LEBANON
Ref quits after attack
Referee Bachir Awasa was glad to have escaped alive after being assaulted by players and staff in a domestic second-division match last weekend, but has decided to quit following the experience. Awasa was kicked and chased around the pitch in Beirut after showing a red card to an al-Nahda player in Saturday’s match against al-Salam Zgharta. “From the reaction of the players and the staff I expected to be harmed in a grave way ... to be honest I did not expect to get out alive,” the referee told al Jadeed television on Friday. “Usually, whenever we issue a red card we expect a reaction from the player ... and indeed that is what happened. He ran after me and attacked me. When he tried to hit me I tried to run and then coach Mahmoud Seif Eddine also attacked me and other staff ran after me and things got out of hand and I tried to run from one place to the other.”
germany
Nuremberg down Augsburg
Hiroshi Kiyotake scored the opening goal and drew a foul that led to the winner as Nuremberg beat Augsburg 2-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday. The Japan midfielder curled a left-foot shot inside the far post in the 21st minute after a good pass from Alexander Esswein. Augsburg equalized in the 36th when Tobias Werner headed a cross and Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer caught the ball before dropping it and letting it trickle through his legs, and across the line. Esswein scored Nuremberg’s winner in the 54th minute after Kiyotake was brought down on the edge of the box. Esswein drilled his free-kick through the wall after one of his teammates moved to create a gap. Nuremberg moved 10 points above the relegation playoff spot, occupied by Augsburg..
GREECE
Player puts sick son first
A Greek player has given up playing in the top-flight Super League and joined a fifth-division German team in order to be near his sick son, Athens sports daily Goal News said on Friday. Former Levadiakos defender Giannis Alexiou, 28, has switched to KFC Uerdingen 05 after his new-born son Thanos was diagnosed with a rare lung disease, hyperoxaluria type 1, and had to be taken to a children’s hospital in Athens. Months of therapy in Athens and Thessaloniki failed to cure the child, prompting Alexiou to take his son to Germany, where his condition is being treated. “The only thing that mattered was the child and not my career. I did not come to Germany to quit football, either. I’m here to be near my child,” Alexiou said. With bitterness he spoke about his former team, where he was asked to accept a 30 percent pay cut at a time when he needed funds to pay his son’s medical bills. Alexiou said Livadiakos had also promised to help pay 25,000 euros (US$32,500) of medical bills, but failed to do so.
Spain
Late strike earns Betis win
Striker Ruben Castro scored late to give Real Betis Balompie a 2-1 win over CA Osasuna on Friday, as the Andalucian side rose to provisional fifth place in the Spanish league. Jorge Molina gave Betis the lead on a rain-soaked home pitch when he headed in Joel Campbell’s cross in the 19th minute. Osasuna made two substitutions at halftime and came back into the game, with Francisco Silva equalizing in the 73rd minute on the break. However, Betis coach Pepe Mel sent on Dorlan Pabon in the 78th and a minute later the Colombian threaded a perfect through pass for Castro to roll under the goalkeeper.
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