Palace player gets death threats after Núñez sent off
LONDON, Aug 17: Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen says he received death threats and an avalanche of abuse online after Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez was ejected for headbutting him in a Premier League game on Monday night. Andersen took to Instagram to share what he said was a sample of hundreds of abusive messages he has received since the 1-1 draw at Anfield. “Got maybe 300-400 of these messages last night,” the Dane posted Tuesday to his Instagram story, which called on the league and Instagram to take action. Some of the screenshots called for the Palace player’s death, and many were full of expletives. Some messages threatened his family as well. (AP)
Agreement reached to cancel Brazil-Argentina WC qualifier
SAO PAULO, Aug 17: The suspended World Cup qualifying game between Brazil and Argentina will not be played, the two countries’ governing football bodies said Tuesday after reaching a deal with FIFA to cancel the match. Both teams agreed to pay a fine for not playing the qualifier, which was stopped after kick-off last September when Brazilian health officials entered the field saying four Argentina players had broken COVID-19 protocols. FIFA had wanted the match to be played next month, even though it was rendered meaningless after both Brazil and Argentina qualified for the World Cup. FIFA had fined the countries’ football bodies and demanded the match be played. (AP)
African players denied entry into Britain to play West Ham
LONDON, Aug 17: Two African football players have been unable to enter Britain to face English team West Ham in a Europa Conference League game, Danish club Viborg said Tuesday. Entry visas were not processed in time for Nigerian player Ibrahim Said and Gambian forward Alassana Jatta to play in London on Thursday in the playoff round of the third-tier European competition. Viborg said the problem could not be solved despite working with embassies from Denmark and Britain, along with UEFA and the Danish football federation. Visas for the players to enter Britain take several weeks to process, the club said, and the scheduled game was confirmed only last week. (AP)
Japan arrests four on bribery suspicions during Tokyo Oly
TOKYO, Aug 17: A former Tokyo Olympic organising committee board member and three people from a clothing company that was a surprise sponsor of the 2020 Games were arrested on bribery suspicions Wednesday. Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive at advertising company Dentsu, is suspected of receiving bribes from the former head of Aoki Holdings Inc and two company employees, the prosecutors’ office said. The company that makes affordable business suits was a surprise pick to dress the Japanese Olympic team. Aoki is linked with Japan’s so-called “recruit suits” that youngsters fresh out of school wear for job interviews and their first jobs. The bribery is believed to be linked to sponsorship of the Games and products related to the Olympics. (AP)
Ravi Kumar to train in Russia ahead of World C’ships
NEW DELHI, Aug 17: Fresh from winning a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, India’s star wrestler Ravi Dahiya is all set for a 29-day training camp in Russia ahead of the World Championships in Serbia in a month’s time. According to a Sports Authority of India (SAI) statement, the 24-year-old Tokyo Olympics silver medallist is headed to Vladikavkaz with his coach Arun Kumar, sparring partner Sahil and physiotherapist Munish Kumar on Wednesday night. The World Championships is slated at Belgrade from September 10-18. (PTI)
Postponed Asian Para Games to be held in October 2023
NEW DELHI, Aug 17: The Asian Para Games, which were postponed due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic in China, will now be held from October 22 to 28 next year in Hangzhou, the organisers announced on Wednesday. The prestigious event was scheduled to take place from October 9 to 15 in Hangzhou this year but was suspended in May due to rising cases of the disease in China. “…the 4th edition of the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, originally scheduled to be held in October this year, will now be held from October 22 to 28, 2023,” Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and HAPGOC said in a statement. (PTI)
Sethie takes first round lead at PGTI Players C’ship
COIMBATORE, Aug 17: Delhi’s Harshjeet Sethie carded a scintillating six-under 66 in gusty conditions to take the lead after the first round of the TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship here on Wednesday. Delhi’s Shamim Khan, Arjun Sharma of Greater Noida and rookie Raunil Kukar of Bengaluru shared the second spot at five-under 67. Coimbatore-based professional Sidhartha Sharathram shot an 80 to be the best-placed among the local golfers, at tied 109th. Sethie fought back with seven birdies including a chip-in on the 14th and an up and down from the bunker on the 15th. (PTI)