■ENGLAND
Boro held by the Blades
Relegated Middlesbrough and defeated play-off finalists Sheffield United fought out a drab 0-0 draw on Friday as the new English Championship season endured a low-key start. Boro, playing outside the Premier League for the first time in 11 years, struggled to find any rhythm in the first half at the Riverside Stadium, with the visitors seeing Danny Coyne save well from Keith Treacy. Middlesbrough’s best openings were half-chances, with Mark Yeates and Adam Johnson causing problems before the game fizzled out.
■ENGLAND
Villa sign defender Beye
English Premier League side Aston Villa signed Senegalese international defender Habib Beye from relegated Newcastle United on Friday on a three-year deal, the Premier League club said. The 31-year-old had appeared to be on the brink of joining Hull City on Thursday, before Villa boss Martin O’Neill made his move. Beye, who spent four years with Marseille before joining Newcastle in 2007, is Villa’s third major signing of the summer, following Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough and Fabian Delph, who was tempted away from Leeds United. “I think Villa is a great football club,” Beye told the club’s official Web site. “I was really happy when my agent told me Villa were interested. I just said: ‘Get it done.’”
■SCOTLAND
Livingston refuse to play
Crisis-hit Livingston have plunged the Scottish League into chaos by refusing to play yesterday’s third division match with East Stirling in protest at their demotion from the first division. The Scottish Football League (SFL) relegated Livingston on Wednesday for breaching the league’s insolvency rules, but the club decided on Friday to appeal the sanction. As a result, Livingston said they would not play a third division fixture until their case was heard. An appeal was expected to also see a postponement of the matches involving Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath, who had been promoted to the first and second divisions respectively as a result of Livingston’s relegation. Instead, the SFL announced on Friday morning that Ross County v Airdrie, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath and East Stirling v Livingston would all go ahead, but the results would be void if Livingston’s appeal proved successful.
■SPAIN
Valencia reject Mata offer
Cash-strapped Valencia have refused an offer of more than 20 million euros (US$28 million) from European champions Barcelona for their Spanish international winger Juan Mata, Spanish media reported on Friday. Valencia president Manuel Llorente told the 21-year-old player’s agent earlier on Friday that the club did not want to let him go and was in no position to offer him a higher salary, the online editions of sports daily Marca said.
■NETHERLANDS
Alkmaar record first win
Champions AZ Alkmaar beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 in the Dutch league on Friday after losing their opening fixture at Heracles Almelo. Belgium striker Moussa Dembele opened the scoring for Alkmaar after six minutes when he netted a pass from last year’s Dutch league top scorer Mounir El Hamdaoui. Alkmaar were still not at their best and missed several chances, but after 64 minutes captain Stijn Schaars set up El Hamdaoui to double their lead and seal the victory. In Friday’s other match, NEC Nijmegen also registered their first win of the season by beating Heerenveen 4-1.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely