which goal-line technology could not assist the referee.

BERLIN -- Nearly six months after sustaining serious head injuries in a skiing accident, seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher left a French hospital on Monday and was transferred to neighbouring Switzerland to continue his recovery. Schumacher "is not in a coma anymore," his manager, Sabine Kehm, said in a brief statement announcing that the German driver had left the Grenoble University Hospital, where he had been treated since his accident Dec. 29. Kehm gave no further details of his condition or medical outlook, saying only that he would "continue his long phase of rehabilitation." Schumacher left the Grenoble hospital Monday morning, said hospital spokeswoman Brigitte Polikar, who declined to give any details on his condition. He was transferred to the Lausanne University Hospital, near the Schumacher familys Swiss home. Hospital spokesman Darcy Christen confirmed the 45-year-old German was admitted but stressed that the facility wants "to ensure that he and his family fully enjoy privacy and medical confidentiality." Schumachers accident happened on a family vacation as Schumacher was skiing with his 14-year-old son at the Meribel ski resort in the French Alps. He hit the right side of his head on a rock, cracking his helmet. Doctors operated to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were left because they were too deeply embedded. Schumachers condition stabilized after he was placed in a drug-induced coma. In late January, doctors began the process of withdrawing sedatives to try to wake him up. Over recent months, little information has been released on Schumachers condition. Mondays announcement was the first substantial update since Kehm said in early April that Schumacher "shows moments of consciousness and awakening." The family "would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months," Kehms latest statement said. "The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes. ... We are sure it helped him," it added. "For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye," it added. Much remains unclear about Schumachers future as well as the length and extent of his recovery. "If hes been released from the hospital he was in, it means hes able to support his own breathing and bodily functions," said Dr. Tipu Aziz, a professor of neurosurgery at Oxford Universitys John Radcliffe Hospital. The fact that Schumacher is going into rehabilitation "suggests theres been long-term side effects of his injury," he added. "With rehabilitation, theyll try to train him to cope with the disabilities that hes got to achieve as much life function as possible," Aziz said. "If hes had a brain injury, he may have weakness in his limbs secondary to loss of brain function. He may have problems with speech and swallowing." He said that "rehabilitation would probably take a good few months" but noted that Schumacher was an athlete before his accident "so was in good shape." Schumacher earned universal acclaim for his uncommon and sometimes ruthless driving talent, which led to a record 91 race wins. He retired from F1 racing in 2012 after an unmatched seven world titles. The Mercedes team, for which Schumacher raced in the last three years of his career, posted on Twitter: "Encouraging news on Michaels condition this morning. We couldnt ask for a better start to the week." That was echoed by former world champion and Schumacher rival Fernando Alonso, who tweeted: "Good start of the week with the news of Michael! So happy this is going in the good direction!" Germany midfielder Lukas Podolski also took to Twitter hours before his teams opening World Cup match, writing: "What a great news!!! Get well soon Schumi!!! Im so glad and happy when I just heard it!!" Dave Schultz Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right. Nolan Patrick Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. http://www.flyersteamstoreonline.com/authentic-brian-propp-flyers-jersey/ . -- Theres something about playing on Orlandos floor lately that seems to bring out the best in the Dallas Mavericks. Shayne Gostisbehere Flyers Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. Eric Lindros Flyers Jersey . Vonn flew back to Vail, Colo., last week after hurting her surgically repaired right knee at a downhill race in France. "Her knee was swollen again after Val dIsere," U.S. womens head coach Alex Hoedlmoser told The Associated Press.TURIN, Italy -- UEFA wants players who hurt an opponent to stay off the field until the injured party is ready to return. Head of refereeing Pierluigi Collina said Wednesday it was not fair for teams to gain a temporary one-player advantage by injuring an opponent. "This is something that has gone on since (forever), I would say, but its unfair." Collina said at a season-ending briefing. "Football gives the advantage to the team of the player who committed a foul and is cautioned." The Italian official, who refereed the 2002 World Cup final, insisted "something has to be considered." Laws of football can be changed at annual meetings of the International Football Association Board, which comprises FIFA delegates and the four British football federations. The panel has pledged to run more trials and pilot projects to test ideas. UEFA President Michel Platini joined Collina to promote their five-referee system of match officiating used in UEFA competitions to rule on goal-line decisions and penalty box incidents. FIFA will use goal-line cameras at the World Cup. Platini said most of his 54 European member countries now use five officials -- placing an extra assistant beside each goal -- in top-tier leagues or selected high-profile matches. "I think it will work. 35 national associations have said it does," Platini said. Italy, Belgium and Turkey are among the adopters. Collina said he recently briefed analyysts working for British broadcasters about how five officials worked together.dddddddddddd "They didnt understand why the system is not used in England," Collina said. Three goal-line decisions were required from the Premier Leagues camera technology systems in 380 match this season, he said. However, 4,093 corner kicks were also awarded in which goal-line technology could not assist the referee. Collina cited an example from his own refereeing days when he should have disallowed a key goal by Chelsea captain John Terry which helped eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League in 2005. Having an extra assistant watching the goalmouth would have told Collina that Terrys teammate Ricardo Carvalho illegally blocked Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, the former referee said after showing video of the incident. Platini said he got "many proposals from outside of Europe to send Pierluigi to explain" the five-referee system. Still, he acknowledged it was "becoming complicated" for some federations to adopt the system because of added costs training and employing more referees. Some federations used five referees only for cup finals and "key, sensitive games," the UEFA president said. Collina added that an extra official freed the assistant with the flag to focus on offside rulings. "We should give them only this task to control the offside and, believe me, this is enough," he said. ' ' '