Madrid to take action against Barcelona over payments
MADRID, March 12:Real Madrid will side against Barcelona in the legal proceedings that the rival is facing over its payments of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to the vice president of Spain’s soccer refereeing committee, Madrid said Sunday after an urgent board meeting.The decision came two days after prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of alleged corruption in sports, fraudulent management and falsification of mercantile documentation. An investigating judge will decide whether the accusations should lead to charges. It was the first time Madrid officially weighed in on the matter. Other clubs had already expressed their concerns over the Barcelona payments, as did the Spanish league and the Spanish federation. The league also planned to take action against Barcelona in the legal proceedings. Barcelona has been under scrutiny since the payments to the committee official became public last month. Barcelona has consistently denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest, saying it paid for technical reports on referees but never tried to influence their decisions in games. (AP)
Fruhvirtova lifts ITF Open, defeats India’s Raina
BENGALURU, March 12: Top-seed Brenda Fruhvirtova gave an impressive demonstration of her fighting skills while beating India’s Ankita Raina 0-6, 6-4, 6-0 to clinch the ITF Women’s Open singles title at the KSLTA Stadium on Sunday. Fruhvirtova, a World No. 163 from Czech Republic, did not look sharp in the first set against Raina, the fourth seed. The Indian grabbed the first set 6-0, converting all the 3 breakpoints. The second set began in the same manner with Raina building a 3-0 lead and a quick end to the match loomed. But a break in the fifth game proved to be the turning point in the match as Fruhvirtova soon levelled the scores at 3-3 and then she converted a break point in the 9th game to take a 5-4 lead.The Czech served out the game and took the match into the deciding third set. Raina looked shaken after the loss of the second set and was hardly in the picture in the third set.There was a chance for Raina to effect a break in the fourth game but the Czech raised her game just in time to hold the serve. She ended the match with a crushing forehand after an intense battle.(IANS)