sports

PARIS: Questions are being asked about safety standards in motorsports after a horrifying crash at the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday (Nov 18) led to 17-year-old German driver Sophia Floersch undergoing seven hours of spinal surgery. Sophia Floersch before her Macau horror crash AFP/K.Y. CHENG Why is the Macau Grand Prix dangerous? Motorcycle and racing car Grand Prix have been held for over 60 years in Macau, a town with the reputation as being the Asian Las Vegas, and the Formula 3 race in which German racer Floersch hurtled into marshals and photographers after flying off the track on Sunday is the most popular race of all. Raced over a temporary circuit at Guia, the 6.2-kilometre track is dotted with long straights where speeds of 275km/h are the norm, which are then coupled with tight, blind corners. As with most urban circuits the roads are narrow and there are few safety exits. Any driver losing control on a corner or chicane will almost certainly hit the barriers and … [Read more...] about Shocking Macau racing car accident rings safety alarm bells

SYDNEY: Veteran Tim Cahill bid an emotional farewell on Tuesday (Nov 20) on his 108th and final appearance for Australia as Scottish striker Martin Boyle scored twice for his newly-adopted country. Tim Cahill is the Australian national team's all-time top scorer with 50 goals. (Photo: AFP/David Moir) Cahill, the Socceroos all-time top scorer with 50 goals, came out of international retirement to play the final nine minutes of Australia's 3-0 win against Lebanon in their last match before defending the Asian Cup crown in January. Coach Graham Arnold made sweeping changes from the line-up that drew 1-1 with South Korea on Saturday with Hibernian marksman Boyle, who recently secured an Australian passport, starting up front. He played alongside South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil and added a spark that the Socceroos have been missing since Cahill announced his retirement at the end of the World Cup in Russia. Boyle, who played for the Scotland under-16s but qualified for Australia … [Read more...] about “Freak” Cahill makes emotional Australia swansong

PARIS: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday that he had pitched the idea of a joint bid between his country, Portugal and Morocco to host the 2030 World Cup. "I made the proposal, firstly to the government then to King Mohammed VI to launch a shared application with Morocco, Portugal and Spain to host the 2030 World Cup," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. (AFP/CRISTINA QUICLER) "I made the proposal, firstly to the government then to King Mohammed VI to launch a shared application with Morocco, Portugal and Spain to host the 2030 World Cup," Sanchez said in Rabat after a meeting with the monarch. "It will be the first two-continent application, with Europe and Africa, and King Mohammed VI welcomed the proposal warmly." Earlier this year the King ordered the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to launch their own World Cup bid but the office of the Moroccan prime minister, Saad Eddine el Othmani, refused to comment on Sanchez's statement when contacted by … [Read more...] about Spain PM wants 2030 World Cup bid with Morocco and Portugal

VALENCIA, Spain: Italy's Andrea Dovizioso won the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday (Nov 18), as world champion Marc Marquez was among 13 riders who failed to finish a chaotic, rain-lashed race. Andrea Dovizioso and Alex Rins in the rain at the Valencia Grand Prix. (AFP/JAVIER SORIANO) Ducati's Dovizioso was well ahead of second placed Suzuki rider Alex Rins with another Spaniard Pol Espargaro third in a race halted for around 30 minutes due to the rain. Marquez pulled out after going over his handlebars at an early corner following a spectacular high-speed loss of control. Yamaha's Valentino Rossi was another high-profile faller, his late exit from second position allowing Espargaro and KTM to clinch a place on the podium for the first time in the premier class. Rossi still finished the championship in third place, behind Dovizioso and Marquez. Dovizioso's victory was his fourth of the season and a first for Ducati in Valencia in 10 years. "It was a crazy race, at … [Read more...] about Dovizioso wins rain hit Valencia GP

Switzerland's forward Haris Seferovic (right) scores his team's second goal past Belgium's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (left) during the UEFA Nations League football match. (Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP) Thorgan Hazard's early double left Switzerland needing to win by two goals to qualify from Group A2 but the hosts quickly fought back, with Ricardo Rodriguez's penalty and Seferovic's first two goals seeing them into a 3-2 half-time lead. Nico Elvedi nodded home a Xherdan Shaqiri cross in the 62nd minute, and Vladimir Petkovic's men sealed a stunning win when Seferovic completed his treble late on. "I want to congratulate each player, there was a big mental reaction, the players never gave up, they always believed," said Swiss coach Petkovic. "They played with will, intelligence and with their heads." After a thrilling match that continued a trend of goal-filled encounters in the inaugural edition of the Nations League, Switzerland will play at the semi-finals in June next year, alongside … [Read more...] about Seferovic hat trick helps Swiss stun Belgium to reach semi finals

