■IRELAND
Trapattoni inks new contract
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni on Friday penned a new two-year contract with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) which will take him through to the end of the Euro 2012 qualifiers. The 70-year-old will attempt to book a trip to next summer’s World Cup finals as the Republic lie second in their qualifying group, having won four and drawn four of their games in the campaign so far. “I am delighted to continue my job with the FAI,” said Trapattoni, who’s contract had been due to expire next year. Trapattoni named a 27-man provisional squad for next month’s decisive qualifiers against his native Italy and Montenegro, adding Steven Reid, Paul McShane and Darren O’Dea to the men who did duty in Cyprus earlier this month.
■ARGENTINA
Maradona drops players
Embattled Argentina coach Diego Maradona juggled his team for next month’s two critical World Cup qualifiers, dropping seven players and giving a first-time call up to Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain. Maradona also recalled midfielder Pablo Aimar to the squad. The biggest shock was the dropping of seven players who were in the squad for losses last month to Brazil and Paraguay. The defeats have left Argentina out of the top four automatic qualifying places from South America for next year’s World Cup. Gone from the squad are Fernando Gago, Javier Zanetti, Jesus Datolo, Maxiliano Rodriguez, Lisandro Lopez, Pablo Carrizo and Nicolas Burdisso. Argentina play at home on Oct. 10 against Peru and they wrap up qualifying a few days later against Uruguay.
■LONDON
Forty matches probed
UEFA is investigating 40 cases of suspected match-fixing involving Champions League and UEFA Cup matches, a senior official at European soccer’s governing body said on Friday. Peter Limacher, UEFA’s head of disciplinary services, said his department was probing early qualifying matches over the last four years involving clubs “mainly from eastern Europe.” Of the 40 matches where UEFA has been alerted to suspicious betting patterns, 15 took place in the last two years, Limacher said. “Right now it’s mainly eastern Europe clubs being investigated. They know they are not going to be involved later in the tournament and they are going out, so decide: ‘Let’s make a profit,’” Limacher said.
■SWEDEN
Keeper cleared to play
IFK Goteborg goalkeeper Kim Christensen has been cleared to play for the Swedish league leaders this weekend, three days after admitting he moved the posts to make the goal slightly smaller during a midweek game. The Swedish Football Association’s disciplinary committee said on Friday that a possible suspension or fine will not be decided until Thursday. “We are investigating [the case] until then,” disciplinary committee chairman Kenneth Tallinger told newspaper Expressen.
■GERMANY
Bochum win on the road
Diego Klimowicz scored in the seventh minute to give VfL Bochum a 1-0 victory at Nuremberg for their first win on the road in the Bundesliga on Friday. It was also the first win for interim coach Frank Heinemann, who stepped in for the fired Marcel Koller less than a week ago. Paul Freier sent a sharp low cross from the right for Klimowicz to knock in at the far post for what was one of Bochum’s few chances in the first half. Nuremberg fell to their third defeat in four home games.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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