ITALY
Ref admits heroin charge
The referee involved in Italy’s controversial elimination from the 2002 World Cup pleaded guilty on Thursday to heroin smuggling charges, according to the US attorney’s office. Byron Moreno, who is being held without bail, pleaded guilty to one count of heroin smuggling, office spokesman Robert Nardoza said. He faces up to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. No sentencing date was set. Moreno was arrested in September at John F. Kennedy International Airport after arriving on a commercial flight from his native Ecuador with bags of heroin attached to his body, prosecutors said. During a routine inspection, Moreno “became visibly nervous,” according to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn. A customs agent felt “hard objects on the defendant’s stomach, back and both of his legs,” the complaint said. A strip search revealed that the lumps were 10 clear plastic bags containing more than 4.5kg of heroin, it said. Moreno became a hate figure in Italy after several contentious decisions in the second-round match of the 2002 World Cup, when the Azzurri lost 2-1 after extra time. He sent off Francesco Totti, giving the Italian a second yellow card for an alleged dive in the penalty area 13 minutes into extra time. A 111th-minute goal by Italy’s Damiano Tommasi that would have advanced the team was disallowed, apparently for offside, and South Korea was awarded a penalty — saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon — for a foul by Christian Panucci against Seol Ki-Hyeon. Ahn Jung-Hwan then scored the winner for South Korea in the 117th minute.
ITALY
Bologna points docked
The Serie A disciplinary committee has docked Bologna two points for failing to pay its players’ wages. It means Bologna drops to 22 points, 18 behind league leader AC Milan, and from 10th to 15th in the standings. The committee also suspended president Sergio Porcedda for six months and chief executive Silvino Marras for two months and 20 days, according to media reports on Thursday. It is the second time this season that the Serie A side has had points deducted after being docked a point for failing to make tax payments.
UNITED STATES
Rooney signs for New York
Wayne Rooney’s younger brother John has been selected by the New York Red Bulls in the second round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) draft. Having already signed with MLS, the younger Rooney worked out for scouts last week in Florida and was taken by the Red Bulls on Thursday. John is a 20-year-old midfielder who has played for Macclesfield Town in England’s League Two. He joins a squad that includes Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez. Wayne Rooney is the star forward for Manchester United and England.
QATAR
Team fined over conference
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has fined Qatar US$2,000 for refusing to bring a player to an Asian Cup news conference. The AFC said in a statement on Thursday that the fine was punishment for failing to send the player to a Jan. 6 news conference before its match against Uzbekistan. It said a complaint against Qatar coach Bruno Metsu for not fulfilling media obligations has been sent to its disciplinary committee. North Korea and Iraq have earlier been cited for the same violation while Saudi Arabia could be added to the list after it failed to send a player to its news conference.
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