ENGLAND
Dummett gets death threats
Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has received death threats from angry Uruguay fans who blame him for the injury that has put striker Luis Suarez’s FIFA World Cup campaign in doubt, British media reported yesterday. Liverpool striker Suarez had keyhole surgery on his left knee on Thursday and faces a race to be fit for the World Cup finals in Brazil, with Uruguay playing Costa Rica in their opening Group D game on June 14 and England in their second match on June 19. Suarez complained about the problem during his first day of training with the Uruguay squad. Uruguay said he first suffered the injury in the final English Premier League game of the season at home to Newcastle United as Liverpool chased the title. Dummett was sent off for fouling Suarez late in the match. Dummett, whose red card in the 82nd minute was later rescinded on appeal, on Thursday was the victim of death threats on social media. “The challenge was inadvertent. I hit him and the ball with my left foot, and he went down under the challenge,” Dummett told the Daily Mirror. “I hope he makes the World Cup because he is one of the best players in the world, so he should be there. Having said that, I injured my meniscus three years ago and I was out for three months, so it will depend on the injury and exactly where it is on the knee.”
ENGLAND
Adams handed Norwich job
Neil Adams was appointed as Norwich City’s permanent manager on Thursday after a spell in temporary charge of the relegated Premier League club. Adams had been given the caretaker role toward the end of the season following the sacking of Chris Hughton, but he was unable to halt the Canaries’ slide into the Championship. However, a return of one point from a possible 15 has not deterred the Norwich board from appointing Adams on a full-time basis, with the club confirming the former midfielder had signed a three-year contract. The decision to hire Adams ended talk that former Norwich defender Malky Mackay, sacked by Cardiff City earlier this season, would land the job and it also quashed speculation that Neil Lennon, who quit as Celtic boss on Thursday, would be in the running to take over at Carrow Road.
ENGLAND
Bardsley signs for Potters
Stoke City signed Scotland defender Phil Bardsley from Sunderland on a free transfer on Thursday. Bardsley, 28, officially joins Mark Hughes’ team on July 1 following the expiration of his contract at Sunderland, where he has spent the last six and a half years. The Black Cats had hoped to extend Bardsley’s stay at the Stadium of Light, but contract talks with the rightback stalled, paving the way for Stoke to make their move. Bardsley joined Sunderland from Manchester United for £2 million (US$3.4 million) in January 2008 after loan spells at Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
WALES
Bellamy hangs up his boots
Former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy announced his retirement on Thursday. Bellamy, who had been playing for his hometown club Cardiff City for the past two seasons, decided to hang up his boots after coming to the conclusion that his body “couldn’t take it any more.” The 34-year-old Wales international could not stop Cardiff being relegated to the Championship and that was the signal to call a halt to a successful 17-year career, which also included spells at Celtic, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City.
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