Sport news in brief
Alonso set for sensational F1 return
Fernando Alonso will return to Formula One in 2021 after Renault confirmed the double world champion’s signature. Alonso, who turns 39 later this month, has been out of the sport since he appeared to bring down the curtain on his career with McLaren 18 months ago.
But the Spaniard, who won successive championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, has now completed a sensational comeback with the French manufacturer. Alonso replaces Daniel Ricciardo, who is moving to McLaren at the end of the year. Australian Ricciardo is taking over from Carlos Sainz ahead of his switch to Ferrari. Alonso told Renault’s website: “Renault is my family, my fondest memories in Formula One with my two World Championship titles, but I’m now looking ahead.
“It’s a great source of pride and with an immense emotion I’m returning to the team that gave me my chance at the start of my career and which now gives me the opportunity to return to the highest level. “I
have principles and ambitions in line with the team’s project. Their progress this winter gives credibility to the objectives for the 2022 season and I will share all my racing experience with everyone from the engineers to the mechanics and my team-mates. The team wants and has the means to get back on the podium, as do I.”
Dier handed four-game ban
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier has been banned for four games and warned over his future conduct after climbing into the stands to confront a fan following Spurs’s FA Cup defeat by Norwich City in March. The England international has also been hit with a £40,000 fine, after an independent Regulatory Commission found Dier’s actions to have been of a “threatening” nature.
Following Tottenham’s 4-3 penalty shootout defeat, Dier was seen climbing over multiple rows of seats to confront a supporter that he said had been abusing his brother. Dier was eventually restrained, and there was no physical exchange, which saw the Metropolitan Police drop the case after a brief investigation.
However, the Football Association has found Dier in breach of FA Rule E3, and have hit the midfielder with a ban that will rule him out of all but one of Tottenham’s remaining Premier League fixtures this season. An FA statement read: “Eric Dier has been suspended for four matches with immediate effect, fined £40,000 and warned as to his future conduct following a breach of FA Rule E3.
“The Tottenham Hotspur FC player admitted that his actions at the conclusion of a fixture against Norwich City FC in The FA Cup on 04 March 2020 were improper but denied that they were also threatening. “An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found Eric Dier’s actions to be threatening.”
World champion snowboarder Pullin dies, aged 32
Two-time world champion snowboarder Alex Pullin has died after drowning while spearfishing, aged 32. Pullin was found by a snorkeller on an artificial reef off beach on the Gold Coast in South Brisbane on Wednesday morning, shortly before 11am local time. The double world champion was in the waters off Palm Beach and had been spearfishing by himself when he was found on the sea floor by another diver, who said the incident was “very upsetting”, according to Gold Coast Police District Duty Officer Chris Tritton.
Attempts by lifeguards and paramedics to resuscitate Pullin on the beach were unsuccessful, and Queensland Ambulance Service officer Justin Payne said that Pullin had sadly not survived. Office Tritton told Australian broadcaster Channel Nine: “He didn’t have an oxygen mask, we understand he was free diving and spearfishing out on the reef.
“It appears he was diving alone. There were other divers out there but he was not with a friend.” Brisbanebased newspaper the Courier-Mail earlier reported that Pullin was thought to have “suffered a shallow water blackout”. Pullin, nicknamed “Chumpy”, won world championship titles in snowboard cross in 2011 and 2013, and was a three-time Winter Olympian for Australia.
Zverev adds Ferrer to team on trial basis
Alexander Zverev has announced former world number three David Ferrer will join his coaching team on a trial basis. Ferrer brought the curtain down on his playing career in May last year, with the Spaniard losing his final match at the Madrid Masters to Zverev.
But the pair will now link up after Zverev, the current world number seven, wrote on his Instagram story: “I am going through a trial period with David Ferrer on my team. “Could not be more excited to get back to
work. Can’t wait for the tour to be back.”