Didier Drogba will be allowed to play in Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League clash against Schalke 04 after the German club had their objections over his eligibility thrown out by UEFA on Wednesday.
Schalke, who came away from Istanbul with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash, believed that the transfer of the former Chelsea striker from Shanghai Shenhua to the Turkish side was completed after the registration deadline, but the European governing body said that the deal was completed according to the rules.
“Having examined all the documents of the case, the Control and Disciplinary Body decided to reject the protest lodged by Schalke,” a UEFA statement said.
The second leg of the tie takes place in Germany on March 12.
SS Lazio were fined 40,000 euros (US$52,600) and ordered to play their next two home games in Europe behind closed doors after their fans were accused of throwing fireworks and displaying racist behavior in their Europa League match against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Thursday last week.
The Italians are set to play VfB Stuttgart on March 14 behind closed doors, as well as their next home tie.
Lazio were fined 140,000 euros in January after their Europa League group clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and NK Maribor were marred by racist chanting.
Lazio were slapped with a 90,000 euros sanction after some sections of the Rome club’s fans brandished a banner reading “Free Palestine” at the Nov. 22 game against Tottenham in Rome which finished 0-0.
Others sang “Juden Tottenham” (“Tottenham Jews” in German) at the visiting fans, whose club has a historical Jewish connection.
Lazio had previously been fined 40,200 euros after monkey chants were directed at Spurs players during the reverse fixture in London in September last year.
The Italians also received a suspended one-match stadium ban and a 50,000 euros fine for their supporters’ racist conduct in the group game against Maribor in Slovenia in December.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was banned for two European matches after being sent off in the dying moments of his team’s UEFA Champions League 2-1 win at Valencia.
The big Swede is set to miss the second leg on Wednesday, as well as the first leg of the quarter-final should PSG qualify.
Turkish side Fenerbahce must play their next Europa League home clash against Victoria Plzen on March 14 behind closed doors after their fans were charged with setting off and throwing fireworks in the match against BATE Borisov.
“The Turkish team are also excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which they would qualify — this sanction is deferred for a probationary period of two years. Fenerbahce have also been fined 60,000 euros,” UEFA said.
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38