Serie A chief dismisses Rabiot concerns over Milan’s Australia fixture

MILAN: Footballers should respect the money they make and their employers, Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo said on Wednesday in response to AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s concerns over his club’s planned league match in Australia. Italy’s Serie A have turned the unavailability of the San Siro in February due to the Winter Olympics into an opportunity for Italian football to increase international visibility, and Milan’s fixture with Como will be played in Perth. Rabiot, currently on international duty with France, called the decision crazy when he spoke to French newspaper Le Figaro on Tuesday. “I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan will be playing a Serie A match against Como ... in Australia,” Rabiot said. “It’s completely crazy.

Germany’s Woltemade not yet in team training after flu

BERLIN: Germany striker Nick Woltemade returned to light individual training on Wednesday after recovering from a flu, as the national team prepare for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. The Germans, third in Group A on three points, host Luxembourg on Friday before traveling to Belfast to face Northern Ireland, second on goal difference, three days later. Slovakia are top on six points with Luxembourg bottom on zero. The 23-year-old Woltemade, who has made a strong start since joining Newcastle United this season, scoring in the Premier League and Europe, including Sunday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, missed Germany’s training on Tuesday after joining the team a day late due to his illness. Woltemade is firmly in the spotlight ahead of the qualifiers after quickly becoming a crowd favorite in Newcastle.

Lazio ultras arrested after Winter Games corruption attempt

ROME :Two brothers from a notorious Italian soccer hooligan group, Lazio's "Irriducibili", have been arrested after trying to illegally obtain public works contracts for next year's Winter Olympics, Italian prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Soccer–Saudi champions Al-Ittihad name Portugal's Conceicao as coach

Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad have appointed Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao on a deal running until 2028, the club said on Wednesday, replacing Frenchman Laurent Blanc who departed last month.

Cape Verde close to World Cup qualification but must wait

CAPE TOWN :Tiny Cape Verde will have to wait five more days before getting a last chance to secure a first-ever World Cup spot after they drew 3-3 away in a thrilling encounter in Libya on Wednesday.

Penyesalan Rakitic: Tak Main Bareng Ronaldo di Juventus

Eks bintang sepakbola Kroasia Ivan Rakitic menyesal menolak rayuan Cristiano Ronaldo untuk pindah ke Juventus. Namun, Rakitic tetap puas dengan kariernya.

Browns' Stefanski to let week play out before deciding on QB2 - ESPN

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday was noncommittal on if rookie Shedeur Sanders — or practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe — would be the team's backup quarterback in the aftermath of trading Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

A new 'Answer': Iverson discusses lowest point in life, sobriety - ESPN

Allen Iverson, discussing his new memoir, «Misunderstood» on ESPN's First Take, discussed the lowest point of his life — and it didn't involve anything that happened on a basketball court.