WORLD CUP
Mexico claim another title
Mexico won the under-17 World Cup final on Sunday, defeating Uruguay 2-0 with goals from Antonio Briseno in the 31st minute and Giovani Casillas in second-half stoppage-time. The victory thrilled a boisterous crowd at the Atzec Stadium in Mexico City, which is getting used to success. Two weeks ago, the Mexico senior team won the Gold Cup — the regional championship — defeating the US 4-2 in the final in California. Mexico also won the under-17 world title in 2005. Briseno scored chipping in from a header into the area, beating goalkeeper Jonathan Cubero. Casillas got his two minutes into stoppage-time, scoring on a counterattack as Uruguay pressed for an equalizer. Uruguay had their chances, with Elbio Alvarez hitting the crossbar. Germany defeated Brazil 4-3 in the playoff for third place earlier on Sunday.
WORLD CUP
Whistleblower in U-turn
An official who alleged that Qatar paid bribes to three FIFA members to secure the World Cup in 2022 has retracted her claims, it was reported on Sunday. Phaedra Al Majid, who worked as a press officer for Qatar 2022, told the BBC she wanted to avenge losing her job on the campaign, but now had decided to go public to admit that the allegations had been fabricated. Al Majid has signed a legal affadavit retracting the allegations and insisted that she had not been put under any pressure by the Qataris to make her public denial. “I was very upset after I left the bid and wanted to basically hurt the bid back,” she said. “My intentions were to make a few headlines, I never expected that my lies would be carried on. It just went too far.” Al Majid originally said African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou, Ivory Coast FIFA member Jacques Anomua and Nigeria’s suspended official Amos Adamu were paid to vote for Qatar.
TURKEY
Trabzonspor boss detained
Police detained the chairman of Trabzonspor yesterday, broadcasters said, widening a match-fixing investigation which has already put 26 people in jail pending trial and left Turkish soccer in disarray. The major nationwide investigation has plunged preparations for the new season into chaos less than a month before kick-off and it could result in champions Fenerbahce being stripped of their title. A former Turkish Football Federation executive, Ankaragucu’s goalkeeper and a former executive of the Ankara club were also taken into custody yesterday in a second wave of detentions, CNN Turk reported. The detention of Trabzonspor’s Sadri Sener came just hours after Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim, was jailed pending a trial on charges of match-fixing and forming a criminal organization.
SOUTH KOREA
Players to face lie detector
K-League authorities will introduce polygraph testing as part of a drive to drag the professional soccer league out of a deep-rooted match-fixing scandal, local media reported yesterday. The league would also double the minimum wage for players and introduce a new pension scheme to negate the lure of easy money, the Yonhap news agency reported. “We will introduce a pension plan for players and strive to improve rights and welfare for players,” the league said in a statement. The league is grappling with the worst scandal in its 28-year history that led to the arrest of 46 players last week in relation to the attempted fixing of 15 matches from June to October last year. The league has decided that players suspected of wrongdoing would be asked to take a polygraph test.
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