CROATIA
Dinamo Zagreb boss arrested
Dinamo Zagreb chief Zdravko Mamic and a top soccer official were among four arrested on Wednesday on allegations of embezzling millions of euros from the club through player transfers, state-run media reported. Mamic, considered the most powerful man in soccer in the country, was taken in by police as part of a probe into transfers of Dinamo Zagreb players made through an agency led by his son Mario, who was also detained, according to HRT television. It was not possible to immediately confirm the information with anti-corruption prosecutors, but both Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) said in separate statements that police were searching their premises, without elaborating. Media also reported on searches of Mamic’s house in Zagreb and said HNS executive president Damir Vrbanovic was among the detained. According to HRT reports, the suspicious transfers cost the club about 80 million kunas (US$11.2 million). They took place between 2004 and this year. Mamic is already under investigation by Croatia’s anti-graft USKOK bureau — along with his brother Zoran, Dinamo Zagreb’s coach, Vrbanovic and a tax inspector — suspected of giving and receiving bribes, tax evasion and other offenses.
TURKEY
Galatasaray fire Hamzaoglu
Istanbul club Galatasaray on Wednesday announced that coach Hamza Hamzaoglu was leaving the Turkish Super Lig side by mutual agreement, after a lackluster start to the season. “Mr Hamzaoglu’s contract was terminated by mutual agreem ent. We thank him for his services and wish him success in the future,” the club said in a statement. Galatasaray are lagging in third place in the Turkish top flight behind perennial capital rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce, while the club have also made a slow start to their Champions League campaign in Group C. The results have come despite having a star-studded side, including German international Lukas Podolski, who was signed over the summer, as well as Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
GERMANY
Dortmund’s tree for Schalke
The towering Christmas tree in Dortmund’s city center has become a good-natured battleground between rival soccer fans after a Schalke 04 flag was spotted flying from the 45m giant. Just 35km separates Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park stadium from Schalke’s Veltins Arena in the Ruhr Valley and there is an intense rivalry between the neighboring clubs. Borussia won the Ruhr derby 3-2 two weeks ago, but Schalke fans had the last laugh by flying their team’s blue and white flag from the huge Christmas tree in the center of Dortmund last weekend. Anyone supporting Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke in Dortmund can expect trouble and the scaffolding company responsible for ensuring the 40 tonne tree stands safely has been told to pay a tongue-in-cheek fine to charity.
GERMANY
Herrmann in fitness race
Germany winger Patrick Herrmann has kept alive his slim chances of playing in next June’s European Championships after revealing on Wednesday he has decided against a knee operation. The 24-year-old has been receiving treatment for the last two months after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee in September. However, after consulting with doctors, the Borussia Moenchengladbach forward has opted against an operation which would rule him out for nine months — plus Euro 2016.
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
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
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