MAURITIUS
Zhang joins FIFA committee
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Vice President Zhang Jilong has joined the powerful FIFA executive committee, replacing Sri Lankan Vernon Manilal Fernando, who is serving an eight-year ban for unethical behavior. Zhang headed the AFC for nearly two years on an interim basis after FIFA dismissed former AFC president Mohammed bin Hammam for bribery and corruption in 2011. AFC president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain attended his first committee meeting in Mauritius on Tuesday. Fernando joined the committee in 2011, but was provisionally banned in March while the investigating arm of the ethics committee probed alleged misuse of AFC funds.
SWITZERLAND
Basel retain league title
Basel won their fourth successive Swiss Super League title on Wednesday after beating BSC Young Boys 1-0 in the penultimate game of the campaign. A penalty by Fabian Frei was enough to seal the championship in a memorable season that saw them reach the Europa League semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Chelsea. Basel, winning their 16th league title, hold a three-point lead over Grasshoppers, but have a much better goal-difference. However, Grasshoppers can be content that they deprived Basel of the domestic double after beating them in the Swiss Cup final.
ENGLAND
Hughes to lead Stoke City
Premier League Stoke City have appointed Mark Hughes as their new manager in place of his fellow Welshman Tony Pulis, who left the club by mutual consent after seven years in charge last week, the BBC reported yesterday. Former Manchester United striker Hughes was most recently employed by Queens Park Rangers, and has also had spells in charge at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham. Hughes, 49, was sacked by QPR in November last year after a miserable start to last season with his team the only club in England’s four professional divisions not to record a win.
ENGLAND
Ron Davies dies at 70
Southampton great Ron Davies, twice the leading scorer in the old First Division, died on the eve of his 71st birthday, the club’s Web site announced on Wednesday. Davies, who played 29 times for Wales, was renowned for his heading ability and famously scored four headers against Manchester United in August 1969. Southampton spent what was then a club record of ￡55,000 (US$83,362) for him before the 1966-1967 season. It was a shrewd investment, as he scored 12 goals in 10 games to finish top scorer with 37 goals. He ended his seven years there in 1973 with 134 goals in 240 appearances. His career never knew similar heights again. Davies moved to the US and coached children, but lived under financial straits — at the age of 65 he had to work on construction sites to make ends meet. However, his status at the club was summed up in the words: “The King is dead.”
SPAIN
Pellegrini likely to head City
Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday said that he has a verbal agreement with Manchester City to succeed Roberto Mancini. “As of today, I don’t have a signed contract. Until things have been signed, you cannot say everything is completely done,” he said in an interview with Canal Sur. However, it seems certain that Pellegrini will take charge of City after guiding Malaga to within a whisker of the Champions League semi-finals.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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