■ ENGLAND
Moved match angers Blues
Chelsea have reacted angrily to having a potentially crucial Premier League match at Everton next month brought forward by two days to suit television, claiming the move could hand Manchester United or Arsenal the title. Chelsea, who play Wigan Athletic on April 14, will now travel to Goodison Park on the Thursday of that week rather than on the Saturday as first planned. "We believe the decision to hold the match on Thursday April 17 undermines the sporting integrity of the competition by giving our rivals for the Premier League title an unnecessary competitive advantage at a critical time of the season, with more recovery time from their previous match and preparation time for their next fixture when we have to play two games during the same period," a club statement said.
■ POLAND
Wdowczyk arrested
Former Polish international Dariusz Wdowczyk, who also played club soccer for Celtic and Reading, was arrested on Friday for alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Six others, including referees and coaches, were also arrested in connection with the corruption case, said Tomasz Fratczak, a spokesman for Poland's anti-corruption body, the CBA. Wdowczyk, 45, figured mostly for Polish top flight side Legia Warsaw and played 53 times for his country before going on to coach Polonia Warsaw. The match-fixing affair has scarred Polish soccer recently with 17 people, amongst them referees and federation officials, receiving suspended prison sentences in December.
■ GERMANY
Wolfsburg defeat Rostock
Jazek Krzynowek's injury-time goal gave VfL Wolfsburg a 1-0 win against Hansa Rostock in the Bundesliga on Friday. Alexander Laas crossed to the Polish international, who put the winner through the legs of goalkeeper Stefan Waechter just as it appeared as if demotion-threatened Rostock might weather Wolfsburg's constant attacks. The team, owned by Volkswagen, stretched their unbeaten streak to four games and maintained the league's best record since the winter break. Wolfsburg remained seventh in the standings.
■ BRAZIL
Romario hangs up his boots
Romario announced his retirement on Friday, ending two decades at the pinnacle of Brazil's national sport. The 42-year-old striker told Rio's O Dia newspaper that he was out of shape and physically unable to return after months of inactivity. "I've stopped playing. I can't do it any more. I haven't played since November," Romario said in an exclusive interview with the daily. Without the speed and endurance that once were his hallmarks, Romario is a shadow of the scorer who in 1994 was named FIFA's player of the year.
■ PORTUGAL
Mourinho in talks with Inter
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was locked in talks with Inter Milan on Friday, with the colorful coach tipped to take charge at the Italian giants next season, it was reported by Portuguese media. Antena 1 radio reported that Mourinho left Lisbon on Friday for Milan to negotiate a contract with Inter president Massimo Moratti. That was later confirmed by the Lusa news agency, quoting a source close to the Portuguese coach. Mourinho is one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was