Pep Guardiola returns after recovering from back operation
MANCHESTER, Sep 14: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has returned to the club after recovering from his recent back operation.Guardiola is resuming his duties after three weeks away, with City confirming his return on Wednesday.Assistant coach Juanma Lillo has been in charge since the 52-year-old Guardiola traveled to Spain for the procedure.In Guardiola’s absence, City beat Sheffield United and Fulham to maintain the 100% start to its Premier League title defense. City’s squad is beginning to gather following the international break.City returns to Premier League action Saturday at West Ham before its defense of the Champions League begins at home against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. (PTI)
Potapova stuns top-seeded Ons Jabeur in San Diego Open
SAN DIEGO, Sep 14: Anastasia Potapova stunned seventh-ranked Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (4) to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.It was the fourth time this year the 27th-ranked Potapova beat a player ranked in the Top 10. Jabeur, from Tunisia, was the top seed. She landed just 39 of 85 first-serves, had nine double-faults and could never really find any rhythm. But Potapova said it was still difficult to close out the three-time Grand Slam finalist. American wild cards Sofa Kenin and Katie Volynets faced off at the same site where each won a USTA Girls’ 18s National Championship, with Kenin rallying to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.American Danielle Collins was a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, while former University of Virginia standout and 2021 NCAA singles titlist Emma Navarro beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 7-5, 6-4. (PTI)
Yamashita among first women referees for men’s Asian Cup
DOHA, Sep 14: Referee Yoshimi Yamashita will return to Qatar to make more history at the men’s Asian Cup in January after she worked in the country last year at the men’s World Cup.Yamashita is among five female match officials, including two referees, picked Thursday by the Asian Football Confederation to work in Qatar. The tournament runs form Jan. 12 to Feb. 10.It is the first time the AFC has appointed female match officials for its marquee men’s event.Katherine Jacewicz of Australia was also picked among the referees. The assistants selected are Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi of Japan, and Kim Kyoung Min of South Korea.The 24-team Asian Cup will be played in most of the same stadiums as the men’s World Cup, where Yamashita served as the fourth official for six group games.Yamashita was one of three female referees picked by FIFA for the men’s World Cup. Stephanie Frappert of France made history working the Germany-Costa Rica game in the group stage.In April, Yamashita led the first all-female team of match officials for a game in the J-League, Japan’s top league. (PTI)
Delhi court exempts Punia from personal appearance
NEW DELHI, Sep 14: A Delhi court Thursday granted wrestler Bajrang Punia exemption from personal appearance for the day in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya.Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal granted Punia the relief after his lawyer informed the court that he has gone to Kyrgyzstan for practice sessions and the upcoming Asian games.The judge had earlier granted him exemption from personal appearance on September 6 for a day on medical grounds after his counsel said he was suffering from fever.The judge had on August 3 directed Punia to appear before the court on September 6, noting he was of the “prima facie” view that all ingredients of defamation were made out against the wrestler. (PTI)
Fernando Santos leaves Poland national team
WARSAW, Sep 14: Fernando Santos has left his role as head coach of Poland’s national football team, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) informed in an official statement.Santos only joined Poland in January after eight years in charge of Portugal, whom he led to the UEFA Euro 2016 title, but only won two of his six matches in charge of Poland, and leaves the team after Sunday’s surprising 2-0 defeat to Albania.That defeat left Poland fourth in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group E – behind Albania, the Czech Republic and Moldova – and in danger of failing to reach next summer’s tournament finals in Germany.“Even though we are ending our cooperation, I’m grateful to have led the Poland national team and I wish all the best to Poland and its people, who welcomed me so well when I lived here,” Santos was quoted as saying by PZPN.PZPN president Cezery Kulesza said, “I’d like to thank coach Santos for his work with the national team and I wish him good luck in his next sporting challenges. The selection of a new coach is now a priority for the PZPN board.” (IANS)
Forest’s Toffolo handed a suspended five-month ban
LONDON, Sep 14: Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo has been handed a suspended five-month ban and fined almost 21,000 pounds after admitting to 375 breaches of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules, the governing body said on Wednesday.The breaches occurred between 2014 to 2017 when the full back was with Norwich City and had loan spells at clubs including Swindon Town, Rotherham United, Peterborough United and Scunthorpe United. ”Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo has been given a five-month suspension, which has been suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, and 20,956.22 pound fine for misconduct in relation to our betting rules,” the FA said.“The defender admitted that he breached FA Rule E1(b) 375 times between 22 January 2014 and 18 March 2017, and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing. “The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these decisions will be published in due course.” Toffolo played 19 times for Forest in the 2022-23 season. (Agencies)