ARGENTINA
Player shoots, kills referee
An amateur soccer player, enraged by getting a red card, allegedly fetched a gun and fatally shot the referee on the field, police said on Tuesday. Cesar Flores, 48, was refereeing a match between local youth teams in the central city of Cordoba when he sent off the player for a foul. The youth took a revolver from among his belongings, went back on the field and shot Flores several times, a police source told reporters. The referee later died in a hospital, the source said. The suspect fled and was being hunted by police.
DENMARK
United fans to protest prices
Manchester United fans are to be the latest to protest against spiraling costs to watch live soccer when they travel to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League today. Those traveling to western Jutland are being asked to fork out ￡71 (US$101) to watch the match — that is ￡49 more than Southampton fans paid for their trip to the Danish champions in the Europa League playoff round in August last year. Some fans have prepared a banner with the phrase “Welcome to Scamdinavia” on it. About 800 United fans are expected to travel to watch their expensively assembled side play in the 11,800-spectator MCH Arena. “￡71 to watch a Europa League game is extortionate,” said Andy Mitten, author and editor of fanzine United We Stand. “The combined cost of all three tickets for Manchester United’s Champions League away games was only ￡75. Do they think United fans are three times wealthier than Southampton fans? Midtjylland are ripping fans off — their own and the 800 traveling fans.” FC Midtjylland failed to respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund fans have also recently staged protests against the sky-high cost of watching live soccer. The protest by Kop fans at their 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland successfully convinced Liverpool to scrap plans to increase the price of their most expensive ticket to ￡77, instead keeping it at ￡59.
AUSTRALIA
Victory fined for unruly fans
Melbourne Victory were yesterday slapped with a A$50,000 (US$35,507) fine and a suspended three-point penalty after fans let off flares during a game, as soccer authorities struggle to get on top of unruly behavior. It is the second A-League scandal in recent weeks, with Western Sydney Wanderers handed the same punishment by Football Federation Australia (FFA) this month for the same offense. “The behavior of a number of Melbourne Victory supporters on Saturday night last week was deplorable and cast a shadow over what was a fabulous game of A-League football,” FFA CEO David Gallop said. “It’s staggering that these dangerous incidents happened just days after FFA had applied sanctions to the Western Sydney Wanderers because of the actions of some fans. The focus on fan behavior could not have been more acute.” The suspended three-point penalty is to come into force if any other serious incidents occur in or around any matches the club plays over the next 12 months. The FFA did not specify what was regarded as a serious incident. “If there is any bright note in this situation, it is the refreshing attitude shown by both clubs through their CEOs, coaches and players,” Gallop added. Victory CEO Ian Robson said those involved were not fans of the club. “They are not welcome and we do not want them involved,” he said. In an open letter to the “football family” this week, Gallop said the FFA would do everything it could to rid the sport of hooliganism, with its good name tarnished “by a few idiots.”
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
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
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo homered, and the Los Angeles Angels spoiled Clayton Kershaw’s season debut, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game series. Kershaw allowed three runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner lasted four innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Shoulder, toe and knee injuries limited Kershaw to seven games last season, and his 2025 debut was delayed as he recovered from multiple offseason surgeries. O’Hoppe had two hits with
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