LONDON: Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for seven matches on Monday for making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min.
The English Football Association said in a statement that an independent commission also imposed a £100,000 ($126,000) fine on the player. The sanction can be appealed.
The suspension only covers domestic matches, meaning that the 27-year-old Bentancur will be available to play for his London club in the Europa League. Spurs take on Roma in the league phase of the tournament on Nov. 28.
Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”
Bentancur later apologized to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.”
Son accepted the excuses, saying that his teammate had made a mistake and “would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive.”
“We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in June. "We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in preseason to fight for our club as one.”
Bentancur was charged by the English FA in September because he was alleged to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.”
The FA said it constituted an aggravated breach because it included “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The FA also ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face education program”, details of which will be provided later. The course should be completed by March 11 next year.
“If the player fails to complete the program satisfactorily in that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic club football until such time as the mandatory program is completed,” the FA said.
Tottenham and Bentancur did not immediately react to the punishment.
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
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Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
- The English Football Association also ordered Bentancur to attend a ‘face-to-face education program’
LeBron James has ‘not much concern’ after exiting loss to Celtics with late groin injury
- LeBron James didn’t sound overly concerned about the strained groin that he suffered in the waning minutes of Los Angeles’ loss to Boston
- He also wasn’t willing to put a timetable on how fast he could be back on the court as the Lakers look to maintain their recent surge in the standings
BOSTON: LeBron James didn’t sound overly concerned after straining his groin in the waning minutes of Los Angeles’ 111-101 loss to Boston on Saturday night.
He also wasn’t willing to put a timetable on how fast he could be back on the court as the Lakers look to maintain their recent surge in the standings.
“Not much concern,” James said. “Obviously, I’m day-to-day. I’ll look at it each day and see if it gets better, and take the proper measures to see what I need to do moving forward.”
James exited during a timeout with 6:44 to play after contesting a layup by Jaylen Brown. He walked gingerly to the huddle during an ensuing timeout and then barely moved before making his way to the locker room with trainers. He finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
He said his first thoughts went to his first season in Los Angeles in 2018 when he suffered a groin injury during a Christmas Day matchup with Golden State. He missed the next 17 games and the injury bothered him for most of the remainder of the season
“I’ve been there before and I know what type of injury we’re dealing with.,” James said.
The good news is he doesn’t believe this latest injury is as severe as the 2018 one.
He also said he thought about former teammate Anthony Davis, who incurred his current groin injury in his first game in Dallas following his trade for Luka Doncic.
“That’s crazy. But I thought about AD,” James said.
Doncic just wants James to give the injury the rest it needs.
“Obviously, he’s got to take his time,” Doncic said. “Those injuries, I won’t say are the worse, but they’re tough to deal with.”
In the meantime James has confidence that his team, which had its eight-game win streak snapped by Boston, can fill in the gaps as it looks to maintain its place in the West standings. The Lakers (40-22) fell to third place behind Denver after Saturday’s loss and face a tough upcoming stretch.
The Lakers continue a four-game trip Monday night at Brooklyn. It concludes with matchups at Milwaukee and Denver on Thursday and Friday. They then return home March 16 for a four-game homestand that begins with Phoenix and bookends with return visits from the Nuggets and Bucks.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup, we have to play our game,” James said. “We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup the majority of the year. And we’ve had guys in and out of the lineup the last six weeks. ... Nothing changes.”
Magomed Ankalaev wins undisputed light heavyweight belt with unanimous decision over Alex Pereira
- All three judges scored in favor of Ankalaev (21-1-1), with scores of 49-46 and two at 48-47
- In the co-main event, the No. 3-ranked lightweight and fan favorite Justin Gaethje (27-5-0) earned a unanimous decision over No. 11 Rafael Fiziev (12-4-0)
LAS VEGAS: Magomed Ankalaev’s plan coming into Saturday’s light heavyweight bout at UFC 313 was to pressure Alex Pereira.
And then add more pressure. And more.
The strategy worked, as Ankalaev scored a stunning upset with a unanimous decision to take Pereira’s undisputed light heavyweight belt.
“I can’t even put it into words,” Ankalaev said in the ring during the post-fight interview through a translator. “It’s been such a long way, and it’s my dream. It’s on my waist.”
All three judges scored in favor of Ankalaev (21-1-1), with scores of 49-46 and two at 48-47.
