SOCCER
Women’s strategy revealed
FIFA on Tuesday announced a new global strategy for women’s soccer in a bid to create revenue streams and increase grassroots participation. FIFA said in a statement that it would work closely with member associations through workshops and special initiatives to “encourage female empowerment” through soccer. “The women’s game is a top priority,” FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura said. FIFA said it would look to double the number of female players to 60 million by 2026 and ensure all member associations have developed “comprehensive women’s football strategies” by 2022. It also hopes to broaden female representation in their regulatory framework, with at least one-third of FIFA committee members to be women by 2022.
SOCCER
FA probed ‘bully’ staffer
The English Football Association (FA) said it has investigated concerns about the conduct of a staffer who was a key part of the national team’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia. The Daily Telegraph late on Tuesday reported that FA head of strategy and performance Dave Reddin was linked to a culture of bullying and fear. In a statement, the FA said it “took all of the allegations raised very seriously and undertook and investigation. We are entirely satisfied that the matters were appropriately investigated and concluded.” It did not say how the investigation concluded.
FOOTBALL
Steelers’ Brown sued twice
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is facing two lawsuits stemming from an alleged incident in April, media reported on Tuesday. The lawsuits are for “damages in excess of US$15,000,” ESPN said. Brown is accused of yelling at security and throwing items from the balcony of a South Florida apartment. He was allegedly upset over US$80,000 and a gun he reported missing. Brown was not charged following the incident, police said. One of the lawsuits was filed by Ophir Sternberg, who alleges that his 22-month-old boy was emotionally traumatized after several of the thrown items landed near the boy and his grandfather. “The falling objects included two very large vases ... as well as a large, heavy ottoman and other pieces of furniture,” the lawsuit says. Brown is also being sued by the unit’s landlord for damages and breaching the apartment agreement, the reports said.
OLYMPICS
Norman gets statue, holiday
Australia is to erect a statue of sprinter Peter Norman, who backed two Americans in their famed Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics, with authorities describing the honor as “seriously overdue.” Norman, 200m silver medalist in Mexico City, stood on the podium alongside US athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who put a black-gloved fist in the air in a civil rights protest. Norman quietly showed his solidarity by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. As a result, he was frozen out of Games selection and airbrushed from Australian Olympic history. Athletics Australia said a bronze statue of Norman, jointly funded with the Victoria State Government, would be erected outside the Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. Australia would also recognize Oct. 9, the date of Norman’s funeral, as Peter Norman Day, it added.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
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