■ SOCCER
Togo lose home advantage
Togo have been barred from hosting 2010 World Cup qualifiers after violence during a home match with Mali last month. An African Football Confederation statement said the ban covers three games, meaning Togo will lose home advantage in all their second-round matches against rivals who will be known after the Nov. 25 draw in South Africa. This is a potentially fatal blow to the "Sparrowhawks," who stunned Africa by reaching last year's World Cup in Germany, where rows over unpaid bonuses brought shame to the tiny west African nation.
■ SOCCER
Luton charged by the FA
The FA on Thursday issued more than 50 charges in connection with alleged breaches of transfer and agent rules at English League One club Luton Town over the last three years. The FA said on its Web site (www.thefa.com) that the charges were the result of an extensive investigation conducted since March this year into the circumstances surrounding a number of player transfers and contract renegotiations. The club, struggling in the third tier of English soccer after being relegated last season, faces 17 charges relating to payments to agents, providing misleading information to the FA and dealing with unlicensed agents.
■ WORLD RALLY
Gronholm wins Irish opener
World rally leader Marcus Gronholm of Finland won the opening stage of the Rally Ireland on Thursday, and defending champion Sebastien Loeb was second. Gronholm and Loeb raced each other on a 1.82km course that, for the only time in the 20-stage competition, put two drivers on the course at the same time. Gronholm won with a time of 1 minute, 30.8 seconds. Loeb was 0.9 seconds slower. Kris Meeke of Northern Ireland was first out and came third, one second behind Loeb.
■ BOXING
De la Hoya sued US$100m
A New York woman sued Olympic boxer Oscar de la Hoya for US$100 million on Thursday, saying she was coerced into agreeing not to sell photographs of him dancing around a hotel room in women's clothing. Milana Dravnel, who the New York Post and New York Daily News reported had met de la Hoya at a strip club where she worked, said the agreement was made after she had already sold some of the images to a Hollywood photo agency for US$70,000. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Court, said that amount was "below market value" for the photos, which were widely disseminated. In one of the images, de la Hoya appears in a black fishnet bodysuit and black heels. In another, he is wearing a white tutu. It is not known whether the photos, apparently taken at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Philadelphia, were doctored.
■ SOCCER
Passarella quits River Plate
Former Argentina captain Daniel Passarella quit as coach of River Plate on Thursday, one day after they were knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana by modest Arsenal. Passarella, in his second stint as coach of the club where he also made his name as a player, had been at the helm since the start of last year. With River already out of the running in the domestic Apertura championship, the Copa Sudamericana, the region's equivalent of the UEFA Cup, had represented their last chance to win a title this year. However, after drawing both legs 0-0 against their humble neighbors, River were beaten 4-2 on penalties at home on Wednesday night.
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
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