SPAIN
Barca seat safe: Vilanova
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova on Friday insisted he would still be in charge of the newly crowned Spanish champions next season, despite media rumors saying otherwise. Vilanova missed two months of the current season after heading to New York for treatment and was replaced by his assistant, Jordi Roura. However, the 44-year-old said reports of his imminent professional demise are grossly exaggerated. Vilanova was diagnosed with cancer of the saliva glands in December last year for the second time. Barcelona’s form dipped during his absence, although they still cantered to the Spanish La Liga title. Upon his return, Vilanova insisted he would honor his contract until the end of next season, but press rumours suggest he will be replaced either by former Barca youth team manager Luis Enrique or Valencia manager Ernesto Valverde.
BRAZIL
‘Caxirola’ ban confirmed
The caxirola, the country’s percussion answer to South Africa’s vuvuzela, will be banned from stadiums during the Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup for safety reasons, authorities said on Friday. The ban will become effective from today when Brazil and England clash in a friendly match at Rio de Jainero’s Estadio do Maracana. The decision followed an April 28 incident in which irate fans hurled dozens of caxirolas on the pitch during a match between Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitoria.
THE NETHERLANDS
Jail sought in linesman case
The public prosecutor on Friday sought six years in jail for a father and up to two years’ youth detention for six teenagers who allegedly kicked an amateur soccer linesman to death last year. “The prosecution maintains that all the suspects who hit Richard Nieuwenhuizen in the head or body are responsible for his death,” it said in a statement after a court heard from witnesses and studied photographs of the attack. The prosecution wants two years in youth detention units, with six months suspended, for five boys aged 16 and 17 at the time, and one year with two months suspended for a 15-year-old. The 51-year-old father should be jailed for six years, the prosecution said. An eighth suspect, aged 15, should serve 30 days in a youth detention unit — 13 days suspended — because he only hit an opposing player, the prosecution said.
ITALY
Fiorentina get Marcos Alonso
ACF Fiorentina have signed wingback Marcos Alonso from the Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal, the Serie A club said on Friday. The 22-year-old Spaniard made 26 appearances for Bolton last season, scoring four goals in the Championship. Fiorentina finished fourth when Serie A ended last week, two points behind AC Milan and the third possible Champions League spot. Vincenzo Montella’s side will play in next season’s Europa League.
PORTUGAL
Djuricic transfers to Benfica
Serbian international midfielder Filip Djuricic has completed his transfer from Dutch side SC Heerenveen to SL Benfica in a deal worth 6 million euros (US$7.8million), the Portuguese club revealed. It was first announced in February that the talented 21-year-old would be on his way to Benfica at the end of the season. Benfica are looking to rebuild after a disastrous finish to this season saw them miss out on the Primeira Liga title to Porto on the final day, lose to Chelsea in the Europa League final and then lose 2-1 to Vitoria Guimaraes in the Taca de Portugal final
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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