Aussie Rules player among missing
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Troy Broadbridge, a 24-year-old player with the Melbourne Demons in Australian Rules football's premier competition, is among the Australians missing in Phuket, Thailand, after tsunamis hit the region.
Broadbridge was on his honeymoon with wife Trisha in Phuket, the club said in a statement.
The club said Trisha was safe, but that Broadbridge, who made his Australian Football League debut in 2001, was missing after being swept away while the two walked along the beach.
"It is devastating, Troy is a great player and teammate, our thoughts are with his family and wife Trisha," Melbourne chief executive Steve Harris said.
"We all feel particularly helpless at this time as all we can do is sit and wait for news."
Broadbridge's career has been affected by knee and shoulder injuries. He was voted Melbourne's most improved player in 2001 and played 14 matches for Melbourne last season.
Italians caught in disaster
Several Italian soccer players vacationing in the Maldives were seeking emergency trips home after the disaster.
AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi wrote in a text message from his mobile phone to Gazzetta dello Sport saying he was "isolated but OK for now," adding that he was without lights and water.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini and Juventus defender Gianluca Zambrotta managed to fly back together and arrived in Italy on Monday. Juventus gave Zambrotta an extra day off before returning to practice.
Two other Milan players -- Alessandro Nesta and Cristian Brocchi -- were also in the Maldives, the club reported.
Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli told his brother and teammate Alessandro Lucarelli that he witnessed a two meter high wave approaching the island where he and his family were.
No soccer players were reported injured.
Real Madrid's French star Zinedine Zidane was vacationing on Reunion Island off Madagascar, one of the lesser hit islands.
Borussia Dortmund players Christoph Metzelder and Sebastian Kehl have offered their help to the victims of the devastating quake in Southeast Asia that led to more than 20,000 deaths.
The two German internationals have called for their supporters to donate money to the organization Roter Keil that has two projects in the area.
They are also auctioning two signed jerseys on their websites and have pledged the money to the organization.
Indonesians play on
A soccer fixture between Indonesia and Malaysia went ahead as planned on Tuesday, preceded with a tribute to victims of an earthquake and tidal waves that hit both countries.
A minute's silence was observed before the Tiger Cup semifinal first leg
Players wore black arm bands and a portion of the proceeds from the game will be donated towards relief operations, according to John Almahera of Indonesia's football federation.
