UNITED STATES
Takkas pleads not guilty
Costas Takkas, former secretary-general of the Cayman Islands Football Association, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to US charges that he participated in bribery schemes under investigation at world soccer’s governing body, FIFA. Takkas, who was extradited from Switzerland, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to charges that include engaging in conspiracies to commit racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. He was released on a US$1 million bond, Nellin McIntosh, a spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, said in an e-mail. Takkas will be under house arrest in Miami, she said. A lawyer for Takkas did not respond to a request for comment. Takkas, a British citizen, is among 42 individuals and entities charged as part of a US investigation into more than US$200 million in bribes and kickbacks sought by soccer officials for marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches. He was arrested in Zurich along with six other soccer officials in May last year as the US Department of Justice unveiled the blockbuster case.
URUGUAY
Suarez returns from bite ban
Striker Luis Suarez said he will not change the way he plays, but will come back to international soccer with “moderation” when he makes an expected return tomorrow from a nine-match ban for biting. Suarez is set to face Brazil in a 2018 World Cup qualifier after sitting out nine competitive international fixtures for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the last World Cup in Brazil almost two years ago. The Barcelona player has managed to keep out of trouble for his club since the incident, but said he will not change his aggressive style that has helped to make him one of the world’s deadliest strikers. “I am going to have the same attitude, I will still run, still pressure, still argue because no one is going to change the way I play,” he told reporters ahead of tomorrow’s match in Recife. “But with moderation, like I am doing now at Barcelona, being more intelligent about a lot of things, trying to take advantage of the situations life is putting in front of me... The only thing I want to do is play with the national side again and enjoy the warmth of the fans.” Uruguay have enjoyed a good start to their qualifying campaign, winning three out of their four games to sit in second place in the 10-team table, behind Ecuador, the only side to win all of their games so far. After facing Brazil, Uruguay return home to play Peru on Tuesday next week.
ENGLAND
West Ham sign Lanzini
West Ham United have agreed a permanent deal to sign Argentine attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini from Al Jazira, according to the London club’s co-chairman David Sullivan. The 23-year-old, who joined West Ham in July, has netted five goals in the league and will complete the deal when the transfer window reopens. Lanzini was brought in on a season-long loan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) club in July last year, with an option to make the move permanent. Sullivan confirmed that the club has signed Lanzini on a permanent deal. His son Jack Sullivan also tweeted that the player would sign a four-year contract. “Lanzini is a WHU player for the next 4 seasons, with a further 2 year option,” he tweeted. Lanzini has scored six goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for West Ham. The Buenos Aires-born midfielder made his professional debut for River Plate as a 17-year-old and spent the 2011-2012 season with Brazilian club Fluminense before moving to the UAE in 2014.
West Ham United on Monday advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out win against Brentford, who paid the price for Dango Ouattara’s spot-kick blunder. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side twice blew the lead as Jarrod Bowen’s double was canceled out by an Igor Thiago brace to force extra-time in the 2-2 draw at the London Stadium, but in the shoot-out, Brentford winger Ouattara attempted a chipped Panenka penalty, but his woeful effort was straight at West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. It was an awful mistake by the Burkina Faso international and West Ham took full advantage. Bowen, Valentin Castellanos, Callum
MEDVEDEV AWAITS: The world No. 1 Spainiard said that he is ‘finding the right shots’ as he pushed his record so far this year to 16 victories and no losses Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday extended his unbeaten season and got revenge over Cameron Norrie to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells for a fifth straight year. The world No. 1 from Spain emerged from a see-saw battle with 29th-ranked Norrie with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. In the semis tomorrow, he faces Russian Daniil Medvedev, who pushed his own ATP winning streak to eight matches with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over defending champion Jack Draper. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner powered past Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 to line up a semi-final with fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Arthur Fils. Alcaraz, 22, became
Teenage star Lamine Yamal’s superbly-taken goal on Saturday earned Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Spanish La Liga. The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had on Friday temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on third with an entertaining 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Yamal, 18, curled into the top corner after 68 minutes to split the sides at Athletic’s San Mames stadium. “We’re already seeing what Lamine can do — he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,” Barca
Thanks to Italy beating Mexico on Wednesday, the US get another chance in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). What looked like a potentially disastrous early exit for US manager Mark DeRosa and his team turned out to be nothing more than substantial worry and significant embarrassment for about 24 hours. It remains to be seen whether the US really want to win badly enough for the reprieve to matter, as if it is just a switch they can flick, but there is little reason for their fans to be optimistic. The team’s attitude and behavior have been all over the place when
RSS