FOOTBALL
Panthers fire coach Rivera
The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday fired head coach Ron Rivera in the wake of the team’s defeat to the Washington Redskins last weekend. Rivera, who guided the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance, leaves Carolina after nine seasons in charge. “I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.” The 57-year-old’s position came under fierce scrutiny after the Panthers crashed to a 29-21 home defeat against 3-9 Washington on Sunday. The loss was the Panthers’ fourth straight defeat, leaving them at 5-7 for the season and on course to miss out on the playoffs. Rivera, who was appointed in 2011, led the Panthers to a National Football Conference Championship and three NFC South titles during his tenure and was named NFL Coach of the Year in the 2015 season. The Panthers would undertake a “comprehensive and thorough” review of the team’s operation following Rivera’s dismissal, Tepper said.
GOLF
Woods declines Saudi event
Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods on Tuesday said that he had turned down offers to play in the Saudi International tournament, but defended the right of players to participate in the event. Speaking on the eve of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said that he had rejected approaches to play in Saudi Arabia, despite appearance fees reportedly in the region of US$3 million. “I just don’t want to go over there,” Woods told ESPN. “It’s a long way.” Golfers participating in the Saudi International faced criticism at the inaugural event, which took place just months after the killing of US-based Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October last year. ESPN reported that Woods had first turned down an approach from organizers to play in this year’s event prior to Khashoggi’s murder and rejected a second offer to play in next year’s tournament, which is to take place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Woods’ comments came after Phil Mickelson became the latest golfer to confirm he would play the event.
RUGBY
RA, Folau settle lawsuit
Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau yesterday settled his unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia (RA) and the New South Wales Waratahs, bringing an end to a prolonged and bitter dispute triggered by an explosive social media post. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, launched legal action after his four-year contract was torn up in May for posting a meme on social media that said hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups. RA and Folau announced the settlement in a joint statement yesterday after being locked in mediation for about 14 hours. Days before entering mediation at the Australian Federal Circuit Court on Monday, Folau had hiked his compensation claim for lost income and sponsorship from A$10 million to A$14 million (US$6.8 million to US$9.5 million), and reiterated his demand to have his contract reinstated. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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
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