■ PORTUGAL
Veloso joins Genoa
Sporting on Tuesday confirmed an agreement to sell highly rated defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso to Serie A side Genoa for 9 million euros (US$11.9 million). The Portuguese giants, however, have made sure they are paid well for releasing the Portuguese international by including several stipulations in the contract, according to a club statement published on the Portuguese stock exchange. Sporting will receive a further 500,000 euros from Genoa if the Italians qualify for a group phase of a UEFA-affiliated competition, such as the Champions League or the Europa League. And if the 24-year-old Veloso is sold on for a fee of 10 million euros or more, Sporting “have the right to receive 20 percent of the profits.” Sporting had agreed to selling Veloso on Friday, when the club also announced the arrival of Spaniard Alberto Zapater, a midfielder who played for Genoa last season.
■ SUDAN
FIFA set deadline
FIFA has given Sudan an Aug. 15 deadline to rerun their Football Association presidential election or face suspension from international soccer. FIFA said it did not recognize the Sudanese Football Association (SFA) vote on July 26 which elected Mutasim Jaafar as the new president because the government barred the former SFA chief from standing. World soccer’s governing body, which requires governments to refrain from meddling in national soccer federations, said earlier that other candidates had also been barred. “FIFA’s Emergency Committee decided not to recognize the results of the elections and to set a deadline of 15 August 2010 to hold new elections in compliance with the SFA Statutes and without any influence of third parties,” FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday.
■ BRAZIL
Santos stars say sorry
Santos’ players have apologized after a confrontation with the club’s fans in a live online chat video. The players argued with fans throughout last Wednesday’s session, and the incident was widely reported by several Web sites and TV sports shows in Brazil. After a fan wrote that goalkeeper Felipe has “lettuce hands,” the player replied by saying: “What I spend on food for my dog is what you make in a month.” Felipe said on Tuesday that “it was a joke that got misinterpreted. I apologize if anybody was offended by it.”
■WORLD CUP
FIFA fines finalists
Spain have been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (US$9,363) and the Netherlands SF15,000 for the behavior of their players in last month’s World Cup final, FIFA said on Tuesday. Winners Spain had five players booked and the Dutch received eight yellow cards while defender John Heitinga was sent off. A spokesman said the teams were fined under article 52 of the FIFA disciplinary code, under which “disciplinary measures may be imposed on associations and clubs where a team fails to conduct itself properly.”
■ RUSSIA
Zenit snap up Bruno Alves
Zenit Saint-Petersburg signed experienced Portuguese international defender Bruno Alves for 22 million euros (US$29 million) from Portuguese champions FC Porto on Tuesday. The 28-year-old — capped 35 times and an ever present at the World Cup finals where Portugal exited in the second round — is yet to sign his contract as he has to undergo a medical. Alves won four successive league titles with Porto and was named Portuguese player of the year in the 2008-2009 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