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 Dummett, whose red card in the 82nd minute was later rescinded on appeal, on Thursday was the victim of death threats on social media.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.
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
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,
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
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
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