SOCCER
Man U hit by hackers
Cybercriminals allegedly targeted Manchester United’s IT systems in a “sophisticated” hacking operation, the club said on Friday. “The club has taken swift action to contain the attack and is currently working with expert advisers to investigate the incident and minimize the ongoing IT disruption,” it said in a statement. All “critical systems” required for games to take place at Old Trafford were secure, the statement said, adding that yesterday’s game against West Bromwich Albion was to go ahead as planned. “We are not currently aware of any breach of personal data associated with our fans and customers,” it said. “These type of attacks are becoming more and more common and are something you have to rehearse for,” a spokesman for the club told the PA news agency.
SOCCER
Lyon women lose
Paris Saint Germain handed Olympique Lyonnais their first women’s first-division defeat in almost four years when Marie-Antoinette Katoto earned them a 1-0 home win on Friday. Katoto found the back of the net after 10 minutes to put PSG on top of the standings on 25 points from nine games, one ahead of Lyon, who had their 80-match unbeaten streak ended. It Lyon’s first loss in the first division since Dec. 12, 2016.
SOCCER
FIFA bans Yves Jean-Bart
FIFA has banned Haitian Football Federation president Yves Jean-Bart for life after finding him guilty of sexually harassing and abusing multiple female players, including minors, global soccer’s governing body said on Friday. FIFA provisionally suspended Jean-Bart in May while it investigated multiple allegations against him by victims, their friends and family members detailing how he coerced girls into sex by threatening that they would lose their places in national team programs. Jean-Bart has denied the allegations. “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Yves Jean-Bart ... guilty of having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players, including minors, in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said in a statement on its Web site. “In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber ... sanctioned him with a life ban from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.” Jean-Bart, who on Thursday was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Haitian justice system, was also fined 1 million Swiss francs (US$1.1 million) by FIFA. A spokesman for Jean-Bart said that he would appeal FIFA’s decision.
FOOTBALL
Brees on injured list
The New Orleans Saints on Friday placed Drew Brees on injured reserve, ensuring that the star quarterback would miss at least three NFL games recovering from injuries that reportedly include broken ribs and a punctured lung. Brees exited last week’s win against the San Francisco 49ers at halftime with what the Saints called a rib injury, sustained on a second-quarter sack that was ruled roughing the passer by Kentavius Street. Brees finished out the first half, but reports trickled out this week that he was found to have multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung. Brees, 40, is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. The Saints went 5-0 without their star signal-caller last season as he recovered from a torn ligament in his throwing hand. The Saints are to host the Atlanta Falcons today. ESPN reported that Taysom Hill would get the starting nod at quarterback ahead of Jameis Winston.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.
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