■ SOCCER
Expats on the ball
The next round of the Tavern Premier League kicks off in Taipei tomorrow morning. The scheduled fixtures are Shane FC vs Celts FC at 9:30am; Taipei Animals vs Taipei Eagles at 11:30am; local team Taipei Football Club (TFC) vs Japan Football Club (JFC) at 1:30pm; and Da'an Cartel FC vs Carnegies Taipei FC at 3:30pm. All games take place at the Yingfeng Sports Park, next to Dajia Riverside Park, off Binjiang Street in Taipei.
■ SOCCER
Brazil gets World Cup nod
FIFA, has supported Brazil as the sole candidate for the 2014 World Cup after an inspection of potential sites, in a report released on Thursday. "It would be appropriate to choose Brazil as the host nation for the 2014 World Cup," said FIFA's inspection group in the report. "Brazil has proved its potential and shown itself capable of organizing an exceptional FIFA World Cup." The Brazilian Football Federation (CFB) must officially present its candidacy for the World Cup 2014 at FIFA headquarters in Zurich next Tuesday. The executive committee will also choose the host nation for the 2011 Women's World Cup between candidates Germany and Canada.
■ CRICKET
Jamaica win day-night game
Jamaica beat Guyana in the Caribbean's first competitive day-night match at the Three Ws Oval just outside Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday. Guyana made 159 for nine from their allotted 43 overs after a damp outfield had delayed the start. The floodlights were switched on before the end of the Guyana innings and Jamaica reached their target for the loss of three wickets with nearly three overs to spare in the first semi-final of the premier one-day competition in the West Indies.
■ BASKETBALL
Refs broke gambling rules
NBA commissioner David Stern acknowledged on Thursday that more than half of the league's 56 referees had violated policies about casino gambling, but said none will be punished because he felt the rules were outdated. Instead, Stern said he is altering the policies, leaning toward allowing referees to gamble in casinos during the offseason -- except for betting with sports bookmakers. The league's gambling policies became public during a scandal involving referee Tim Donaghy, who pleaded guilty in August to accepting cash from gamblers for game information and betting on games he officiated. The NBA currently prevents its officials from entering the gaming area of a casino, or any gambling except for horse racing at tracks during the offseason.
■ BOXING
Disgraced boxer's dad quits
Disgraced Japanese boxer Daiki Kameda's father Shiro has quit as a trainer to his trio of sons less than two weeks after being stripped of his license. Daiki was also banned for a year following his violent outburst in an unsuccessful world title bid earlier this month. Koki Kameda, the eldest of the three boxing brothers, confirmed yesterday that his father had decided to quit. Daiki was suspended for punching champion Daisuke Naito while he was down and then moments later slamming him to the canvas during their WBC flyweight title bout in Tokyo. Shiro had his license as a ringside trainer suspended indefinitely for swearing at the referee, while Koki, also working the corner, was caught on television telling his brother to elbow Naito in the eye.
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
BRING THE NOISE: Brazil’s Fonseca attracted a boisterous crowd that brought such dominant soccer-style energy the referee switched to Portuguese to ask for quiet Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday put an end to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca’s challenge at the Miami Open, outlasting the 18-year-old 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in an enthralling contest. Attendance on stadium court had been sparse throughout the day, but the Hard Rock Stadium turned into a mini-Maracana Stadium for Fonseca’s match, complete with Brazilian flags and soccer-style chanting. Fonseca brought his energetic brand of ultra-attacking tennis, but De Minaur was up to the challenge, coping with blistering forehands and a partisan crowd. Such was the dominance of Fonseca’s raucous support that the referee switched to Portuguese for his appeals for quiet. However, De
RSS