CHINA
Beckham lands China job
China has named former England captain David Beckham as its first global soccer ambassador to revive the game’s image after it has been hit by a match-fixing scandal and an exodus of international stalwarts from the premier league. In his new role, Beckham, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in January, is expected to help bring the Chinese Super League to the world stage and promote the game in the world’s most populous country. “I am honored to have been asked to play such an important role at this special time in Chinese football history,” Beckham said in a statement released by IMG. “I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans, as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there.” One of the most recognizable players across the globe, 37-year-old Beckham served as a special ambassador for last year’s London Olympics. Chinese officials expect his popularity and influence to restore the game’s credibility in the country. The new season kicks off on Friday.
SWITZERLAND
Goalscorer ordered off
Basel defender Aleksandar Dragovic scored twice, only to be sent off for a provocative goal celebration in their 2-1 win at Servette on Sunday. After heading the winning goal, Dragovic ran along the touchline making an aggressive gesture with his arm, before celebrating with the Basel bench. The Austrian, given a second yellow card after the referee interpreted his behavior as a provocation to the home supporters, was sent off amid chaotic scenes, with his teammates having to restrain him. “I had a bet with our assistant coach: If I scored with my head, I would have to run around the field,” he told reporters. “The gesture was aimed at him, not the Servette fans.” Servette had Omar Kossoko dismissed for throwing the ball down in disgust at a decision and getting a second yellow card. Last year, Dragovic had to apologize for playing a schoolboy prank on a Swiss minister during the medal ceremony at the end of the cup final. He gently slapped the balding politician on the back of the head as he was handing out medals to other Basel players.
SOUTH KOREA
Park left out of squad
Spain-based striker Park Chu-young has been left out of South Korea’s 23-man squad for this month’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar, the country’s soccer association said yesterday. RC Celta de Vigo took Park on loan from Arsenal for the season, but the 27-year-old has failed to score since November last year. South Korea, second behind Uzbekistan in Group A, host Qatar on March 26 in the final stage of Asian qualifiers for Brazil 2014. “We build our squad based on our opponents on a game-by-game basis,” head coach Choi Kang-hee was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency. “I think we have plenty of winning combinations in midfield and upfront.”
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
‘Butcher’ appointed coach
Andoni Goikoetxea, renowned in his playing days as “the Butcher from Bilbao,” has been appointed coach of the Equatorial Guinea national team, the west African country’s soccer association announced on Sunday. Goikoetxea, an uncompromising Basque central defender and Spain international, earned his nickname for a particularly crunching challenge on Diego Maradona which shattered the Argentine’s ankle ligaments in a league game between Barcelona and Goikoetxea’s Athletic Bilbao in 1983.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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