RRACINGACING | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 4 Medication History is might have made as caused Westbrook sets doping: Baff ert NBA record

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 FOOTBALL Ramadan 30, 1442 AH Juve in danger as GULF TIMES doubt surrounds Pirlo, Ronaldo futures SPORT Page 7 SPOTLIGHT Nadal casts doubts over his participation in Olympics ‘In a normal world I’ll never think about missing Olympics. There’s no doubt about that’

Reuters by Alexander Zverev in last week’s Rome Madrid Open, opens his Rome Mas- ters campaign against local favourite Jannik Sinner today. GEARING UP afa Nadal has raised doubts “... Tomorrow is going to be a tough about his participation in start, one of the toughest possible this year’s Tokyo Olympics against Sinner,” Nadal said. Ramid the Covid-19 pandem- Osaka, Japan’s biggest sports ic, saying yesterday that he has to be star and a major gold-medal pros- fl exible and cannot give a clear an- pect, said “to be honest, I’m not re- swer until he organises his schedule ally sure”, when asked if the Olympics for the year. should take place as planned. Japan has extended a state of emer- “I’m an athlete, and of course my gency in Tokyo and three other areas immediate thought is that I want to until the end of May as the country play in the Olympics,” the four-time battles a surge in Covid-19 cases, Grand Slam winner told the BBC. raising new questions about whether “But as a human, I would say we’re the rescheduled July 23-Aug 8 Games in a pandemic, and if people aren’t should go ahead. healthy, and if they’re not feeling safe, Nadal, who won a singles gold in don’t know. Let’s see what’s going on then it’s defi nitely a really big cause Beijing 2008 and added a doubles ti- in the next couple of months. I need for concern.” tle in Rio de Janeiro eight years later to organise my schedule... In a nor- “It’s only natural that there are partnering Marc Lopez, said that he mal year, I know my schedule almost voices of disapproval. Can we re- is yet to fi rm up his plans on travelling 100% from Jan. 1 until the end of the ally hold a safe Olympics for everyone to Tokyo. season.” under these circumstances? I don’t “I don’t know yet. Honestly I can’t Japan’s top-ranked men’s and think we can say yes with confi dence give you a clear answer because I women’s players — Kei Nishikori and right now,” said Tomomi Tozawa, a don’t know. I don’t know my calen- Naomi Osaka — have raised concerns 100m T63 runner. dar,” Nadal told a news conference at about staging the Games amid the “But as an athlete, until we are told the Rome Masters. pandemic. it’s cancelled, we need to presume it’s “In a normal world I’ll never think “This year is a bit diff erent, no? We going ahead and prepare for that,” she about missing Olympics. There’s no need to be fl exible. We need to adapt said. doubt about that. Everybody knows about things that are happening,” Another para-athlete, Ikoma To- how important it has been for me to Nadal said. moki, said he had “a strong desire for Maya Nakanishi competes in the women’s long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Tokyo always play in the Olympics. The 20-times Grand Slam cham- them to hold it, even given the cir- Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo yesterday. “Under these circumstances, I pion, who was beaten in straight sets cumstances”.

BOTTOMLINE FOCUS Amir Cup football Djokovic powers past Fritz to fi nal postponed he Amir Cup fi nal sched- as long as they are vaccinated. uled for Friday has been The Amir Cup is a hugely postponed until further popular tournament and games reach 3rd round of Italian Open notice, the Qatar Foot- between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan ballT Association said yesterday. have always attracted a lot of Agencies Rome This decision comes after the fans. announcement of the gradual Accordingly the QFA will an- lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in nounce the new date of the game n a rainy Tuesday, the country, which includes al- shortly in co-ordination with Novak Djokovic man- lowing a limited number of fans relevant authorities, particularly aged to close out a to attend outdoor sports events the Ministry of Public Health. 6-3, 7-6(5) win over TaylorO Fritz in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome. All other matches scheduled after Muslim, Arab footballers express that were cancelled due to rain, support for Palestinians including Daniil Medvedev’s showdown with Aslan Karatsev. Nicosia: Arab and Muslim 50,000 times. Djokovic and Fritz’s most footballers have been expressing Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, who is recent encounter was a fi ve- support for Palestinians in recent with Italy’s Inter Milan, tweeted set battle in the third round of days, including on social media, a video of a woman apparently the Australian Open, but this amid clashes between Israeli arrested by Israel security forces time Djokovic came out sharp. security forces and protesters in appearing to argue with off icers The Serbian broke in Fritz’s Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. about the issue. fi rst service game, and made “The world needs peace and love. Former Mali and Tottenham for- 70 per cent of his fi rst serves in It will soon be Eid, let us all love ward Frederic Kanoute wrote on the opening set to comfortably one another #PrayForPalestine,” Twitter: “apartheid continues and close it out. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba Palestinians are being expelled The second set began in near- wrote on a photo on Instagram, from their homes while most ly identical fashion with Djoko- referring to the Eid al-Fitr holiday ‘leaders’ are complicit with their vic breaking in the fi rst game this week marking the end of the silence at best and their direct to establish early dominance. Muslim holy month of Ramadan. support at worst”. The World No 1 had to step his Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in Some former and current Egyptian Ahmed Hassan “Kouka”, level up to save two break points action during his second round athletes have posted messages currently playing for Greek side at 4-3, but then Fritz went for match against Taylor Fritz of of solidarity with Palestinians in Olympiakos, also posted a mes- broke on Djokovic’s next service the US in Rome yesterday. east Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah sage of support for Palestinians. game at 5-4 and was rewarded neighbourhood, where looming Other sympathisers from sport- for it by evening out the match. evictions of Palestinian families ing ranks have included Russian After already playing most of have fuelled angry demonstra- mixed martial arts champion the match in rainy conditions, Djokovic is 4-2 since winning where he is 56-9 with fi ve titles. er Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Agut booked his place in the tions. Khabib Nurmagomedov, French play was stopped at 5-5. his 17th major at the Australian He’ll next face either Cam- The world number 48 saved second round with a comforta- Algerian striker Riyad Mahrez, footballer Franck Ribery, German When they returned to the Open after a third-round exit in eron Norrie or Alejandro Davi- two set points in the second set ble 6-3, 6-4 win over American who plays for Manchester footballer Shkodran Mustafi, and court three hours later, both Monte-Carlo and a semi-fi nal dovich Fokina. as he dismissed the 2014 semi- Tommy Paul. City, tweeted a picture of the Egyptian former football star players held serve comfortably appearance in Belgrade. He im- Earlier, 16th seed Grigor Dim- fi nalist Dimitrov 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) Madison Keys won the bat- Palestinian flag with the hashtag Mohamed Aboutrika, currently a and Djokovic closed out the win proves to 4-0 in his ATP Head- itrov crashed out of the Italian to win in one hour and 43 min- tle of the Americans when she #SaveSheikhJarrah. The post commentator with beIN sports on his fi rst match point in the 2Head Series against Fritz as he Open when he was beaten in utes. overcame Sloane Stephens 4-6, has been retweeted more than channel in Qatar. tie-break. looks to defend his title in Rome straight sets by Spanish qualifi - Tenth seed Roberto Bautista 6-2, 7-5. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 SPORT

ATHLETICS SPOTLIGHT Australia basketball star drops Olympic Cheruiyot adjusts boycott threat

AFP this one out”. Sydney Cambage, who has a Nigerian father and Australian mother, backtracked in a post on the same to the reality of a ustralian basketball star platform Tuesday, saying “I’m in Liz Cambage yester- baby, I’m in”. day withdrew a threat “I’m going to play with my sis- to boycott the Tokyo ters that I’ve been playing with OlympicsA over “whitewashed” since I was a wee little thing and team photoshoots, but vowed to imma ball out for all those young remain outspoken on social jus- brown kids back in Australia tice issues. watching me,” she said. pandemic Games The 29-year-old, a two-time Cambage’s threat received a Olympian who is preparing for mixed response in Australia, with ‘When we go to races, we normally go there and train. But now, you are going there and stay in a room’ the new WNBA season with the some applauding her for taking Las Vegas Aces, last week took a stance while others, including issue with two promotional pic- former tennis star Todd Wood- tures showing predominantly bridge, accused her of “disre- white Australian Olympic ath- specting” fellow athletes. letes. The Australian Olympic Com- The fi rst photoshoot organ- mittee conceded Cambage had ised by the team’s apparel spon- a point and said future photo- sor, Jockey, included no people of shoots would refl ect its diversity colour, while Indigenous rugby of athletes. player Maurice Longbottom was Cambage, part of the Austral- the only non-white face in the ian team that won bronze at the group pictures in the second. 2012 London Olympics, was un- “HOW AM I MEANT TO REP- fazed by criticism and said she RESENT A COUNTRY THAT would continue to speak out. DOESNT EVEN REPRESENT “I’m such a psycho bitch that ME #whitewashedaustralia,” all the hate that you give me turns Cambage posted on Instagram, me on, it makes me go harder and concluding “until I see you doing push for more,” she said, vowing more @ausolympicteam imma sit to use her voice to “make change”.

