WORLD CUP
Box holders beat FIFA
Holders of boxes at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City won a standoff against FIFA over who gets to control the spaces during next year’s World Cup. The use of the boxes and VIP seating has become an issue in the lead-up to the tournament, as the stadium had signed contracts that spanned 99 years of box access to fund a 1966 renovation, said a spokeswoman at Ollamani SAB, the company that owns the stadium. The boxes include 12,500 individual spaces out of the 90,000 the stadium will have following the renovation. Following prolonged negotiations, an agreement was reached between a unit of Ollamani and FIFA — which rents the stadium during the World Cup — that includes the company taking on “relevant obligations and payment commitments” to FIFA to secure access for boxholders, a statement sent to local regulators said. The spokeswoman declined to comment on the amount of the deal, while representatives for FIFA did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
Photo: Reuters
WORLD CUP
Mamdani seeks discount
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic nomination on a platform of making the city more affordable, is calling on FIFA to make it cheaper for residents to attend the World Cup. In a petition released on Wednesday, Mamdani demanded that FIFA reverse its plan to set ticket prices for next year’s tournament based on demand, likening the practice to “price gouging.” He also called for 15 percent of tickets to be set aside at discounted prices for residents. “As a lifelong football — sorry, I mean soccer, fan — I couldn’t be more excited,” Mamdani said in an accompanying social media video, speaking in a faux-British accent as he juggled a ball in his dress shoes. “But are any working-class New Yorkers actually going to be able to watch any of the matches?”
LA LIGA
Oviedo supporter arrested
A Real Oviedo supporter has been arrested for directing racist gestures at Real Madrid players when the sides met last month, Spain’s National Police said on Wednesday. “A fan has been arrested for mimicking racist gestures and sounds during a match between Real Oviedo and Real Madrid,” the National Police said on X. “LaLiga reported the incidents after the match held in Oviedo.” The National Police linked to a story in Spanish newspaper Marca, which said the arrest was related to an incident in the 37th minute of the game on Aug. 24, when Real Madrid players were celebrating Kylian Mbappe’s opening goal in a 3-0 win.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Watford unveil John shirts
English second-tier club Watford are to wear a special Elton John-inspired kit for tomorrow’s home game against Blackburn Rovers to mark the approaching 50th anniversary of the global pop icon becoming chairman. The blue strip, that is to be worn just once, is inspired by his Diamonds album artwork and features a star design sublimation, while embossed on the reverse of the shirt are the lyrics “How wonderful life is while you’re in the world” from his 1970 hit Your Song.
By the time Cameron Menzies finally left the arena on Monday, the blood gushing from the gash on his right hand had trickled down his wrist, part of his forearm and — somehow — up to his face. Smeared in crimson and regret, and already mouthing sheepish apologies to the crowd, he disappeared down the steps, pursued by a stern-looking Matt Porter, the chief executive of Professional Darts Corp (PDC). The physical scars from Menzies’ encounter with the Alexandra Palace drinks table after his 3-2 defeat against Charlie Manby at the Darts World Championship would be gone within a few weeks.
Manchester United on Monday blew the lead three times to miss out on moving up to fifth in the Premier League as AFC Bournemouth would not be beaten in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. United have lost just once in their past 10 games, but Ruben Amorim would be frustrated as more points at home were frittered away despite arguably the best attacking display of his reign in charge. Amad Diallo and Casemiro gave the hosts a halftime lead either side of Antoine Semenyo’s equalizer. Two Bournemouth goals from Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier in seven minutes at the start of the
LOW-GOAL SHOOT-OUT: Of the nine penalties in the shoot-out, only three went in, with Flamengo’s Samuel Lino, and Vitinha and Nuno Mendes of PSG netting Matvei Safonov on Wednesday made four straight penalty saves in a penalty shoot-out to help Paris Saint-Germain beat Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final and win a sixth trophy of the year. The Russian goalkeeper was thrown in the air by his teammates after his exploits in the shoot-out, which was won 2-1 by PSG after a 1-1 draw after extra-time. It completed a trophy-laden 12 months for the French team, who had already won the Trophee des Champions, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup — also on penalties against Tottenham Hotspur in
LACKLUSTER FIGHT: At one stage, the referee lost patience with the two fighters, warning them in the fourth round that ‘the fans did not pay to see this crap’ Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami. The fight at the Kaseya Center, which saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of US$184 million, had triggered alarm across boxing due to the gulf in physical size and class between Britain’s two-time former world champion Joshua and Paul, an Internet personality who has forged a lucrative career through a handful of novelty boxing contests. However, in the event, Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less accomplished opponent, before his superior size and power eventually told
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