Football - Mourinho silent
after first game following ban
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kept his promise and did not speak to the media following his team’s 6-2 win at Sevilla. Assistant coach Aitor Karanka spoke on Mourinho’s behalf on on Saturday after Madrid’s first game following the five-game ban for the Portuguese for his statements that UEFA referees had assisted Barcelona in recent years. Karanka says “when things calm down and are clarified then I imagine that he will speak to the press again.” Madrid’s win denied Barcelona a chance of clinching its third straight Spanish league title yesterday. Barcelona eliminated Madrid from the Champions League semifinals earlier this week.
Football - Authorities: David
Beckham in crash on LA freeway
Authorities say David Beckham was behind the wheel of a car that rear-ended another vehicle on a Southern California freeway. The California Highway Patrol said Saturday the former England captain was not hurt in Friday morning’s crash, but the other car’s driver was hospitalised after complaining of neck pain. The patrol says Beckham’s Cadillac struck a Mitsubishi stalled in the carpool lane of the 405 Freeway in Torrance. The other driver, a 40-year-old Los Angeles man, was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure. His name was not released. Beckham was not cited. The 35-year-old Beckham has played for Manchester United and Real Madrid and was captain of England’s national team from 2000 to 2006.
Football - Crowd unrest
again mars African Champs League
Crowd unrest has again marred the African Champions League with fans invading the pitch during a last-16 match between Tunisia’s Club Africain and visiting Al Hilal of Sudan. The teams were level at 1-1 on Saturday, with Al Hilal leading 2-1 on aggregate, when the game was abandoned late in the second half. Some reports say Tunisian fans tried to attack the referee with Club Africain on the brink of elimination. African football has been plagued by crowd trouble this year against a backdrop of political unrest. Club Africain was one of 10 teams sanctioned by the African confederation at a special disciplinary meeting last month. Fans were recently barred from Tunisian league games but allowed to watch continental games.
Football - Jean Tigana quits
as Bordeaux coach after 4-0 loss
Jean Tigana resigned as Bordeaux coach on Saturday after his daughter was verbally abused in the stands watching the team lose 4-0 to Sochaux in the French league. “It was a disastrous evening both for the club and me,” Tigana told a news conference. “My daughter was verbally abused in the stands. She already has problems at school. I therefore decided to stop.” Bordeaux fans loudly booed at halftime after the team had conceded four goals before the break. They had expected Bordeaux to contend for a Champions League spot this season, but the club is currently in ninth place, 21 points behind leader Lille. “If people think I’m the problem and end up abusing my 16-year-old daughter, then it’s tragic,” Tigana said. “To me, that’s not football.” Tigana became Bordeaux coach in the offseason after Laurent Blanc accepted the job of France coach. Tigana, who won the European Championship with France in 1984, is a former player at the club. “It’s the last press conference that I’m giving you,” Tigana said. “Goodnight.” Bordeaux’s fitness coach, Eric Bedouet, is expected to take over as interim coach.
Football - Turkish league match cancelled due to fan violence
The Turkish football federation has cancelled a league game between Besiktas and Bursapor due to pre-match violence between supporters that resulted in 25 policemen receiving minor injuries. Gov. Sahabettin Harput of the northwestern city of Bursa says nine other people have also been injured. The clashes erupted on Saturday when police prevented Bursaspor fans from assualting Besiktas supporters in an apparent revenge attack following last year’s street fights in Istanbul. No Besiktas fans were injured but the clashes trapped the team’s players in their hotel. Police have escorted Besiktas’ players and supporters out of Bursa.
Football - Young Boys fire
coach Petkovic, hire Gross
Swiss club Young Boys has fired coach Vladimir Petkovic and hired Christian Gross to take charge next season. Petkovic was released after a 1-1 draw against Lucerne on Saturday left the Bern club a distant third in the league behind title challengers Zurich and Basel. The Bosnian coach’s assistant, Erminio Piserchia, will pick the team for the final four matches. Petkovic led Young Boys to a runner-up finish last season after surrendering its lead to Basel in the final week. Young Boys says Gross has agreed a two-year contract. Gross won four league titles in 10 years at Basel before being fired in 2009. The former Tottenham coach then joined Germany’s Stuttgart but was fired last October.
Basketball - Panathinaikos beat
Maccabi for Euroleague title
Point guard Dimitris Diamantidis scored 16 points and added nine assists to lead Panathinaikos to its sixth European title yesterday with a 78-70 win over Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv in the Euroleague final. Panathinaikos used a strong third quarter to build a double-digit lead and then withstood a late run from the Israeli team in the fourth. Centre Mike Batiste scored 18 points for Panathinaikos, and guard Drew Nicholas added 14. It is Panathinaikos' third title in five years and puts it level with CSKA Moscow in second place on the all-time list behind Real Madrid's eight continental crowns.