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.”
COMPLAINTS ABOUND: Long delays, unsuitable accommodation and transport issues have overshadowed the lead-up to the Games, which are to open today The Asian Games in Japan on Friday faced more accusations of poor organization with a world champion gymnast “totally exhausted,” the public drafted in to rescue stranded athletes and South Korea lodging a complaint about a Japanese warlord. The continent’s premier sporting spectacle opens in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture today, but the build-up has been soured by several issues. That includes a shortage of rooms for the more than 17,000 athletes and officials — a bigger number than the Olympics. Some teams have also criticized the quality of the accommodation, including beds that are too short. To save money there is no athletes’ village,
UNDER INVESTIGATION: Taiwan has replaced the damaged banner and more cameras have been installed to protect athletes and staff, the sports ministry said The Ministry of Sports yesterday called for mutual respect after a banner at a training facility used by Taiwanese athletes at the Asian Games was defaced to cover up the Chinese characters for “national” and the English word “Taiwan” in Nagoya, Japan. The banner, displayed at Misono Elementary School in Nagoya, was defaced with ink, the Chunichi Shimbun reported on Wednesday. The orange banner, measuring about 5m long by 1.5m wide, hung near the entrance to the former elementary school. In white lettering it read “National Sports Training Center” (國家運動訓練中心) in Mandarin with the English name “Taiwan Sports Training Center.” The Taiwan delegation
Iran yesterday withstood a late fightback to beat China 79-70 and win Asian Games men’s basketball bronze, an achievement that left their players “speechless” after months of war back home. China led 31-29 at half-time in Nagoya, but Iran took charge in the third quarter to lead 55-46 going into the fourth and held on to spark wild celebrations and an emotional place on the podium. “To be honest with you I’m just speechless,” said 202cm power forward Arsalan Kazemi, who in 2013 was the first Iranian to be drafted in the NBA by the Washington Wizards, but never made
HOMERS, HITS: Lin Tzu-wei and Yu Chang have had three-hit games in the MLB, but Lee topped them both and also went past Chang in home runs in a season Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu on Friday set Taiwanese MLB records for home runs in a season and hits in a game as he helped his team rally past the Chicago White Sox 11-8. The 23-year-old went four-for-five with three RBIs and two runs scored, tying the game at 8-8 with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. The blast was his 10th homer of the season, while his four hits set a single-game MLB record for a Taiwanese. “When I actually saw it go out, I just blacked out,” Lee said in a post-game interview, recalling his reaction as the tying home
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