Maradona gets off to a winning start

CULIACAN,MEXICO: A hat-trick from Vinicio Angulo helped get Diego Maradona’s managerial career in Mexico off to the perfect start on Monday as his club Dorados beat Tapachula 4-1 in Culiacan.

Maradona had surprised the football world when he signed with the Pacific coast team earlier this month. He has been feted in Culiacan, a sweltering city notorious for its drug cartels, and fans hope he will help take the side back into the first division.

RODRIGUEZ GETS RELIEF IN SPAIN TAX ISSUE

MADRID: Spain’s taxman has dropped accusations that Colombia’s James Rodriguez evaded millions of euros in taxes when he played at Real Madrid, the El Mundo reported on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old’s lawyers, acccording to the daily, have submitted new documents that saw tax authorities drop their accusations. They are still demanding he pay four million euros for “a technical difference in criteria” in his tax return.

INFANTINO CONCERNED OVER LA LIGA MATCH

Barcelona:fifapresidentgianni Infantino has expressed concern about La Liga’s proposal to stage a fixture between Girona and Barcelona in the United States. The two clubs have each approved a request submitted to the Spanish Football Federation for the match to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 26.

BRIGHTON FORCE DRAW VERSUS SOUTHAMPTON

SOUTHAMPTON,UK: Brighton came from two goals down for the second game in succession to earn a 2-2 draw away to south coast rivals Southampton in the Premier League on Monday.

A-LEAGUE MAKEOVER IN CONTROVERSY

SYDNEY: A proposal to give Australian football a Twenty20 cricketstyle makeover with lights and music during games met with widespread criticism on Tuesday as fans and media slammed the ideas as “cheap gimmicks”.