Australia’s Liz Cambage (L) and Lauren Jackson look at their bronze Timothy Cheruiyot, winner of the 1500 metres gold medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, runs during a training session in Nairobi, Kenya. medals during the victory ceremony at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 11, 2012. File photo Reuters Now, the three-time Diamond we are prepared for any eventu- now, you are going there and stay weeks, Covid restrictions per- Nairobi League champion is being forced ality,” Ouma added. in a room. It’s a bit challenging,” mitting, his focus remains the to adjust. He sometimes has to “We live together, all of us, Cheruiyot said. Olympics. FOCUS train alone, rather than in his that means the bubble is working He told Reuters that all ath- But he needs to qualify at next oach Bernard Ouma traditional team environment. for us and we try to keep up the letes are grappling with similar month’s trials fi rst. In Kenya, barked orders to start This makes the mental aspect of adherence of the Covid-19 pro- Covid-19 related disruptions. which scooped 13 Olympic med- stretching and the team the sport even more important, tocol.” Cheruiyot has not yet received als four years ago in Rio and All Blacks centre of a dozen athletes Ouma said. He has pared down Their routine is simple: train the Covid-19 vaccine, Ouma boasts world record holders such fannedC out in the morning sun- the intensity of Cheruiyot’s at the track or running on a said, but he is in the queue. as marathon runners Eliud Kip- shine, leaving a good six feet be- training, putting more emphasis track in Nairobi’s National Park He has adjusted to competing choge and Brigid Kosgei, mak- Laumape signs tween them. on the process. – home to both lions, hyenas without fans, a reality at most ing the team can be even more Among them is Kenya’s 1,500 “I said I am not interested and rhinos.“Luckily the animals sporting activities in the past daunting than the Olympics metre world champion Timothy in timing,” said Ouma. “I just don’t have Covid,” Ouma joked. year and a strong possibility at themselves. In 2016, Cheruiyot with Stade Francais Cheruiyot, who has been strug- want to see effort. Show me Cheruiyot still managed to the upcoming Olympics. failed to qualify for the Rio Games gling to keep a consistent training how you can run, this eases compete in some races last year “I can balance my race because after fi nishing fourth in the trials schedule in a topsy-turvy year as pressure.” despite the pandemic. we have competitors,” Cheruiyot for the 1,500m race, a mere half a he prepares for this summer’s Ol- He has worked with Cherui- He won in Monaco and Stock- said. “Although I know there are second from making the team – a ympic Games scheduled in Tokyo. yot more closely on his mental holm, showing little signs of rust no fans on the track, there are moment he described as one of Cheruiyot was one of the top strength to help build his resil- in either race, although he lost a sounds in the track so I can run the worst of his career. contenders for an Olympic gold ience, checking in how he is cop- 2,000 metre virtual race in June, without fans.” “Trials in Kenya is very com- in Japan after an impressive 2019, ing and what is happening with where his “Team Cheruiyot” pit- “I am running against time,” petitive,” he said. when he won the world title in three younger siblings and his ted themselves against the Nor- he added. But he’s itching for an elusive Doha. Then the Games were parents, who are farmers in west- wegian “Team Ingebrigtsen”. While the 25-year-old hopes Olympic win. postponed amid the Covid-19 ern Kenya. “When we go to races, we to compete in some races in Eu- “I lack a medal in Olympics, so pandemic. “Last year was bad, this year... normally go there and train. But rope and Qatar in the next few that is my goal,” he added.

BOTTOMLINE Dunes galore! Dakar 2022 heads back to Saudi Arabia

AFP “Saudi Arabia has been in- Paris spired by its neighbours, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar. They came to the party very he 2022 Dakar Rally will late, but are going much faster to feature more sand dunes have this same development by as the epic car and moto multiplying international sport- stage race heads back to ing events.”Turning to the 2022 SaudiT Arabia for the third time route, Castera said: “We’re go- with organisers playing down ac- ing to explore places we haven’t Agencies 28-year-old Laumape but the cusations of sportswashing by the completely explored, putting the Auckland rugby league convert will report Gulf kingdom. emphasis on sand and dunes.” at Stade from July 1, the Parisian The Rally will depart from Ha’il The 12 stages, heading south- club said. in the north on January 2 and fi n- easterly from the start, take in the xplosive New Zealand Laumape will replace France ish in the western coastal city of testing Empty Quarter, the vast centre Ngani Laumape centre Gael Fickou, who is leav- Jeddah on January 14, after a rest Rub’ al-Khali desert in the south- has signed with Stade ing Stade at the end of the sea- day in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. ern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Francais and will join son. Launched in 1979 between Paris “The weeding-out process will Ethe French club after the Super The New Zealander was and the Senegalese capital Dakar, come down to the crews’ ability Rugby Trans-Tasman competi- among fi ve recruits Stade con- the celebrated endurance chal- to tackle the dunes and off -road tion. fi rmed late on Monday, includ- lenge moved to the kingdom for navigation,” Dakar organisers The Wellington Hurricanes ing England rugby sevens player the fi rst time in 2020 after a dec- Riyadh’s involvement in Yemen’s One to come in December. there are Westerners, tourist vi- said. French driver Stephane Pe- juggernaut played two tests for Harry Glover. ade in South America. six-year war. Saudi offi cials argue that such sas, there are women who com- terhansel, a Dakar winner for a the All Blacks last year but has The All Blacks are slated to That sparked angry reaction A host of other sports have, like events come within the remit of pete in the Dakar, women who 14th time this year, and his rivals struggled to nail down a spot in host Italy in two Tests in July from human rights organisations the Dakar, shelved any such con- the country’s “Vision 2030” to drive. “We are maybe at the start will face two days exclusively in a crowded midfi eld, with selec- and one against Fiji, though the amid accusations of “sport- cerns, with high-profi le football, increase its openness. of a change. It’s a start, it may the dunes, a potential title de- tors opting for Jack Goodhue. Italians are expected to pull out swashing” – using sport to divert cycling, Formula E and boxing “I want to believe in their never be enough. We want things cider. “If we go looking for sand, Goodhue’s season-ending of the tour due to the COVID-19 attention away from not only events all having been staged in openness,” Dakar director David to go faster but there had to be that’s good news,” said Peterhan- injury sustained last month pandemic, New Zealand media domestic rights issues but also the country, with even Formula Castera told AFP. “At least now something. sel. might have opened the door for reported last week. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 12, 2021 3 SPORT

HORSE RACING Anti-fungal medication might have caused doping: Baff ert Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone in a post-race sample

AFP Washington

ob Baff ert, trainer of doping- hit Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, said yesterday an anti-fungal medication givenB to the horse might have inadvert- ently caused the positive test that has jeopardised the victory. In a statement released by Baff ert’s lawyer and reported by US media, the famed trainer said his staff treated the colt with the ointment Otomax, which Baff ert said he learned on Monday in- cludes the substance betamethasone. Medina Spirit tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone in a Bob Baff ert, the trainer of Medina Spirit. post-race sample, but the substance is banned within two weeks of a race, the Preakness, the second leg of the US meaning any amount found in that Triple Crown, with the treble conclud- sample is a violation. ing at next month’s Belmont Stakes in A second test from the sample must New York. be positive as well to invalidate Medina Baff ert said he will continue to fi ght Spirit’s Derby victory and make run- for the colt with Kentucky racing offi - ner-up Mandaloun the winner of the cials, saying such small amounts of the May 1 US fl at racing classic at Churchill anti-infl amatory substance would not Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. have off ered a competitive advantage. Baff ert, who spent the past two days “Medina Spirit earned his Kentucky saying the horse was never treated with Derby win and my pharmacologists betamethasone, said the ointment — have told me that 21 picograms of beta- given to Medina Spirit once a day until methasone would have had no eff ect on the eve of the Derby — might have been the outcome of the race,” Baff ert said. the source of the banned substance. “Medina Spirit is a deserved champion “Yesterday, I was informed that one and I will continue to fi ght for him.” of the substances in Otomax is beta- Medina Spirit could be only the sec- methasone,” Baff ert said. “While we ond Kentucky Derby winner in history do not know defi nitively that this was to be stripped of the title for doping of- the source of the alleged 21 picograms fences. It is the latest in a series of dop- found in Medina Spirit’s post-race ing cases that have rocked Baff ert’s sta- blood sample, and our investigation is ble in recent years, and leaves the Hall continuing, I have been told by equine of Fame trainer risking a lengthy ban In this file photo taken on May 1, 2021, Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. (AFP) pharmacology experts that this could from the sport if confi rmed. explain the test results. Baff ert on Monday told Fox News of competition — and suggested the can get contaminated and when they’re We have the documentation. We’re go- day’s doping bombshell. “I have been told that a fi nding of a in an interview he had never cheated, horse could have been accidentally or testing at these really ridiculously low ing to show everything.” Baff ert meanwhile criticised small amount, such as 21 picograms, and said his immediate suspension by deliberately contaminated with the levels — I’ve been saying it for over a Baff ert meanwhile said he planned to Churchill Downs race track for sus- could be consistent with application of Churchill Downs race course on Sun- substance. Kentucky racing authori- year now these are gonna get innocent enter Medina Spirit in this weekend’s pending him following the drugs test this type of ointment. I intend to con- day had left him a victim of “cancel ties last year changed the threshold for people in trouble and this is what hap- Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Balti- revelation. tinue to investigate and I will continue culture.” a positive betamethasone test from 10 pened now,” Baff ert said. more. It was not clear however if Me- “Churchill Downs came out with to be transparent.” Baff ert told Fox that Medina Spirit picograms per millilitre of plasma to 21 “Bob Baff ert is not stupid,” the dina Spirit would be allowed to race by that statement and that was pretty Medina Spirit has been transported had never been given betamethasone picograms per millilitre. A picogram is trainer added. “That is not a drug that I the Maryland Jockey Club. harsh,” he said. “We live in a diff erent to Pimlico racetrack in Baltimore, Mar- — which is legal in US racing provided one trillionth of a gram. would use on a horse. We don’t use that The draw for the race was delayed for world. This America is diff erent. This yland, ahead of Saturday’s running of it is not administered within 14 days “There’s so many ways these horses drug. The horse never had that in him. 24 hours until yesterday following Sun- was a cancel culture kind of thing.”