Ankalaev was never intimidated by his well-decorated opponent, even after enduring a barrage of leg kicks in the first round.
Rather than play things cautiously, Ankalaev went on the offensive and stayed aggressive in backing down Pereira while using an overpowering left hand that continued to stagger UFC’s top active star.
Bruce Buffer’s announcement with the result propelled a chorus of boos from the pro-Pereira crowd.
“I knew it would be a war,” said Pereira (12-3-0), who was putting his belt on the line for the fourth time. “Every fight of mine is a war.”
Pereira (12-2), who turns 38 on July 7, closed -120 at BetMGM Sportsbook.
As close as the fight was, UFC President and CEO Dana White had one word when asked about a potential rematch: “Probably.”
In the co-main event, the No. 3-ranked lightweight and fan favorite Justin Gaethje (27-5-0) earned a unanimous decision over No. 11 Rafael Fiziev (12-4-0) in what was tabbed ” Fight of the Night.” Gaethje was scheduled to fight Dan Hooker, who pulled out because of a hand injury. Gatheje dropped Fiziev with a stiff right uppercut in the second round.
Lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5-0) earned a first-round win when he made Jalin Turner (14-9-0) tap after administering a triangle choke at the 2:29 mark. Turner left the cage and waited in front of press row for Bahamondes to finish his interview, intending to return to the cage to leave his gloves and signify his retirement. Security would not let him return, however.
No. 5 strawweight contender Amanda Lemos improved to 15-4-1 with a unanimous decision over seventh-ranked Iasmin Lucindo (17-6-0).
Mauricio Ruffy (12-1-0) delivered a spinning heel kick with his right foot to the temple of King Green (32-17-1) to score a vicious knockout just 2:07 into the first round of their lightweight bout.
Just after Ruffy’s knockout kick and before the women’s bout, a tribute video for Robbie Lawler played in honor of the former welterweight champion. Watching cageside, an emotional Lawler received a standing ovation as it was announced he would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing as a member of the Class of 2025. The ceremony will take place as part of the 13th Annual UFC International Fight Week on June 26.
“Robbie was an absolute killer, and I have a ton of respect for his toughness and his fighting style, which helped grow the sport of MMA and UFC by attracting a lot of new fans,” UFC president and CEO Dana White said in a statement.
Djokovic crashes out at Indian Wells as Alcaraz sails through
- Italian Matteo Arnaldi sprung another upset, beating seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5
- Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 victory over rising US talent McCartney Kessler
INDIAN WELLS, California: Five-time champion Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champ Carlos Alcaraz advanced.
“No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat.
“It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he added. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.”
Djokovic is just the latest in van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims.
He stunned Alcaraz at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in what proved the Spanish great’s last match.
“I think I kept my cool during the whole match,” said van de Zandschulp. “I know if I go into the match and lose my cool, especially against the big players, it’s going to be a really tough day. That’s always one thing I’m trying to do well.”
After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up in the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead.
Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction.
The rallies remained tense affairs and Djokovic’s frustration was clear at times, but after he was broken when serving for the set he closed it out on his next service game.
It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on both from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic’s errors began to pile up again.
Van de Zandschulp took control with a break for 3-1, reeling off the last five games as Djokovic was unable to stop the bleeding.
“The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close,” Djokovic, seeded sixth, said. “Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes.”
Italian Matteo Arnaldi sprung another upset, beating seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic and Rublev followed top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Casper Ruud as second-round casualties.
With Zverev out and world No. 1Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, world number three Alcaraz is the highest seed left in the men’s draw.
Alcaraz, trying to join Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles, eased into his defense with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over France’s Quentin Halys.
He admitted he was feeling some nerves to start the match, but they evaporated amid a strong all-around performance.
One early break staked Alcaraz to the first set. He roared to a 4-0 lead in the second behind a formidable service display and wrapped up the win in 67 minutes.
“I was nervous at the beginning of the match,” he told a supportive crowd. “The first match is never easy so I was trying to be focused on my game.
“I just tried to be relaxed, as relaxed as I can. Can always be better, but I’m ready for the (next) round and excited.”
Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 victory over rising US talent McCartney Kessler.
