SOCCER
Russia eyes rooms problem
Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko said a lack of hotel accommodation for teams and officials is a major problem facing 2018 FIFA World Cup organizers. Mutko says that “the most severe problem is related to accommodating guests of the World Cup, with the hotels,” in comments reported by Russian agency Tass. He added that four of the 11 host cities — Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saransk and Nizhny Novgorod — are behind on plans to increase hotel accommodation in time for the tournament. The issue concerns hotels for players, sponsors and FIFA officials, Mutko said, but Russia’s readiness to house fans has also been called into question. In December last year, Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency said only five of the 11 cities so far had enough accommodation for supporters.
SOCCER
Juventus sanctions Caceres
Juventus defender Martin Caceres has been temporarily removed from Juventus’ squad and fined after an alleged drunk-driving accident. A club statement says Caceres’ behavior on Monday night “represents gross violation of his responsibilities as a Juventus player, as well as damaging the image of the club.” The ANSA news agency reported that the Uruguay international also had his Ferrari and driver’s license taken away and was fined 531 euros (US$600) by police after the accident. ANSA said Caceres was not injured after his Ferrari hit a bus shelter after veering to the wrong side of the road and colliding with some parked cars. The 28-year-old Caceres is in his fourth season with Juventus.
SOCCER
Carpi name new coach
Last-placed Carpi has named Giuseppe Sannino as their new coach a day after firing Fabrizio Castori six matches into their first Serie A season. Carpi says Sannino signed a contract through the end of the season. The 58-year-old Sannino has previously managed AC Siena, US Citta di Palermo, AC Chievo Verona, Watford and Catania. Castori’s removal came two days after a 5-1 loss to AS Roma left Carpi with just two points. Castori had taken over Carpi in June of last year and led the club to the Serie B title last season, earning promotion to the top division for the first time in their 106-year history. Having had to face Inter, surprise leader ACF Fiorentina, SSC Napoli and title challengers Roma already, Carpi have scored just six goals and conceded a league-worst 15.
FOOTBALL
Ruling helps Brady’s season
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is all but certain to remain free to play for the rest of the season after a court ruled on Tuesday that the NFL’s appeal in the “deflategate” case would not be heard before February. The court granted a request by the league and players union for an expedited hearing, with the league ordered to file a brief by Oct. 26, with Brady’s attorneys to reply by Dec. 7 and the league having until Dec. 21 to respond. The appeal would be heard the week of Feb. 1, with the Super Bowl set for Feb. 7 at the new home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers. The timing virtually ensures Brady would not face a ban this season even if the ruling in the controversy about underinflated footballs that has haunted the Patriots since last year’s American Conference final. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looked into the controversy of balls found to be below NFL air pressure minimums and banned Brady for the first four games of this season. Brady appealed the ban to Goodell and he upheld his punishment in July.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two