SCOTLAND
Legia ousted, Celtic advance
Legia Warsaw were thrown out of the Champions League by UEFA yesterday after fielding an ineligible player during the second leg of their qualifying tie against Celtic on Wednesday. Unregistered defender Bartosz Bereszynski came on as a substitute with three minutes remaining in Legia’s 2-0 win which sealed a 6-1 aggregate victory. UEFA investigated the matter and awarded Celtic the match with a 3-0 victory, making the aggregate score 4-4 and sending the Scottish champions through on the away-goals rule. Dominik Ebebenge, sport department coordinator and head of development for the Polish club, said Legia would appeal the decision. “This is unjust and completely disproportionate,” he said. “There have been similar cases in the past which have not been punished in this way.” Bereszynski was sent off during last season’s Europa League and was banned for three matches. The fullback missed both Legia’s second qualification round matches against Ireland’s St Patrick’s Athletic and the first leg against Celtic. However, it was found that the club had not registered him for the games against St Patrick’s, meaning the suspension had technically not been served.
ENGLAND
United veterans humbled
Former Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Gary and Phil Neville, playing in a “Class of 92 and Friends” team, suffered a 5-1 loss on Thursday against a club they own. Non-league Salford City, purchased by the former English Premier League stars last year, put their famous visitors in their place. The star-studded team also featured former United players from different eras, such as Robbie Savage, John O’Kane, Mikael Silvestre and Quinton Fortune. Former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison, and other former United players Tomasz Kuszczak, David May, Ben Thornley and Danny Webber all played in the second half. Salford were 2-0 ahead inside 30 minutes through Paul Linwood and Nicky Platt. Giggs pulled a goal back just before the interval from the penalty spot, but Salford added further goals from Phil Marsh, Gareth Seddon and Mike Oates.
UNITED STATES
Landon Donovan to retire
Landon Donovan, the US’ all-time top scorer who was left out of the national squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil, announced on Thursday that he is retiring at the end of the Major League Soccer season. “After careful deliberation and many conversations with those closest to me, I have decided that this will be my last year as a professional soccer player,” Donovan said. Donovan is the US national team’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals and he has won 156 caps.
GREECE
Platanias in wasps warning
Super League club AO Platanias warned fans to stay away from yesterday’s friendly match against amateur side PASA Irodotos as their stadium is suffering from a wasp infestation. Platanias said that although spectators would be allowed in free to see the match at the Municipal Perovolion Stadium, they warned that it could prove to be a decision they regret. “We are concerned about their safety given that spot checks at the stadium revealed a number of wasps nests which make it dangerous to follow the match,” a statement said. “We have no responsibility for the situation, but have already taken the initiative for the immediate and effective response to this problem so that supporters will be safely able to see the next friendly with Ergotelis on Aug. 10.”
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