EURO 2012
Cops called to Spain practice
Riot police were called to Spain’s training ground in Gniewino, Poland, on Tuesday as hundreds of ticketless fans were denied access to the defending champions’ practice session. Locals and Spanish fans loitered outside the entrance as a line of riot police stood guard, while those with tickets streamed in to the session. There were no disturbances. The 900-seat capacity had been reached to watch the World Cup champions, who play the Republic of Ireland today following a 1-1 draw against Italy in their Group C opener. Local authorities and the Spanish federation distributed the tickets, which were free, but disorder reigned as fans were given no information about how to secure entry. “It’s chaos here,’’ said Angel de la Serna, a 33-year-old fan.
CHINA
Former soccer chiefs jailed
A court yesterday jailed two former chiefs of the nation’s soccer association, four former national team players and two others, in the culmination of a major crackdown on corruption in the scandal-plagued sport. Former Chinese Football Association head Nan Yong and his predecessor Xie Yalong were each given sentences of 10 years and six months for taking bribes, Xinhua news agency said. Nan took bribes worth 1.48 million yuan (US$235,000), while Xie accepted 1.7 million yuan, it said. The sentences mark the culmination of a campaign to root out entrenched graft in the game that has ensnared dozens of officials, referees and players accused of match-fixing, gambling and other crimes. Xinhua said four former national team players and a former national team official were also sentenced by courts in the northeastern province of Liaoning for accepting bribes to fix domestic matches. Wei Shaohui, a former national team official, was jailed for 10 years and six months. Player Shen Si was sentenced to six years in jail, while Qi Hong, Jiang Jin and Li Ming each received five-and-half year sentences.
WORLD CUP 2014
Hospitality selling well
A FIFA partner said it had already sold US$262 million in hospitality packages for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, equaling the total revenue generated by the hospitality program for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. MATCH Hospitality AG, the worldwide exclusive rights holder of the program, said on Tuesday it had surpassed its sales target in the first seven months since the packages were put on sale. It said some of its packages were sold out in Sao Paulo, site of the World Cup opener, and that they were almost sold out in Rio de Janeiro, home of the final at the Maracana. MATCH Hospitality AG said nearly 90,000 packages in total had already been sold.
WORLD CUP 2014
US held by Guatemala
An 83rd-minute goal from a free-kick by winger Marco Pappa earned Guatemala a 1-1 draw with the US on Tuesday in their qualifying tie. Clint Dempsey put the US ahead with a goal in the 40th minute, before Pappa fired the equalizer under the bar before goalkeeper Tim Howard had a chance to react. It was a disappointing result for the US, who were expected to win the Central and North American region third-round match, but instead squandered a chance to take control of Group A. The US opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda, and they have four points to leave them level with Jamaica, who drew 0-0 with Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just