Champs Milan to start Serie A campaign against Udinese
Milan, June 24: Defending Serie A champion AC Milan will open the season at home against Udinese, only 83 days after securing its first league title in 11 years. The upcoming calendar was announced on Friday. Runner-up Inter Milan visits newly-promoted Lecce on the opening day, while Juventus hosts Sassuolo and Napoli visits Hellas Verona. The season starts the weekend of August 13. There will be a lengthy pause because of the World Cup in Qatar and the traditional Christmas break, with no Serie A football between November 13 and January 4. (AP)
Sheffield Utd players charged with assault after fan chaos
Nottingham, June 24: Two players from second-tier English team Sheffield United were charged with assault following a police investigation into incidents during the Championship playoff semi-final loss to Nottingham Forest last month. After Forest won 3-2 in a penalty shootout, there was a pitch invasion by fans at the City Ground, during which Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp was headbutted to the ground by a Forest supporter. Rhian Brewster and Oli McBurnie have been charged for their involvement in the post-match disorder and are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 28. Sheffield United said it was “disappointed” to learn its two strikers face criminal action following an inquiry by Nottinghamshire Police. It was one of several pitch invasions toward the end of last season. One at Everton’s Goodison Park in the Premier League saw Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira kick out at a fan after being goaded. Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom called on the game’s authorities to get tougher on crowd disorder. (AP)
Copa Sudamericana final out of Brazil due to election
Sao Paulo, June 24: South American football body CONMEBOL has moved this year’s Copa Sudamericana final from the Brazilian capital city of Brasilia to Cordoba, Argentina. CONMEBOL said in a statement that the change was requested by Brazil’s football confederation due to the country’s first round of the general elections scheduled for October2, a day after the club tournament final. This year’s final will be hosted at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium. The same venue hosted the final of the tournament in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented fans from watching an all- Argentine match between winners Defensa y Justicia and Lanus. (AP)
PSG prez acquitted again, Valcke guilty in FIFA retrial
Geneva, June 24: Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaïfi was acquitted in Switzerland on Friday for a second time in a retrial of alleged wrongdoing linked to former FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke. Al-Khelaïfi was cleared again of a charge of incitement to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement for allowing Valcke to use a vacation home in Sardinia rent free. The home was bought in 2013 by a Qatari company. Valcke, who was FIFA’s top administrator for eight years until being removed in 2015, was convicted on separate charges not involving Al-Khelaïfi. They relate to taking kickbacks in negotiations for World Cup broadcast rights in Italy and Greece. The Swiss federal criminal court found Valcke guilty of repeated forgery and passive corruption. He was given a longer suspended sentence – 11 months instead of three – than he received after the original trial in September 2020. (AP)
Daruvala completes successful Formula 1 test with McLaren
Mumbai, June 24: Young Indian racer Jehan Daruvala made a successful Formula 1 test debut this week with eight-time constructors’ winner McLaren and is now eligible for a Super Lience. The 23-year-old, who is aiming to become the third racer from India to race in Formula 1, drove the Woking-based team’s 2021 race-winning challenger – the MCL35M – on Tuesday and Wednesday at Silverstone. The test was Jehan’s first taste of F1 machinery and he chalked up over 130 laps combined over the two days, over twice the distance F1 drivers will cover during next weekend’s British Grand Prix. The track time helped him earn enough points to apply for a Super Licence, which is needed to compete in Formula 1. Jehan, who ran trouble-free on both the days, currently races with Italian team Prema in the Formula 2 championship. (PTI)