■ENGLAND
Benitez wants new contract
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez wants the US owners to give him a new contract by the end of the month to ensure stability during the English Premier League title chase. The Spaniard wants another four-year deal from Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to match the length of the current contract that expires at the end of next season. Hicks called the 48-year-old Benitez this week to suggest talks start next week. “My idea is to do it as soon as possible before the end of the month,” Benitez said. “If I can stay here for a long time, I would be very pleased. It is rare to see managers at clubs for a long time, but that would be the right way. Stability is the key to winning trophies and being contenders for the title.”
■PERU
Under-20 tournament moved
Peru was stripped of the right to host next year’s South American under-20 championship on Friday because of a long-running dispute between the government and the country’s soccer federation. South American Football Confederation spokesman Nestor Benitez said the tournament would instead take place in Venezuela, which hosted last year’s senior Copa America. Benitez said the Peruvian government had refused to support the hosting of the tournament because of its row with the soccer federation.
■ENGLAND
Hargreaves goes to Colorado
Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has traveled to Colorado to see if a noted sports surgeon can treat his lingering tendinitis. The 27-year-old England international has suffered from the injury since joining United from Bayern Munich in July last year and has been receiving injections to alleviate the pain. However, that has been ruled out as a viable long-term solution. Hargreaves featured in less than half of United’s games last season and has made just three appearances this campaign — the last coming at Chelsea in September. “It is difficult when you are out for such a long time through injury,” manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday. “It is frustrating for the lad and we want to try and help him. With tendinitis at the front of the knee, when he gets involved in football-related training, the pain really surfaces.” Ferguson hopes American specialist Richard Steadman can find a solution while Hargreaves is at his Vail clinic.
■ARGENTINA
Simeone quits River Plate
Former Argentina captain Diego Simeone quit as coach of River Plate on Friday, one day after their dismal domestic form was compounded by elimination from the Copa Sudamericana. “He has told us that, as from Sunday, he will no longer be coach,” River Plate director Rodolfo Cuina told the cable news channel TN in Mexico, where River were knocked out by Guadalajara on Thursday. Simeone, who won 106 caps and played at three World Cups has seen his team drop to the bottom of the championship after a run of 11 domestic games without a win.
■GERMANY
Cologne end losing streak
Cologne ended a four-game losing streak against Hannover when they rallied to win 2-1 in the only Bundesliga match on Friday. Visiting Hannover went ahead after 15 minutes when Jan Schlaudraff slotted the ball home from 20m out. But Pedro Geromel tied the score in the 43rd minute when the ball barely crossed the goal line and Wilfried Sanou sealed the victory in the 72nd minute with a deflected shot.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and