Football - UEFA: Euro 2012
less profitable than in 2008
UEFA is likely to get slightly lower profits from the European championship that was co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland compared to those the European football’s governing body got from the tournament in Austria and Switzerland four years ago. Tournament director Martin Kallen said yesterday that UEFA’s profit from the Euro 2012 will be just under €250 million it got in 2008 because of additional funds UEFA had to spend on helping Poland and Ukraine organise the mega event. Kallen said exact figures will be released sometime next year. Ukraine and Poland had to significantly upgrade their infrastructure to host the three-week tournament that is Europe’s biggest sporting event.
Football - Dundee FC to replace
Rangers and play in SPL
The Scottish Premier League has invited Dundee FC to play in the top division to replace Rangers, which is in bankruptcy protection and will begin the new season in the fourth tier. Dundee, which finished runner-up in the second tier last season, was chosen Monday ahead of relegated Dunfermline at the SPL’s annual general meeting. Rangers, which has won a record 54 championship titles, was demoted on Friday to the lowest league of professional football in Scotland because it has tax debts exceeding $30 million. The club had been hoping to only be relegated to the second tier.
Football - British minister calls
for swearing crackdown
British culture secretary Jeremy Hunt says swearing on the football pitch “has gone too far” and wants authorities to crack down on the problem. Hunt spoke yesterday on British television and said he has some experience of the issue because “I’ve been at the receiving end of it” as a nonprofessional football referee. Hunt says “I would like to see the football authorities do more” but “we do need footballers to set an example.”
Football - Pescara sell
Marco Verratti to PSG
Italian side Pescara have agreed to sell Marco Verratti to Paris Saint-Germain according to the Gazzetta dello Sport. The midfielder will cost PSG over €12m. It was also reported that fee could rise by a further €4m if certain bonus clauses are activated. The 19-year-old, wanted by Juventus and Inter, will put pen to paper on a five-year contract after undergoing his medical today.
Football - Tevez and Dzeko
staying at Man City
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed that he wants Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko to stay at Manchester City. This was bad news for Milan who wanted one of the City strikers to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic who seems to be close to signing for PSG. “These two will remain,” the former Bologna, Lazio and Sampdoria forward said. “They are my strikers and are part of my plans. There is an important project here.” However, Mancini’s stance on Tevez and Dzeko might still change, but only if City pull off a big-money swoop for Robin Van Persie. Signing the Arsenal forward could mean that one City striker is surplus to requirements so Milan could bide their time before making a bid.
Motor-Sport - Marussia: car not to blame for De Villota accident
The Marussia Formula One team says the accident that caused one of its test drivers to lose an eye wasn’t the fault of the car involved. Maria de Villota was driving a F1 car for only the fourth time – and first for Marussia – when she hit a support truck during a straight-line exercise near an airfield in England on 3 July. De Villota lost her right eye in sustaining serious facial and head injuries. Marussia has completed its probe into the crash, with team principal John Booth saying in a statement that “our internal investigation exclude the car as a factor in the accident.” The 32-year-old De Villota has undergone two operations and is beginning to recover.
Golf - Chapman wins US Senior
Open to join trio of stars
Roger Chapman has joined impressive company. The Englishman shot a 4-under 66 on Sunday to win the US Senior Open by two strokes at 10 under. Chapman, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Hale Irwin are the only players to win the US Senior Open and Senior PGA Championship in the same year. Before this year, his career highlight was a European Tour win in Brazil in 2000. Bernhard Langer (72), Fred Funk (67), Tom Lehman (68) and Corey Pavin (68) finished tied for second at 8-under 272 at the Champions Tour’s fourth of five majors. Langer took a four-shot lead into the final round and closed with a 2-over-par round.
Rugby - Cooper suspended,
to miss Super 15 playoff
Queensland Reds playmaker Quade Cooper will miss the Super 15 playoff against the South Africa-based Sharks after being banned one match for a dangerous tackle in the weekend win over New South Wales. The defending champion Reds clinched top spot in the Australian conference with the 32-16 win over the Waratahs last Saturday, with Cooper spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin and going on report for a high tackle on Berrick Barnes in the 63rd minute. His judiciary hearing in Brisbane yesterday lasted almost five hours.