SOCCER
Police chase Rodriguez
Real Madrid star James Rodriguez was pursued by an unmarked police car to the club’s training ground for allegedly speeding at 200kph, Madrid sports daily AS reported on Friday. The newspaper published photographs on its Web site of Rodriguez arriving at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid followed by a car carrying a blue light. AS also published a video of the passengers in the unmarked vehicle claiming they “followed him at 200kph on the M-40 motorway,” when stopped by security at the entrance to the training ground. Real Madrid refused to comment on the incident when contacted by reporters.
SOCCER
Bournemouth sign Iturbe
AFC Bournemouth have signed AS Roma winger Juan Iturbe on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club announced on Friday. Argentina Under-20 international Iturbe is to officially complete his switch to Eddie Howe’s team subject to endorsement from the Football Association and a European work permit. Bournemouth also have the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season for an undisclosed fee. Iturbe, who has scored three goals in 39 Serie A appearances for Roma, told Bournemouth’s Web site: “It’s a big opportunity for me to come and play in the Premier League. There were a few clubs that were interested, but things happened pretty quickly and once this process was under way, it was a straightforward decision for me to make.”
RUGBY UNION
Mallinder to meet Jones
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder is to meet England boss Eddie Jones in the next few days to discuss his controversial approach for Saints assistant coach Alex King. Mallinder recently accused the Rugby Football Union of making an unofficial approach for King and, speaking after Northampton’s 8-3 win over Exeter on Friday, he said he still does not know any more about the move. Jones met with King before Christmas after identifying him as his potential attack coach, having already adding scrum coach Ian Peel to his backroom staff following the appointments of Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard. Mallinder said the club had still not had any contact from the union and added: “Eddie is coming back next week and coming into the club to see me for a chat, so hopefully I will know a bit more then.”
SOCCER
Hammers tout new home
West Ham United will sell out the Olympic Stadium for every Premier League match next season, vice chairwoman Karren Brady said on Friday. The Hammers leave their 35,000-seater Upton Park venue at the end of this campaign to set up home at the remodeled London 2012 Games arena that is to have a capacity of about 54,000. “The opportunity this represents for West Ham is huge,” Brady told Sky Sports News television. “There are five times as many people on the priority list as there are available season tickets. All of the corporate hospitality facilities have already sold out.”
ICE HOCKEY
Panthers extend coach deal
The Florida Panthers extended coach Gerard Gallant’s contract for a further two years on Friday as the franchise goes through one of their best periods in the NHL. The Panthers (27-12-4) have won their past seven games, matching their longest ever streak. The extension takes his contract through until after the 2018-2019 season, according to multiple local media reports.
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