■ SOCCER
Morales slams FIFA ruling
Bolivian President Evo Morales followed up his goal during a soccer match in Peru’s capital on Thursday by slamming FIFA for imposing “a soccer apartheid” on teams that play at high altitudes. Shortly after arriving in Lima on Thursday afternoon, Morales threw on Bolivia’s green soccer jersey and headed to the “People’s Summit,” an alternative forum to a reunion of Latin American and European heads of state. Morales scored a goal to lead a squad of Bolivian expatriates to a 2-2 tie against members of Peru’s 1970 World Cup team. In a news conference following the game, Morales said FIFA’s ban on international games at stadiums 2,750m above sea level amounted to “discrimination” of teams and communities living at such heights.
■ SOCCER
Ronaldo mulling transfer
Manchester United suffered a major blow to morale ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League final when it emerged yesterday that Cristiano Ronaldo is considering quitting the club in the summer. “I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final,” the Portugal international told a Spanish television station. “I am feeling calm here. I’m happy, but in the future I don’t know. I know Real Madrid like how I play and I know that other teams in Spain like my game as well, so that’s good. It is good to know that other clubs are interested in you. I have said millions of times that I would love to play in Spain.” Madrid have made little secret of their interest and may be prepared to pay a world record fee for the 23-year-old, who has hit an astonishing 41 goals in all competitions this season.
■ CYCLING
Priamo takes breakaway win
Italian Matteo Priamo, riding for the CSF team, broke away to win the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy on Thursday. Priamo’s compatriot Giovanni Visconti, who rides for Quick Step, took the leader’s pink jersey. Priamo built up a decisive lead over the final run-in of the 232km stage from Potenza to Peschici after a breakaway of more than 160km. “My sole chance was to surprise my rivals,” Priamo said. “If I waited until the last kilometer, I was going to be beaten. After my attack 11km from the finish, I was confident. I knew I could beat Perez.” Priamo dedicated his stage win to Argentine teammate Ariel Maximiliano Richeze, who tested positive for doping last month and was withdrawn from the Giro on the eve of the race. “I dedicate this success to all the team, to Richeze, who is a friend, and my family,” he said. Visconti said he aimed to retain the leader’s jersey at least for another few days and was dreaming of a stage win whilst wearing it. “I want to keep this pink jersey until the individual time trial at Urbino” on May 20, he said, adding: “To win a stage with the pink jersey on my back would be a dream.”
■ CRICKET
Harbhajan given advice
Renowned sports psychologist Rudi Webster has advised banned India spinner Harbhajan Singh to seek professional help to cope with the emotional demands of competitive cricket. Harbhajan was banned for five one-day internationals this week for a slapping incident involving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 league match last month. “Harbhajan must now learn to control his thinking and emotions and to keep his concentration focused and locked into the task at hand, particularly when he is under pressure,” Webster told the Asian Age newspaper. “I am sure there are many professionals in India who can help Harbhajan in those areas,” Webster said.
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting
‘SETTING THE TONE’: Donovan Mitchell said that their determination to dominate had nothing to do with past results, but was about a potential post-season clash The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday boosted their NBA-best record with a 142-105 romp past the New York Knicks, tightening their grip on the Eastern Conference lead with an all-around dominant display. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead six Cavs players to score in double figures, connecting on five of seven three-pointers as Cleveland drilled 19 from beyond the arc. “I think the biggest thing was just try to set the tone early,” Mitchell said, adding that the determination to dominate had nothing to do with the Knicks’ first-round playoff win over the Cavs two seasons ago and everything to do with
BELGIANS ADVANCE: Club Brugge gave Atalanta a lesson in efficiency, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team had 29 efforts at goal, compared with seven from the visitors Seldom has a player’s sending off had such an influence on a game. AC Milan was to left rue Theo Hernandez’s second yellow card — for diving — as Feyenoord advanced to the UEFA Champions League last 16 at the former European champion’s expense with a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday, giving the Dutch team a 2-1 win on aggregate. Bayern Munich, Club Brugge and Benfica also won their playoffs, eliminating Celtic, UEFA Europa League winner Atalanta BC and French team AS Monaco respectively. “In soccer everything changes in a second,” said Milan forward
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