ENGLAND
Malky Mackay apologizes
Former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has apologized for sending text messages that were “disrespectful of other cultures” after he was ruled out of the running to take over at Premier League Crystal Palace on Thursday. The League Managers Association (LMA) issued the apology in a statement on Thursday after a British newspaper printed what it said were messages Mackay and a colleague at the club had sent. The LMA also said the Football Association was looking into the conduct of the Scot, who was the preferred candidate to replace Tony Pulis at Selhurst Park before the allegations were published. “In the course of a search... of 10,000 private text messages... it emerged that Malky had, it seems, sent a couple of one line texts that were, with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and disrespectful of other cultures,” the statement said. The text messages under scrutiny were exchanged between Mackay and then-head of recruitment Iain Moody, according to the Daily Mail report. Moody left the Welsh club at the end of last year after being suspended and joined Crystal Palace as sporting director, a role he resigned on Thursday.
UNITED STATES
Howard takes one-year break
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard announced on Thursday that he would be taking a one-year break from international duty with the US. Howard’s stellar performance in a round-of-16 loss to Belgium was considered the high point for the US in their World Cup run in Brazil two months ago. The 35-year-old has 104 caps, but Howard said he needs a break from international play to spend more time with his family and made the decision after speaking with US coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Having played overseas for the last 12 years and missing out on spending time with my family, making this commitment to my family is very important at this time,” Howard said. “I am grateful for the willingness of both Jurgen Klinsmann and Everton manager Roberto Martinez to afford me the opportunity to spend time with my kids.” Howard will miss the Gold Cup next year, but his absence will allow Klinsmann a greater chance to look at other goalkeepers. “This gives us a huge opportunity to see Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando going forward and fighting for the No. 1 spot,” Klinsmann said.
FRANCE
Ligue 1 suspends Brandao
SC Bastia’s Brazilian striker Brandao has been provisionally suspended until Sept. 18 by Ligue 1 following his headbutt on Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Motta after last Saturday’s clash. Brandao’s lawyer Olivier Martin explained that his client would appear at a full hearing on Sept. 18 into the incident in the tunnel after PSG’s 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes and which left Motta with a fractured nose. Brandao attended a disciplinary commission hearing in Paris on Thursday at his own request. French Football Federation rules allow for a ban of anything from eight matches to two years.
ENGLAND
QPR loaned Chile’s Vargas
Queens Park Rangers signed Chile forward Eduardo Vargas on a season-long loan from Italian club SSC Napoli on Thursday. Vargas attracted interest from several top teams after helping Chile to the knockout stages of the World Cup, but QPR manager Harry Redknapp has persuaded him to move to Loftus Road. The deal for Vargas came 24 hours after Netherlands midfielder Leroy Fer completed his move to QPR from Norwich for £8 million (US$113.3 million).
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