CRICKET New Zealand keeper Watling to retire aft er England tour Auckland: New Zealand’s most one-day internationals and five for which I’ll always be grateful. helped him forge a career as India players get Covid-19 successful Test wicketkeeper Twenty20s, said the time had Although I’ve had to make this one of the country’s finest BJ Watling will retire from all come to hang up his gloves as announcement ahead of the glovemen. “The records speak forms of cricket after their he looks forward to spending tour to England, my focus is for themselves and he’s been vaccines before England tour upcoming tour of England, the more time with his family. very much on the three tests such a crucial cog in the test country’s cricket board (NZC) “It’s been a huge honour to ahead and preparing to per- team’s rise over the past dec- Reuters said yesterday. represent New Zealand and in form in them.” ade,” Stead said. “The attitude New Delhi Watling, 35, has been an particular wear the test baggy,” With the bat, Watling has and fight he brings to every day integral part of New Zealand’s Watling said. “Test cricket really scored 3773 runs in 73 Tests at of a Test is what has made him Test team since debuting in is the pinnacle of the game 38.11 with eight hundreds and such a valued member of the ndia captain Virat Kohli and 2009, and holds the Black Caps’ and I’ve loved every minute of 19 half-centuries, with his high- Black Caps.” New Zealand are several of his teammates record for Test dismissals with being out there in the whites est score of 205 coming against set to play two Tests against have received their fi rst dose 249 catches (excluding 10 as a with the boys. I’ve played with England at Mt Maunganui in England beginning June 2 of Covid-19 vaccines before fielder) and eight stumpings. some great players and made 2019. New Zealand coach Gary followed by the ICC World Test Ithey leave for a tour of England Watling, who also repre- many good mates. I’ve also had Stead paid tribute to Watling’s Championship Final against next month. India face New sented New Zealand in 28 plenty of help along the way grit and determination that India from June 18-22. Zealand in the fi nal of the inau- gural World Test Championship at Southampton in June before playing a fi ve-Test series against GOLF England from Aug 4. India’s novel coronavirus cases rose by 329,942 yesterday, while deaths from the disease rose by 3,876. The country leads Johnson withdraws from Byron Nelson the world in the daily average AFP number of new deaths reported, Los Angeles accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a tally. orld number one Dustin “Vaccinate yourself as soon as Johnson has withdrawn from you can please. Stay Safe,” Kohli this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson said an Instagram message af- PGA Tour event after suff er- ter posting a photo of him being Wing a fl are-up of a lingering knee problem, a vaccinated on Monday. Kohli’s statement said yesterday. Test team ates Ajinkya Rahane, Johnson, who underwent surgery on Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Shar- his left knee in September 2019, said in a ma and Umesh Yadav have also statement released through the PGA Tour posted messages on social media he would skip this week’s event in Texas to saying they have received the fi rst Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli clutches his arm as he walks focus on rehabilitation. The announcement jab.Most of the players had been out after receiving a dose of the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine comes just over a week before the second playing in the Indian Premier in Mumbai on Monday. (AFP) major of the season, the May 20-23 PGA League (IPL), which was sus- Championship at Kiawah Island in South pended indefi nitely last week be- 2016, the ECB announced it had “This has been a challenging Carolina. cause of the pandemic. India be- reserves of more than £70mn. year,” said Scott Smith, chief fi - “It is with deepest regret that I must gan a vaccination drive for those But the start-up costs associ- nancial offi cer at the ECB. withdraw from this week’s Byron Nelson,” above 18-years-old on May 1. ated with the Hundred, the ECB’s “But by being able to stage in- Johnson said in the statement. “Unfortu- Indian athletes preparing for new 100 balls-per-side compe- ternational cricket and by tak- nately, the knee discomfort I occasionally the Tokyo Olympics, including tition, helped reduce that fi gure ing decisive action early in the experience has returned and after consul- 48th in his most recent outing at the Valspar players in the fi eld. Brooks Koepka (+2300) the men’s and women’s hockey to about £11mn by 2019 — be- pandemic, we have been able to tation with my team and trainers, I feel it is Championship earlier this month. fell two spots to No 12 this week as he also teams, have also received their fore the pandemic took hold. The support the network and avoid best that I remain at home and focus on my Johnson’s withdrawal vaulted Bryson De- prepares to compete for the fi rst time since fi rst dose of the vaccine. Mem- Hundred is due to make its debut a far worse fi nancial scenario. rehabilitation work. I am not pleased about Chambeau into the co-favourite role. Jon Augusta National, where he missed the cut. bers of the shooting contingent in 2021 after a year’s delay be- There remains considerable un- this situation, as I was really looking for- Rahm was the +850 favourite at DraftKings Spieth also took a month off after his T3 also received their fi rst dose be- cause of Covid-19. certainty over the year ahead, but ward to playing this week.” on Monday morning, with DeChambeau at the Masters, which followed his fi rst win fore leaving for a training camp in The ECB said revenue losses we hope that delivering another The 36-year-old’s statement gave no in- listed at +900 ahead of Johnson and Jordan since 2017 the previous week at the Valero Croatia yesterday. across English cricket as a whole, full summer of cricket — and dication of whether he would be fi t for the Spieth at +1200. Texas Open. after a year of playing matches with crowds beginning to return PGA Championship, where Johnson will be Rahm and DeChambeau both saw their He enters this week at No 29 in the Offi - ENGLISH CRICKET CHIEFS behind closed doors, amounted from next week — we are able to aiming to capture his second major after odds shorten to +800 with the news that cial World Golf Rankings, the highest he has BLAME VIRUS FOR £16.1MN to more than £100mn. But that protect the revenue we need to victory in the 2020 Masters. Johnson will not play in the fi nal tune-up been since June of 2019. Sung Kang is set to ANNUAL LOSS is some way short of the worst- invest in growing our game.” Johnson’s form has fl uctuated since victo- for next week’s PGA Championship. Spieth defend his maiden PGA Tour victory, albeit The England and Wales Cricket case scenario. ECB revenue fell by £21mn to ry at the Saudi International European Tour is now the third betting favourite at +1100, from 2019 after last year’s event was can- Board (ECB) reported an annual The ECB feared it could lose £207mn. The fi nancial statement event in February, with a tie for 54th place followed by Daniel Berger (+1700) and celled due to the coronavirus pandemic. loss of £16.1mn ($22.8mn) yes- £380mn had the entire 2020 said the delay to the Hundred at the World Golf Championships-Workday Hideki Matsuyama (+2000). The 184th-ranked Kang carries longshot terday, saying the coronavirus season been wiped out but a full and costs of staging bio-secure Championship followed by a 48th place at Matsuyama will tee it up for the fi rst time odds at +35000 as he has missed fi ve of his pandemic had whittled down international programme went cricket had contributed to the The Players Championship, before a missed since winning the Masters last month, while past seven cuts and doesn’t have a fi nish cash reserves to just £2.2mn. In ahead in a bio-secure bubble. decline. cut at the Masters last month. He fi nished Rahm and DeChambeau are the only top-10 better than T59 in 12 starts this year. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 SPORT

BASKETBALL NBA Curry and Warriors down Jazz, clinch History made as play-in bid

Reuters Los Angeles

tephen Curry scored 36 points, including a go-ahead Westbrook sets NBA 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining, as the Golden State Warriors upended the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz 119-116 on Monday in San Francisco. SThe Warriors (36-33) won not long after their spot in the posts- eason play-in tournament was secured. Jordan Poole added 20 points and Kent Bazemore had 19 for the Warriors, who pushed their lead to as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter before the Jazz rallied late. Curry has scored at least 30 points in 37 games triple-double record this season, reaching that benchmark in 20 of his past 22 contests. Jordan Clarkson had 41 points for the Jazz, including 24 in the fourth quarter. Bojan Bogdanovic added 27 as Utah (50-19) saw its ‘NORMALLY I DON’T LIKE TO PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK, BUT TONIGHT I WILL’ fi ve-game winning streak come to an end. Utah pushed ahead on two occasions late, including a 116-114 advantage with 1:11 remaining on a Clarkson step-back 3-point- er. However, Clarkson missed all three of his shots the rest of the way, including a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds remaining. Utah was without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (ankle) for the 13th consecutive game and without fellow start- ing guard Mike Conley (hamstring) for the eighth contest in a row. The Jazz lost for just the second time over RESULTS those eight games. One season after Hawks 125-124 Wizards the Warriors fi nished Spurs 146-125 Bucks with the worst record Warriors 119-116 Jazz in the NBA, they will play at least one Trail Blazers 140-129 Rockets game after the cur- Grizzlies 115-110 Pelicans rent regular-season Pacers 111-102 Cavaliers ends. Their play-in spot was clinched af- ter the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier Monday. Andrew Wiggins scored 14 points for the Warriors, while Draymond Green added 12 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Kevon Looney added 13 rebounds for Golden State. Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Jazz, who still have a 1 1/2-game lead on the second-place Phoenix Suns. Utah, which hasn’t won a Western Conference regular-season title since 1997-98, has three regular-season games remaining. Washington Wizards guard Russell Poole hit a shot from just beyond half court at the third-quarter Westbrook is defended by Atlanta buzzer that gave the Warriors a 89-75 lead. The hosts appeared Hawks guard Kevin Huerter in the ready to fi nish off the victory from there, but Utah stayed in it by fourth quarter of their NBA game at outscoring the Warriors 41-30 in the fi nal quarter. State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (USA TODAY Sports) SPURS GET CRITICAL WIN, DROP BUCKS 146-125 DeMar DeRozan poured in 23 points and three of his San Antonio teammates scored at least 20 as the Spurs moved a step closer to a spot in the play-in tournament with a 146-125 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Monday in a game with major play- off implications for both teams. San Antonio (33-35) has won two of its past three games but just twice in its past eight outings. Despite the uneven results of the past three weeks, the Spurs are a near-lock for the NBA’s play-in AFP ensured he rapidly caught and overtook just something I would never have dreamt highlights. “The things he’s been able to tournament for the teams fi nishing 7-10 in the conference stand- Los Angeles Robertson’s historic benchmark, which about.” do, hopefully, we will say, ‘Give him his ings at the end of the regular season. had stood since 1974 and was once widely Wizards coach Scott Brooks described love, give him his respect.’ This is really The Spurs’ win Monday combined with New Orleans’ loss to regarded as unbeatable. Westbrook’s achievement as “phenom- big. This is something I couldn’t even do. Memphis reduced San Antonio’s magic number for clinching ussell Westbrook wrote his way “Normally I don’t like to pat myself on enal.” I know how big it is.” at least the 10th spot to just one game. Dejounte Murray added into NBA history on Monday, the back, but tonight I will,” Westbrook “It’s great for him,” Brooks said. “You Westbrook’s critics have accused him 21 points, and Patty Mills and Keldon Johnson hit for 20 points bagging the 182nd triple-double said afterwards. “I am just so grateful for can’t take anything away from him. of artifi cially infl ating his personal apiece for the Spurs. of his career to break Oscar Rob- those that came before me.” “The guy’s a winner. He’s making stats to keep his triple-double tally ertson’sR 47-year-old record. The 32-year-old Westbrook now has the basketball and the non-basketball ticking over, noting that a career that Washington Wizards star Westbrook, several seasons left in his career to extend world a better place. Not a lot of guys has included stints with the Oklahoma who had equaled Robertson’s record of his record, with few of his contemporar- can do that, not a lot of guys have the City Thunder and Houston Rockets 181 triples on Saturday, sealed his record- ies anywhere near his total. Westbrook impact that he has, on and off the and a 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player breaking triple with 8min 33sec remain- has nearly twice as many triple-doubles court.” award has yet to yield an NBA Champi- ing in Monday’s 125-124 defeat to the as his nearest rival among currently ac- Johnson, meanwhile, had paid tribute onship. Atlanta Hawks. Westbrook’s 36th triple- tive players. to Westbrook’s record-breaking career However, Robertson himself is among double of the season included 28 points, After Westbrook with 182, LeBron prior to Monday’s game, saying the Wiz- those who have dismissed the criticism of 21 assists and 13 rebounds. James is in second spot with 99 triples, ards ace didn’t always get the credit he Westbrook’s failure to land a champion- He is already assured of averaging while James Harden is third with 58. Only deserved. ship ring. a triple-double per game this season. two other players after Westbrook and “I think he’s one of the elite guards in A triple-double occurs when a player Robertson have scored 100 or more tri- ‘GIVE HIM HIS RESPECT’ basketball, and I think it’s ridiculous that makes double-digit tallies in three of the ples on the all-time rankings, with Earvin “When we show highlights, it’s how some sports writers criticise him because fi ve major statistical categories in a game “Magic” Johnson third with 138 and Jason many points somebody had, how far can he has not won a championship,” Robert- – points, rebounds, assists, steals and Kidd fourth with 107. they shoot out on the court,” Johnson told son told The New York Times. blocks. “It’s just a blessing...You put so much The Athletic. “Players don’t win championships Westbrook has averaged a triple- into the game,” Westbrook said. “Russell Westbrook is neither one of by themselves. You’ve got to have good Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Rudy double per game in four of the last fi ve “Just to be mentioned with guys like those things. He gets all these triple- management. You need to get with the Gobert of the Utah Jazz at Chase Center in San Francisco. (Getty seasons, an eye-popping statistic that Oscar, Magic, Jason Kidd, those guys. It’s doubles, but you don’t see him on the right group of players.” Images/AFP)