MILAN: Former Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has travelled to China to seal a deal with Inter Milan's Chinese owners Suning for a move to the Serie A club, according to reports in Italy on Sunday (Nov 18). Ex-Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta is in China to hammer out a deal with Inter Milan bosses. AFP/Valery HACHE Marotta left Juventus earlier this month after eight highly successful years in Turin, and his arrival would be seen as a huge coup for Inter, Juve's fiercest domestic rival. The 61-year-old was one of the architects of Juventus' recent re-emergence as Italy's dominant force, which has seen them rack up seven straight Serie A titles and four Italian Cups, and twice finish runners-up in the Champions League. Marotta is in Nanjing to meet with Suning owner Zhang Jindong and his son, Inter President Steven Zhang, to discuss his future role within the club, according to Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta dello Sport. Both newspapers reported that he wants to be … [Read more...] about Ex Juventus CEO Marotta in China to discuss Inter Milan move: Reports

CHESTE: World champion Marc Marquez battled bravely through injury to qualify fifth for the season-ending Valencia MotoGP on Saturday (Nov 17) behind pole-sitter Maverick Vinales, as the retiring Dani Pedrosa had to settle for ninth ahead of his farewell race. Marc Marquez dislocated a shoulder but still completed qualifying for the Valencia MotoGP with the fifth best time. (Photo: AFP/Jose Jordan) Marquez dislocated a shoulder, which he has injured several times before, most recently while celebrating after clinching the world title in Japan last month, when sliding out on his first qualifying lap. He staggered back to his feet and jogged to the Honda pits clutching his left arm as it hung unnaturally at his side. After receiving help pushing the joint back into place, the Spaniard returned to the track to seal a spot on the second row. "It was a fall that I wasn't expecting at all because I wasn't pushing," said Marquez, who has already secured a fifth top-class world … [Read more...] about Marquez defies injury to qualify fifth for Valencia MotoGP

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will sell 25,000 online tickets if Vietnam qualify for the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup 2018’s semi-finals, according to VFF general secretary Le Hoai Anh. Fans queue to buy tickets of the match between Vietnam and Malaysia at the ongoing AFF Cup at My Dinh National Stadium.(Photo: VNA) Anh said the VFF held an urgent meeting to deal with difficulties in selling tickets to avoid touting. The VFF sold tickets for the match between Vietnam and Malaysia from 150,000 VND (6.5 USD) to 400,000 VND (17 USD). They sold through public bodies, online registration and in person at the stadium. 11,000 tickets were sold via public bodies, 3,700 tickets online and fans had to queue to buy 9,000 tickets at My Dinh National Stadium. The rest of the tickets went to VFF’s partners and sponsors. However, the VFF’s supply didn’t meet fans’ demand, with many unable to secure tickets through legal means so had to buy them on the black … [Read more...] about 25,000 online tickets to sell if Vietnam enter AFF Cup’s semi finals

Brazil and Real Madrid legend, and World Cup winner Roberto Carlos will meet Vietnamese fans in a promotional event this afternoon at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. Brazil and Real Madrid legend, and World Cup winner Roberto Carlos arrives in Hanoi on Thursday.- Photo tinmoi.vn The event will take place before Vietnam take on Malaysia in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. During the event, ten lucky Vietnamese fans will be selected to meet and play football with Carlos. Carlos is currently in the Southeast Asian nation on a promotional trip for Air Asia, and will do a meet-and-greet with local fans. Carlos, 45, spent most of his career as a left back and has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game". He played for clubs in Brazil, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey and India. He helped Brazil win the World Cup in 2002 and the Copa America twice. At Real Madrid, he won four La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League three times. VNA … [Read more...] about Brazil legend Roberto Carlos to come to Hanoi

Strikers Nguyen Cong Phuong and Nguyen Anh Đuc helped Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-0 in their second match of Group A at the AFF Suzuki Cup on Friday night. Onwards: Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong (middle) celebrates his goal against Malaysia in their second match at Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup on Friday night. - VNA/VNS Photo The game was held at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. “I am very happy to contribute to Vietnam’s win today. The match was wonderful as we had the support of thousands of fans. We will try our best to play well in the next matches to thank the fans,” said Phuong. “We played very well as we had a long rest following the 3-0 win against Laos in the first match on November 8,” Phuong added. In the second minute, Vietnam had the first chance against the Malaysian goal. Receiving the ball from midfielder Luong Xuan Truong, Doan Van Hau managed a header but it bounced off the cross bar. After that the visiting side responded … [Read more...] about Vietnam beat Malaysia at AFF Cup