Sports Digest, February 9, 2013

Arsonists yesterday torched the offices of Beitar Jerusalem soccer club, which is embroiled in a conflict with some racist supporters of the side over the signing of two Muslim players from Chechnya. The attack took place hours after prosecutors filed charges against four Beitar supporters accused of racist chants aimed at the Muslim players during a match and a training session. "The offices were torched in the early hours of the morning and we have opened an investigation," Jerusalem police spokesman Shmulik Ben Ruby said, adding that no suspects had been identified. The fire caused irreversible damage to the club's collection of memorabilia, said its curator, Meir Harush. Last month, Beitar signed Zaur Sadaev and Dzhabrail Kadaev from Russian club Terek Grozny. Both players are Muslims. AFP

Chin's top tennis player, Li Na, has pulled out of next week's US$2.3-million Qatar Open after failing to recover from the ankle injury she suffered during her defeat by Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Australian Open last month. The Qatar Open starts on Monday. AFP