Didier Drogba will be allowed to play in Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League clash against Schalke 04 after the German club had their objections over his eligibility thrown out by UEFA on Wednesday.
Schalke, who came away from Istanbul with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash, believed that the transfer of the former Chelsea striker from Shanghai Shenhua to the Turkish side was completed after the registration deadline, but the European governing body said that the deal was completed according to the rules.
“Having examined all the documents of the case, the Control and Disciplinary Body decided to reject the protest lodged by Schalke,” a UEFA statement said.
The second leg of the tie takes place in Germany on March 12.
SS Lazio were fined 40,000 euros (US$52,600) and ordered to play their next two home games in Europe behind closed doors after their fans were accused of throwing fireworks and displaying racist behavior in their Europa League match against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Thursday last week.
The Italians are set to play VfB Stuttgart on March 14 behind closed doors, as well as their next home tie.
Lazio were fined 140,000 euros in January after their Europa League group clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and NK Maribor were marred by racist chanting.
Lazio were slapped with a 90,000 euros sanction after some sections of the Rome club’s fans brandished a banner reading “Free Palestine” at the Nov. 22 game against Tottenham in Rome which finished 0-0.
Others sang “Juden Tottenham” (“Tottenham Jews” in German) at the visiting fans, whose club has a historical Jewish connection.
Lazio had previously been fined 40,200 euros after monkey chants were directed at Spurs players during the reverse fixture in London in September last year.
The Italians also received a suspended one-match stadium ban and a 50,000 euros fine for their supporters’ racist conduct in the group game against Maribor in Slovenia in December.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was banned for two European matches after being sent off in the dying moments of his team’s UEFA Champions League 2-1 win at Valencia.
The big Swede is set to miss the second leg on Wednesday, as well as the first leg of the quarter-final should PSG qualify.
Turkish side Fenerbahce must play their next Europa League home clash against Victoria Plzen on March 14 behind closed doors after their fans were charged with setting off and throwing fireworks in the match against BATE Borisov.
“The Turkish team are also excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which they would qualify — this sanction is deferred for a probationary period of two years. Fenerbahce have also been fined 60,000 euros,” UEFA said.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
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Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was