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.”
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal would be motivated by criticism ahead of the Clasico, Barcelona assistant coach Marcus Sorg said yesterday. Teenage winger Yamal has been in the spotlight in the Spanish capital after joking that Real Madrid “steal” and “complain” during an appearance on a social media stream. Champions Barca face Real Madrid today in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu, looking for a fifth consecutive win over their rivals. “Lamine is a top player and I think [the criticism] will be motivating for him,” Sorg told a news conference. “I hope we all see him tomorrow [give] the best performance.” The 18-year-old Spain
‘A HISTORIC moment’: ‘I think we all need to take a step back and appreciate Leo Messi is playing in Major League Soccer,’ league commissioner Don Garber said Lionel Messi raised the Golden Boot. He then got Inter Miami started with his head. The Argentine opened the scoring with a diving header in the first half, then capped the scoring in the 96th minute as Inter Miami opened the MLS playoffs with a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference best-of-three first-round series on Friday night. Messi and Ian Fray had the assists on Tadeo Allende’s second-half tally for Inter Miami, who now get two chances to advance out of the first round for the first time in Messi’s two-and-a-half-year tenure with the team. Game
Sean Dyche on Thursday achieved in his first game with Nottingham Forest what predecessor Ange Postecoglou could not in eight matches in charge: Win. Under its new coach, Nottingham Forest presented a concentrated display resulting in a 2-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Europa League. It was the first victory for Nottingham in the competition and only the second overall this season, while Porto were defeated for the first time this season. Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the penalty spot in the 19th minute at the City Ground in West Bridgford, England. Igor Jesus doubled the advantage from another penalty in the 77th
Japan’s narrow defeat by Australia showed they can compete with the best teams in the world, coach Eddie Jones said after his side fell to a 19-15 loss yesterday. Australia coach Joe Schmidt led the Wallabies for the first time against Eddie Jones, his predecessor and now Japan coach. During Jones’ second tenure as Australia coach, the Wallabies lost seven of nine tests and were eliminated in group play at the 2023 World Cup. “What I’m super pleased about is that now we [Japan] are a team that stays in the fight,” Jones told reporters. “We kept going, we could have won
RSS