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.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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