NHL McDavid scores winner for Oilers over Canadiens Reuters Returning to the lineup after missing Buff alo RESULTS nine games, Byron backhanded home his fi fth goal at 5:56 of the second, but Oilers 4-3 Montreal Kahun regained the lead with his eighth onnor McDavid scored on a Avalanche 2-1 Golden Knights after a pass from McDavid at 9:26. breakaway 2:42 into overtime Bruins 3-2 Islanders In the third, Lehkonen’s sharp-angle as the Edmonton Oilers beat snap shot tied the match 3-3 at 13:04 the host Montreal Canadiens Panthers 4-0 Lightning to force overtime. The clubs wrap up 4-3C on Monday night. Predators 5-0 Hurricanes the regular season in Wednesday after- McDavid took a feed from Leon Drai- Flyers 4-2 Devils noon’s fi nale in Montreal. saitl and roofed the game winner over Canucks 3-1 Jets Montreal goalie Jake Allen for McDav- PANTHERS SEAL HOME-ICE EDGE id’s 33rd goal and a two-point game. Stars 5-4 Blackhawks WITH WIN OVER LIGHTNING However, by earning a point the Ca- Blues 2-1 Kings The Florida Panthers will have the nadiens (24-21-10, 58 points) locked home-ice advantage in the open- up the NHL’s fi nal Stanley Cup play- Evans (goal, two assists) notched three- ing round of the Stanley Cup playoff s off berth – fourth place in the North point nights, and Byron posted a goal against Tampa Bay after beating the Division – and will make their third and an assist. Allen stopped 31 shots. visiting Lightning 4-0 on Monday postseason appearance in the past fi ve In the fi rst period, Evans skated into night in Sunrise, Fla. seasons. the left circle with Edmonton defense- Chris Driedger made 30 saves and James Neal, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins man Darnell Nurse on his shoulder, registered his third shutout of the sea- and Dominik Kahun potted goals for stopped on a dime and ripped his third son and the fourth of his career, and the Oilers (34-18-2, 70 points), who are tally of the season high over Koskinen MacKenzie Weegar, Juho Lammikko, 7-2-0 in their past nine games and own on the glove side at 9:32. Carter Varhaeghe and Alex Wennberg the division’s second playoff spot. The marker was Evans’ fi rst in his last scored for Florida. Lammikko also had McDavid registered his NHL-best 41 games played. He last found the net an assist. The Panthers (37-14-5, 79 69th assist and Leon Draisaitl had two in Vancouver on Jan. 21. points) needed just a point Monday - tying him for second at 51 with Chi- Neal matched it with his fi fth from in to secure the second overall seed in Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal against the cago’s Patrick Kane. close just 20 seconds later, with Ryan the Central Division, but they got two Montreal Canadiens during the overtime period at the Bell Centre in Montreal. (USA TODAY Sports) After allowing four goals on the McLeod and Alex Chiasson providing points for the victory. Florida ends the game’s fi rst four shots Thursday night noteworthy assists on the play. regular season four points ahead of the ners of their past six games while the saves) for a short-handed tally. line, both teams sat a number of play- against Vancouver, Mikko Koskinen McLeod’s helper represented his fi rst Lightning (36-17-3, 75). Lightning end the regular season on a The Panthers scored twice in the ers. Tampa Bay was without Pat Ma- returned to the blue paint and made 25 NHL point, while Chiasson recorded The Panthers will play host to Tampa three-game slide. The Panthers got the third period, with Verhaeghe fi nding roon due to suspension, and it also sat saves on 28 shots. career milestones in points (200) and Bay in Game 1 of the best-of-7 fi rst- scoring going in the fi rst period when the net at 2:27 and Wennberg convert- Ondrej Palat, Ryan McDonagh and Vic- The Canadiens’ third line of Paul By- assists (100) on the play. round postseason series at a time and Weegar one-timed a drop pass from ing a defl ection at 14:07. tor Hedman. ron, Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen Edmonton headed to the dressing date to be determined. Mason Marchment at 15:19. Monday was the third consecutive Florida’s list of healthy scratches in- had a big night, primarily matched up room with a 2-1 lead after Nugent- This will be the fi rst playoff series Florida added to its lead at 8:23 of win for the Panthers over the Light- cluded Sergei Bobrovsky, Jonathan Hu- against McDavid’s line. Hopkins netted for the 15th time from between the two Florida teams. The the second period as Lammikko beat ning, and all three came against Vasi- berdeau, Sam Bennett, Brandon Mon- Lehkonen (goal, two assists) and the bottom of the left circle at 13:29. Panthers go into the postseason win- Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (26 levskiy. Although home ice was on the tour and Patric Hornqvist. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 12, 2021 5 SPORT

MLB NFL Chiefs cut Culkin who wanted salary Reds enjoy big night converted to Bitcoin

