SOCCER
Barcelona fined over balls
Barcelona have been fined 1,500 euros (US$1,660) and warned that the Camp Nou could be closed after beach balls were thrown onto the pitch during this week’s Clasico against Real Madrid, the Royal Spanish Football Federation announced on Friday. Inflatable balls were tossed on to the field on Wednesday in a politically charged fixture that was previously postponed due to violent demonstrations across Catalonia. The match, which finished goalless, was held up for 90 seconds as Barca made a substitution in the 55th minute due to the objects on the field. After the game 10 people were arrested and more than 60 injured in clashes between Catalan separatists and police outside the ground. About 3,000 police officers and private security agents had been deployed for the match amid calls for separatists to protest outside the Camp Nou during the fixture. On the field on Friday, Sociedad Deportiva Eibar defeated Granada 3-0 to end a five-match La Liga winless streak.
SOCCER
Turkish body sanctioned
UEFA on Friday fined the Turkish Football Federation 50,000 euros (US$55,360) for supporters’ behavior and warned several players following military salutes performed during two Euro 2020 qualifiers. Turkey fans caused disturbances in the 1-1 draw with France on Oct. 14, while Hakan Calhanoglu and Cenk Tosun were among a number of players reprimanded for “manifestations of a non-sporting nature.” In their two October qualifiers against Albania and France, Turkey players made salutes — seen as supporting Turkey’s military operation in Syria — as they celebrated late goals.
BOXING
Cesar Martinez wins title
Mexico’s Julio Cesar Martinez stopped Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales in the ninth round on Friday to win the vacant World Boxing Council flyweight title. Martinez improved to 15-1 with his 12th victory inside the distance, while Rosales fell to 29-5 with the loss in Phoenix, Arizona. After dropping his 2015 pro debut, Martinez has won 15 fights in a row, although he needed two tries to claim the WBC flyweight crown. Martinez, 24, knocked out Charlie Edwards in London in August to first claim the title, but the fight was later ruled no contest when the Mexican was found to have hit Edwards while the Englishman was on one knee.
FOOTBALL
Seattle’s Woods suspended
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Al Woods has been suspended for four games for violating the National Football League’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Woods is the second Seattle player to be suspended this week. On Monday, wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely for violating policies on performance-enhancers and “substances of abuse.” Woods will miss the final two regular season games, beginning with today’s game against Arizona, and at least two potential playoff games. He could return for either the NFC championship or the Super Bowl should Seattle make it that far, depending on the Seahawks’ playoff seed. Woods was an important role player for Seattle’s defensive line. He started five of 14 games, but saw significant playing time, playing more than 50 percent of defensive snaps in seven games. Woods was primarily a run stopper and had 32 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. His loss might not be felt much this week against the Cardinals, but could be significant next week with the Seahawks facing the 49ers in Week 17.
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
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
New Zealand yesterday reached 231-9 at stumps on a first day of the first Test against the West Indies shortened by rain after Justin Greaves triggered a middle-order collapse with the wicket of Kane Williamson. New Zealand tumbled from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly wicket after Williamson was dismissed for 52, his 38th Test half-century. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith arrested the slide with a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Smith eventually fell for 23 and Bracewell for 47. After Matt Henry went for 8, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on 4 when bad light stopped play after 70
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