BRAZIL
Marcelinho accused of rape
Brazilian soccer player Marcelo dos Santos, better known as Marcelinho Paraiba or simply “Marcelinho,” was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted rape, police said. Paraiba, 36, an attacking midfielder who won five caps for Brazil and still plays with Sport Recife, was arrested with three friends after a young woman accused them of trying to rape her at a party at the player’s Rio residence. The arrest was announced by police commissioner Fernando Zoccola, according to Globo media Web site G1. His lawyer, Afonso Vilar, told G1 that the soccer player denies assaulting anyone and told him he was drinking with around 30 people at his Rio apartment when he was surprised by the unexpected arrival of the police.
BARCELONA
Adriano out with injury
Barcelona’s Brazilian wing-back Adriano will be sidelined for no more than a week after pulling a hamstring in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, the Catalan club announced on Wednesday. “Tests have confirmed that the player has pulled a muscle in his left hamstring,” a statement read on Barcelona’s Web site. “He will be out for approximately five to seven days, and will therefore miss Saturday’s league game against Levante and next Tuesday’s Champions League match against BATE Borisov.” Gerard Pique will also miss the home meeting with Levante, although the central defender’s absence is because of a suspension.
BAYERN MUNICH
Gomez to play despite shin
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez is set to face Werder Bremen in this weekend’s crunch German league clash, despite pulling out of training on Wednesday, the Bavarian giants have confirmed. The 26-year-old has scored 13 league goals in 13 games this season and took a painful knock to his right shin in training ahead of Saturday’s home game against Bremen, but the club told reporters he was set to play. After receiving the knock at Bayern’s training ground, Gomez was treated for several minutes before he headed off to the changing rooms, but is expected to play at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
WEST BROM
Zoltan Gera out for season
West Brom midfielder Zoltan Gera was on Wednesday ruled out for the rest of the season after a scan revealed he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament playing against Tottenham on Saturday, the club announced. The 32-year-old Hungarian national captain — who returned to West Brom from Fulham in the summer — will undergo an operation on his left knee and is expected to be out for between six to nine months. Gera initially joined West Brom from Ferencvaros in 2004, making more than 150 appearances before signing for Fulham — where present WBA manager Roy Hodgson was in charge — four years later.
SOUTH KOREA
Lee may go to Vancouver
South Korea’s star defender Lee Young-pyo is likely to join Major League Soccer club the Vancouver Whitecaps, news reports said yesterday. “We still disagree on one or two details and we need a bit more time, but the Whitecaps seem to be very interested in signing Lee,” South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo daily quoted the player’s agent as saying. The agent could not be reached for comment. The Korea Times also said his agency, Jissen, has been in talks with the Whitecaps.
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