SPORTS BETTING NEWS

Betting Guide - Franz Beckenbauer has led the tributes to Robert Enke, the Hannover and Germany goalkeeper, who was found dead yesterday after reportedly jumping from a railway bridge into the path of a train.

Tributes to Enke, whose agent last night indicated he had committed suicide, have also flooded in from his former clubs and team-mates. The goalkeeper began his career at Carl Zeiss Jena and went on to enjoy spells at Borussia Monchengladbach, Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife before joining Hannover in 2004.
"I am infinitely sad. When you receive news like this all other problems pale into insignificance." Beckenbauer, the former Germany captain, said.

Fans have flocked to Hannover's stadium to lay flowers and light candles in memory of their captain, who had been with the club since 2004, while other high profile figures from Enke's career also paid tribute. "This is an absolute catastrophe, I can't come to terms with it," Martin Kind, the Hannover president, added.

A statement on the club's otherwise entirely black website read: "We are mourning Robert Enke, 24 August 1977-10 November 2009."

Germany's players and staff were informed after training in Bonn yesterday. The German FA confirmed today's training session had been cancelled while reports suggest Saturday's friendly against Chile may yet be cancelled. - Betting Lines

"I am stunned. Words fail me," Michael Ballack, the Chelsea and Germany midfielder, said.

Enke leaves behind a wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter they had adopted in May. His daughter, Lara died, in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was two.

Enke had been diagnosed with a bacterial stomach infection which had forced him to miss Germany's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in September. However, he reappeared for Sunday's 2-2 draw with Hamburg although he was not selected for the international friendlies against Chile and Ivory Coast next Wednesday.

Germany's coach, Joachim Low, had said Enke – who won eight caps after making his debut in 2007, the last of them against Azerbaijan in August – remained the leading candidate to be his No1 in South Africa.

"This can and must not be true. Robert was such a great bloke," Kevin Kuranyi, the Schalke striker, said. "I don't know how I will tell my wife. She is very good friend's with Robert's wife. I feel for his family."

Hamburg captain David Jarolim added: "I can hardly breathe because I'm so upset. This is a real tragedy, I can hardly believe it. First his little daughter dies and then this."