■ SOCCER
Top official seeks solution
Asia's top soccer official is seeking a meeting with Malaysia's prime minister to resolve a standoff over a proposed visit from Manchester United, news reports said yesterday. The Asian Football Confederation has urged United to postpone its Asian tour -- which includes a planned July 27 match in Kuala Lumpur -- to avoid overshadowing the July 7-29 Asian Cup, the region's flagship tournament, to be hosted jointly by Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said on Friday he hopes to find "an amicable solution" by discussing the dispute with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the New Straits Times newspaper reported.
■ SOCCER
Parreira hospitalized
South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira expects to be released from a Johannesburg hospital this weekend after complaining of fever and inflamed ribs. Parreira, who managed Brazil to victory in the 1994 World Cup, fractured a rib during a fall in Brazil on May 1. He continued treatment when he arrived in South Africa three days later, but was taken to hospital on Thursday with a fever and pain around the rib cage. "Mr. Parreira is recuperating well," said S'bu Mngadi, the South Africa Football Association chief executive.
■ RALLYING
Loeb leads Rally of Italy
World rally champion Sebastian Loeb won three of six stages on gravel on Friday to lead after the first leg of the Rally of Italy in Sardinia. The Frenchman, driving a Citroen, lead Ford's Marcus Gronholm by 22.4 seconds ahead of yesterday's second leg. Loeb won the race last year and is aiming for his fourth straight victory in seven World Championship events this year Ford's Mikko Hirvonen of Finland was third, 29.1 seconds behind Loeb, followed by another Ford driver, Henning Solberg of Norway, 32.9 off the lead.
■ SOCCER
Radzinski leaves Fulham
Tomasz Radzinski is the latest player to leave Fulham following the arrival of coach Lawrie Sanchez. The experienced Canadian striker, who has also been playing in midfield for the Cottagers, rejected an extended contract earlier in the season and former Northern Ireland coach Sanchez has released him. He spent three seasons with Fulham after spending his first three in English soccer with Everton. Claus Jensen, Mark Crossley and Mark Pembridge also failed to gain new contracts, while loan signings Wayne Routledge (Tottenham) and Vincenzo Montella (AS Roma) have returned to their clubs.
■ CRICKET
Afridi blasts Pakistan to win
All-rounder Shahid Afridi smashed 73 off just 34 balls to lead Pakistan to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first of three one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Pakistan, playing for the first time since their disappointing World Cup campaign, reached their target of 236 with eight overs to spare. Afridi shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 102 with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (51 not out) to steer his side home. Afridi was in sublime form, hitting two fours and four successive sixes in one over from Malinga Bandara to set up a comfortable victory for Pakistan. Bandara's over was the second most expensive in one-day international history.
■ BASKETBALL
Wade recovering from ops
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is recovering from surgery this week on his left shoulder and knee, operations he opted to have on the same day to speed up his return to the basketball court. Miami coach Pat Riley has said Wade might need six months to recover from both operations. Wade, who had the surgery on Tuesday, was bothered by a condition commonly known as "jumper's knee," which he said limited his performance on the court.
■ GOLF
German/Austrian ban lifted
A British golf club has lifted an 88-year-old rule banning Germans and Austrians from playing on its course, newspapers reported yesterday. Filton Golf Club near Bristol in southwest England imposed the law after nine of its members were killed in World War I, with teed-off survivors vowing that the enemy should never be allowed on the course. The law had been forgotten about until researcher Alan Barclay found it in the club's archives. Members unanimously backed a motion to abolish the rule last week, the Sun reported. "Germans and Austrians have played here but not `legally' -- until now. Now they are officially welcome," he said.
■ SLED RECING
Popular musher suspended
One of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race's most popular mushers was handed a two-year suspension on Friday and placed on three years' probation for abusing his dogs during this year's race. Ramy Brooks can next request entry to the 1,770km race in 2010. Brooks, twice an Iditarod runner-up, was disqualified from the race for striking his dogs with a wooden trail marker when they stopped in Golovin, less than 160km from the finish in Nome. The Iditarod Trail Committee conducted a more in-depth inquiry after getting eyewitness reports from several people saying he had kicked, hit or struck his dogs with a ski pole.
■ BASKETBALL
Rockets fire Van Gundy
Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was fired on Friday, less than two weeks after they made yet another first-round exit from the NBA playoffs. The Rockets went 52-30 this season but lost to the Utah Jazz in seven games, raising the possibility that Van Gundy was going to resign or be dismissed. This was the Rockets' third first-round loss in four seasons under Van Gundy. The 45-year-old coach led the Rockets to a 182-146 record in four seasons. But Houston went 7-12 in three playoffs appearances and more was expected from teams anchored by All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
■ SOCCER
Henry off to Barca: report
Barcelona are in talks to sign Arsenal's star French forward Thierry Henry, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported on Friday. The Catalan newspaper quoted what it described as a reliable Barca source who claimed to be relatively optimistic, having held talks with Henry. The news flies in the face of recent comments attributed to the striker on the Arsenal Web site. "If everybody is fit and fresh I don't even think about not winning the title," he said, seemingly preparing himself for next season with the Gunners. "We are as good as Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Being so far behind is hard to take but we've been there before and after that we've been on top." The newspaper said Barca are known to be wanting to reinforce their playing resources after a difficult season.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just