SOCCER
Messi fraud appeal rejected
Barcelona star Lionel Messi on Friday moved closer to facing trial over alleged tax fraud after a Spanish court rejected his appeal against being named in the case and ordered the probe to go ahead. The Argentine forward and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, were accused last year of not paying 4.16 million euros (US$5.26 million) in tax on earnings from the player’s image rights from 2007 to 2009 through the creation of a web of shell companies in Belize and Uruguay. Both Messi and his father, who is also the player’s manager, denied wrongdoing and pointed the finger instead at a former agent of the player when they were quizzed at a court in Gava, the Barcelona suburb where the player lives, in September last year. Based on the Messis’ testimony, public prosecutors called for the case to be shelved. However, the court in July ruled that there was “sufficient evidence” to believe Messi “could have known and consented” to the creation of a fictitious corporate structure to avoid paying taxes on income from his image rights and ordered the prosecution of the case to go ahead. Messi’s lawyers appealed, but on Friday, the court said it had “dismissed entirely” their petition and upheld its earlier ruling.
FOOTBALL
New conduct adviser hired
The NFL has hired Beth Richie as a senior adviser on domestic conduct. Richie is the director of the Institute of Research on Race and Public Policy and a professor of African-American studies, criminology, sociology, gender and women’s studies, and criminal law and justice at Illinois-Chicago. She is considered a leading expert on issues of sexual assault. Richie joins five previously hired advisers.
SOCCER
CSKA punished for racism
UEFA on Friday ordered CSKA Moscow to play their next three European home games behind closed doors and slapped them with a fine of 200,000 euros (US$250,310) for the racist behavior of their supporters. The Russian champions were also banned from selling tickets to their supporters for their next Champions League away game, in Manchester, England, on Nov. 5. The punishments follow incidents at CSKA’s 5-1 Champions League Group E defeat to Roma in Italy on Sept. 17, when a number of arrests of their fans were made inside and outside the Stadio Olimpico.
FOOTBALL
Utah State upset BYU 35-20
Utah State’s backup quarterback Darell Garretson threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Aggies to a 35-20 upset of Brigham Young University (BYU) in college football in Provo, Utah, on Friday. BYU quarterback Taysom Hill broke his left leg late in the first half and is likely out for the season. Without him, the Cougars never recovered from a 28-14 halftime deficit. Garretson, who is filling in for the injured Chuckie Keeton, also ran for a score. He completed 14 of 17 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Hunter Sharp had five catches for 173 yards and a touchdown for the Aggies while Devonte Robinson added six catches for 98 yards and two Tds. Linebacker Nick Vigil, who played both offense and defense for the first time in his career, carried 16 times for 57 yards and one TD. Vigil also led Utah State with nine tackles. For BYU, Jamaal Williams rushed for 99 yards. Mitch Matthews had eight catches for 117 yards and one TD. Jordan Leslie caught four passes for 135 yards.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million). The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week. Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki. After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
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