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Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday, Feb 12

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday: FIFA FIFA politics affected international fixtures, says Ali Some national teams have been given unfavourable fixtures for failing to toe the political line inside soccer's world governing body, the Jordanian candidate to become its next president said on Thursday. (SOCCER-FIFA/ALI, (PIX, TV), moved, by Brian Homewood, 800 words) ATHLETICS Kenyan federation calls bribery claims 'malicious' NAIROBI - Kenya's athletics federation on Thursday dismissed allegations of bribery against its chief executive, saying two athletes who accused Isaac Mwangi of seeking payments to reduce their doping suspensions were acting out of malice. (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/KENYA, moved, by Drazen Jorgic, 300, words) Kenya in race to meet WADA timelines Kenya faces a race against time to show the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that it tackling cheating in athletics or it could face expulsion from major competitions, a regional anti-doping official has told the BBC. (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/KENYA-WADA, moved, 250 words) - - - - MOTOR RACING Monza future still uncertain, says Ecclestone LONDON - The future of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after this year remains uncertain with Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone saying a deal had become more complicated (MOTOR-F1/MONZA, moved, by Alan Baldwin, 300 words). - - - - SOCCER We will have all the latest news from the Premier league managers' news conferences ahead of this weekend's crucial games in which the top four play each other. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout) What makes Ranieri tick? Chelsea old boys give their views LONDON - Claudio Ranieri has turned Leicester City from 5,000-1 outsiders into title favourites. Reuters has asked former Chelsea trio Mario Melchiot, Ed de Goey and Geremi, who all played for the Italian during his spell in charge at Stamford Bridge from 2000-04, for an insight into his coaching methods. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/RANIERI-OLDBOYS), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 800 words) - - - - RUGBY Six Nations Itoje to make England debut against Italy LONDON - England's uncapped 21-year-old lock Maro Itoje was named among the replacements when Eddie Jones unveiled his team for Sunday's Rome game against Italy in the Six Nations. (RUGBY UNION-ENGLAND/ moved, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words). Below-par Scotland will give Wales a test - Southwell LONDON - Scotland, who have gone eight Six Nations matches without a win, did not play to their potential in defeat by England at the weekend and former Scotland fullback Hugo Southwell expects a big improvement when Vern Cotter's side take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. (RUGBY-SCOTLAND/SOUTHWELL (INTERVIEW), moved, by Justin Palmer, 500 words) - - - - GOLF European Tour: Tshwane Open, Pretoria (to 14) South African Harding leads the way at Tshwane Open PRETORIA - Local favourite Justin Harding defends a one-shot lead in the second round of the Tshwane Open, the fifth and final European Tour event to be staged in South Africa this season. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, 200 words) - - - - CRICKET New Zealand v Australia, first test Smith, Khawaja drive home Australia's advantage WELLINGTON - Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja hammered home the advantage their bowlers had established when they took Australia to 147-3, a deficit of just 36 runs, at the close of the opening day's play in the first test against New Zealand on Friday. (CRICKET-NEWZEALAND/, moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 450 words) South Africa v England, 4th ODI England get another chance to wrap up ODI series JOHANNESBURG - England get another chance to claim a test and one-day series double in South Africa as they lead 2-1 heading into the penultimate ODI match at The Wanderers. (CRICKET-SAFRICA/(PIX), expect by 2000 GMT/3 PM ET, 300 words) India v Sri Lanka, 2nd T20, Ranchi Stung India aim to level series in Dhoni's hometown Smarting from their humbling in Pune, India will be eyeing a series-levelling win in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's hometown in the second Twenty20 International. (CRICKET-INDIA/, expect by 1730 GMT/12:30 PM ET, 350 words) - - - - BASKETBALL Clash of giants in Moscow as CSKA welcome Olympiakos BELGRADE - Euroleague heavyweights CSKA Moscow and Olympiakos Piraeus, who have won nine titles between them, lock horns in the competition's stand-out fixture as Barcelona entertain Zalgiris Kaunas. (BAKSETBALL-EUROLEAGUE/, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, by Zoran Milosavljevic, 400 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Pebble Beach, California (to 14) Reavie leads by one at Pebble Beach, Mickelson four back Little-known American Chez Reavie takes a one-stroke lead into the second round after opening with an eight-under 63 at Monterey Peninsula. Four-times champion Phil Mickelson trails by four shots while world number one Jordan Spieth is seven off the pace. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), expect by 0030 GMT/7.30 PM ET, 400 words) - - - - ATHLETICS Theisen-Eaton sets sights on Rio heptathlon gold Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton and her American husband, decathlete Ashton Eaton, hope to win their respective events in Rio which, historians say, would make them the first married couple from different countries to claim gold at the same Olympics. (ATHLETICS-THEISEN-EATON/, expect by 1500 GMT/10 AM ET, by Gene Cherry, 400 words) - - - - NBA NBA get chilly reception in the Great White North TORONTO - The NBA got a chilly reception as it brought its showcase All-Star Game north to Canada for the first time when fans and players were greeted by Arctic temperatures. While the record cold temperatures are expected to continue the action is sure to heat up as celebrities pour into Toronto to watch LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant, who will be making his final All-Star appearance. (NBA-ALLSTAR/(PIX), expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, 500 words by Steve Keating) - - - - NHL Rangers host Kings as East meets West Center Derick Brassard and the 31-18-5 New York Rangers host the Los Angeles Kings in a battle between two teams seemingly bound for the playoffs, in one of seven games on the National Hockey League schedule.(NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0600 GMT/1 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)