After the attack Nancy Kerrigan fell to the ground sobbing "Why me?"

England have

An unknown man brandishing a metal crowbar has attacked American figure-skater Nancy Kerrigan.

The 24-year-old skater was forced to withdraw from the US national championships in Detroit after the incident, which left her with severe bruising to her right knee.

The competition was expected to decide who would represent the United States in the forthcoming winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, next month. But that now hangs in the balance.

Normally the top two finishers in these championships would qualify for the Olympics, although the US Figure Skating Association does have some discretion in the electoral process.

The attack happened as Ms Kerrigan, who won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics, was leaving the ice after a practice session at Cobo Hall, Detroit.

An eye-witness said: "Before she could say anything, a guy ran by, crouched down, whacked her on the knee and kept running.

"Nancy just dropped and started screaming and sobbing."

Ms Kerrigan's agent, Jerry Solomon said: "Nancy sustained quite a blow, physically and mentally.

"This could really affect her mental approach which is so important on the ice."

Police investigating the incident have been told by witnesses that the attacker had been video-taping Ms Kerrigan as she skated before he struck.

It is understood that he was wearing official credentials around his neck but detectives still have no identification.

The attack comes just eight months after tennis player Monica Seles was stabbed by a spectator with a kitchen knife as she played on a court in Hamburg, Germany.

The Sex Pistols signed up with A&M records in March 1977

In a statement, the company said: "EMI feels it is unable to promote this group's records in view of the adverse publicity generated over the past two months."

The move follows the group's appearance on ITV's Today programme six weeks ago in which they used strong language.

Reports that they had sworn at Heathrow Airport staff and spat at each other while waiting to board a plane for the Netherlands yesterday proved to be the final straw.

EMI broke the news to Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren by telephone this morning. But he denied the contract had been ended by mutual agreement.

In Amsterdam preparing for a series of concerts and recordings, he told the BBC: "That's rubbish. I haven't signed a single paper - as far as I'm concerned, we're still on EMI."

The four-man band - Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Sid Vicious - had only served three months of the two-year contract, worth ?0,000, and published one album - Anarchy in the UK.

EMI has also come under pressure to drop the group from the Conservative MP for Christchurch and Lymington, Robert Adley.

Last night, he wrote to the managing director, Sir John Read, saying: "Surely a group of your size and reputation could forgo the doubtful privilege of sponsoring trash like the Sex Pistols."

Asked whether he would sign up another punk rock group, Sir John told the BBC: "Certainly. I am told there is a demand for this style of music and provided we can have groups that don't attract the adverse publicity this group has had, we'll certainly want to be in it."