Reuters Los Angeles

he Kansas City Chiefs at plate, pummel have cut tight end Sean Culkin, who made news last month when he an- Tnounced he planned to be the fi rst NFL player to convert his entire salary to Bitcoin. Culkin, 27, signed a reserve/ future contract in February and Pittsburgh Pirates would have received $920,000 if he made the roster as the prima- ry backup to six-time Pro Bowl ‘JUST A GOOD TEAM OFFENSIVE NIGHT WHERE EVERYONE CONTRIBUTED’ tight end Travis Kelce. “I fully believe Bitcoin is the Reuters future of fi nance and I wanted to The NFL will not return to Los Angeles prove that I have real skin in the Mexico City in 2021, however, game – not just trying to make because the Covid-19 situation a quick buck. I will be convert- there is still considered too risky, yler Naquin hit a three-run hom- ing my entire 2021 NFL salary according to the report. er and had four RBIs Monday to #Bitcoin,” Culkin tweeted on as the visiting Cincinnati Reds April 26. JAGS TO SIGN TEBOW spanked the Pittsburgh Pirates The recent additions of vet- The Jacksonville Jaguars are T14-1. Cincinnati, which racked up 15 hits, eran Blake Bell in free agency planning to sign former fi rst- is 4-0 against the Pirates this year and has and former Duke tight end Noah round pick Tim Tebow to give won three of its last four games. Gray in the fi fth round of the him a shot at making the team Eugenio Suarez hit a solo homer, Tuck- 2021 NFL Draft apparently made as a backup tight end, NFL Net- er Barnhart and Nick Castellanos each Culkin expendable. work and NBC Sports reported hit a two-run double, Nick Senzel had a Kansas City also parted ways Monday. The move would reu- two-run single and an RBI double, and with off ensive lineman Bryan nite Tebow with head coach Ur- Mike Moustakas added an RBI single for Witzmann (released) and quar- ban Meyer, his collegiate coach the Reds. Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle terback Jordan Ta’amu (waived). at Florida from 2006-09. (2-1) allowed one run and four hits in 5 Former Carolina Panthers of- Tebow is 33 and hasn’t played 1/3 innings, with four walks and seven fensive tackle Russell Okung in an NFL game since 2012. He strikeouts. Mahle also got on base twice, converted half of his $13 million was a fi rst-round pick (No. 25 scored once and picked up his fi rst career salary from 2020 into Bitcoin. overall) of the Denver Broncos in RBI. Jacob Stallings homered for the Pi- That $6.5 million investment 2010. rates, one of their fi ve hits. was worth approximately $13.4 Tebow worked out for Meyer Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller (2-4) million as of Tuesday morning. and the Jaguars as a tight end last lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs Per Forbes, Bitcoin is a de- month, per reports. and seven hits, with two walks and two centralised digital currency that The Jags reportedly are wait- strikeouts. Suarez smacked a two-out solo you can buy, sell and exchange ing until after this weekend’s homer, his sixth, to right fi eld in the sec- directly without an intermedi- rookie minicamp to make a de- ond for a 1-0 Reds lead. ary like a bank. It was publicly cision. They released veteran TE launched in 2009. Tyler Eifert last week but picked RESULTS Culkin has recorded two re- Luke Farrell in the fi fth round ceptions for 36 yards in 19 career of the NFL draft. They signed Reds 14-1 Pirates games (12 starts) with the Los Chris Manhertz to a two-year Orioles 4-1 Red Sox Angeles Chargers (2017-19) and contract in March to be their No. Baltimore Ravens (2020). He was 1 tight end. Tebow played mi- Giants 3-1 Rangers an undrafted free agent out of nor league baseball in the New D’Backs 5-2 Marlins Missouri in 2017. York Mets organisation, batting Angels 5-4 Astros According to the Kansas City .223/.299/.338 in 287 games over Star, Culkin has a fi nance degree three seasons. He hit 48 doubles and is working on his MBA. and 18 home runs while record- In the bottom of the second, Stallings ing 107 RBIs and stealing fi ve replied with a leadoff homer, his second, JAGUARS, FALCONS TO HOST bases. He retired from pro ball in to left fi eld for a 1-1 tie. Cincinnati sent GAMES IN LONDON IN 2021 February. 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth, Cincinnati Reds’ Nick Senzel (left) and Shogo Akiyama (centre) and Tyler Naquin (right) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh The Atlanta Falcons and Jack- Tebow was part of two na- starting with Jesse Winker’s bloop single. Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (USA TODAY Sports) sonville Jaguars will be the home tional championship teams at Nick Castellanos walked ahead of Mous- teams when the NFL returns to Florida under Meyer. takas’ RBI single. “Just a good team off ensive night where fi rst two Giants he faced in the seventh Wood went seven innings, allowing London for two regular-season As a sophomore in 2007, he Naquin’s double made it 3-1. An out everyone contributed,” said Reds man- before walking pinch hitter Austin Slater. one run and four hits. He walked three games in 2021, The Athletic re- threw for 3,132 yards and 29 later, Barnhart’s double drove in two for ager David Bell. A single by another pinch hitter, Darin and struck out seven. The Rangers’ only ported yesterday. The full NFL touchdowns, with just six inter- a 5-1 lead. Kyle Farmer singled and Mahle Ruf, put two on for Dubon, who was sent run off Wood came in the fi fth inning, af- season schedule is slated to be ceptions. He also rushed for 828 walked to load the bases. Duane Under- GIANTS BREAK LATE TIE, up as the Giants’ third straight pinch hit- ter the Giants had taken a 1-0 lead in the released today. yards and 22 scores and easily wood Jr. replaced Keller and gave up Sen- KNOCK OFF RANGERS ter, replacing Mike Tauchman. fourth on Brandon Belt’s eighth homer of The league played 28 games in won the Heisman. zel’s two-run double for a 7-1 edge. Mauricio Dubon concluded a tense eight- After taking a ball, Dubon fouled off the season. Khris Davis tripled to lead off London from 2007-19 before the Tebow played two seasons in The Reds added another in the sixth. pitch at-bat with a two-out, tiebreak- fi ve straight pitches and then took a sec- the fi fth and scored the game-tying run Covid-19 pandemic interrupted Denver before being traded to Barnhart doubled and went to third on ing single in a two-run seventh inning ond ball before sending his go-ahead sin- on a single by Culberson. the NFL International Series last the New York Jets in 2012. Farmer’s single. Mahle beat a possible Monday night, sending the San Francisco gle to left fi eld, scoring Slater. Gibson’s numbers for six innings were season. With the Jets, he saw limited double play grounder for an RBI fi elder’s Giants to a 3-1 victory over the visiting The Giants added to their lead when nearly identical to Wood’s for seven. He The Falcons and Jaguars will time in 2012, completing six of choice, making it 8-1. In the seventh, Texas Rangers. Left-hander Alex Wood Rangers third baseman Charlie Culberson also was charged with one run on four each play a “home” game at Tot- his eight pass attempts before Winker doubled and went to third on (4-0) combined with two relievers on a committed a throwing error on Mike Yas- hits. He walked two and struck out six. tenham Hotspur Stadium. The leaving the league after that sea- Moustakas’ single in front of Naquin’s six-hitter, helping deliver the Giants their trzemski’s grounder, scoring Ruf. Davis fi nished as the game’s only mul- stadium hosted two NFL games son. Tebow wound up with an eighth homer, a shot to right fi eld, for third win in four outings on the current San Francisco relievers Tyler Rogers ti-hit player with two. in 2019, with the then-Oakland 8-6 regular-season record as an an 11-1 lead. Senzel’s RBI double in the fi ve-game homestand. and Jake McGee took it from there, com- The game featured a total of just 12 hits, Raiders beating the Chicago NFL starting quarterback, com- eighth after Farmer and Alex Blandino Right-hander Kyle Gibson matched bining to retire six of the eight batters equally split, four of which went for extra Bears 24-21 on October 6 and pleting 47.9 percent of his passes walked pushed it to 12-1, and Castellanos Wood pitch for pitch through six innings they faced. McGee worked the ninth in- bases. Yastrzemski had a double for the the Carolina Panthers defeating for 2,422 yards and 17 touch- drove in two more with a double. The Pi- in the interleague matchup before turning ning, earning his ninth save in 10 chances Giants, while Nate Lowe had one for the the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-26 downs with nine interceptions. rates have lost four of their last fi ve and over a 1-1 tie to the Texas bullpen. by getting Culberson to pop out with the Rangers, who had won fi ve of their previ- on October 13. Each game drew He had a 1-1 record as a starter in nine of 11. Reliever John King (4-2) struck out the potential tying runs on the bases. ous six games. about 60,000 fans. the postseason.

NHL Coyotes split with coach Tocchet aft er missing playoff s

AFP sons,” said Tocchet. “This place Los Angeles will always be special to me.” Tocchet won a Stanley Cup as a player with Pittsburgh in 1992 ick Tocchet will not re- and helped bring the Penguins turn as coach of the Ari- two more as an assistant coach in zona Coyotes, the NHL 2016 and 2017. club announced Sun- He has 178 wins in six NHL day,R a day after ending outside seasons as a coach, four at Arizo- the playoff s for the eighth time in na and two with Tampa Bay from nine seasons. 2008-10. Tortorella, a 62-year- Coyotes general manager Bill old American, is 673-541-169 Armstrong said the team and in his career as an NHL coach, Tocchet mutually agreed to part the winningest US-born coach ways, with the coach’s contract in league history. He guided expiring June 30. “After meeting the Tampa Bay Lightning to the with Rick, we have agreed that Stanley Cup in 2004 and has also a coaching change is in the best coached the New York Rangers interest of the club,” said Arm- and Vancouver Canucks. strong. “This was a very diffi cult He won the Jack Adams Award decision, but we believe that it is as the NHL Coach of the Year in time for a new direction and new 2004 and in 2017 after the Blue leadership.” Jackets posted the best record in Tocchet, a 57-year-old Ca- franchise history at 50-24-8. nadian, was named the Coyotes “After discussion and consid- coach in July 2011 and guided Ar- eration of the future direction of izona to a record of 125-131 with the team, Jarmo and I have come 34 overtime losses. Last season, to a mutual agreement to part he coached the Coyotes into the ways,” Tortorella said in a state- playoff s for the fi rst time since ment released by the club. 2012. This season, Arizona con- tended into the fi nal days of the campaign but fi nished 24-26-6 Arizona Coyotes head coach and lost out to St. Louis for the Rick Tocchet handles bench fourth and fi nal playoff berth in duties in the second period of a the West division. game against the Vegas Golden “It has been an honour to coach Knights in Las Vegas on April 11, the Coyotes the past four sea- 2021. (AFP) Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 SPORT

BOXING Fury vs Joshua will be in Saudi in August: Hearn Reuters had lost the belts to the Mexican- cently, trading barbs. London American in an earlier shock de- Fury said in a podcast with feat. Hearn said Fury’s lawyers Hearn last week that he would were going through the fi ne de- expose Joshua in the ring as a long-awaited world tails but an announcement could fake and cut him down “like a hot heavyweight boxing come this week. knife through cheese”. title unifi cation fi ght “We’re very comfortable. An- He said the real diff erence be- between British rivals thony’s comfortable, he knows tween them was that Joshua was TysonA Fury and Anthony Joshua those people. They delivered on a businessman, while he was a is set for Saudi Arabia in Au- every one of their promises last ‘Spartan’. gust, promoter Eddie Hearn said time, we’re ready to go,” said Joshua took to Twitter on yesterday. Hearn. Tuesday to say: “Spartan” I’m Joshua, 31, holds the IBF, He said it made more sense tired. My fans are tired. Your fans WBO, WBA and IBO titles while to go for the 14th in terms of the are tired. We’re all tired of the Fury, 32, is the WBC belt holder. global spectacle, with the Tokyo talk. Less talk. More action!” “August the seventh, August Olympics fi nishing on Aug. 8, but Fury replied by saying Joshua the 14th. I think it’s a very bad hoped to nail down the date and was “no talk no action”. secret that the fi ght is happening venue in the next few days. Hearn said he would be talking in Saudi Arabia,” Hearn, head of Hearn said in March that Fury to Fury’s people later on Tuesday. Matchroom Sport and Joshua’s and Joshua had agreed a two- “We’re in a great place, we’re promoter, told Sky Sports televi- fi ght deal to unify the title, al- very comfortable with the deal sion. though Fury’s co-promoters now and we want to move for- “It’s the same people we did subsequently cast doubt on that. ward and we want to get it done,” the deal with for Andy Ruiz, that Fury has not fought for more he said. “I want to be able to event was spectacular. As part- than a year since his knockout stand here and not say ‘give me a ners they were fantastic as well,” win against American Deontay couple of days or next week’. he added. Wilder. Joshua’s last fi ght was “We just have to get everybody Joshua won back his belts from against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in comfortable to shake hands and Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah, on the December. say ‘we’re in this as a team, we’re outskirts of the Saudi capital Joshua and Fury have both in this for boxing. Let’s move for- Riyadh, in December 2019. He been active on social media re- ward and make this fi ght’.” British rivals Tyson Fury (right) and Anthony Joshua.

