SOCCER
Lazio stadium to reopen
UEFA will allow SS Lazio to open their stadium to spectators after ordering it closed for a Europa League match because of racist abuse by fans. UEFA said its appeals committee ruled that Lazio need close only the Curva Nord section of the Stadio Olimpico when Apollon Limassol of Cyprus visit on Nov. 7. Lazio were prosecuted for “racist behavior” by fans and an offensive banner when they hosted Legia Warsaw on Sept. 19. Fans “performed racist chants against the Slavic people,” according to monitors at the match from anti-discrimination group Football Against Racism in Europe. Lazio were repeatedly sanctioned by UEFA last season over their fans’ behavior, including making fascist salutes. The Italian side lead Group J after two matches.
CRICKET
Clarke may be fit for Ashes
Australian captain Michael Clarke could return from injury as early as next week in what would be a major boost on the eve of archrivals England’s arrival for the Ashes series. The star batsman was ruled out of Australia’s one-day tour of India this month with a long-standing back problem and feared he could miss the first Test against England starting on Nov. 21. Yet after intensive treatment on a degenerative disc problem — an issue he has had since he was a teenager — the prognosis is good. “Michael is progressing well and recently recommenced batting in the nets,” team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement. Clarke’s back problem flared up again before Australia’s final one-day international in Southampton last month at the end of a grueling five-Test Ashes tour to England, which Australia lost 3-0. He played in that game, but selectors were reluctant to take any more risks given the big home summer coming up and ruled him out of the India tour. England are due to arrive in Perth early today bidding to win a fourth straight Ashes series, something they last achieved in the 19th century.
CRICKET
Benaud healing after crash
Richie Benaud, the former Australia Test captain who has become the doyen of TV cricket commentators around the world, is in a stable condition in hospital after a car accident. The Nine Network yesterday said the 83-year-old Benaud was driving alone near his home in Sydney’s southeastern beach suburbs on Wednesday when his car hit a small brick wall. Benaud sustained chest and shoulder injuries and was expected to remain in hospital for a few days. In a statement, Benaud said: “No one else was injured, and I was more worried about the car than myself.” Daphne Benaud said her husband was “looking unbelievably well.”
OLYMPICS
Japan tones down stadium
Japan is scaling down the planned main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, following an uproar from renowned architect Fumihiko Maki and 100 other experts who said the project is too big and expensive. Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hakubun Shimomura told parliament on Wednesday that the stadium designed by award-winning British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid would cost ￥300 billion (US$3 billion) to build and that was “too massive a budget.” He said Hadid’s design will be used, but the project will be scaled back. The 80,000-seat futuristic-looking stadium is now being billed as costing ￥130 billion. The minister’s estimate includes surrounding construction and infrastructure costs.
FORMULA ONE
Indian GP in balance
India’s Supreme Court agreed yesterday to hear a petition seeking the cancelation of this weekend’s Indian Grand Prix because organizers have allegedly not paid entertainment taxes for last year’s event. “We will hear the petition tomorrow [today],” Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said in court, announcing a new legal snag for racing in India, which has been dogged by problems since the inaugural 2011 event. India’s Supreme Court has executive powers and ordered organizers two years ago to freeze 25 percent of ticket revenues until they had settled a tax dispute with the state where the race track is located. That ruling came in response to a public interest litigation filed by campaigner Amit Kumar, who is also behind yesterday’s petition seeking the cancelation of the race on Sunday. Kumar successfully argued in 2011 that Formula One was entertainment, not sport, and should not benefit from tax exemptions granted by the state of Uttar Pradesh, which borders the capital, New Delhi. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had already removed India from the 2014 schedule for “logistical” reasons, leaving the future of the event at the US$450 million Buddh International Circuit in doubt.
HOCKEY
Senators rout Red Wings
Jason Spezza and Bobby Ryan scored two goals each as the Ottawa Senators routed Daniel Alfredsson and the Detroit Red Wings 6-1 on Wednesday night. Alfredsson was held without a point by his former team. The Swedish winger spent 17 seasons with the Senators before signing a one-year deal with the Red Wings in the offseason. Eric Gryba and Jared Cowen also scored for the Senators, who had three goals on eight shots against Jimmy Howard before the Detroit goalie was taken out in the first period. Craig Anderson made 31 saves for Ottawa. Spezza has seven goals on the season, trailing only Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, who leads the National Hockey League with nine. In Buffalo, Milan Lucic had two goals and an assist, and Torey Krug also scored twice to help the Boston Bruins beat the reeling Sabres 5-2. Dougie Hamilton also scored for Boston. The Bruins are 6-2 overall and have won their first four road games for the first time since 2010. Nikita Zadorov and Cody Hodgson scored for Buffalo. At 1-9-1, the Sabres are off to their worst start in club history. They are winless in their first seven home games. Boston left wing Loui Eriksson had to be helped from the ice after a late hit from Sabres enforcer John Scott in the third period. Scott then fought Adam McQuaid and was given a match penalty.
RUGBY UNION
Ireland squad named
Joe Schmidt named three uncapped players in his first squad since becoming Ireland coach when he unveiled a 34-man party on Wednesday for next month’s Tests at home to Samoa, Australia and New Zealand. Leinster’s Dace Kearney and Jack McGrath were called up alongside Munster’s James Coughlan, with the likes of Stephen Ferris, Richardt Strauss, Tommy O’Donnell, Jordi Murphy and Simon Zebo joined on the injured list last weekend by Donnacha Ryan (knee) and Iain Henderson (toe). As expected, veteran center Brian O’Driscoll, in what the star midfielder has indicated will be his final season before retirement, was included. So too was Jonathan Sexton, with the Paris-based Racing Metro flyhalf — one of the heroes of this year’s British and Irish Lions series win in Australia — the only player at an overseas club in the squad.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
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