Sports

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and France footballing legend Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss court on Friday after a seven-year investigation during which they were booted out of the sport. A judge said the pair’s account of a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ for FIFA to pay Platini 2 million Swiss francs ($2.05 million) for consulting work …

LAHORE: There was confusion in Pakistan’s hockey circles on Thursday after the Pakistan Sports Board de-notified three top office-bearers of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, including its president, retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, for failing to hold elections after their tenure had expired in May. The hockey governing body shared a document which showed that it had been instructed by the …

LONDON: The women’s final at Wimbledon is set. Ons Jabeur of Tunisia will face Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in a meeting of first-time Grand Slam finalists after both were victorious on Thursday. Jabeur, 27, took down Tatjana Maria of Germany 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 while Rybakina, 23, beat Romanian Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3. This final will be extra special for both competitors. …

LONDON: Cricket officials are to deploy undercover spotters into the crowd at Edgbaston during Saturday’s T20 Inter­nat­ional between England and India in a bid to combat racist abuse. Warwickshire, the English county whose headquarters are at the Birmingham ground, have announced several measures in a bid to stamp out racism after several fans reported incidents of abuse during England’s recent …

KARACHI: It’s been an excruciatingly long wait for the Pakistan women’s football team to return to international action. And perhaps no player has felt that pain as much as star striker Hajra Khan. Hajra was 20 the last time the national team played with a promising career on the horizon. Eight years on, her peak as a player might have …

ARENBERG: Simon Clarke of Israel Premier Tech won stage five of the Tour de France on Wednesday in a photo finish after a 157km run from Lille to Arenberg featuring 20km of cobbled mining roads. Belgium’s Wout van Aert of Jumbo retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey despite a nasty fall, but his teammate Primoz Roglic lost around two minutes …

HOOFDDORP: Global football players union FIFPRO has warned footballers about the risks of signing for clubs in China, Turkey, Greece and several other countries due to “systematic and widespread contractual violations”. China’s football association said in April clubs who failed to settle all outstanding wages by Dec 31 would be relegated or expelled, with Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic the latest team …

LONDON: Former champion Simona Halep said she is playing her “best tennis” as she set up a Wimbledon semi-final clash with Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on Wednesday. Halep, the 2019 winner, comfortably reached her third semi-final at the All England Club with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amanda Anisimova of the United States. Russian-born Rybakina became the first player representing Kazakhstan …

LAHORE: Expressing strong reservations over the way the new role of national junior team manager was given to him by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, former Olympian Manzoor Junior on Wednesday parted ways with the PHF. Talking to Dawn after the PHF issued a press release earlier on Wednesday announcing him as manager of the national junior team and appointing Kaleemullah …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) governing board on Wednesday decided to vacate the Liaquat Gymnasium of the Pakistan Sports Complex where Rangers personnel have been staying for over a month. Recently, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) directed the PSB to get the gymnasium vacated emphasising sports facilities are meant for sports only. It is relevant …