■ SOCCER
Thaksin regrets flag insult
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has apologized to the Thai people after a group of the club’s fans emblazoned his name on the national flag, a crime in his homeland. The flag was unfurled reading “Thank you, Thaksin” during City’s home loss to Fulham a week ago, a shock defeat that fueled speculation that manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will be sacked. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundarajev was not amused, while Thai police were reportedly mulling charges against the former premier for disrespecting the flag. In Thailand it is a crime to alter or deface the flag in any way. “I regret the incident by Manchester City fans in England, who were trying to show their love for the club and for Thailand,” Thaksin was quoted as saying in the Thai-language Daily News. “It’s OK in their culture, and once we explained the problem to them, they expressed their regret,” he said.
■ SOCCER
Wife's uncle sues Eduardo
Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva is being sued for 1.2 million euros (US$1.8 million) by his wife’s uncle over an unpaid transfer commission when he joined Arsenal last year. Zagreb estate agent Miljenko Radivojeciv says Eduardo has failed to honor a “working contract” they both signed in 2003 and which he believes entitles him to commission from any transfer to a foreign club. The amount Radivojevic says his nephew owes him represents 10 percent of the reported 12 million euro transfer fee when Eduardo moved from Dinamo Zagreb to Arsenal last year. Legal proceedings were started on Monday in a Zagreb court, the Hina news agency reported. Eduardo’s lawyer says the player and his wife are extremely concerned about their uncle’s decision to go to court. “They can’t understand that someone’s trying to take advantage of the transfer, especially someone who has done nothing for them, aside from buying Da Silva a pair of trainers,” Miroslav Separovic said.
■ BASEBALL
Argument sparks bar killing
After an argument over rival baseball teams spilled outside a bar in Nashua, New Hampshire, a woman aimed her car at a group of people to scare them and didn’t brake, hitting and killing a man, authorities and witnesses said. Ivonne Hernandez was arraigned on Monday on reckless second-degree murder and drunken driving charges and was held without bail. Hernandez, 43, early on Friday sped toward a small group that included the man, Matthew Beaudoin, 29, and never hit her brakes, prosecutor Susan Morrell said on Monday. Beaudoin died of massive head trauma at a hospital, Morrell said. Authorities won’t describe the argument, but witnesses said it heated up when Hernandez identified herself as a New York Yankees fan. Nashua, about 70km northwest of Boston, is the territory of the Boston Red Sox.
■ SOCCER
Milan get Flamini for free
AC Milan have signed Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a four-year deal after capturing the Frenchman on a free transfer, the Italian giants said on Monday. The 24-year-old turned down a new deal offered by Gunners manager Arsene Wenger prior to his contract running out at the end of the current season, meaning he heads to the reigning European champions for free. Flamini arrived in Milan on Sunday and sailed through a medical on Monday before putting pen to paper. The former Marseille player came notably to Milan’s notice when he played a major role in their elimination by Arsenal at the last 16 stage of this season’s Champions League.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care