WORLD CUP
Qatar final set for Dec. 18
FIFA ended more than four years of uncertainty over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by announcing on Thursday that it would be played in November and December, with the final on Dec. 18. FIFA spokesman Walter de Gregorio said the winter tournament would probably last 28 days, instead of the 32 for last year’s finals in Brazil, but this was still to be decided. “The executive committee today... decided that, yes, we are going to play in November and December, and, yes, the final is going to be played on Dec. 18,” De Gregorio told reporters. “It’s a Sunday and it’s also the national day of Qatar and, in principle, we try to play in 28 days. The next steps will be to have different talks especially related to the match calendar.”
ITALY
Parma declared bankrupt
Stricken Serie A side Parma were officially declared bankrupt on Thursday, a day after their chairman Giampietro Manenti was arrested in a money-laundering probe. Parma’s players have not been paid all season and it took just 10 minutes for a court to declare the club, rooted to the bottom of the league after finishing sixth last season, bankrupt. They have twice been docked points this season and are more than 100 million euros (US$107 million) in debt. The court in Parma appointed accountants Angelo Anedda and Alberto Guiotto as receivers. “I believe we’ll play on Sunday against Torino,” board member Osvaldo Riccobene told reporters at the end of the hearing. The crisis has had farcical undertones, with Parma’s players having to do their own laundry and drive the team bus.
ENGLAND
United my last job: Van Gaal
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal revealed on Thursday that he plans to retire when his reign at Old Trafford comes to an end. Van Gaal is under contract with United until 2017 and he will walk away from the sport for good either when that deal expires or at the end of any extension. The 63-year-old former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Netherlands coach is enjoying his spell at United, but is keen to end his illustrious managerial career once his tenure is over, as he wants to spend time with his wife, Truus, in their holiday home on the Algarve. “I am old. This is my last job. For sure,” Van Gaal said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. “I have to pay attention to my kids, my grandchildren, but also to my wife. They deserve it. Now I cannot pay that attention. I was not at the birthday of my grandson, for example. I don’t like it. My wife wants to quit now, already! Five years ago! I have a paradise in Portugal. I want to quit to go there, play golf, eat fantastic food.”
COPA LIBERTADORES
Good week for Brazil
Cruzeiro rounded off a good week for Brazil in the Copa on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Mineros de Guayana, meaning that all five Brazilian clubs went unbeaten in this week’s matches. Cruzeiro’s win in Venezuela, which came after goals from Leandro Damiao and Marquinhos, was their first in three games, but it took them top of Group 3 alongside Club Deportivo Universitario of Bolivia. Atletico Mineiro got their first points on the board on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia. Sao Paulo and Corinthians both won in Group 2, with Corinthians beating Danubio of Montevideo 2-1 and a late goal from Michel Bastos enough to help Sao Paulo overcome holders San Lorenzo de Almagro. Internacional of Porto Alegre drew 1-1 at Emelec and are joint top of Group 4.
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