CYCLING FOCUS England rugby ‘A’ side to ditch ‘Saxons’ name Dombrowski wins AFP 2023 World Cup, ending specu- London lation he will move to Australia’s National rugby League. Perenara, 29 had publicly ngland’s second-string fl irted with the idea of switching men’s rugby union team to rugby league with the NRL’s will no longer be known Sydney Roosters when his con- as the ‘Saxons’, the Rug- tract with Japan’s NTT Docomo 4th stage, De Marchi byE Football Union announced Red Hurricanes expires. yesterday. But he instead opted to re- The title, only adopted in turn to New Zealand with the 2006, is a reference to the An- All Blacks and Super rugby club glo-Saxons who inhabited and Wellington Hurricanes. ruled England from 450 up to the “(I’m) really looking forward Norman invasion in 1066. to seeing everyone back home “We have chosen to revert to and thanks to the Hurricanes takes pink jersey the traditional name of ‘England and New Zealand rugby for al- A’ for this fi xture against ‘Scot- lowing me the opportunity to land A’ as a better representation come home and do what I love,” ‘It wasn’t enough for the pink jersey but I think the stage win is a nice way to finish the day’ of our team today,” said an RFU the 69-Test halfback posted on spokesperson. social media late Monday. The ‘A’ team term is used New Zealand rugby perform- AFP widely, with England ‘A’ playing ance manager Chris Lendrum Sestola, Italy their Scotland counterparts in said his organisation was de- Leicester on June 27 – their fi rst lighted to welcome back Per- Team UAE Emirates rider US match since a tour of South Af- enara. oe Dombrowski won the Joe Dombrowski celebrates rica fi ve years ago. “He’s been part of New Zea- fourth stage of the Giro as he crosses the fi nish line The move comes after the RFU land rugby for more than a dec- d’Italia yesterday as Israel to win the fourth stage of the announced the creation of an in- ade and I’m sure his Japanese Start-Up Nation rider Giro d’Italia yesterday. (AFP) dependent diversity and inclu- experience has grown him as a AlessandroJ De Marchi took the sion advisory group overseen by person. We look forward to see- overall leader’s pink jersey after former England and British and ing him on his return,” he said. fi nishing just behind the Ameri- Irish Lions winger Ugo Monye. can in second. The announcement comes on UAE Team Emirates’ Dom- the anniversary of the Battle of browski crossed the line 13 sec- Edington in 878 when Alfred the onds ahead of Italian De Marchi Great, the Anglo-Saxon king of to claim the fi rst Grand Tour win Wessex, fi nally ended the threat of his career on a soaking wet of the Vikings. run between Piacenza and Ses- Twickenham chiefs had previ- tola. ously distanced themselves from He dropped De Marchi, who the ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ was also a member of a breaka- anthem sung by many fans in way group of 25 riders formed support of the England team after 40 kilometres, on the because of the song’s roots in hardest slopes of the last climb American slavery. 5km from the fi nish. “It wasn’t enough for the pink PERENARA RE-SIGNS WITH jersey but I think the stage win is ALL BLACKS FOR 2023 a nice way to fi nish the day,” said WORLD CUP Dombrowski. Halfback TJ Perenara said on “When you have a group of 25 Monday that he has signed on to riders, it’s never everyone coop- stay with the All Blacks until the erating, so you need to be ready for attacks. I knew De Marchi was maybe the strongest rider SWIMMING in the breakaway, so if I always took his wheel, I would be in a good spot.” De Marchi, 34, wears the pink ISL maps out season jersey for the fi rst time in his career on his fi fth Giro appear- ance, and sits 22 seconds ahead three despite of Dombrowski in the overall standings, taking the overall lead from compatriot Filippo Ganna. lingering issues “The goal was the pink jersey, I started thinking about it maybe Reuters Season Three,” a spokesperson two days ago even if I didn’t tell London said in response to a Reuters anyone!” said De Marchi. query. “I’m lost for words really, it’s “The continued global eco- the dream for any cyclist, espe- he International Swim- nomic uncertainty, which is cially if you are Italian.” sprinters. Jai Hindley (AUS/DSM) s.t., 49. ming League (ISL) said only now beginning to subside, A small group of riders tipped Joao Almeida (POR/DEC) 5:58 it remained committed meant that this process is taking to perform well in this year’s RESULTS OVERALL to paying outstanding us a little bit longer. Giro, including 2019 Tour de Stage Four 1. Alessandro de Marchi (ITA/ Tdebts after announcing yesterday “We are determined and France winner Egan Bernal, 1. Joe Dombrowski (USA/UAE) ISR) 13hrs 50mins 44sec, 2. that season three will start in the committed to working our way fi nished the stage more than a 4hrs 58mins 38sec, 2. Alessan- Joe Dombrowski (USA/UAE) at Italian city of Naples in August. through all outstanding issues.” minute and a half behind Dom- dro De Marchi (ITA/ISR) at 13sec. 22sec, 3. Louis Vervaeke (BEL/ The pro series, which The club-based series features browski. 3. Filippo Fiorelli (ITA/BAR) 27, ALP) 42, 4. Nelson Oliveira launched in 2019, had said last many of the world’s top swim- Former Vuelta a Espana 4. Louis Vervaeke (BEL/ALP) 29, (POR/MOV) 48, 5. Attila Valter November it would “need to mers and held its second season champion Simon Yates, French- 5. Jan Tratnik (SLO/BAH) same (HUN/FDJ) 1:00, 6. Nicolas Edet close all outstanding issues fi nals behind closed doors in man Romain Bardet and rising time, 6. Attila Valter (HUN/FDJ) (FRA/COF) 1:15, 7. Aleksandr from the past” before planning Budapest last November, with a star Remco Evenepoel fi nished 44, 7. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) Vlasov (RUS/AST) 1:24, 8. Remco season three. Some unpaid sup- number of short-course world one minute, 48 seconds behind 49, 8. Nelson Oliveira (POR/ Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) 1:28, 9. pliers had threatened legal ac- records broken. The ISL said the Dombrowski. MOV) 57. 9. Rein Taaramae (EST/ Alberto Bettiol (ITA/EF1) 1:37, 10. tion and the ISL acknowledged regular part of the new season Belgian Evenepoel sits eighth INT) 1:33, 10. Chris Juul Jensen Hugh Carthy (GBR/EF1) 1:38. commercial diffi culties, with the would run from Aug. 26 to Sept in the general classifi cation, 1.48 (DEN/BIK) 1:36 SELECTED Covid-19 pandemic presenting a 30 in a similar bubble to that set behind De Marchi. Yates is a SELECTED 11. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) 1:39, signifi cant challenge. up in Budapest. further second back in 16th and 11. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) 1:37, 15. Mikel Landa (ESP/BAH) 1:49, “Despite the major ongoing A three-week play-off phase Bardet 19th, 2.03 behind. 14. Mikel Landa (ESP/BAH) 17. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) 1:49, fi nancial challenges that ISL, involving eight of the 10 clubs On Wednesday, the 5th stage same time, 16. Remco Evenep- 19. Romain Bardet (FRA/DSM) along with all sports rights- will then follow in November traces an almost straight line oel (BEL/DEC) 1:48, 17. Romain 2:03, 25. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/ New overall leader Team Israel Start-Up Nation rider Italy’s holders, are facing in light of the before a Grand Final in late De- from Modena to Cattolica over Bardet (FRA/DSM) s.t., 18. Simon TRE) 2:15, 27. Jai Hindley (AUS/ Alessandro De Marchi celebrates on the podium after the fourth Covid pandemic, we are com- cember or early January 2022. a 177-kilometre course without Yates (GBR/BIK) s.t., 27. Vin- DSM) 2:20, 42. Joao Almeida stage, 187km between Piacenza and Sestola, Emilia-Romagna, of mitted to honouring all our ob- Host cities for the play-off s the slightest roughness, ideal for cenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) 2:11, 29. (POR/DEC) 5:38. the Giro d’Italia yesterday. (AFP) ligations in parallel to planning and fi nal have yet to be decided. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 12, 2021 7 FOOTBALL

SERIE A FOCUS Iniesta to stay with Japan’s Kobe for two Juventus in danger as more years AFP Tokyo

panish football legend Andres Iniesta cel- doubt surrounds Pirlo ebrated his 37th birth- day yesterday by signing aS contract extension that will keep him at J-League side Vis- sel Kobe for two more years. The former Barcelona midfi eld maestro joined Kobe in 2018 in a deal worth a reported $30mn a and Ronaldo futures year and recently recovered from a serious thigh injury. Iniesta helped Kobe to their Failing to qualify for Champions League would see Juventus lose out on roughly 80mn euros fi rst Japanese Super Cup title in 2020. Iniesta has enjoyed huge AFP popularity in Japan with ana- Rome lysts estimating he has generated more than $100mn in ticket sales and merchandising revenue. ith their nine-year reign He has appeared in TV com- in Serie A ended and club mercials for Japanese sake and president Andrea Agnelli mobile phone services. Named roundly criticised for his Kobe’s captain in April 2019 Wrole in the aborted European Super after a shake-up at the club, League, Juventus now risk missing out Iniesta was sidelined for several on next season’s Champions League. months after he suff ered a rup- Juventus were knocked out of Italy’s tured tendon in his right thigh top four last weekend following a 3-0 last December. home defeat by AC Milan, leaving coach Following surgery in Barcelo- Andrea Pirlo’s position increasingly na, he was back training in April under threat entering the fi nal three before returning to action in the games. The head of the Italian Football J-League this month. Widely Federation even warned Monday that considered one of the most Juventus would be thrown out of Serie A gifted midfi elders of all time, next season if they don’t offi cially with- he scored the winning goal as draw from the Super League, having as Spain won the 2010 World Cup yet failed to distance themselves from in South Africa, and he was a key the project. member of the European Cham- Pirlo was largely spared the wrath of pionship-winning side’s of 2008 critics following the club’s last-16 exit and 2012. to Porto in the Champions League, his Iniesta was the driving force stature as a player and inexperience in behind four Champions League the dugout serving as a shield. But with wins with Barcelona and helped the increasing regularity of poor per- the Catalan club secure domes- formances, the 41-year-old now fi nds tic trebles in 2009 and 2015. He himself the primary target of mounting also won nine La Liga titles, two frustrations. European Super Cups and three “While he may have all the excuses of FIFA Club World Cups, leaving a beginner, Pirlo did not improve during Barcelona as the most decorated the season,” Gazzetta dello Sport wrote Spanish player of all time, with Monday, lambasting an “unrecognis- more than 30 trophies for club able” Juventus, “lacking in identity, and country. His decision to join style, intensity and organisation”. Kobe after 22 years at Barcelona, “You can be unmoved when the re- 16 of them as a fi rst team player, sults are there, but when the team is in was seen as a coup for Japanese diffi culty, to see the coach powerless football, which had been strug- and expressionless, incapable of shout- gling to attract big names tempt- ing, that stands out,” it added. ed by cash-rich Chinese clubs in Pirlo shouldered the responsibility the twilight of their careers. for the Milan loss but insisted he was not going to step aside. Local media re- Juventus were knocked out of Italy’s top four last weekend following a 3-0 home defeat by AC Milan, leaving coach Andrea Pirlo’s (right) position increasingly under port that club offi cials have decided to threat entering the final three games. (Reuters) fi nish the season with Pirlo but could then cut their losses on a failed gamble. All is not lost for Juventus but wins in lose out on roughly 80mn euros, jeop- pitch distractions as well, with sporting sporting decisions, namely appoint- Massimiliano Allegri, who led Ju- their remaining games against in-form ardising their ability to retain Ronaldo director Fabio Paratici approaching the ing Pirlo, and the club’s deteriorating ventus to fi ve titles in a row between Sassuolo today, champions Inter Milan and aff ord his reported pre-tax annual end of his contract, and Agnelli one of fi nances, with accounts in the red since 2015 and 2019, has been cited as a pos- and Bologna might not be enough to re- salary of 54mn euros. It would likely the key fi gures in the doomed Super 2018 and the heavy investment in Ron- sible replacement, along with Zinedine claim a spot in the top four. Juventus last spell the end of Ronaldo’s Turin spell, League project. aldo. Zidane, should he leave Real Madrid. missed out on the Champions League in who despite turning 36 in February is Agnelli, once a close friend of UEFA The club’s next moves could hinge on However Pirlo could still end the cam- 2011 while Cristiano Ronaldo, the com- the leading scorer in Serie A this term president Aleksander Ceferin, was re- whether Juventus secure Champions paign with a second trophy, as Juventus petition’s all-time leading scorer with with 27 goals. placed as head of the European Asso- League football, although the fi nal say face Atalanta in the Italian Cup fi nal on 134 goals, has featured in every edition That could though free up oppor- ciation (ECA) last month and branded will go to Agnelli’s cousin, John Elkann, May 19. Juventus beat Napoli in Janu- since 2003. tunities for others to emerge from the a “snake” for joining the breakaway the CEO of Exor, the holding company ary’s Super Cup. Failing to qualify would see Juventus Portuguese star’s shadow. There are off - league. He must also answer for his of the Agnelli family.

