SOCCER
Ghana to dissolve agency
Ghana on Thursday said it would dissolve the nation’s soccer association after claims made in a documentary of bribe-taking by referees and kickbacks to top officials. The government had “decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA [Ghana Football Association] dissolved” because of the “widespread nature of the apparent rot,” Ghanaian Minister for Information Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said. The conduct of all GFA officials and suspended National Sports Authority director-general Robert Sarfo Mensah was referred to police for further investigation and any “appropriate action,” he said, adding that provisional measures would be put in place to run the sport until a new body is formed.
FOOTBALL
Trump to be called to testify
US President Donald Trump is being put on the spot to explain his anti-NFL rhetoric by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his complaint that team owners have blacklisted him for refusing to stand for the national anthem. Kaepernick and his former teammate Eric Reid are expected to ask Trump and US Vice President Mike Pence to voluntarily testify about their influence over the NFL in a case in private arbitration. Kaepernick claims that comments made by Trump and Pence have discouraged the NFL and team owners from hiring the players over the expression of their views on police brutality. Should the White House refuse a voluntary deposition, attorneys for the players plan to subpoena the two, a person close to the grievance said, adding that if they fail in private arbitration, the players would ask a federal judge to intervene.
RUGBY UNION
Toddler hurt in luggage area
The one-year-old son of All Black Vaea Fifita was rushed to a hospital after being injured by an airport conveyor belt, the player said yesterday on the eve of their first Test against France. The toddler was somehow carried into Auckland Airport’s baggage handling area on Thursday as the family checked in. “He had an operation on his arm and is doing okay,” Fifita said. Fifita, who can also double at lock, has been named on the bench for the first Test and an All Blacks spokesman confirmed that he remained in the match-day 23, despite the accident.
SOCCER
MP calls for injury checks
British Legislator Chris Bryant on Thursday called for independent medical checks on player who have sustained head injuries, after Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius played on in the Champions League final with a concussion. “The concussion suffered by the Liverpool goalkeeper in the recent Champions League match shows absolutely that football has not yet got this right,” Bryant said ahead of a debate in the House of Commons on the subject of brain injuries, due on Monday. “It shouldn’t be the club doctor that is making a decision about whether somebody continues to play — it should be an independent medical assessment.” According to two examining experts, Karius suffered a concussion, which could in part explain the two blunders he made in the game. Karius complained to referees in the 49th minute that he had been elbowed in the head by Madrid striker Sergio Ramos and that the foul went unpunished.
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