SOCCER
Morocco fine cut 95%
The Moroccan soccer governing body had its fine for pulling out as host of the African Cup of Nations reduced to US$50,000 from US$1 million by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS also said in an e-mailed statement it reversed the Confederation of African Football’s decision to bar Morocco from participating in the 2017 and 2019 tournaments. Morocco was stripped of the African soccer championship in November last year because it sought to postpone the event because of concerns over the spread of Ebola. Ivory Coast won the title in February after Equatorial Guinea stepped in as host. The African confederation is also seeking US$8.7 million in compensation from the Moroccan governing body, which can still be examined by another jurisdiction, the CAS said.
OLYMPICS
‘No delays, despite layoffs’
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes has dismissed reports that layoffs of construction workers at one of the main 2016 Olympic sites could result in potentially damaging delays. At a hastily called news conference at Deodoro, where 11 Olympic sports will be staged, Paes on Thursday said the layoffs by construction company Queiroz Galvao were part of an ill-advised strategy to strong-arm the city council into making quicker payments for the US$205 million project. Dozens of workers at Deodoro, where about 1,000 workers are employed, had been fired and hundreds of others warned they could soon be let go if funds owed by the city were not received soon, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported. Queiroz Galval refused to confirm the layoffs, but workers leaving the site on Thursday showed reporters their pink slips. “Lies. What they want is to use the press to pressure City Hall into paying before the deadline,” Paes said on a precipice overlooking the vast scar of raw earth where Deodoro’s Olympic venues are going up. “This pressure is not going to work.”
BOXING
Megafight PPV US$99.95
Do not expect much change back from a US$100 bill to watch the Floyd Mayweather Jr-Manny Pacquiao fight at home. The two cable networks broadcasting the fight on Thursday said the suggested retail price for the May 2 pay-per-view (PPV) will be US$89.95. Many, though, will end up paying US$99.95 because of a surcharge for high definition tacked on by many cable and satellite providers. Like almost everything else about the fight, the pay-per-view price is a record for boxing. The previous highest was the US$64.95/US$74.95 charged for the 2013 fight between Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez. The welterweight title unification fight will be televised by HBO and Showtime. Depending on how the pay-per-view does, Mayweather could earn about US$180 million and Pacquiao US$120 million.
ICE HOCKEY
Dustin Byfuglien suspended
The NHL suspended Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets for four games without pay on Thursday for his cross-check to the head of New York Rangers center JT Miller. The play occurred late in the second period of Winnipeg’s 3-2 loss to New York on Tuesday. Miller fell near the crease after taking a swipe at a rebound off the pads of Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Byfuglien drove his stick in to the back of the Rangers forward’s head while falling to his knees. The league’s video explanation of the suspension characterized the blow as “dangerous” and delivered with “excessive force.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care