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.
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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