NEW ZEALAND
Surplus to aid development
The country’s soccer governing body recorded a record budget surplus of NZ$7.7 million (US$6.2 million) last year, boosted by prize money from the All Whites’ appearance at the World Cup finals in South Africa. The surplus, up from NZ$1.35 million the previous year, would provide a good platform for the game’s growth, New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum said on the governing body’s Web site yesterday. Van Hattum said the surplus had already been re-invested and cited a NZ$4 million foundation set up to fund grassroots development and a NZ$2.5 million chest established to help finance the national and age-group teams’ international schedules.
ITALY
Di Michele disciplined
Lecce forward David Di Michele has been banned for three games after video evidence was used to show he struck an opponent. The Italian body charged with applying sporting justice used pictures from Sky TV to sanction the former West Ham player for an incident in Sunday’s match at Chievo. “The television images showed that ... Di Michele ... approached Bostjan [Cesar] ... and with a sudden movement of his left arm slapped him across the right cheek,” the sporting justice statement said.
COLOMBIA
Medina faces suspension
The country’s soccer authorities say a leading player has been suspended for three months, fined the equivalent of US$3,000 and ordered into rehab after admitting using marijuana. Wilder Medina, a striker with the Deportes Tolima club, which is currently joint top-scorer in the Colombian top division, tested positive for the drug for the third time on March 26 following a 2-0 victory over Deportivo Cali. Medina acknowledges he used the drug. His lawyer says the player has an addiction and does not use marijuana to enhance his performance. Medina also had positive tests after matches on Feb. 5 and Feb. 13. Charria says an appeal is possible. Otherwise, Medina’s suspension begins this weekend.
THAILAND
Palestine nets Thai qualifier
Palestine will replace Thailand in the second round of Asian qualifying for next year’s Olympics after the Thais were booted out for fielding an ineligible player. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said yesterday that Palestine, beaten on a penalty shootout by Thailand in the first round, had been awarded a 3-0 first-leg win. Thailand had won the home leg 1-0 in Bangkok before being found to have fielded suspended player Sutjarit Jantakol, the AFC said on their Web site. The Thai soccer association hit back at the AFC, accusing them of being unclear on the rules, but their formal appeal was over-ruled by FIFA, according to the AFC.
CONCACAF
Jack Warner re-elected
Trinidadian Jack Warner was re-elected unanimously as president of the Confederation for North and Central America and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) at its congress on Tuesday. Warner, who was unopposed, returns for his sixth consecutive term as head of the region, which covers 35 FIFA member federations. “I am honored to have been entrusted to lead this Confederation for another four years, particularly in our 50th anniversary year,” said Warner, who has headed CONCACAF since 1990. Warner is widely viewed as a key power-broker within FIFA, where he is a vice-president and has long been considered a key ally of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as AS Monaco on Friday won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a blow to the side from the French capital before they face Chelsea in a crunch UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their advantage early in the second half of the French Ligue 1 clash. Bradley Barcola pulled one back for the reigning European champions, but Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth goal in his last five games as Monaco claimed a precious
Teenage star Lamine Yamal’s superbly-taken goal on Saturday earned Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Spanish La Liga. The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had on Friday temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on third with an entertaining 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Yamal, 18, curled into the top corner after 68 minutes to split the sides at Athletic’s San Mames stadium. “We’re already seeing what Lamine can do — he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,” Barca
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
TOUGH RIVALS: Taiwanese goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting produced a superb performance as Japan attempted 30 shots and enjoyed almost 90 percent of possession Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa yesterday finally cracked a dogged Taiwan as powerhouse Japan won their AFC Women’s Asian Cup match in Perth, Australia, 2-0. Brimming with a talented squad featuring 16 England-based players, Japan dominated a one-sided match played in fierce heat, but they were left frustrated by an inability to hit the target other than Tanikawa’s strike in the 61st minute and a header from substitute Kiko Seike in the 92nd minute. The highest-ranked team in the competition at eight, Japan are desperate for a third title to add to their back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2018, but
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