■SOCCER
Zheng Zhi signs for Celtic
China captain Zheng Zhi has signed a two-year contract with Scottish giants Celtic, state media said yesterday. The 29-year-old midfielder signed with the Glasgow club for £10,000 (US$16,250) a week, Soccer News reported. Zheng was a free agent after his contract at English League One club Charlton expired at the end of last season. Newly hired Celtic coach Tony Mowbray was keen to sign Zheng when he was manager at West Bromwich Albion and is finally set to get his man, subject to a work permit being granted.
■SOCCER
Madonna fans damage pitch
Bulgaria have raised concerns over the state of the pitch at the Vasil Levski national stadium in Sofia ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Montenegro after fans attending a recent Madonna concert damaged the playing surface. “It’s disgraceful,” Bulgaria’s sporting director Nasko Sirakov told the local soccer union’s Web site, www.bfunion.bg. “Do we have a national stadium or not?” Bulgaria face the prospect of playing former Yugoslav republic in a Group Eight qualifier at the 44,000-capacity venue on a pitch that looks far from adequate for a high-profile game. Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov also blamed stadium officials for allowing last Saturday’s Madonna’s concert to take place just a week before such important match. “These people have no idea how to take care of the pitch, the surface is completely destroyed,” Stoilov told reporters. “There’s no grass on it ... we should sue them for crimes against soccer,” he said.
■SOCCER
Player banned for kicking
A Bolivian soccer player has been banned for one year for assaulting an opponent with a flying karate kick after both players had been sent off. Blooming defender Sergio Jauregui was suspended at a meeting of the Bolivian league’s disciplinary tribunal in La Paz following the incident in the derby against Oriente Petrolero on Aug. 23, Bolivian media said on Wednesday. The astonishing attack, featured on video clips posted on various Web sites, left Oriente forward Leonardo Medina needing hospital treatment and put him out of action for two weeks.
■CYCLING
Horner forced to quit Vuelta
American Chris Horner has been forced out of the Tour of Spain after sustaining injuries in the mass pile-up that marred the end of Tuesday’s stage, his Astana team said on Wednesday. Another Astana rider, Alexandre Vinokourov, was also caught up in the melee which took down dozens of riders at a roundabout made slippery by the rain, but he will continue, his team said. Horner has a fracture on his left hand, severe bruising on his right hip and a deep cut on his upper lip. The American, who is known for his climbing skills, had been 20th overall at only 23 seconds behind race leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Wednesday was the first rest day on the three-week Tour of Spain.
■FOOTBALL
Cowboys top value rankings
The Dallas Cowboys are No. 1 in something even before the NFL season begins: total value. The Cowboys are worth US$1.65 billion, the most of any US-based sports team, according to Forbes magazine’s annual rankings. Only Manchester United of the English Premier League is worth more worldwide at US$1.87 billion. The Cowboys lead the rankings for the third straight year and are worth US$100 million more than the runners-up, the Washington Redskins.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
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