Bayern Manuel Neuer has knee operation, out for weeks
MUNICH, Feb 8: Bayern Munich will be without Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for some weeks after he opted for surgery on a troublesome knee. Bayern said on Monday that Neuer underwent an operation on his right knee joint the day before and the team will be without its captain “for the coming weeks.” Neuer played in Bayern’s 3-2 win over Leipzig on Saturday, when he starred with five good saves and showed no sign of any knee problems. Kicker magazine reported that an operation to remove part of the medial meniscus had been an option for some time to prevent any further damage. Reserve goalkeeper Sven Ulreich will fill in in the meantime. (AP)
Dortmund sign defender Niklas Süle from Bayern for free
DORTMUND, Feb 8: Borussia Dortmund is signing Germany defender Niklas Süle on a free transfer from Bayern Munich for next season. Dortmund said on Monday it agreed on a four-year deal with the 26-year-old Süle after he decided not to extend his contract with its biggest rival. Bayern said last Wednesday that Süle would leave at the end of the season after he turned down its latest offer. Dortmund’s announcement came a day after the team was humiliated in a 5-2 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Süle has made more Bundesliga appearances (19) than any other defender at Bayern this season. (AP)
Nike suspends sponsorship deal with Man United’s Greenwood
MANCHESTER, Feb 8: Nike is no longer sponsoring Mason Greenwood, with the Manchester United player on police bail after being questioned on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman. The sportswear firm initially suspended its deal with Greenwood after his arrest last week, saying it was “deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations.” Nike announced on Monday that “Mason Greenwood is no longer a Nike athlete.” United has said the 20-year-old England forward will not be playing or practising with the club until further notice. Greater Manchester Police said last Wednesday that Greenwood was “released on bail pending further investigation.” (AP)
West Ham’s Kurt Zouma lambasted for kicking cat
LONDON, Feb 8: West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has apologized for hitting a cat and the club has condemned him for the abuse caught on video. Zouma is seen kicking and slapping the cat, while laughter can be heard in the background. The 27-year-old France international then chases the animal before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head in video released by The Sun. An animal welfare charity has also lambasted Zouma, while West Ham said on Tuesday it will deal with the player internally. “West Ham United unreservedly condemns the actions of our player, Kurt Zouma, in the video that has circulated,” the English Premier League club said in a statement. (AP)
Chelsea pays ex-youth players damages over alleged racism
LONDON, Feb 8: Chelsea will pay compensation to four former youth-team players over historical racist abuse at the London club, preventing the need for a harrowing court case. The four men sued Chelsea, seeking damages for personal injury and loss over claims they were “subjected to a barrage of disgracefully offensive racist abuse” from two members of the youth coaching staff in the 1990s when the club was under a previous ownership. It was alleged in court documents that one coach “would accompany that verbal abuse with physical assaults of a sexual nature”. The men were aged between 14 and 18 at the time. They will receive six-figure payments from Chelsea from the out-of-court settlement. (AP)
WTA Rankings: Badosa into Top 5, Swiatek slips to No.8
St. Petersburg (United States), Feb 8: Though there were no major events on the WTA Tour last week, the women’s rankings still saw a shakeup with ranking points from last year’s Adelaide 500 event dropped as it was held 12 months ago. Iga Swiatek, who had collected 470 rankings points for winning at Adelaide in 2021, lost them all and saw her rankings drop from No.4 to No.8 in the latest rankings. With Swiatek dropping out of the Top 5, Spain’s Paula Badosa made her Top-5 debut this week, at No.5. After winning the title in Sydney in the second week of the 2022 season, Badosa went on to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open, making the jump from No.9 to No.5 this week, the report said. (IANS)
Nakashima beats Millman in 1st round of Dallas Open
Dallas, Feb 8: Brandon Nakashima beat John Millman in straight sets in the opening round of the inaugural Dallas Open. The 20-year-old American seeking his first ATP Tour title beat the Australian Millman, 7-5, 7-6 (3), and will be joined in the round of 16 by Kevin Anderson. The South African was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over American Sam Querrey earlier Monday. Grigor Dmitrov, ranked 28th in the world, tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw from the first major pro tennis event in the Dallas area in three decades. American Taylor Fritz is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 19. (AP)
AFI condoles death of former Asian Games medallist Sobti
New Delhi, Feb 8: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Tuesday expressed deep shock on the demise of former Asian Games gold medallist Praveen Kumar Sobti, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest here. Sobti breathed his last at his Ashok Vihar residence on Monday evening. He was 74 and is survived by wife, daughter, two younger brothers and a sister. “AFI family is in deep shock on the passing away of Olympian & Asian Games medalist Shri Praveen Kumar Sobti ji,74,today,” the governing body said in a tweet. (PTI)