Atlanta United loan Barco to Argentina’s River Plate
ATLANTA, Feb 1: Atlanta United has loaned midfielder Ezequiel Barco to Club Atlético River Plate in Argentina’s top flight for the 2022 season. By loaning Barco, Atlanta opens up a designated player spot for its pursuit of another promising young Argentinian player, Thiago Almada. The club has confirmed that it holds his MLS rights. The 22-year-old Barco has never quite lived up to expectations with United, though he is a two-time All-Star coming off the best season of his four-year MLS career. (AP)
Bayern convince Paul Wanner to continue stay with club
MUNICH, Feb 1: Bayern Munich has persuaded highly rated youngster Paul Wanner to continue his development with the club beyond the end of the season. The Bavarian powerhouse said on Monday the 16-year-old Wanner, who is the youngest player ever to appear in the Bundesliga for the club, extended the midfielder’s contract which had been due to expire at the end of the season. It did not give any further details on the length of the new contract. Wanner is considered to be one of Germany’s most exciting prospects on a level with the likes of teammate Jamal Musiala, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz or its former player Kai Havertz, who has since joined Chelsea. (AP)
Japan swimming world c’ships postponed to July 2023
Lausanne, Feb 1: The next swimming world championships were formally postponed for a second time Tuesday because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will now take place in 2023 in Japan. World swim body FINA said Fukuoka will host the championships from July 14-30 next year instead of in May. It’s the third attempt by the Japanese city which was first due to host in July 2021 until that was pushed back 10 months to make space for the postponed Tokyo Olympics. Fukuoka first hosted the world swim championships in 2001, and the original date was meant to celebrate the 20th-year anniversary. (AP)
Israeli football coach Grant faces sexual harassment case
JERUSALEM, Feb 1: Avram Grant, the former manager of Chelsea and one of the most powerful men in Israeli sport, will be investigated by FIFA after being accused of sexually harassing multiple women in an investigative report. “Exposure,” a program on Israel’s Channel 12 TV, broadcast a series of interviews on Sunday with women saying that Grant had made unwanted advances while offering to help promote their careers. The women’s voices were altered and their faces silhouetted to protect their identities. “Given the nature of the allegations being made, FIFA’s ethics committee will look into the matter,” FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press. (AP)
Del Potro returns to tour after over two years of injury break
Buenos Aires, Feb 1: Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martín del Potro accepted wild cards to play two clay court tournaments after 2 1/2 years recovering from a knee injury. Organizers of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires starting next week said the 33-year-old del Potro has entered. He will also feature at the Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro the following week. Del Potro, winner of the 2009 U.S. Open among 22 singles titles and ranked as high as No. 3, has had a career blighted by injuries. (AP)
IOC president Bach visits Beijing Olympic village
BEIJING, Feb 1: The International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, visited the Beijing Olympic village to meet competitors, staff and hosts, and signed the Olympic Truce Mural on Tuesday. Athletes about to compete at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 have been invited to sign an Olympic Truce Mural Bach, after a special inauguration ceremony in the Olympic Village. The Mural is designed for participating athletes and officials to show their commitment to building a peaceful world through sport by signing the mural. (AP)