Drone causes brief delay at EPL game
SOUTHAMPTON, Jan 22: The match between Southampton and Aston Villa was briefly halted after a drone was spotted flying around St. Mary’s Stadium late in the first half on Saturday.Referee Michael Salisbury instructed all players to leave the field minutes before the scheduled halftime break, and match officials waited near the tunnel.A short time later, the drone was gone and play resumed.A similar incident occurred one year ago in London when play was suspended for nearly 20 minutes in the first half of a league match between Brentford and Wolverhampton because a drone was hovering above the field. (AP)
Arrest shatters Alves image
BARCELONA, Jan 22: Dani Alves has spent his first night in pre-trial jail for alleged sexual assault in Spain, an incident that has left his wife distraught and shocked the soccer world.The Brazilian star, who denies any wrongdoing, has many more days ahead of him at the prison near Barcelona. Unless he wins an appeal to reverse the judge’s decision to deny him bail, he will remain weeks, even months, behind bars until a trial is set.The 39-year-old Alves was arrested on Friday by Spanish police after they spent days carrying out a preliminary investigation into the accusation from a woman claiming he sexually assaulted her in a Barcelona nightclub last month.A judge agreed with state prosecutors after hearing the testimonies of Alves, his accuser and a witness that he should remain jailed, without the right to bail.(PTI)
ISL: Chennaiyin, ATK miss out after 0-0 draw
CHENNAI, Jan 22: Chennaiyin FC played their third consecutive draw, sharing spoils in a goalless game against ATK Mohun Bagan in the Hero Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Saturday.In terms of playoff moves, both Chennaiyin FC and ATK Mohun Bagan gained no significant advantage through this result. Both sides added a point to their respective tallies but failed to move up a place in the table. The teams will be back in action on January 28, with Chennaiyin FC locking horns with Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan playing Odisha FC. (IANS)
Moukoko staying with Dortmund
DORTMUND, Jan 22: Young Germany star Youssoufa Moukoko is staying with Borussia Dortmund.The 18-year-old Moukoko extended his contract with the Bundesliga club on Saturday through June 2026.Moukoko’s contract was to expire at the end of the season and there was speculation he might leave but Dortmund asked the forward for a decision one way or another before Sunday’s league game at Augsburg.Evidently, it was a yes to what Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl described as a “very attractive offer.”(AP)
I-League: NEROCA FC beat Aizawl FC 2-1
IMPHAL, Jan 22: NEROCA FC registered their second consecutive win in the I-League 2022-23 when they defeated Aizawl FC 2-1 at the Khuman Lampak Stadium, here on Saturday.In a game in which all actions unfolded in the second half, the visitors, Aizawl FC, took the lead early in the second half through a well-executed free kick taken by R Lalthanmawia. However, the hosts came out strong and scored two goals in a span of six minutes.While Mirjalol Kosimov volleyed in the equaliser, a scintillating strike from Jourdaine Fletcher fetched NEROCA FC full points. (IANS)
WFI general body meeting cancelled
NEW DELHI, Jan 22: The general body meeting of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), scheduled to take place in Ayodhya on Sunday, has been cancelled after the Sports ministry suspended all the ongoing activities of the federation and appointed an Oversight Committee to take over the day-to day functioning.The committee will probe the allegations of sexual harassment and corruption against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The WFI chief will step aside until the probe is completed. Notably, the protesting grapplers called off their protest after a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and getting an assurance of a detailed probe into the allegations. (IANS)