GYMNASTICS
USOC to pursue disbanding
The US Olympic Committee (USOC) on Wednesday said it would press ahead with plans to disband USA Gymnastics after the organization refused to give up its status as the sport’s governing body. USOC earlier this month announced that Olympic chiefs had begun proceedings to decertify USA Gymnastics, accusing it of failing to grapple with reforms after the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. USOC said in a statement that USA Gymnastics had responded to the decision in a letter. “In that letter they did not choose to relinquish recognition as a national governing body and instead asked a series of questions that relate to the matter and the Section 8 hearing process,” USOC chief executive Sarah Hirshland said. Section 8 is the USOC bylaw that sets out the rules regarding a national governing body being decertified. USOC said there was no fixed time frame for the process. “At minimum, we expect it will take several weeks, perhaps a few months,” Hirshland said.
SOCCER
FIFA gets 0.4% of request
A US judge has awarded FIFA just 0.4 percent of the US$28 million it requested in restitution after a New York corruption trial ended in guilty verdicts for two defendants. District Judge Pamela Chen, who presided over the six-week trial last year, on Tuesday issued a 32-page ruling that took FIFA to task for its “wildly excessive” and “patently frivolous” requests for legal fees. Of the approximately US$28 million that FIFA requested in the form of attorneys’ fees and investigative expenses, she awarded FIFA US$108,267.80.
SOCCER
Ireland manager resigns
Martin O’Neill on Wednesday stepped down as Republic of Ireland manager with a “heavy heart” after five years at the helm following a dismal run of results that resulted in relegation in the UEFA Nations League. The former Celtic and Leicester City boss, who replaced Giovanni Trapattoni in November 2013, left his post by mutual consent, with assistant manager Roy Keane also parting company with the Football Association of Ireland. O’Neill guided his team to the last 16 at Euro 2016 and oversaw famous victories over Germany and Italy during his 55 games in charge. He also led the side to the playoffs for this year’s World Cup in Russia. Despite his achievements, O’Neill has endured a miserable run — Ireland have won just one of their nine games this year, a victory against the US in June. The poor run of results culminated in a 0-0 draw against Denmark on Monday in Aarhus. The side have not found the net since Sept. 11.
MMA
Berdon arrested for assault
Honolulu police arrested mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Arnold Berdon on charges of attempted murder after he allegedly punched his wife and fellow fighter in the head, face and ribs, fracturing her eye socket. Rachael Ostovich Berdon filed a request for a temporary restraining order, alleging he punched her on Sunday after a night out with family. She said she fell to the ground, gasped for air and escaped through a balcony. Her representative, Brian Butler-Au, said on social media that Ostovich Berdon would not compete in a Ultimate Fighting Championship bout against Paige VanZant on Jan. 19 because of her injuries. Arnold Berdon was in custody on Wednesday after turning himself in.
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS: LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season. The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month. Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in
PINA BRACE: Claudia Pina scored in the 61st and 74th minutes, while Vicky Lopez added one as Spain notched their third victory in a final in the past four tournaments Claudia Pina scored twice and Germany crumbled on Tuesday as Spain retained the UEFA Women’s Nations League title with a 3-0 victory in the final’s second leg. Vicky Lopez also scored after Pina finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with Germany stubbornly hanging on as Spain had done in the first leg, a 0-0 draw in Kaiserslautern on Friday. Spain were without three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who broke her leg in training on Sunday. Lopez took Bonmati’s place and Spain dominated from the start. Esther Gonzalez swept the ball just past the post and Mariona Caldentey forced a save
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