■ 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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a