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Premier League confirms only one Boxing Day game amid scheduling issues

MANCHESTER: The Premier League has announced that this season will feature just one match on Boxing Day, breaking from the tradition of a full slate of festive fixtures that fans have long enjoyed. Manchester United host Newcastle United in the lone game, for the fewest top-flight fixtures in 43 years on Boxing Day, which falls on a Friday this year. In a statement, the League cited mounting scheduling pressures linked to the expansion of European club competitions as the key reason for the change. “There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup,” the League said. The adjustments have left the Premier League operating as a 33-weekend competition, which is fewer than in previous years, despite maintaining its 380-match format since 1995. The League broadcasting deals mean matches must be scheduled on those weekends each season. With only five rounds of midweek games included, matches must be played on December 27-28. “With fewer weekends available, fixture planning has become increasingly constrained,” the League said.

Turkish football suspends 149 referees accused of betting

ISTANBUL: The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Friday suspended 149 referees accused of betting on matches. The TFF said in a statement that its disciplinary committee had handed out suspensions ranging from eight to 12 months, adding that investigations are continuing into three other referees. An investigation by the federation into 571 referees in the Turkish professional leagues revealed on Monday that 371 of them had sports betting accounts and 152 were actively betting. “Refereeing is a profession of honor,” said TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu on Thursday.” “Anyone who tarnishes that honor...will never again be involved in Turkish football,“ The TFF said on Monday that 22 of the officials (seven match referees and 15 assistants) work in the top league. Ten of the referees listed by the TFF placed more than 10,000 bets, with one of them alone placing 18,227 bets.

New Juve manager Spalletti eyes Scudetto

“Of course, I hope this team can still get involved in the title race,” he said“Only nine matches have been played; there are still 29 left to play. That’s a lot of matches”ROME: New Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti said on Friday that his seventh-placed team are capable of challenging for the Sere A title.“Of course, I hope this team can still get involved in the title race,” he said Friday, on the eve of Juve’s game at Cremonese.Spalletti, who succeeds the sacked Igor Tudor, added: “As we discussed with the players on Thursday, we must aim for the highest.“And the highest is the Scudetto.“Only nine matches have been played; there are still 29 left to play.

Auger-Aliassime closes in on ATP Finals spot with win over Vacherot in Paris

Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the semifinals of the Paris Masters tennis tournament and picked up crucial points in his bid to qualify for the year-ending ATP Finals.

Bencic out of Hong Kong last eight as tennis injury list mounts

HONG KONG: Top seed Belinda Bencic pulled out of the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals on Friday as the Tokyo Olympic champion became the latest in a long line of players to suffer a late-season injury. The Asian “swing” on the WTA Tour has been particularly hard hit by injuries and pullouts in recent weeks, placing renewed scrutiny on the demanding tennis schedule. Bencic, who was ranked 421 in the world at the start of the season but has climbed to 11, was supposed to meet Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the last eight in Hong Kong. “So disappointed to have to withdraw today from my quarter-final match here in Hong Kong due to my thigh injury,” said the 28-year-old Swiss, who won gold at the Covid-delayed Olympics in 2021. “I’ve played a lot of tennis in the past few weeks and did everything I could to stay healthy, but it was not to be.” Bencic beat Linda Noskova last weekend to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and cap a remarkable comeback, a year after returning to tennis from having a baby. Noskova reached the final in the Japanese capital after Elena Rybakina withdrew injured ahead of their semifinal. The tournament in Hong Kong was hit even before it began with the withdrawals of former world number one Naomi Osaka and the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Both ended their seasons early through injury. Daria Kasatkina, who has won eight WTA titles, was also initially scheduled to compete in Hong Kong but she too brought the curtain down prematurely on her season. “The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly I am not alone,” the 28-year-old, who this year switched nationality from Russia to Australia, said in early October.

Mark Walter approved as majority owner of Lakers, closes on sale - ESPN

Billionaire businessman Mark Walter was unanimously approved as the new majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers by the NBA Board of Governors on Thursday.

Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip

BARCELONA: Real Madrid will look to take care of business against a struggling Valencia and maintain their La Liga lead this weekend before turning to their demanding match at Liverpool. Xabi Alonso’s team visit Anfield in a clash of European title hopefuls next Tuesday in the Champions League. Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 last weekend to end a run of four clasico victories for the Catalan club from last season. The victory allowed Madrid to open a five-point gap at the top of the league standings over second-placed Barcelona. Key matches Madrid are on a five-game winning streak that includes a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League. Kylian Mbappé struck his 11th goal in the domestic league to help defeat Barcelona.

Wolvaardt’s 169 helps South Africa crush 4-time champions England in Women’s Cricket World Cup semifinal

GUWAHATI, India: Skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s imposing century helped South Africa crush four-time champions England by 125 runs Wednesday to reach the final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time.

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Tennis Sport News

Premier League confirms only one Boxing Day game amid scheduling issues

Turkish football suspends 149 referees accused of betting

New Juve manager Spalletti eyes Scudetto

Auger-Aliassime closes in on ATP Finals spot with win over Vacherot in Paris

Bencic out of Hong Kong last eight as tennis injury list mounts

Mark Walter approved as majority owner of Lakers, closes on sale - ESPN

Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip

Wolvaardt’s 169 helps South Africa crush 4-time champions England in Women’s Cricket World Cup semifinal