■ Soccer
Adams refuses to go
Micky Adams said yesterday he will stay on as manager of Leicester City despite his overall responsibility for the three players jailed on sex charges in Spain. Weekend newspaper reports said Adams was under pressure to quit after captain Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair were charged with sexual assault on Friday. "Firstly, I would like to make it clear that I am continuing as manager of Leicester City," Adams said in a statement. "It would be true to say I have thought long and hard about my own situation as a result of recent events. However, I am determined to see the job through and do my very best for the club." The alleged attack occurred while Leicester was on a training camp near Carategna, Spain. Adams returned to Leicester late Friday. "Without wishing to prejudge the criminal investigations and our own club investigation, I am deeply concerned about the actions of a minority of my players," Adams said.
■ Soccer
Explosion kills fan
A Salvadoran soccer fan died and at least 20 others were injured on Sunday after an explosion on the terraces apparently caused by supporters mishandling chemicals used to create smoke, emergency workers said. The first division match between Alianza and San Salvador was scrapped after the blast at the Jorge Gonzalez stadium in the capital. The game had not started when the explosion happened. The dead man was named as Jesus Montano, 24, who was a member of the "Loyal White" group of Alianza supporters who often let off smoke and fireworks during matches. Police and Red Cross workers said fans had been handling the chemical chlorate when the blast happened.
■ Soccer
Brawl halts match
A soccer match between Hong Kong's Buler Rangers and the Chinese club Nancheng Real Estate was abandoned on Sunday following a brawl between the players in southern China, officials said. The two teams were playing in a Hong Kong First Division match in the nearby Chinese city of Dongguan when the violence flared after Rangers' Nigerian striker Cornelius Udebuluzor was fouled by a Nancheng defender in the 31st minute, Rangers officials said. Rangers was leading 1-0 at the time. Rangers' midfielder Chan Yiu-lun suffered a deep cut above his eye and bruises, while three other teammates had only minor injuries. "We have four players injured with Chan suffering the worst injury after being punched and kicked by the Nancheng players," Rangers' team manager Philip Lee said.
■ Horse racing
Gambler scores big
An international bettor who gambled 1 million Australian dollars (US$760,000) recouped his stake and more than half that again Monday when Lonhro won its final Melbourne race in the 2,000m Australian Cup at Flemington. Sportingbet gaming officials confirmed last week they had taken the A$1 million bet at A$1.55, meaning the stallion's win yesterday gave the gambler a total collect of A$1.55 million (US$1.17 million). It was believed to be the largest single bet placed on a horse in the past 20 years in Australia, Sportingbet officials said. The gambler was not identified. Lonhro, which edged to victory Monday in the closing meters of the race, won its 25th race in 33 starts. It has collected more than US$3.8 million in career prize money. Lonhro will continue racing in Sydney before being retired to stud to join his father Octagonal, winner of the 1997 Australian Cup, in late April.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he