■SOCCER
FIFA suspends El Salvador
FIFA has suspended El Salvador from all international competition after its government has refused to recognize the authorities set up to run football in the Central American country. FIFA prohibits governments from interfering in the election of officials to run football and could extend El Salvador’s ban for a further year if the situation is not resolved by June 8. FIFA said it considers the actions of the El Salvador government to be “clear interference.” El Salvador failed to qualify for the World Cup.
■MOTORSPORT
Chile seeks Dakar damages
The Chilean office in charge of archaeological and historical sites said it wants US$570,000 in compensation for damage caused by participants in the Dakar rally in January. The office wants the money from the country’s National Sports Institute, which co-hosted the rally, the daily El Mercurio reported on Tuesday. The National Monuments Council (CMN) said that rally participants caused damage to 56 of the 111 heritage sites the route went through, and 13 of the sites, mostly in the Quillaga region northeast of Antofagasta, reported a serious loss of archaeological data. Four of those sites, including a site where pre-Hispanic natives made stone tools, suffered major damage of more than 50 percent, according to the Council.
■ICE HOCKEY
Glendale to keep Coyotes
The city of Glendale, Arizona, on Tuesday agreed to guarantee the National Hockey League up to US$25 million to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in the city for the next season. By a unanimous vote, the Glendale City Council approved the agreement that would come into effect if no buyer can be found for the financially struggling franchise by September. The NHL bought the Coyotes last November. City officials said that separate negotiations continue with two groups, Chicago sports figure Jerry Reinsdorf and Ice Age Holdings, to buy the team and that they anticipate an agreement by the end of next month.
■GOLF
Mitsuka bans herself
Japanese golfer Yuko Mitsuka has banned herself from a total of 11 women’s tournaments after being fined for storming off the course over a two-stroke penalty. The 25-year-old downed clubs and quit midway through her first round at last week’s World Ladies Championship in protest at being penalized for slow play. Mitsuka was fined a record ¥2 million (US$21,590), but voluntarily withdrew from eight domestic and three overseas events as a sign of contrition. “This is the biggest fine in Japanese LPGA history and reflects the seriousness of what took place,” the tour’s Hideaki Otani said yesterday. “The player offered to withdraw from those tournaments and the tour accepted that as the right punishment.”
■BASEBALL
G20 meet forces move
Baseball officials said on Tuesday that next month’s G20 summit in Toronto has forced them to move a three-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies to Philadelphia. Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said that because of security concerns, moving the June 25 to June 27 series was the best option. The game would have been ace pitcher Roy Halladay’s first return visit to Toronto’s Rogers Center since he was traded to the Phillies in the offseason. It’s the lone interleague matchup between the clubs this season. The series was expected to be one of the Blue Jays’ biggest draws of the season.
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