Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka tests positive for COVID-19
BASEL, Sep 2: Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is a doubt for a World Cup qualifying game against European champion Italy. The Swiss soccer federation announced the news after Xhaka was not in the lineup to play a warmup game against Greece on Wednesday evening. It would have been his 99th game for the national team ahead of hosting Italy on Sunday in Basel. Xhaka showed symptoms in the morning and, after a rapid test returned a negative result, a subsequent PCR test revealed the infection, the Swiss federation said. (AP)
Kimi Raikkonen to retire at end of Formula One season
Zandvoort (NETHERLANDS, Sep 2: The Iceman is finally retiring, bringing the curtain down on one of the most unique careers in Formula One history. But not for a few months yet. Kimi Raikkonen will retire at the end of the season, concluding a career that spanned two decades and included the 2007 world championship. Raikkonen is in the final year of his contract with Alfa Romeo. The Finn announced his departure on Instagram on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. “This is it. This will be my last season in Formula 1,” Raikkonen wrote. “Formula 1 might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy. See you around after all of this! Sincerely Kimi.” (AP)
Former FIFA official has bribery life ban cut to 20 years
LAUSANNE, Sep 2: A Brazilian soccer official indicted by federal prosecutors in the United States in the FIFA bribery case has had his life ban from the sport cut to 20 years. The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed FIFA’s case against Marco Polo del Nero “as to the findings on the merits” but ordered a reduced ban for taking bribes. Del Nero was on the FIFA executive committee when he fled Switzerland in May 2015 in the fallout of football officials being arrested at luxury hotels in Zurich in early morning raids. He was formally indicted six months later, resigned his $300,000-a-year FIFA position and has since stayed in Brazil, to avoid being extradited to the United States. (AP)