SOCCER
Brazil to call up Costa
Five-time world champions Brazil are to call up Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa for their friendly internationals against Chile and Honduras next month, the country’s soccer federation (CBF) said on Thursday. The CBF sent a letter to world governing body FIFA saying they intend to call Costa into their squad for the World Cup hosts’ matches in Miami and Toronto. World champions Spain had been hoping to win Costa’s allegiance for themselves, as he has double nationality and did not feature in Brazil’s successful Confederations Cup campaign in June, when the hosts beat Spain in the final in Rio. In March, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called him up for friendly internationals against Italy and Russia, but as they were not competitive fixtures, Costa is not yet tied to one particular nation. The 24-year-old was born in Brazil, but moved to Spain in 2007, signing for Atletico. As a result, he is eligible to play for La Roja on residency grounds, having not yet featured in a competitive match for Brazil.
SOCCER
‘Special one’ gets fine
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was fined ￡8,000 (US$12,970) by the Football Association on Thursday after being sent to the stands during his team’s 4-1 win against Cardiff last weekend. Mourinho admitted a charge of improper conduct following his dismissal by referee Anthony Taylor in the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Saturday last week. Mourinho, who accused Cardiff of employing time-wasting tactics from early in the match, ended up sitting with Chelsea supporters behind the dugouts, after being ordered from the touchline midway through the second half for repeatedly voicing his frustration to Taylor and fourth official Trevor Kettle. On Tuesday, he said: “What the referee wrote is true. I was not aggressive, I was not offensive. I just had a disagreement. In the game that is resolved with ‘Shut up and sit down,’ you don’t need to go to the stands. But I accept the fine and against Manchester City on Sunday [tomorrow] I can work.”
RUGBY UNION
Savea swears off violence
All Black Julian Savea, the face of an anti-domestic violence campaign in New Zealand, apologized yesterday after escaping conviction on a charge of assaulting his former partner. Police agreed to withdraw the charge of common assault after Savea completed a counseling program in the wake of the incident in April at his Wellington home. The 23-year-old wing, who has played 18 Tests for the All Blacks, issued a statement saying he was a changed man. He apologized to former partner Dawn Rogers, his family and the organizers of the “It’s not OK” domestic violence campaign he fronted last year.
BOXING
Fighter dies after knockout
The promoter of a boxing match held in Mexico says the losing fighter has died at a California hospital from a cerebral contusion. Promoter Fernando Beltran says in a statement that Francisco Leal died on Tuesday at a San Diego hospital. He was rushed there after a fight on Saturday last week in the resort city of Cabo San Lucas on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Boxer Raul Hilares knocked out the 26-year-old Leal during the eighth round of a match organized by Zanfer Promociones. Leal, whose nickname was “The Little Soldier,” had 29 wins, eight losses and three draws.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
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