Knee Injury Jeopardizes Ronaldo's Career

Ronaldo arrived in Paris yesterday for an operation to repair the ruptured tendon in his left knee, an injury that could end his career.

The three-time FIFA world player of the year was injured in AC Milan's 1-1 draw with Livorno in the Serie A on Wednesday. As his car pulled up to Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, Ronaldo, 31, sat in the back seat with his leg in a brace and an ice pack on his knee.

"He fears for his career," Milan President Silvio Berlusconi told Italian state RAI TV.

This latest injury occurred two minutes after Ronaldo entered the game during a play that earned Milan an equalizing penalty. The Brazilian was carried off the field crying. . . .

Brazilian soccer star Romario was acquitted of doping when a sports tribunal in Rio de Janeiro overturned his verdict, allowing him to return to competition.

The 42-year-old striker tested positive for the banned substance Finasteride and was suspended for 120 days in December. Romario said he had used the hair-loss medicine Propecia, which contains Finasteride. . . .

FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he won't let the English Premier League play games abroad and believes the proposal will harm England's bid for the 2018 World Cup.

The Premier League announced last week its clubs supported a plan to stage a 39th round of games in five countries starting in the 2010-11 season.

¿ HOCKEY: Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik, whose carotid artery was nearly severed, may be discharged from a Buffalo hospital by tomorrow.

Zednik is showing improvement after his neck was slashed, said Sonya Noor, who performed emergency surgery Sunday night after Zednik's neck was accidentally cut by the skate of teammate Olli Jokinen. Zednik lost five pints of blood in the gruesome accident, but was upgraded to good condition on Wednesday. . . .

Boston Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward was released from a Pittsburgh hospital, one day after he suffered a neck injury in a game against the Penguins.