SOCCER
Salah criticizes UEFA
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah criticized on Saturday UEFA’s tribute to the late Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” after European soccer’s governing body failed to reference the circumstances surrounding his death this week. The Palestine Football Association said that al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. In a brief post on the social media platform X, UEFA called the former national team member “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.” Salah responded: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” UEFA was not immediately available to comment.
SOCCER
Nunez signs for Al-Hilal
The Saudi Arabian soccer league has secured its latest marquee signing after Darwin Nunez completed a move from Liverpool to Al-Hilal on Saturday. The Uruguay international cost a reported ￡46.3 million (US$62.3 million) and has signed a three-year contract. Al-Hilal — Saudi Arabia’s most successful team — has been searching for another star signing after releasing Brazilian Neymar in January. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes rejected a move in June, and there was also reported interest in former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Nunez leaves Liverpool after a mixed time in the English Premier League, where he produced some spectacular moments, but could not establish himself as the Merseyside club’s first-choice center forward.
SOCCER
Wirtz named player of year
Liverpool’s club-record signing Florian Wirtz has been named Germany’s player of the year, further cementing the attacking midfielder’s status as a rising star. Wirtz, whose ￡100 million (US$134.4 million) transfer fee with add-ons could rise to ￡116 millon in what would be a British record, secured 191 votes among German sports journalists, putting him comfortably ahead of runner-up Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, who garnered 81 votes.
BASEBALL
Hidden-ball trick backfires
Padres third baseman Manny Machado tried a hidden-ball trick against the Boston Red Sox, and it ended up costing San Diego at least one run on Saturday. With Jarren Duran on third base and one out in the third inning, Machado still had the ball after Alex Bregman was caught in a rundown on the previous play. With reliever Wandy Peralta on the rubber, Machado tagged Duran near the bag. Duran pointed to the mound, and third base umpire Scott Barry called a balk, scoring Duran to give Boston a 2-1 lead. Trevor Story moved from second to third. By rule, the pitcher cannot be on the rubber for a hidden-ball trick to be legal. If another player tags a runner while the pitcher is standing on or straddling the rubber, it is a balk. “I thought it was a great baseball play. I’ll take some responsibility,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said. Masataka Yoshida then hit a grounder to bring in Story and make it 3-1. The Padres pulled to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning and went ahead 4-3 in the fifth. San Diego won 5-4 in 10 innings when Ramon Laureano singled in former Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts from second with no outs.
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
A baseball team from New Taipei City won the US Pony Palomino Division World Series yesterday in Laredo, Texas, defeating the US West representative team from Azusa, California, 2-1. Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School earned the right to represent Taiwan in the Pony Palomino (17 to 18 age group) World Series after winning this year's Wang Chen-chih Cup, a competition named after Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend Wang Chen-chih (王貞治), also known as Sadaharu Oh. In the championship game against Azusa, Ku-Pao's starting pitcher Luo Yu-yan (羅于晏) was erratic early, giving up two hits in the bottom of the first inning, followed
Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei took the mound in New York on Saturday as the starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants in his MLB season debut against the New York Mets, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing five runs. The Taiwanese right-hander struggled early, giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a three-run homer to Mets slugger Pete Alonso — his 250th career home run. However, Teng was not fazed and soon found his footing, holding the Mets scoreless in the bottom of the second and third innings. Meanwhile, Mets starter Kodai Senga of Japan made a few errors
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