■FRANCE
Players in prostitution probe
Investigators have questioned two French national team players as part of an inquiry into prostitution involving a minor, a judicial source said. One of the players has admitted having a relationship with a prostitute but denied knowing that she was a minor, the source said on condition of anonymity. The players, who were not identified, were questioned by investigators working for Paris examining magistrate Yves Dando, the source said confirming a report by the M6 television station. The investigation concerns a Paris night club, frequented by certain French internationals, which is suspected of employing prostitutes, the source said. L’Equipe newspaper reported yesterday that a third French international player could be questioned in coming weeks as part of the same investigation. “There is no reaction to give on a matter like this,” the president of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes said. “An investigation is underway and I have no information on that. At the moment it is not possible to make a comment.”
■ITALY
Livorno on brink of drop
Serie A bottom side Livorno are on the brink of relegation after losing 2-0 at Chievo Verona on Saturday. Sergio Pellissier drilled a diagonal strike inside the near post to put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute shortly after being denied a strong penalty claim for a push in the back as he was about to shoot. Elvis Abbruscato touched the ball home from close range to wrap up the victory two minutes from time. Livorno have 26 points with four games left to play, nine points less than Bologna in the safety zone before the fourth-bottom side’s visit to Udinese yesterday. Chievo, in contrast, look to have top-flight survival in the bag after a win that puts them 12th, 10 points above the drop zone.
■PORTUGAL
Braga cut Benfica lead
Braga beat Leixoes 3-1 on Saturday to cut Benfica’s lead at the top of the league to three points. Alan scored twice and Moises once for Braga, while Christian Pouga reduced the deficit for Leixoes. Braga are on 64 points and it was the team’s first win against relegation-threatened Leixoes since the 1988-1989 season. Benfica, on 67 points, could increase their lead to six points again yesterday, when they visited Academica. With three games left after this weekend, Benfica are seeking to clinch their first title in five years. Defending champions Porto are third with 56 points and played Guimaraes yesterday.
■UNITED STATES
Angel delights Red Bulls
Juan Pablo Angel scored his first two goals of the season, including a last-minute penalty, to lead the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 comeback win over FC Dallas on Saturday night. The Red Bulls remained unbeaten in their new US$200 million home, including two MLS matches and a friendly against Santos of Brazil last month. Dallas scored in the 10th minute when Dax McCarty met a cross from Heath Pearce and sent a header past Red Bull goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to take the lead. Angel equalized in the 56th and converted the penalty to secure the win. At Carson, California, Edson Buddle scored two goals as the Los Angeles Galaxy ended a six-game winless streak against Real Salt Lake and continued their best start to an MLS season since 1998. Buddle opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a header from Landon Donovan’s corner kick and then, after Kyle Beckerman had equalized for Real in the 41st, Buddle scored the winner in the 76th minute.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care