English FA to probe Super League
The English Football Association opened an inquiry into the Super League rebellion and sought evidence from the six English clubs involved in the breakaway that could lead to punishments.
The Premier League also disclosed Monday that it had prepared measures to stop teams playing in closed competitions. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham launched an ill-fated attempt two weeks ago to found a new European competition with three clubs from each of Spain and Italy.
The project imploded after fan outrage and threats from the British government of legislation being introduced to stop the Super League.
The FA said it is focused on “preventing it from happening, both now and in the future” and has been working with the government in pursuit of a law to guard against similar threats and protect the English football pyramid.
A medical report on the death of Diego Maradona given to prosecutors said the Argentine great agonized for more than 12 hours, didn’t receive adequate treatment and could still be alive if he had been properly hospitalized. The medical panel worked for two months on the report, which was written by more than 20 doctors. Maradona, who led Argentina to a 1986 World Cup, is considered one of the greatest soccer players ever. The 60-year-old Maradona died of a heart attack following a Nov. 3 brain operation.
NBA: Magic coach Steve Clifford was cleared health and safety protocols Monday and will be back on the bench for Wednesday’s game against the Celtics. Clifford tested positive for COVID-19 on April 22 and has missed the Magic’s last five games.
NFL: The Cowboys will not pick up the fifthyear option on former Pro Bowl LB Leighton Vander Esch. The 2018 first-round draft pick will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. Vander Esch, 25, missed 13 games over the last two seasons due to injuries . ... Titans fourth-round pick Rashad Weaver out of Pitt was charged by police in Pittsburgh with one count of simple assault in connection to an incident that occurred April 18 at 2:28 a.m . ... The Browns signed DT Malik McDowell, who’s attempting an NFL comeback following a series of injuries and off-field issues. The 2017 second-round pick out of Michigan State was drafted by the Seahawks but never played for the team after suffering a head injury in an ATV accident and was ultimately released. McDowell also was sentenced to 11 months in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty in 2019 to a series of crimes in Michigan . ... Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package a year earlier than originally anticipated. Amazon and the league that Prime Video will take over the entire package in 2022, which will make it an 11-season deal through 2032. It was originally supposed to begin in 2023. This is the first time a streaming service has had the full rights to an NFL package.
Women’s basketball: Baylor hired Nicki Collen as its new coach. Collen, 45, spent the last three seasons as coach of the WNBA’s Dream. She will replace Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey, who left last week to become LSU’s coach.