Give Wales 3 days off and give Samoa a week! We would kill them!

"You can't get punished for speaking out against injustice. That would be unjust. Anyone can tackle a man. Try tackling injustice."

The fixture schedule is more testing on Tier Two nations as World Cup organisers want to timetable the leading countries in prime-time slots to maximise commercial revenue.

It is understood the only way the IRB can solve the current fixture issue would be to reduce the tournament to 16 teams, which would undermine the desire to grow the game.