SOCCER
Russia eyes rooms problem
Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko said a lack of hotel accommodation for teams and officials is a major problem facing 2018 FIFA World Cup organizers. Mutko says that “the most severe problem is related to accommodating guests of the World Cup, with the hotels,” in comments reported by Russian agency Tass. He added that four of the 11 host cities — Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saransk and Nizhny Novgorod — are behind on plans to increase hotel accommodation in time for the tournament. The issue concerns hotels for players, sponsors and FIFA officials, Mutko said, but Russia’s readiness to house fans has also been called into question. In December last year, Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency said only five of the 11 cities so far had enough accommodation for supporters.
SOCCER
Juventus sanctions Caceres
Juventus defender Martin Caceres has been temporarily removed from Juventus’ squad and fined after an alleged drunk-driving accident. A club statement says Caceres’ behavior on Monday night “represents gross violation of his responsibilities as a Juventus player, as well as damaging the image of the club.” The ANSA news agency reported that the Uruguay international also had his Ferrari and driver’s license taken away and was fined 531 euros (US$600) by police after the accident. ANSA said Caceres was not injured after his Ferrari hit a bus shelter after veering to the wrong side of the road and colliding with some parked cars. The 28-year-old Caceres is in his fourth season with Juventus.
SOCCER
Carpi name new coach
Last-placed Carpi has named Giuseppe Sannino as their new coach a day after firing Fabrizio Castori six matches into their first Serie A season. Carpi says Sannino signed a contract through the end of the season. The 58-year-old Sannino has previously managed AC Siena, US Citta di Palermo, AC Chievo Verona, Watford and Catania. Castori’s removal came two days after a 5-1 loss to AS Roma left Carpi with just two points. Castori had taken over Carpi in June of last year and led the club to the Serie B title last season, earning promotion to the top division for the first time in their 106-year history. Having had to face Inter, surprise leader ACF Fiorentina, SSC Napoli and title challengers Roma already, Carpi have scored just six goals and conceded a league-worst 15.
FOOTBALL
Ruling helps Brady’s season
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is all but certain to remain free to play for the rest of the season after a court ruled on Tuesday that the NFL’s appeal in the “deflategate” case would not be heard before February. The court granted a request by the league and players union for an expedited hearing, with the league ordered to file a brief by Oct. 26, with Brady’s attorneys to reply by Dec. 7 and the league having until Dec. 21 to respond. The appeal would be heard the week of Feb. 1, with the Super Bowl set for Feb. 7 at the new home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers. The timing virtually ensures Brady would not face a ban this season even if the ruling in the controversy about underinflated footballs that has haunted the Patriots since last year’s American Conference final. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looked into the controversy of balls found to be below NFL air pressure minimums and banned Brady for the first four games of this season. Brady appealed the ban to Goodell and he upheld his punishment in July.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
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