(Reuters) - The Washington Spirit women's soccer team on Wednesday played the U.S. national anthem while players were still in their locker rooms, preventing visiting star Megan Rapinoe from continuing her protest for social equality.

ZURICH (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA's ethics watchdog opened formal proceedings against former German football official Helmut Sandrock on Wednesday after its investigatory chamber recommended he perform social work and pay a 50,000 Swiss franc ($51,652.89) fine for conduct related to the 2006 World Cup.

Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday (times GMT):

Sept 8 (Gracenote) - Results and standings from the US championship matches on Wednesday

FREETOWN, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Three top officials at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) were arrested by anti-corruption officials on Wednesday night, police and anti-graft agency officials said.

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Gareth Bale said Real Madrid are determined to wrest back the Spanish league title from Barcelona this season after going four years without tasting La Liga success.

(Reuters) - Full back Bacary Sagna says he is fit to play for Manchester City in Saturday's Premier League derby against Manchester United after sustaining a hamstring injury last month.

(Reuters) - Nothing less than victory will do for Manchester City in Saturday's feisty Premier League derby against Manchester United, playmaker David Silva has said.

BUDAPEST, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Hungarian prosecutors filed charges on Wednesday against a camerawoman accused of kicking and tripping migrants fleeing police near the southern border with Serbia last year.