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.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates yesterday ahead of their season-opening games with the San Diego Padres next week. Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and a cap backwards, was the first Dodgers player who showed up at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, walked several steps behind him. As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, shouted his name and cheered slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand, but did not say anything before he entered a limousine bus with his wife. Fans held placards
Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals at the All England Open, beating Kim Ga-eun of South Korea 21-17, 21-15. With the win, Tai earned a semi-final against China’s He Bingjiao, who beat Michelle Li of Canada 21-9, 21-9. Defending champion An Se-young defeated India’s P.V. Sindhu 21-19, 21-11. An on Wednesday cruised into the second round, unlike last year’s men’s winner, Li Shifeng, who suffered a shock defeat. South Korea’s An, the world No. 1, overcame Taiwan’s Hsu Wen-chi 21-17, 21-16 to set up the match against Sindhu. In other women’s singles matches, Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun lost 21-18, 24-22 against Carolina Marin of
EYEING TOP SPOT: A victory in today’s final against Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova would return 38-year-old Hsieh Su-wei to the world No. 1 ranking Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens on Thursday secured a spot in the women’s doubles finals at the BNP Paribas Open after dispatching Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at Indian Wells. Hsieh and her Belgian partner Mertens, who won the Australian Open in late January, coasted through the first set after breaking their opponents’ serve twice, but found the going tougher in the second. Both pairs could only muster one break point over 12 games, neither of which were converted, leaving the set to be decided by a tiebreaker. Hsieh and Mertens took a 6-3 lead,
DOUBLES PAYBACK: Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Martens avenged their defeat in the quarters at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open against Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. Hsieh and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium dispatched Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani 6-1, 6-4 to set up a clash against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez for a spot in the final of the WTA 1000 tournament. Hsieh and Martens made a blistering start to their rematch after they lost to Schuurs and Stefani in the quarter-finals at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open last month, winning three games without reply at the start of the first set