SOCCER
Thai police warn of scam
Thai police have warned Liverpool fans not to fall for online scammers impersonating Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who is tipped to replace Juergen Klopp at Anfield in the summer. The Thai Central Investigation Bureau told people to watch out for a viral message purporting to show the Spaniard’s Instagram account asking for donations of 300 baht (US$8.50) to help pay his airfare. “I am Xabi Alonso, I will be in charge of Liverpool next season, but I am short of money for my flights to Liverpool,” said the message, written in Thai. “Liverpool fans, calm down. Xabi is not yet the manager, but there is already a scammer,” police said in a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday. The message — doctored to look like it came from Alonso’s official Instagram account — was “a scammer pretending to be Xabi,” police said.
SOCCER
Ryan dismisses criticism
Australia captain Mat Ryan has dismissed criticism of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign as “outside noise.” Australia’s 4-0 win over 146th-ranked Indonesia drew only faint praise in home media, while fans lamented the team’s lack of fluidity in attack. Ryan said results were all that mattered. “There can be a lot of outside noise and all that about, you know, the team should be doing this and doing that, but you know football isn’t easy... Everyone claims that it is from the outside,” he said.
ICE SKATING
US to receive gold
Members of the US Olympic figure skating team on Monday were told that they are to receive gold medals after Russian skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified for doping at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee received word that the International Olympic Committee would award the gold to the US for the team competition after Valieva’s positive test from six weeks before the competition was announced. It was uncertain is how Valieva’s disqualification would affect the silver and bronze medals. Japan finished third and are likely to move to second. Depending on how a scoring rule is interpreted, Russia could still finish third — ahead of Canada — even after deducting Valieva’s points.
RUGBY UNION
Rebels to get support
Rugby Australia yesterday said that it would help the Melbourne Rebels to take their place in this year’s Super Rugby competition after the debt-laden club went into voluntary administration. The governing body said it would work with the appointed administrator to ensure that the men’s and women’s teams would be able to field sides in 2024. The Rebels are reportedly in more than A$10 million (US$6.6 million) of debt.
BASEBALL
Paxton, Dodgers sign deal
James Paxton and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday finalized a US$11 million, one-year contract. The left-hander can earn up to US$13 million if he is healthy during the early part of the season and starts at least 20 games. He joins a Dodgers rotation projected to include fellow newcomers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, along with Walker Buehler, and Bobby Miller or Emmet Sheehan.
A seven-year-old horse had to be euthanized on Friday after breaking its back on the final fence of a Grand National steeplechase race that it won despite sustaining the serious injury. It follows the death of four horses at the Cheltenham Festival last month — including one after the prestigious Gold Cup. Gold Dancer was competing in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase during Ladies Day at Aintree’s Grand National Festival. The horse managed to cross the finish line approximately four lengths ahead of runner-up Regent’s Stroll. “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after
Taiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung on Sunday topped the men’s horizontal bar event at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, scoring 15.233 to take his third title this season. Tang delivered an outstanding performance in the final, earning a difficulty score of 6.500 and an execution score of 8.633 with a 0.1 stick bonus. His closest competitor was Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan, who finished second with 14.933 points. It was Tang’s third gold medal in the FIG World Cup series this year, following his horizontal bar wins in Azerbaijan on March 8, and in Turkey on March
The Daredevils yesterday took eight catches in the final as they eked out a victory in the Taiwan Cricket Triangular Tournament against PCCT at Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District. PCCT’s batting lineup collapsed after they asked the Daredevils to bowl in the T20 decider of the weekend tournament that also involved the Formosa Cricket Club. PCCT were bundled out for 76 in 16.2 overs against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Ninad Malwade was the top scorer in the innings with 21, but he was among those who offered chances to the fielders. Shane Ferreira and Jason Cameron took three wickets each, with
This year’s Taiwan Athletics Open, which offers Taiwanese athletes an opportunity to compete against their international peers, would be held under a new name after its organizers had earlier announced the event’s cancelation. In a statement issued yesterday, the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association said the competition would still take place on June 6-7 at Banciao Stadium, but under the name “New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026.” The event was given a new name to emphasize its local identity and conform with the international practice of naming World Athletics Tour events after cities, the association said. It said it would soon
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