ENGLAND
Parachutist halts match
A non-league match was halted at the weekend when a parachutist landed in the middle of the pitch. To the amazement of the Salisbury City and Chester players, and the 1,000 fans inside the stadium, the airborne invader touched down in the second half. He then calmly packed up his parachute and walked off to applause from supporters. Former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham, now playing for fifth-tier Chester, said it was one of the strangest things he had seen in his long career. “The most bizarre thing I have ever seen on a football pitch happened today,” he said on Twitter. “Halfway through the second half out of nowhere a parachutist landed on the pitch. No idea where he was supposed to land but he hit the ground hard. #bizarre.”
ITALY
Injured Kaka refuses pay
Kaka has asked AC Milan to stop paying his salary until he recovers from an injury. In a video message on Monday, Kaka said: “I don’t want anything from Milan except for love and support until I am better... for this reason, I have decided to suspend my current pay for this period of time.” Kaka returned to Milan in the summer, four years after leaving for Real Madrid in what was a world-record transfer at the time. The Brazilian is expected to be out for about a month with an injured left adductor. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said Kaka was “crying” on the telephone when he called to inform Galliani of the injury and his decision.
ENGLAND
Ex-referee warns of stress
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has said officials could commit suicide as a result of the pressures related to the job. In his autobiography, which has been serialized by the Sun newspaper, Halsey writes that his former colleagues should receive more help to cope with the stress of their job. Halsey, who retired at the end of last season, said: “It will not be long before a referee has a nervous breakdown... I also believe that if we do not do something to help referees with mental health and stress issues, then we could see a suicide.” Halsey was abused on Twitter by fans last season after officiating a 2-1 win for Manchester United against Liverpool. The tweets referred to his treatment for throat cancer in 2009.
ITALY
Roma rout Parma, go top
Goals from Alessandro Florenzi, Francesco Totti and Kevin Strootman — from the penalty spot — moved AS Roma joint top of Serie A thanks to a 3-1 win over Parma on Monday. With three wins in as many games and level on goal-difference with SSC Napoli, Roma sit just behind Rafael Benitez’s leaders, but two points ahead of Inter, ACF Fiorentina and champions Juventus following draws for all three at the weekend. Roma went north feeling confident, having lost just once to Parma in their past 14 Serie A encounters. However, it was Parma who secured a halftime lead on 39 minutes after Jonathan Biabiany headed past Roma goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis from Mattia Cassani’s delivery. Roma leveled barely two minutes after the restart when Miralem Pjanic sent a chip into the path of Florenzi, who beat Antonio Mirante with a well-struck shot. In the 70th minute, Roma captain Totti was played onside by a Parma defender on the other side of the field and collected Strootman’s chip, before sending Mirante the wrong way. The visitors’ joy was complete when Gervinho won a penalty five minutes from the final whistle and Dutch midfielder Strootman stepped up to beat Mirante.
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