FOOTBALL
No censure for Bills
The NFL has determined that the Buffalo Bills acted properly in the aftermath of team president Russ Brandon’s resignation amid allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee. The league on Friday released a statement saying it would take no further action against the Bills and determined that the team “addressed the matter in a timely, thorough and appropriate manner.” Brandon resigned on May 1 after spending 20 years working up the Bills’ executive ranks. He also spent the past three years serving as president of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, who are also owned by Terry and Kim Pegula. Two people with direct knowledge of the matter said that Brandon’s resignation came after he was confronted about the relationship by the Pegulas. Brandon said he had contemplated stepping down from the job for some time and felt the timing was right following the conclusion of the NFL draft.
WORLD CUP
Doping reporter denied visa
German journalist Hajo Seppelt, who broke the Russian state doping story, has been refused a visa to attend the World Cup, Sport Informations Dienst reported on Friday. “Obviously, the discovery of a state doping system is so far-reaching that Russia thinks it’s necessary to take such measures. That speaks for itself,” the reporter said. The visa application was refused on the grounds that he appears on a list of “undesirable persons” in Russia. FIFA said it had already validated Seppelt’s accreditation request. “In general, the freedom of the press is very important to FIFA and we want to offer media representatives the best possible conditions for them to perform their jobs,” it said in a statement.
WORLD CUP
Alves out for Brazil
Brazil right back Dani Alves is to miss the World Cup, leaving the five-time champions without one of their main leaders. Alves on Tuesday injured his right knee in Paris Saint-Germain’s French Cup Final. Alves was examined by doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who said he will be sidelined for about six months for a detached anterior cruciate ligament. The date of the operation is to be decided by PSG and Alves, who played for Brazil in the past two World Cups and has made 107 appearances for the team since 2006. “He was upset when he heard [about missing the World Cup], but he immediately turned the page and started thinking of his recovery,” Lasmar said. Brazilian Football Confederation coordinator Edu Gaspar said Alves was teary-eyed, but sent a positive message to his teammates. “We lost a leader, a champion, but he told us to take some positive energy. He doesn’t want people to be upset for him,” Gaspar said, adding that Brazil coach Tite has enough information to pick an adequate substitute at right back. Former Brazil player Junior believes Manchester City’s Danilo is the most likely replacement. “He is the one playing at the highest level at the moment, but he still needs to adapt to the team,” Junior said.
WORLD CUP
Iceland picks injured players
Iceland has selected playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson and captain Aron Gunnarsson in its 23-man squad, even though both midfielders are out injured, the team announced on Friday. Sigurdsson has been out with a knee injury since early March and is to miss the final game of the English Premier League today for Everton. Gunnarsson is recovering after undergoing knee surgery late last month. Iceland is to be in Group D with Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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