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.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Edmonton Oilers on Thursday defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 to book their place in the Stanley Cup Finals, setting up a repeat of last year’s NHL showpiece against reigning champions the Florida Panthers. The Oilers, bidding to become the first Canadian team to win the NHL’s championship series since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, head to Florida for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series set for Wednesday. Florida, who are to play in the NHL showpiece for the third straight season, won last year’s title 4-3 to extend Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought. Connor McDavid led Edmonton back to the championship series on
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