WORLD OF SPORT

▷▷▷ El Clasico TV time shows Asia important market

For the first time, Spanish football’s Clasico between giants Real Madrid and Barcelona has been scheduled for a 4pm UAE kick-off on Saturday as the Primera Liga seeks to capture Asia’s attention and its cash. “We are keen to provide our fans in Asia the opportunity to watch Real Madrid and Barcelona face off at a time that is convenient to them,” the league’s chief communications officer Joris Evers told AFP. With a potential television audience of 650 million people, according to the league, the Clasico is the most watched club match around the world thanks to its unique mixture of stars and a fierce rivalry fostered over decades on and off the field by the cultural differences between Catalonia and Madrid. “It is the ideal shop window, the marquee match to show to people Spanish football,” Jose Maria Gay de Liebana, professor of economics at Barcelona University and an expert in Spanish football finances, said to AFP.

▷▷▷ Dropped from rugby union? Switch to league

New Zealand winger Julian Savea is considering switching codes to play rugby league after being dropped by the All Blacks. Savea, who is just three short of Doug Howlett’s All Blacks record of 49 tries, has not featured for his country since the drawn series against the British & Irish Lions in July. When asked about switching from union to rugby league, Savea, 27, told the website newshub.co.nz: “It’s always been in the back of my mind.” Savea said he would “definitely think about it” and added he would have to “weigh up the pros and cons and what’s best for my family”.

▷▷▷ Bryant’s Lakers numbers have been retired

Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was hailed as the “greatest” Los Angeles Laker of all by fellow hero Magic Johnson in a ceremony to retire Bryant’s jersey numbers. The tribute came at half time of the Lakers’ Staples Center match up against defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, with Bryant’s Nos 8 and 24 joining other inspirational Laker heroes from the team’s 70-year history. “We’re here to celebrate the greatest to ever wear the purple and gold. He made us rub our eyes and wonder what did we just see,” said Johnson, now Lakers president of basketball operations. “There will never, ever be another Kobe Bryant.” Bryant played 10 seasons in each retired number, winning three titles in the single-digit uniform top and two in the higher number jersey. “Thank you so much for tonight,” Bryant told the crowd, which chanted his name while giving him a standing ovation.