A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Perez's target is to beat new McLaren team-mate Button

FORMULA ONE:Sergio Pérez says he will be disappointed if he does not beat his new McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, the most experienced driver in Formula One.

Button, 33 next week, is 10 years older than Pérez and has driven in 228 races (against the Mexican’s 37). He was the world champion in 2009 and runner-up in 2011. The new season, which starts in Australia in two months, will be his fourth with the Woking-based team.

But, showing all the self-belief that won him three podium finishes last year, Pérez turned up for his first day of work at the McLaren Technology Centre yesterday and said: “I will be disappointed if I don’t beat him. I am here to win. We are all here to win. If you don’t expect to win you should go home. I am here to win the championship. That is the target.”

That will come as a surprise to Button, whose profile at McLaren changed once his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton decided to quit the team and sign for Mercedes last year.

McLaren will treat both drivers equally, which is their policy, but most people, including Button, will be surprised at Pérez’s remarks.

Pietersen signs deal to complete reintegration

CRICKET:England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a full central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to complete his reintegration into the international fold, the ECB confirmed yesterday.

Pietersen's relations with the ECB hit rock bottom last year when he was dropped for the final Test against South Africa at Lord's in August following a controversial text-message row.

The South African-born batsman admitted sending provocative texts to opposing players but denied allegations that he had told them how to dismiss former captain Andrew Strauss, who retired from all cricket after South Africa won the Test series 2-0.

The 32-year-old had been working on a short-term deal but any uncertainty over his future was dispelled by him signing a full central contract.

Pietersen, who made his international debut in 2004 and has a Test average of 49.42 from 92 matches, is now eligible for all three international formats.

Australia appoint new chief executive

RUGBY:Wealthy businessman Bill Pulver was named as the new chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) yesterday and said his goal was to help the Wallabies become the number one team in the world again.

He replaces John O'Neill, who was responsible for the successful organisation of the 2003 Rugby World Cup and stood down early from his second term as chief executive last October.

Pulver was most recently in the news when his daughter was the victim of an extortionist who broke into the family home in Sydney and put a fake "collar bomb" around her neck before demanding money.

The 53-year-old has a background in sports marketing and internet media research. He takes over in an exciting year for Australian rugby with the Lions touring in June and July.

Security officials may stop games

RACISM:Italian public security officials will be given the power to stop or interrupt soccer matches in the case of racist behaviour by fans, the government's watchdog for sports events (ONMS) said yesterday.

The ONMS said in a statement that in cases of racism the referee should alert the fourth official who should in turn report the incident to the public security department responsible for policing at games.

"The director of the public order service has the sole responsibility for suspending the match," said the statement following a meeting with officials from the Italian football federation.

But the ONMS, a department of the interior ministry, added that the problem was caused by a small minority while violence at Italian matches was also on the decline.