■INDONESIA
Cup bid dropped by FIFA
Indonesia has been dropped from the race to host the 2022 World Cup because of a lack of government support, FIFA said in Zurich on Friday. “We have informed Indonesia that because they failed to provide a number of documented guarantees by the deadline, Indonesia is no longer a candidate for 2022,” FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke told reporters. “They are out of this process.” The announcement leaves Australia, England, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, Spain/Portugal and the US as candidates for the 2018 or 2022 finals, while Qatar and South Korea are bidding for the finals in 2022 only.
■IRAQ
FIFA lifts suspension
FIFA on Friday lifted its suspension on the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) after a solution was found to a spat over alleged government interference, officials said. “Iraq is fully back as a member of FIFA,” governing body president Sepp Blatter said. The IFA was suspended in November after police seized control of its offices and its governing board was dissolved on charges of links to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. FIFA had called for the members of the association’s executive committee to be reinstated. It said on Friday that the Iraqi national Olympic committee and the International Olympic Committee had helped restore the IFA’s “full authority.”
■TURKEY
Kurdish team to stay up
The Turkish Football Federation on Friday ruled against relegating Diyarbakirspor, the only Kurdish team in Turkey’s top league, after the team’s last two matches ended in fan violence. The case had become a matter of state, with politicians across Turkey’s fractious political spectrum and even the powerful military warning that penalizing Diyarbakirspor could harm Turkey’s national unity and radicalize Kurdish fans. The federation said on its Web site it had ruled against handing a second default defeat to Diyarbakirspor after a match against Istanbul’s Buyuksehir Belediyespor was abandoned in the 87th minute when fans invaded the pitch. The federation had already penalized Diyarbakirspor with a 3-0 default defeat to Bursaspor, after their match earlier this month was abandoned in the 17th minute because of crowd violence.
■FRANCE
Charges filed in PSG case
Preliminary charges of murder have been filed against three men suspected of taking part in an attack on a Paris Saint-Germain fan who died earlier this week. The three suspects, who were part of a group of four people arrested last week, have been freed under judicial supervision, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Friday. The 38-year-old PSG fan died late on Wednesday after spending weeks in a coma following an attack by rival PSG supporters.
■GERMANY
Maniche nets to grab point
Maniche scored a spectacular equalizer to earn Cologne a 1-1 draw at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Friday. The Portuguese midfielder collected a pass from Zoran Tosic before firing into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 79th minute. Marco Reus had put Borussia ahead in the 56th minute, running past three Cologne players and driving a low shot into the corner of the net. Cologne are without a win in seven games and Borussia in five, with both teams just above the relegation zone.
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