Madison Keys, who denied Sabalenka a third straight Australian Open title as she claimed her long awaited first Grand Slam in Melbourne, subdued hard-hitting Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0 in her first match since then.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff — seeded third in their respective draws, both advanced.
Fritz, the 2022 men’s champion, defeated Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 7-5, 6-3.
Gauff survived 21 double faults to claw out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.
New Zealand win toss, bat against India in Champions Trophy final
- Pace bowler Matt Henry not playing due to injury sustained in semifinal against South Africa
- India can win a record third Champions Trophy after winning the 2002 and 2013 editions
DUBAI: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.
Pace bowler Matt Henry misses out after he injured his shoulder during the New Zealand’s semifinal win over South Africa in Lahore.
Fast bowler Nathan Smith replaces Henry as the only change for New Zealand.
New Zealand lost to India by 44 runs in their final group game of the 50-over tournament a week ago
Sunday’s replay of that clash will decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament which has been played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
India have played all their matches in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to political tensions.
The Black Caps won the Champions Trophy in 2000 when they beat India in the final in Nairobi, Kenya.
Rohit Sharma’s India team comes in unchanged from their win over Australia in the semifinal with four spinners including two all-rounders.
India can win a record third Champions Trophy after winning the 2002 and 2013 editions.
Australia also have also won two Champions Trophies, in 2006 and 2009.
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke.
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV Umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
Pogacar remounts after fall and charges to Strade Bianche win
- After victory in the Tuscany one-day race in 2022 and 2024, 26-year-old Pogacar now equals Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara’s record of three victories in the Strade Bianche
- Pogacar saw his rear wheel give way and ended up in a ditch after a spectacular spin
SIENA: Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar won the Strade Bianche on Saturday for the third time in his career, after recovering from a fall 50km from the finish.
Pogacar of Team UAE topped the podium by 1min 24sec ahead of Briton Tom Pidcock, with Belgium’s Tim Wellens a further 48sec adrift.
After victory in the Tuscany one-day race in 2022 and 2024, 26-year-old Pogacar now equals Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara’s record of three victories in the Strade Bianche.
“Pretty good race today. The race was super fast. It was a really strong breakaway and our guys did super amazing work in the front,” said Pogacar who completed the 213km race in 5hr 13mins and 58secs.
“We just went fast and it was a really hard race.”
After falling off his bike at a corner on a descent, Pogacar displayed several cuts to his body with blood notably visible on his left shoulder.
“I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line. Now I’m in adrenaline wear-off and I start to feel a lot of pain,” said the reigning world champion and Tour de France winner.
“Not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win. Let’s hope it’s nothing worse than it looks and all should be fine.
“I went too fast I guess. I know this road very well. I rode it already 20 times in my life,” added Pogacar, who had been leading at the time of his fall.
“For a moment I didn’t know if I was OK. The bike was not working so I had to change the bike.
“I was a bit worried because when you crash the body takes a lot from you. But still I had enough to finish it off.”
Pogacar saw his rear wheel give way and ended up in a ditch after a spectacular spin. But the three-time Tour de France champion quickly got up and resumed the race, with his jersey and shorts ripped.
He then found himself 32 seconds behind Team Q36.5’s Pidcock, but after a change of bike, he finally caught up with the 2023 winner 45km from the finish in Siena, after Pidcock had sportingly stopped to wait for him.
“When he crashed, of course, I carried on. I didn’t know what was happening, but then he was back on his bike, he was coming back, so of course I waited,” said Paris 2024 Olympic mountain bike gold medallist Pidcock.
“He’s a competitor, he’s a world champion, you respect that, you wait, regardless of whether he’s a world champion or not.
“You know, he made a mistake. This is not how you take advantage in a race.”
Pogacar dropped Pidcock at 18.8km thanks to a lightning-fast acceleration on one of the last difficulties, the Colle Pinzuto.
“Of course I wanted to try and win. I think I did a good performance, let’s be honest. I came pretty close,” said Pidcock.
“But he (Pogacar) was still too strong in this last attack of his. I’m happy, but at the same time, of course, disappointed.”
Pogacar will have to put any lingering pain from the fall swiftly behind him as his schedule starts to heat up, with Milan-San Remo two weeks away on March 22.
Alongside Paris-Roubaix, it is one of the two Monuments that the Slovenian has yet to win and is his main objective at the start of this 2025 season.
