WORLD CUP
FIFA bans ‘sexist’ close-ups
FIFA on Friday said it has issued guidance to TV producers that cameras should not linger on close-up shots of spectators at the World Cup to avoid any “suggestions of sexual connotations.” Soccer’s world governing body said it distributed a statement about its policy to the suppliers of its TV feed before the tournament. It follows questions over the broadcast of images of female fans at matches during the tournament in Russia. There is just one more game left at the World Cup — today’s final between France and Croatia. “We prefer that the coverage avoids exaggerated or extended duration close-ups that could lead to suggestions of sexual connotations or gender bias,” a FIFA spokesman said.
CRICKET
England women miss sweep
Sophie Devine on Friday struck an unbeaten 117 as New Zealand’s White Ferns won the third one-day international at Leicester by four wickets to deny England’s women a 3-0 series clean sweep. Home openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont shared a century stand as England threatened a huge total. However, Beaumont’s exit for 53 sparked a collapse and the world champions lost all their wickets for just another 115 runs as they were dismissed for 219, with White Ferns spinner Leigh Kasperek taking five for 39. Devine was in excellent touch as she led New Zealand’s reply, facing 117 balls and ending the match with a six off England quick Katherine Brunt as the visitors won with more than five overs to spare.
RUSSIA
Doping ban dropped for five
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which has banned Russia since 2015, on Friday announced that it had cleared five more athletes from the country to compete under a neutral flag last year. The panel that grants clean competitors neutral status has been operating since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. With the five additions, the list for this year contains 72 names, but 68 more have been turned down this year, and the IAAF says it has received more than 200 requests since December last year.
UNITED STATES
Pizza dropped from name
The University of Louisville is removing the Papa John’s name from its football stadium. The school is taking action after pizza chain founder John Schnatter reportedly complained that Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Colonel Sanders never faced a backlash for using a racial slur. University president Neeli Bendapudi on Friday announced the change for Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, as the pizza chain said it is removing Schnatter’s image from its marketing. Schnatter had apologized and said he would resign as company chairman after Forbes reported that he used the N-word during a media training session.
ICE HOCKEY
Knights resign goalie Fleury
Marc-Andre Fleury, the Canadian goaltender who backstopped the first-year Vegas Golden Knights on an unlikely run to the National Hockey League Final, agreed on Friday to terms on a three-year contract extention. The 33-year-old goalie, who could have become a free agent next July, will be paid $21 million under the new deal, which starts with the 2019-2010 campaign. “I’m really excited,” Fleury said. “My family and I really love Vegas, the organization, my teammates and I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to keep playing in front of [Golden Knights fans] for another couple years.”
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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