SOCCER
Dyche doubts sin bins
Everton manager Sean Dyche said he does not think sin bins are needed nor wanted in soccer and urged rulemakers to “leave the game alone.” The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved trials of 10-minute sin bins at “higher levels” of the sport at a meeting this week, while measures to improve player behavior and increase respect for match officials were also supported. A proposed trial whereby only the team captain may approach the referee in certain game situations was backed, and it was also agreed that temporary dismissals for dissent and specific tactical offences should be trialed. Sin bins have already been tested at grassroots levels, but Dyche saw no need for them at the top level. “I don’t know why they don’t leave the game alone at times,” he told BBC Sport. “I don’t think it is needed. I don’t think it is wanted, personally, but fans might have a different view.” He also questioned how sin bins would be managed. “If a player goes off the pitch, how are you going to manage that? The health and safety? Is he warming up, or is he allowed to sit down? Does he have to stay sitting down? Does he get two minutes out of the 10 to warm up again?” The IFAB is also considering a measure that would see referees announce the final decision of video reviews. “Leave referees alone,” Dyche said. “I say take everything away, take the screen away, the noise away and let them get on with their job.”
CRICKET
Dominica withdraws
Dominica on Thursday withdrew as one of the cohosts of next year’s ICC T20 World Cup, citing the delay in completing upgrades of match and practice venues, Cricket West Indies said. Dominica was one of seven countries in the West Indies selected to stage matches in the showpiece tournament in June along with the US. Windsor Park in Roseau was scheduled to host one group match and two Super Eight games of the 20-team tournament, but the government has conveyed its inability to get the facilities ready on time, Cricket West Indies said in a statement. “While recognizing their commitment, we note the reasons stated for the decision that has been made and understand the position,” Cricket West Indies chief executive officer Johnny Grave said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the government of Dominica and the Dominica Cricket Association to host international matches in the future.” Tournament director Fawwaz Baksh said that contingency plans were ready.
RUGBY UNION
Tackle change to be trialed
Rugby Australia yesterday said that it would trial a lowering of the legal tackle height from the shoulder line to below the sternum in a bid to reduce concussions. The new measure would take effect from February for two years at all levels of the game below Super Rugby, following six years of research by World Rugby. Phil Waugh, the governing body’s chief executive, said that research by World Rugby showed a clear opportunity to make the game safer. “Obviously it is impossible to remove all risk from the game,” he said. “However, we firmly believe that promoting safer tackle techniques and reducing the risk of head contact and concussion will lead to an even safer game.”
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way. Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning. The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016. “The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: After Coco Gauff dispatched Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, she wrote ‘RIP TikTok USA’ and drew a broken heart on a television camera lens Defending champion Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while compatriot Chan Hao-ching on Saturday dominated her opponents in the second round, as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia toppled Hungary’s Timea Babos and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US 6-4, 6-3, hitting 24 winners and converting three of seven break points in 1 hour, 18 minutes at 1573 Arena. Although rivals at last year’s Australian Open — where Hsieh and Belgium’s Elise Mertens beat Ostapenko and Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-1, 7-5
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