■ GERMANY
Mag says Brazil match fixed
The German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reports in today’s edition that the 2006 World Cup knock-out stage match between Brazil and Ghana was influenced by an Asian betting syndicate. The magazine reports large sums of money had been bet on Brazil winning by at least two goals and a former Ghana international acted as an intermediary. Ghana lost the match 3-0 in Dortmund on June 27, 2006, which put Brazil into the quarter-finals where they lost to France. The information in Der Spiegel comes from Canadian investigative journalist Declan Hill, whose book about betting on sport around the world is published in German tomorrow.
■ENGLAND
Spurs sign Pavlyuchenko
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to sign Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow. Pavlyuchenko arrived in England on Friday for a medical and negotiations over personal terms and the deal was sealed on Saturday. “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Spartak Moscow for the transfer of Roman Pavlyuchenko to the club,” a statement on Tottenham’s Web site confirmed. The fee paid by Tottenham has not been disclosed, but it is understood to be around £14 million (US$25.5 million) and the move could pave the way for Dimitar Berbatov to leave Spurs for Manchester United.
■SPAIN
Robinho stays put: Calderon
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insisted on Saturday that Brazilian winger Robinho would be staying with the Spanish side, despite the player saying he is still in talks with English club Chelsea. “He’s going to stay here, I’m saying that,” Calderon told the daily ABC, adding that the Brazilian was “a good boy, badly advised” by his entourage. Robinho said in an interview with Brazilian television Globoesporte on Friday that he wanted to leave, adding that “negotiations were ongoing” for his eventual transfer to the English club. He was not called up as expected by German coach Bernd Schuster for Real’s first match of the season at Deportivo La Coruna yesterday. Schuster said that it would be better to wait until the situation regarding the player had been clarified. “I made the decision. He’s under pressure from his entourage and not fit to play,” Schuster said.
■SPAIN
Smolarek loaned to Trotters
Racing Santander have agreed to loan Polish international striker Euzebiusz “Ebi” Smolarek to Bolton Wanderers for the season, the first division Spanish side said on Saturday. Bolton will have the option to buy the 27-year-old at the end of the loan period, the club added in a statement posted on its Web site. Ebi joined Racing Santander last year from German club Dortmund, having previously spent time at Feyenoord. He scored four times in 34 appearances for Racing last season in La Liga. Ebi has 34 caps for Poland, having scored 13 times.
■GERMANY
Hamburg snap up Neves
Bundesliga side Hamburg confirmed yesterday the arrival of attacking midfielder Thiago Neves from Brazilian club Fluminense. The 23-year-old is set to sign a five-year contract in Hamburg, providing he passes a medical, for an undisclosed fee. Neves will step into the midfield role vacated by Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart who quit Hamburg in the summer to play for Real Madrid. “It is a dream for me to play in Europe, I want to really boost my career here,” the Brazilian said.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
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
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
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
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