CHAMPIONSHIP
Bellusci charged with racism
Leeds United defender Giuseppe Bellusci was charged with misconduct by the Football Association on Monday after allegedly making racist comments to Norwich City striker Cameron Jerome. The incident occurred in Leeds’ 1-1 Championship draw with Norwich at Carrow Road on Oct. 21 when Jerome complained to referee Mark Clattenburg that he was verbally abused by the 25-year-old Italian, following a confrontation between the two. Leeds owner Massimo Cellino defended Bellusci in the aftermath of the incident, but suggested he could be kicked out of the club if found guilty.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Oyston sorry for ‘retard’ jibe
Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston apologized on Monday for branding one of the Championship club’s supporters “a retard.” With Blackpool rooted to the bottom of the second-tier table after losing 6-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, the already under-fire Seasiders supremo had been subjected to abuse from frustrated fans. He became embroiled in a furious text message row with fan Stephen Smith over the club’s problems, calling him “a retard” and telling him to “enjoy the rest of your special needs day out.” The texts were published on the Tangerine Knights’ Web site over the weekend and, after being condemned by Blackpool fans and organizations, Oyston issued an apology on the club’s Web site.
BUNDESLIGA
Dortmund sign Kampl
Struggling Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund on Monday said they have agreed a deal to sign Slovenia international midfielder Kevin Kampl from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg. Dortmund said that Kampl, 24, will sign a long-term contract until 2019. “His [Kampl’s] style of play fits in perfectly with our own,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told the club Web site. Borussia said that “both clubs agreed details of the transfer fee shall remain undisclosed,” although the web site of German magazine Kicker reported that the fee would be in the region of 10 million to 12 million euros (US$12.2 million to US$14.7 million).
UEFA
UEFA fines four over debts
Turkey’a Bursaspor were one of four European clubs fined on Monday and barred from playing in the next UEFA club competition they qualify for due to unpaid bills. UEFA said in a statement that its Club Financial Control Body had decided to sanction Bursaspor, Ekranas of Lithuania, and Romanian clubs CFR Cluj and Astra Giurgiu over “important overdue payables towards other clubs, employees and social and tax authorities.”
The New Taipei Kings claimed the inaugural Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) championship on Sunday, defeating the Kaohsiung FamilyMart Aquas 108-89 in the final. Playing at home, the Kings pulled ahead with Jeremy Lin’s (林書豪) clutch three-pointers, securing their victory over the Aquas in the TPBL final. The Kings came out strong in the first quarter, dominating to build a 35-18 lead. By halftime, they had stretched their advantage to 61-38. In the third quarter, the Aquas narrowed the deficit to 12 points, but Lin stepped up, sinking several tough three- pointers to extend the lead. In the final quarter, the Kings pushed the
In an unlikely Ethiopian outpost of one the most French of pastimes, four men are leaning over their petanque balls, arguing over who is winning. Petanque, the bowling game also known as boules, is more readily associated with French village squares where locals launch metal balls at a jack while enjoying an afternoon drink, but for decades, it has also been a beloved pastime for members of a club near the iconic Meskel Square in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. It was founded in the early 20th century to cater to French railway workers, who built a line connecting Addis Ababa
SEMI-FINAL SWEEP: Taiwanese are to take up all four berths in the men’s doubles semi-finals, while three Taiwanese women’s doubles pairings secured spots Taiwan’s badminton ace Chou Tien-chen stayed hot as he secured a semi-final berth in the men’s singles at the US Open at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday. Chou entered the Super 300 tournament as the top seed and breezed past Victor Lai of Canada 21-19, 21-8 in 37 minutes, advancing to the semi-finals for the second straight tournament. Earlier this month, the 35-year-old veteran finished runner-up at the Indonesia Open, becoming the oldest male shuttler to reach a Super 1000-level final. He was set to face Ayush Shetty of India last night after press time for a spot in the final. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Taiwanese
Spain are the favorites to win the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, but star player Aitana Bonmati’s illness ahead of the tournament raises another question mark around a side which, despite their obvious quality, are not unstoppable. Having claimed the last two Ballon d’Or awards, Barcelona midfielder Bonmati is the game’s biggest star at present, so her absence in the final days before the start of Euro 2025 is a major setback. The 27-year-old came down with a fever in training last week, and was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed with viral meningitis. Bonmati was discharged on Sunday and joined up with
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