ENGLAND
Dummett gets death threats
Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has received death threats from angry Uruguay fans who blame him for the injury that has put striker Luis Suarez’s FIFA World Cup campaign in doubt, British media reported yesterday. Liverpool striker Suarez had keyhole surgery on his left knee on Thursday and faces a race to be fit for the World Cup finals in Brazil, with Uruguay playing Costa Rica in their opening Group D game on June 14 and England in their second match on June 19. Suarez complained about the problem during his first day of training with the Uruguay squad. Uruguay said he first suffered the injury in the final English Premier League game of the season at home to Newcastle United as Liverpool chased the title. Dummett was sent off for fouling Suarez late in the match. Dummett, whose red card in the 82nd minute was later rescinded on appeal, on Thursday was the victim of death threats on social media. “The challenge was inadvertent. I hit him and the ball with my left foot, and he went down under the challenge,” Dummett told the Daily Mirror. “I hope he makes the World Cup because he is one of the best players in the world, so he should be there. Having said that, I injured my meniscus three years ago and I was out for three months, so it will depend on the injury and exactly where it is on the knee.”
ENGLAND
Adams handed Norwich job
Neil Adams was appointed as Norwich City’s permanent manager on Thursday after a spell in temporary charge of the relegated Premier League club. Adams had been given the caretaker role toward the end of the season following the sacking of Chris Hughton, but he was unable to halt the Canaries’ slide into the Championship. However, a return of one point from a possible 15 has not deterred the Norwich board from appointing Adams on a full-time basis, with the club confirming the former midfielder had signed a three-year contract. The decision to hire Adams ended talk that former Norwich defender Malky Mackay, sacked by Cardiff City earlier this season, would land the job and it also quashed speculation that Neil Lennon, who quit as Celtic boss on Thursday, would be in the running to take over at Carrow Road.
ENGLAND
Bardsley signs for Potters
Stoke City signed Scotland defender Phil Bardsley from Sunderland on a free transfer on Thursday. Bardsley, 28, officially joins Mark Hughes’ team on July 1 following the expiration of his contract at Sunderland, where he has spent the last six and a half years. The Black Cats had hoped to extend Bardsley’s stay at the Stadium of Light, but contract talks with the rightback stalled, paving the way for Stoke to make their move. Bardsley joined Sunderland from Manchester United for ￡2 million (US$3.4 million) in January 2008 after loan spells at Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
WALES
Bellamy hangs up his boots
Former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy announced his retirement on Thursday. Bellamy, who had been playing for his hometown club Cardiff City for the past two seasons, decided to hang up his boots after coming to the conclusion that his body “couldn’t take it any more.” The 34-year-old Wales international could not stop Cardiff being relegated to the Championship and that was the signal to call a halt to a successful 17-year career, which also included spells at Celtic, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
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