Amateur minnows Rumilly-Vallieres SPOTLIGHT dream of French Cup glory Buff on to quit Juventus at end of season Paris: It is not exactly a name that trips Cup run, coming through nine rounds off the tongue, but tiny Rumilly-Vallieres since October, including one walkover ianluigi Buff on said yes- injury during Milan’s 3-0 victory have put themselves on the map with a and three victories on penalties. terday that he will bring the over top-four rivals Juventus at the remarkable run in the French Cup that It culminated in that quarter-final vic- curtain down on his time at weekend. Third-placed Milan, who has taken them all the way to a semi-final tory against Toulouse, achieved despite Juventus after nearly two sit three points above fi fth-placed against mighty Monaco. the game being moved to the beautiful decadesG at the end of the season, but Juve in the race for the Champions Last month, on the day plans for a nearby lakeside town of Annecy and will look to prolong his trophy-fi lled League, visit Torino on Wednesday breakaway European Super League taking place behind closed doors due to career elsewhere at the age of 43. and face Cagliari this weekend. involving some of the continent’s biggest coronavirus restrictions. Former Italy captain Buff on is an Ibrahimovic has only scored once clubs was falling apart, Rumilly-Vallieres “We wanted PSG or Monaco and we iconic fi gure in Italian football, one since February after missing games issued a reminder of what such a small have got our wish. It’s a glamour tie,” said of the stars of the Azzurri’s 2006 through injury and suspension. But side can still aspire to as they dumped coach Fatsah Amghar after the draw. World Cup triumph who racked up the 39-year-old recently signed a out Ligue 2 Toulouse in the quarter-fi- “It is magnificent what has happened, a record 176 caps for his country. contract extension until June 2022 nals. Now, tomorrow, they face a Monaco incredible,” added forward Ashley Moke, However he has been behind Wo- and has netted 17 times in all com- side battling to qualify for next season’s who has taken to boxing to improve his jciech Szczesny in the goalkeeping petitions this term. Champions League. If they can pull off fitness given the lack of league matches. pecking order since returning to Juve He could be back for Milan’s po- the unlikely feat of beating the club from The majority of the Rumilly-Vallieres from a short spell at Paris Saint- tentially crucial fi nal Serie A match the principality, they would advance to players have day jobs, with centre-back Germain in 2019 and has made just at second-placed Atalanta on May next week’s final against either holders Jean-Manuel Ribeiro working in a bank 12 appearances in all competitions 23. Sweden open their Euro 2020 Paris Saint-Germain or Montpellier at the and midfielder Stephane Viglierchio this season. “My future is clear, at campaign against Spain in Seville Stade de France. working six days a week at a dairy with the end of the season I’m leav- on June 14, before further Group E Following the 2-0 quarter-final vic- shifts starting at 5:30am. ing Juve, and then I will either fi nd for “four to six weeks” with a knee award, the French league (LFP) an- games against Slovakia and Poland tory at the Parc des Sports in Annecy, a The dairy, which produces well-known something that stimulates me or I injury. The 28-year-old has suff ered nounced. in Saint-Petersburg. ground which off ers spectacular views of regional cheeses like Reblochon and will quit the game,” he told BeIN a “strained interior medial liga- Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yed- the Alps, their players celebrated on the Emmental, is run by Luc Chabert, one Sport. “I have both given and ment” in his right knee, PSG said in der and Lyon forward Memphis De- LAPORTE SET FOR SPAIN pitch, belting out songs via a megaphone of four joint-presidents of the football received everything at Juventus, but a statement. pay make up the list. Turkey veteran AT EURO 2020 AFTER into the quiet night air during France’s club. Rumilly-Vallieres do however boast we have come to the end of a cycle Italy kick off the delayed European Yilmaz has hit a rich vein of form in NATIONALITY APPROVED evening coronavirus curfew. players with experience of the top level, and it’s only right that I put an end Championship on June 11 against the closing stages of the campaign, Manchester City defender Aymeric Up until recently, most fans in France including defender Dorian Leveque, who to any confusion (over his future).” Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in netting six times in fi ve matches to Laporte has been approved to play would not have been able to place on played in Ligue 1 and won the Cup with Buff on, who holds the record for Rome. Verratti will miss the rest put Lille on the brink of a shock title for Spain instead of France at Euro a map the amateur club that was only Guingamp in 2014. Serie A appearances, has won 10 of the domestic season in France, success.Mbappe is still Ligue 1’s 2020 this summer, sources at the founded in 2018 as the result of a merger And they can take inspiration from the Serie A titles with Juventus since where PSG trail leaders Lille by three top scorer this term with 25 goals, Spanish football federation (RFEF) between four teams from the sleepy success enjoyed in the French Cup by joining in 2001, as well as fi ve Italian points with two Ligue 1 matches re- six clear of Ben Yedder and Depay, confi rmed. The Spanish Council of Alpine region of Haute-Savoie, on the other minnows in recent years: third-tier Cups and second-tier Serie B in maining and face Montpellier in the but Neymar has endured a frus- Ministers has granted Spanish na- border with Switzerland. sides Quevilly and Les Herbiers have 2007 after they were relegated in the French Cup semi-fi nals. Verratti’s trating season, netting only eight tionality to Laporte, who was born The odds were always going to be both reached the final in the last decade, aftermath of the ‘Calciopoli’ match- last appearance at a major tourna- times while spending time sidelined in Agen, France but never played stacked against a team from the region- while the amateurs of Calais got to the fi xing scandal. He also won Ligue 1 ment was in the 2014 World Cup, as through injury, suspension and after for the French senior team, despite alised, amateur fourth-tier of French foot- final in 2000. with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018- Italy failed to qualify for the event contracting coronavirus. three call-ups to the squad between ball, but all the more so given the disrup- Away from the fairytale of Rumilly-Val- 2019 before returning to the Turin four years later. He also missed Euro 2016 and 2020. tion caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. lieres, PSG’s tie against Montpellier has giants, and the UEFA Cup back in 2016 through injury. IBRAHIMOVIC TO MISS Laporte spent eight years with Late last month the French Football taken on added importance for Mauricio 1999 with Parma, where he began AT LEAST TWO MILAN Athletic Bilbao between 2010 and Federation decided to declare the season Pochettino’s side. The Cup could now be his career as a teenager in 1995. . YILMAZ, MBAPPE AND GAMES WITH KNEE INJURY 2018 before leaving to join Man- at their level over, null and void. their best remaining chance to end the NEYMAR NOMINATED FOR Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out for at chester City in England. It means Rumilly-Vallieres had played just one season with a trophy as they sit three ITALY’S VERRATTI DOUBT FOR LIGUE 1 PLAYER OF THE YEAR least two matches with a knee injury, Laporte could play for Spain at Euro league game since late October due to points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lille with EURO 2020 WITH KNEE INJURY Lille striker Burak Yilmaz and Paris just a month before the start of Euro 2020 this summer. The 26-year-old France’s various lockdowns and restric- two games left, following their elimina- Italy midfi elder Marco Verratti Saint-Germain pair Kylian Mbappe 2020, AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli would be a valuable addition to the tions on amateur team sports. Despite tion from the Champions League in the is a doubt for Euro 2020 after his and Neymar have been named said. The Swede, who returned to Spanish squad, particularly given that, they have gone on a memorable semi-finals. club Paris Saint-Germain said the among the fi ve nominees for the international football in March after central defence has been a problem midfi elder would be out of action Ligue 1 players’ player of the season a fi ve-year absence, suff ered the area for coach Luis Enrique. Wednesday, May 12, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

PREMIER LEAGUE HORSE RACING Noora Racing’s Zuraig opens account Man City clinch title on second start

