ASIAN CUP
North Korea replace coach
North Korea have replaced suspended head coach Yun Jong-su with his predecessor, Jo Tong-sop, for next month’s Asian Cup campaign in Australia. Yun was banned for 12 months by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) earlier this month for “offensive behavior” during the Asian Games final in South Korea, where they lost 1-0 to the hosts. Yun and the North Korean bench remonstrated with officials after the match and accused the referee of favoring their bitter rivals South Korea, who they are still technically at war with. Yun’s ban meant the former international was not allowed to enter the dressing room or the area surrounding the pitch, but could still attend training sessions and undertake other soccer-related activities, the AFC said. North Korea, who will compete in their fourth Asian Cup in Australia, did not respond to requests to confirm the switch, but the AFC said Jo had been registered as head coach for the tournament.
ASIAN CUP
Mahmoud gets Iraq call-up
Iraq’s most-capped player, Younis Mahmoud, was named in the 23-man squad for next month’s Asian Cup, despite not playing for a club for more than a year. The 31-year-old forward, who skippered the side to the 2007 Asian Cup title, has scored more than 50 goals for Iraq in more than 130 appearances, but has not had a club contract since leaving Al-Ahli Saudi in December last year. The talisman has instead represented Iraq’s mainly under-23 side at the Asian Games in September, where they won a bronze medal after he scored four goals. Younis was the only player aged over 30 named in Radhi Shenaishil’s squad on Monday for the Group D matches in Australia against holders Japan, Palestine and Jordan. Colombus Crew forward Justin Meram, Swindon Town midfielder Yaser Kasim and talented 18-year-old playmaker Human Tareq were also named in the 23. Sydney midfielder Ali Abbas, part of the 2007 winning side, missed out on a place in the squad after suffering a serious knee injury last month.
ENGLAND
Papiss Cisse facing charge
Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been charged with violent conduct, the Football Association said in a statement on Monday, referring to an incident in a Premier League match against Everton. The charge, which could lead to a three-match ban, came after a video review panel re-examined footage during which Cisse elbowed defender Seamus Coleman at St James’ Park on Sunday. The incident was unseen by the match officials. Everton manager Roberto Martinez called the failure to punish Cisse “unacceptable,” saying the Senegalese striker attempted to “hurt” Coleman. Cisse equalized a minute later for Newcastle, who went on to win 3-2.
SPAIN
Valencia to sign Perez
Valencia said Argentina midfielder Enzo Perez is joining the club from SL Benfica on a permanent basis in next month’s transfer window. The 28-year-old Perez arrived in Valencia from Portugal on Monday night to undergo a medical examination before signing a contract, the club said. Perez joined Benfica from Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata in June 2011 for a reported fee of 5.5 million euros (US$6.7 million) and has scored eight goals in 64 appearances. Perez made his senior international debut in September 2009 under former Argentina coach Diego Maradona in a friendly against Ghana and played in the World Cup final against Germany in July. Valencia did not disclose the transfer fee.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was