SOCCER
Beer to flow at World Cup
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday signed into law a measure approving beer sales during 2014 World Cup matches, bowing to pressure from world governing body FIFA. The bill was passed last month by the senate after international soccer authorities balked over an alcohol prohibition in Brazil’s sports arenas that has been in force since 2003. Lawmakers last month passed a package of measures demanded by FIFA that include selling beer in plastic cups, despite concerns from some lawmakers that allowing alcohol consumption could lead to rowdiness at the event. The announcement that the measure is now law was published in Brazil’s official journal. Its passage ends a long and strident battle between world soccer authorities and the Brazilian government, which is eager to prevent hooliganism and violence as it hosts the sport’s most celebrated event.
SOCCER
Bluebirds switch to red
Cardiff City, known as the Bluebirds, will switch to red shirts, the club have announced, weeks after their Malaysian owners assured upset fans they were abandoning plans to change. Cardiff chief executive Alan Whiteley said in a statement that the “revolutionary move” to switch color was decided in discussions with the owners, who have pledged to pump in more money. Vincent Tan, a Malaysian tycoon of Chinese origin, had been considering the change because red is “luckier,” as well as being the Wales national side’s color, until fans’ “vociferous opposition” saw the plans temporarily halted. However, on their Web site, the club said their primary home color had been changed to red, while the team would retain blue as an away option. A third kit is to be revealed later. The statement did not specify how much Cardiff’s backers Tan and chairman Chan Tien Ghee would invest, but it said the money stood to resolve the club’s long-standing debt problems.
SOCCER
Steve Clarke leaves Anfield
Former Liverpool assistant manager Steve Clarke has left the club, the League Managers’ Association said on Wednesday. Clarke’s departure was widely anticipated after the club sacked Kenny Dalglish — the man who took him to Anfield in January last year — as their manager last month. Liverpool appointed former Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers as their new boss last week and the two clubs have agreed a compensation package which has seen three of his backroom staff move to Anfield, including his assistant, Colin Pascoe.
GOLF
Carlsson grabs Nordea lead
Magnus Carlsson of Sweden shot a seven-under 65 on Wednesday to open up a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Nordea Masters. Carlsson’s round was soured by making a bogey on the last at Bro Hof, Sweden. Countryman Peter Hanson and Richard Bland of England were two shots back. World No. 3 Lee Westwood was in a group of eight at four-under. Playing partner and defending champion Alex Noren shot a 74.
ICE HOCKEY
Canadiens fire two coaches
The Montreal Canadiens fired assistant coaches Randy Cunneyworth and Randy Ladouceur on Wednesday, a day after hiring Michel Therrien as head coach. Cunneyworth finished the season as Montreal’s interim head coach after the team fired Jacques Martin in December last year. The Canadiens went on to finish last in the Eastern Conference.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
AGING WELL: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 22, was sent packing after being dispatched by world No. 97, Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at 36 Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather. That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th
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