Agencies sion in a messy race which saw Windsor, England the lead switch between diff erent horses, and a late course correc- tion for one runner who nearly aft er United defeat n the pink and blue colours took the wrong track. of Noora Racing Ltd, Zuraig Once in the straight, Zuraig Guardiola’s side are 10 points clear and have won the title with three games to spare opened his scorecard on took some time to fi nd his bal- Monday evening. Trained by ance when coming under pres- IAndrew Balding, the three-year- sure from his jockey, but once AFP London old colt, was making just his sec- settled, he fl ew home in the fi nal ond racecourse appearance in the furling to win by three-quarters- Free Tips Daily On attheraces. of-a-length in front of the Ri- anchester City were crowned com Novice Median Auction chard Hannon-trained and Sean Premier League champions Stakes, for three- to fi ve-year- Levey ridden Remediym. The for the third time in four sea- olds over 2,000m on the sharp George Boughey-trained and sons after Manchester United turning track of Windsor. Nicola Currie-ridden Fire Eyes Mcrashed to a 2-1 defeat against Leices- Ridden by Oisin Murphy, fi nished a further half-length ter yesterday. Pep Guardiola’s side are Zuraig sat quietly in mid-divi- behind in third. 10 points clear of second placed United and have wrapped up the title with three games to spare. In the midst of a gruelling run of three games in fi ve days, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eff ectively handed the title to arch rivals City by picking a weak- ened team with 10 changes. With many of City’s players watching on television, Luke Thomas’ 10th minute volley put Leicester ahead before Mason Greenwood equalised fi ve minutes later. Caglar Soyuncu’s towering header in the 66th minute ensured City could plan a title party that has seemed inevitable for months. City were denied the chance to celebrate on Sunday when Chelsea won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, while United kept them waiting with a victory at Aston Oisin Murphy (left) rides Zuraig to victory in the Free Tips Daily On Villa on Sunday. attheraces.com Novice Median Auction Stakes in Windsor, England, But the delay was only temporary and on Monday. (Francesca Altoft) City, who also won the League Cup in April, can fi nally savour a title triumph that is all the sweeter given the obstacles they have overcome this term. UEFA moves Champions Treble-chasing City’s seventh top- fl ight title could be the prelude to an even League fi nal to Porto: reports greater triumph on May 29 when they face Chelsea in their fi rst ever Champions Ankara: UEFA has moved this moving the May 29 game to League fi nal. month’s Champions League Wembley Stadium in London to Drained by the late fi nish to last season final between Manchester City allow easier access for fans of and ill-prepared due to the subsequent and Chelsea from Istanbul to the English clubs. lack of a proper pre-season, City were Leicester City’s Luke Thomas (left) vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Brandon Williams in the Premier League. (Reuters) Porto, according to Turkish However, a source with slow out of the blocks. media reports yesterday. knowledge of the discussions After a dismal 1-1 draw against lowly at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. havoc with his attacking bursts. Thomas Tuchel’s side won the last two European football’s govern- said there were obstacles West Bromwich Albion in December, City One of keys to City’s success has been Manchester United and Chelsea appear meetings between the sides, including ing body declined to comment around the need for quarantine had won just fi ve of their opening 12 Pre- the inspired form of Ruben Dias, who has poised for strong title challenges next the FA Cup semi-fi nal at Wembley. For all on the reports from the media exemptions for international mier League games. transformed Guardiola’s defence since season and Liverpool are likely to improve Guardiola’s protestations that domestic outlets, which included televi- broadcasters, technical and It was the worst start to a season of arriving from Benfi ca in August. after an injury-hit campaign. success is the most signifi cant achieve- sion channel HaberTurk, while support staff and sponsors. Guardiola’s managerial career, prompting The Portugal centre-back’s rock-solid But, after the exits of City legends ment, it is the Champions League that Turkish Football Federation Porto emerged on Monday as the Spaniard in the startling admission partnership with the revitalised John David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Yaya remains his holy grail. off icials were not immediately an option to host the final. that he didn’t like his team. A coronavirus Stones laid the title foundations. Toure in recent years, Guardiola has cre- The 50-year-old has not won the the available for comment. Last week, the UK govern- outbreak in the squad added to Guardio- Even without club record goalscorer ated a new generation capable of reigning Champions League since the second of The UK government placed ment placed Portugal on its la’s problems in December. Sergio Aguero for long periods due to fi t- supreme for years to come. his triumphs with Barcelona in 2011, Turkey on its travel ‘red list’ on ‘green list’ from May 17, which Having surrendered the title meekly to ness issues, City have been a potent force. Guardiola’s latest Premier League suc- leading to belittling claims Argentina su- Friday, eff ectively ruling out the means fans of the English Liverpool the previous season, it seemed The emergence of England playmaker cess gives him an astonishing 26 major perstar Lionel Messi was the key to those opportunity for supporters of clubs would be free to travel to City were heading for a period of regres- Phil Foden as a match-winning force was trophies in his managerial career. With Champions League victories rather than the English clubs to attend the the game should it be moved. sion. But Guardiola masterminded such a crucial, with Kevin De Bruyne as consist- two trophies already secured this season, the coach. game. Portugal is currently in the last superb recovery that City turned the title ent as ever despite battling injuries. the City boss can focus on completing a Taking City to the Champions League Talks have taken place phase of easing a lockdown and race into a procession, giving him three Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez memorable treble by winning his club’s title in their maiden fi nal appearance between UEFA and the UK expects to lift travel restrictions Premier League crowns to go with three produced spells of lethal fi nishing, while fi rst Champions League crown. would be a glorious way for Guardiola to government in recent days on from May 17. La Liga trophies with Barcelona and three dynamic full-back Joao Cancelo wreaked He will have his work cut out after silence his critics once and for all.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Deschamps warns against complacency as Parker willing to lead relegated France target World Cup and Euro double Fulham’s promotion bid

AFP AFP some of the heavyweights. They recorded away Paris London wins at Leicester City, Liverpool and Everton as well as draws at Spurs and Arsenal. However, they only won fi ve league matches all season and have idier Deschamps captained ulham manager Scott Parker has been the second-worst goalscoring record with 25 goals France to a World Cup and Euro- linked with the managerial vacancy at Tot- from 35 matches. pean Championship double as a tenham but says his priority is to try and Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, one of those player and is now hoping to repeat help his current club make an immediate who failed to fi nd his form by scoring just three theD feat as coach when the delayed Euro returnF to the Premier League. league goals compared to 26 in the promotion sea- 2020 fi nally goes ahead in June and July. Fulham joined West Brom and Sheffi eld United in son, did not mince his words. However, in an interview , the 52-year-old being relegated from the Premier League following “We have failed this season,” he said. “It was not warned against any complacency from the a 2-0 loss to Burnley on Monday. It is the fi rst time good enough. We did not deserve to stay up. Over- defending world champions, saying major that relegation from the division has been resolved all, we have fi nished where we deserve to be. We did international tournaments are not won “just with three games remaining. not show the big character, big mentality and we by clicking your fi ngers”. Fulham had to avoid defeat at Craven Cottage cracked under the pressure. We tried, we fought, After lifting the World Cup in Russia in on Monday to maintain their slim hopes of beating we worked hard but we needed more quality on the 2018, a gifted France squad is inevitably the drop. But fi rst-half goals from Burnley’s Ashley ball. We got punished today and this season.” among the favourites to win the European Westwood and Chris Wood put paid to their chanc- Championship which concludes in London es of staying up. on July 11. However they could not have Parker has been linked with Spurs — who he asked for a harder group in the fi rst Euro to played for from 2011-13 — due to the crowd-pleas- be held — despite the pandemic — in multi- ing style Fulham have played since he took over, ple countries all across the continent. initially in a caretaker capacity, in 2019. However, France play Germany in Munich and the 40-year-old former England midfi elder said he Hungary in Budapest, as well as facing the was focused on having his say on where things went reigning European champions Portugal. wrong and how Fulham can bounce straight back “Two years at the highest level is a long Pogba beat Croatia 4-2 in the Moscow fi - after the Euro, and their slide is perhaps a and avoid continuing the “rollercoaster” of relega- time, even if it is not a lot in life in general. nal three years ago and is now, Deschamps warning to the French of what can happen. tion, promotion and relegation. here are obviously big expectations after the hopes, hungry for more. “It is very, very diffi cult to get to the very “I’ve been committed since I came here — that’s success we have had and that is the aim of “Nobody can take away what we have top, but it is even harder to stay there. You always been the case,” said Parker, who signed an this squad, of this generation,” Deschamps done. It will always be there, but we need to always need to challenge yourself. We can’t improved three-year contract last September to said in Monaco as he pondered the chances tell ourselves that we can’t just stop here, we go higher, but sometimes there is not much keep him at the club until the summer of 2023. of doing the double. need to go and try to win more titles,” he said in it to prevent you from dropping away,” Fulham’s season only got going following the West Germany held both trophies when before warning of the looming threat from Deschamps added. loan signings of Ademola Lookman and England they won the 1974 World Cup on home soil the likes of England, Spain, Belgium and France have lost just three times in 28 midfi elder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, after the fi rst four after winning the European Championship several other sides at the Euro which kicks games since the World Cup, despite Des- games yielded no points. Those two though could when it was just a four-nation event in Bel- off in a month’s time. champs making regular changes in person- well return to their respective clubs — Bundesliga gium in 1972. Spain then pulled off the re- “You don’t just win by clicking your fi n- nel and in playing style. That has included side RB Leipzig and Chelsea. markable feat of winning back to back Euros gers. The other nations are progressing, sometimes abandoning the 4-4-2 forma- However, Fulham will have funds to spend as in 2008 and 2012, either side of their 2010 working hard, not sitting still. We need to tion that was the foundation of their success they will receive £42mn ($60mn) in parachute pay- World Cup triumph. have that ambition. When a tournament in Russia for a back three, for example. ments for being relegated. Parker can take encour- Before that Deschamps skippered France starts we want to go as far as possible.” “I felt that I had to mix things up. It is not agement that two of the three teams relegated last to glory in 1998 and at Euro 2000 as they France’s fi rst game will be on June 15 just about surprising the opposition but also season have made immediate returns — Norwich defeated Italy in extra time in the fi nal in against Germany, who had been as close to about surprising yourself sometimes,” he and Watford — with the third team, Bournemouth, Rotterdam. He has gone on to enjoy a re- a sure bet as there is in international football said. in the play-off s. markable coaching career, having success at before unravelling at the last World Cup, go- Deschamps will name his 26-man squad “What’s key for me is we sit down, analyse and Monaco, Juventus and Marseille before ac- ing out in the group stage. Since then they for the Euro next week. His squad will get learn, are brave enough to see where we’ve gone cepting the France job in 2012 and reviving have suff ered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat together on May 26 and will play friendly wrong and not go through the same cycle,” said the fortunes of the national team in stun- by Spain in the Nations League and lost at matches against Wales in Nice on June 2 Parker. “I’ll be the fi rst to put my point across along ning fashion. home to North Macedonia in World Cup and Bulgaria in Paris on June 8 before that with all the others to bring this club back into this A side containing the likes of Kylian qualifying. mouthwatering opening game against Ger- league and hopefully stay here.” Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Coach Joachim Loew will stand down many. Parker can point to impressive results against