SOCCER
FIFA mulls new laws
FIFA officials could decide this month to let teams use a fourth substitute in extra-time. The rule could take effect in July if agreed to at a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Northern Ireland on Feb. 28. FIFA said IFAB could also decide on relaxing a “triple punishment” rule where a defender can make a challenge that results in a penalty kick, a red card and suspension. The panel also plan to begin talks on “the potential use of video replays to support match officials.”
CRICKET
Faulkner faces fitness race
Australia all-rounder James Faulkner faces a race to be fit for the Cricket World Cup after scans yesterday confirmed he suffered a moderate grade abdominal strain in Sunday’s tri-series final against England. Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Faulkner’s injury is “consistent with a typical fast-bowling side strain injury. He will receive intensive treatment for the next two weeks before we can determine when he can return to batting and bowling. He will travel with Australia’s ICC Cricket World Cup squad to Adelaide on Friday to continue his treatment with team medical staff.”
CRICKET
Stokes proves his worth
Ben Stokes, controversially omitted from the England World Cup squad, struck 15 sixes during an unbeaten 151 to help the England Lions defeat South Africa A on Monday in a one-day match. Batting at No. 5, Stokes also hit seven fours off 86 balls during 117 minutes at the crease, as the visitors triumphed by 89 runs. Stokes was dropped by England after four of seven one-day internationals in Sri Lanka two months ago due to a poor all-round game, particularly his bowling. However, former England stars Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood have criticized his exclusion from the squad for the World Cup.
TENNIS
Stakhovsky wins in Zagreb
Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine defeated Borna Coric of Croatia 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Zagreb Indoors tournament on Monday. Stakhovsky, who won the tournament in 2008 as lucky loser, won five games in a row in the first set, and saved a break point before closing the match. Coric held serve only four times and converted two out of 12 break points. “It’s not the first time that I failed to take the chances,” Coric said. Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania also advanced, beating Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-0, 6-2 in just 41 minutes. Lacko, a runner-up in Zagreb in 2012, won only 20 out of 71 points and had constant problems returning serve.
TENNIS
Janowicz through in France
Fifth-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland served 14 aces as he rallied to beat Dustin Brown of Germany 2-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the first round of the Open Sud de France on Monday. Janowicz, who dropped serve three times and saved five break points, next plays either Frenchman Benoit Paire or 169th-ranked Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia. Seventh-seeded Joao Sousa of Portugal had little trouble getting past wild-card entry Laurent Lokoli, beating him 6-2, 6-4 in just over one hour. He next faces Germany’s Tobias Kamke, who overcame wild-card Vincent Millot of France 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a scrappy contest. Neither managed to serve an ace and they dropped serve six times each.
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
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