Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Friday

Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Friday:

SOCCER

FIFA referee director makes impassioned case for VAR

FLORENCE, Italy - In an interview with Reuters, FIFA's refereeing director Massimo Busacca makes an impassioned defence of the decision to use video replay technology at the World Cup, saying it is an invaluable tool for referees who are "killed" by the media when they make a mistake. (SOCCER-FIFA/REFEREES, (INTERVIEW, PIX, expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, by Brian Homewood, 600 words)

Premier League

We bring you all the latest team and injury news ahead of this week's fixtures. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/, expect throughout)

La Liga

Leganes v Deportivo La Coruna (1900)

Copy on merit

Bundesliga

Borussia Moenchengladbach v VfL Wolfsburg (1830)

Copy on merit

Ligue 1

Nantes v Rennes (1730)

Dijon v Olympique Lyonnais (1900)

Copy on merit

TENNIS

Monte Carlo Masters

Nadal faces Thiem in quarter-finals

MONTE CARLO - Defending champion Rafa Nadal meets fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals and world number three Marin Cilic takes on Kei Nishikori of Japan. (TENNIS-MONTECARLO/ (PIX, TV), 300 words)

RUGBY

Super Rugby (week 10)

Auckland Blues v Otago Highlanders, Auckland (0735)

NSW Waratahs v Lions, Sydney (0945)

Injury-hit Blues face Highlanders in Auckland

AUCKLAND - Auckland Blues coach Tana Umaga, who has 18 players unavailable through injury, has cobbled together a side to face the Otago Highlanders with the hope they can keep their increasingly slim playoffs hopes alive. (RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/BULLS, expect by 0930 GMT/5:30 AM ET, 400 words)

Waratahs look to shake off Folau controversy against Lions

SYDNEY - The New South Wales Waratahs have been dogged by controversy over comments Israel Folau made two weeks ago and face a Lions side keen on extending their lead in the South African conference. (RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/WARATAHS, expect by 1200 GMT/8 AM ET, 400 words)

We will also move rolling HIGHLIGHTS of every match in the round.

GOLF

PGA Tour: Texas Open, San Antonio (to 22)

Grayson sets the pace heading into round two

After opening with a five-under 67, second-year PGA Tour player Grayson Murray takes a one-stroke lead into the second round at TPC San Antonio. (GOLF-TEXAS/, expect by 0100 GMT/9 PM ET, 400 words)

LPGA Tour: JTBC LA Open, Los Angeles (to 22)

Second round wrap from Wilshire Country Club. (GOLF-WOMEN/LAOPEN, expect by 0400 GMT/12 AM ET, by Field Level Media, 400 words)

NBA

Cavs and Pacers in pivotal Game Three

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers head to Indianapolis for pivotal Game Three against the Indiana Pacers with the series locked at one win apiece in one of three first-round playoff games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0500 GMT/1 AM ET, by Field Level Media, 800 words)

NHL

Penguins aim for knockout blow against Flyers

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, leading their first-round series 3-1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, seek to eliminate their cross-state rivals, while the Winnipeg Jets also try to deliver the final blow against the Minnesota Wild, and the Nashville Predators attempt to oust the Colorado Rockies in the three playoff games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by Field Level Media, 800 words)

BASEBALL

Scherzer v Kershaw as two aces take the mound

A battle of Cy Young Award winners is on tap as right-hander Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Washington Nationals against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who send left-hander Clayton Kershaw to the mound in the first of a three-game series between the two National League rivals, one of 16 games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-MLB/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0600 GMT/2 AM ET, by Field Level Media, 800 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORT Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by Field Level Media, 500 words) (FIELD LEVEL MEDIA)

BOXING

Pacquiao faces media in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR - Manny Pacquiao meets the media in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his bout with Lucas Matthysse (BOXING-WELTERWEIGHT/PACQUIAO-MATTHYSSE/ (TV, PIX, text story on merit)

(Asia Desk Editor: Ian Ransom)