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.
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
Armand Duplantis will be among the reigning Olympic champions adding star power to the world indoor championships this weekend when the Chinese city of Nanjing hosts the first major global athletics meet since the Paris Games last year. The three-day event was originally slated for 2020 and faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nanjing’s Sports Training Center would finally welcome more than 570 athletes for the start of the showpiece today. One of the main attractions would be pole vaulter “Mondo” Duplantis, who soared 6.27m to break the world record for a staggering 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last
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