Sport news in brief
PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir official faces 10-game ban
The fourth official at the centre of a racism row following the Champions League group-stage game between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday could face a 10-game ban if found guilty of breaching Uefa rules.
PSG and Istanbul players walked off the pitch after 13 minutes of play in Paris after fourth official Sebastian Coltescu allegedly made a racist remark about a member of the visitors’ coaching staff.
Coltescu was identifying Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo to the referee when the alleged comment was made. Coltescu was speaking Romanian, with TV footage showing him saying: “The black one over there. Go and check who he is. The black one over there, it’s not possible to act like that,” after Webo had vehemently protested against a refereeing decision. Webo reacted angrily, shouting at Coltescu: “Why did you say ‘negro’?”
Players chose to abandon the fixture, which resumed last night, and Uefa said yesterday that an investigation had been launched to determine whether or not Coltescu was guilty of breaching the European governing body’s rules. If found guilty, the Romanian will face a ban that will last 10 matches minimum.
PSG thrash Istanbul in resumed match
It was an easy evening’s work for PSG as they picked up their hosting of Istanbul Basaksehir one night after it was abandoned.
Neymar opened the scoring on 21 minutes – actually seven minutes into the night’s action, as the fixture resumed where it had ended on Tuesday – and fifteen minutes later he netted again.
Kylian Mbappe scored from the spot shortly before half-time, with Neymar striking again early in the latter period to complete his hat-trick.
Istanbul pulled one back through Mehmet Topal not long thereafter, but Mbappe secured his brace five minutes later to round out the evening’s scoring as PSG finished top of Group H.
Atalanta beat 10-man Ajax to knockout spot
Atalanta emerged 1-0 victors against Ajax in the Champions League to beat the Dutch title-holders to a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
Luis Muriel struck with five minutes left on the clock as the visitors increased their one-point lead over Ajax to a four-point advantage, which was enough for the Serie A outfit to qualify second behind Liverpool.
Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for Ajax in the 79th minute, and it didn’t take long for Atalanta to make the hosts pay.
A somewhat second-string Liverpool – who already knew they would qualify top – drew 1-1 at Midtjylland in the other Group D game.
Real Madrid survive as Inter crash out
Two headed goals from Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid reach the Champions League knockout stages with a convincing 2-0 home win on Wednesday over Borussia Moenchengladbach, who also progressed to the last 16.
Benzema ghosted into the area unmarked to head home a floated cross from Lucas Vazquez in the ninth minute and rose again to score in the 32nd, this time powering a cross from Rodrygo through the hands of Swiss keeper Yann Sommer.
The German side were out-classed by the Spaniards but sneaked through from the group as Inter Milan drew 0-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the other game in Group B.
Zinedine Zidane's side finished top with 10 points while Gladbach came second with eight, pipping thirdplaced Shakhtar due to their better head-to-head record, while Inter came fourth with six.
Exeter confirm ‘suspected discriminatory comment’ from fan
Exeter say they have been made aware of a report of a “suspected discriminatory comment” from a crowd
member aimed towards a Northampton player during Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy match at St James Park.
In a statement on their website, the Grecians said the remark was reported to the referee, who spoke to a player from each side and both managers. Exeter added that they take “a zero-tolerance policy on this matter” and are “working with the police, Northampton Town and the match officials to get a better understanding of the incident and take the matter further”.
A club spokesperson said: “The club works tirelessly to make sure that Exeter City is an inclusive and diverse club, and that St James Park is welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, identity, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Discrimination is not welcome at our club.”
Northampton also released a statement, which read: “Northampton Town Football Club are aware of an alleged discriminatory comment made by a supporter towards one of our players at Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy tie with Exeter City. This was reported by our player to the match referee in the correct way so the matter can be investigated and we will continue to support that process with both the authorities and Exeter City Football Club. The player concerned has the club’s complete support in this matter.”
Erdogan accuses France of fuelling racism
The Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the alleged racist incident during the Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday was a fresh expression of racist trends in France.
“This approach is unforgivable,” the 66-year-old told a news conference in Ankara.
“Our determined stance will continue [...] France has become a country where racist rhetoric [and] actions are intensified.”
Bayern win again as Atletico edge into last 16
Bayern Munich earned a 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in their final Champions League Group A game on Wednesday with second-half goals from Niklas Suele and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, while an opportunist goal by defender Mario Hermoso and a sweet Yannick Carrasco strike gave Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win at Salzburg to advance as runners-up.
The Bavarians, last season's winners who qualified for the last 16 with two matches to spare, fielded a largely second-string team with the pressure on Lokomotiv, desperate for a win to secure third place in the standings and a Europa League spot.
Bayern had the upper hand but carved out only few scoring chances in the first half, with top scorer Robert Lewandowski sidelined due to a minor injury.
Thomas Mueller fired wide from close range in the 39th minute before making way for Serge Gnabry after the break, a substitution that provided an instant boost.
The Bavarians came close with a Suele header and Choupo-Moting's backheel flick in the 53rd, before a double chance from Gnabry, who was denied by keeper Guilherme and volleyed the rebound narrowly wide.
Guilherme was beaten in the 63rd minute when Douglas Costa whipped in a corner and Suele rose above two defenders to drill a powerful header past the keeper.
Choupo-Moting, replacing Lewandowski, doubled the lead in 10 minutes from time to lift Bayern to 16
points. They are joined in the knockout stage by Atletico Madrid, 2-0 winners at Salzburg. Lokomotiv finished bottom on three points.
Diego Simeone's side, meanwhile, joined Bayern with nine points from six games, seven behind the holders, leaving third-placed Salzburg to finish the group on four points to fall into the Europa League last 32 after the winter break while bottom team Lokomotiv (three points) have been eliminated.
Atletico put in a typical hard-working display and took a 39th-minute lead as Carrasco floated in a free kick and the ball came off Hermoso's shoulder en route to the far corner past Salzburg's stranded goalkeeper Cican Stankovic.
With Salzburg wasting a string of chances either side of Hermoso's effort, Carrasco sealed Atletico's last-16 berth with a superb first-time volley from inside the penalty area after an inch-perfect cross by Angel Correa in the 86th minute.
England confirm two-Test tour of Sri Lanka for January
England will play two Test matches behind closed doors in Sri Lanka next month at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced.
The ECB and Sri Lanka Cricket have agreed to biosecurity measures with travel plans for the rearranged tour to take place in January, following its postponement from March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Measures have also been put in place in order to avoid a repeat of this week’s abandonment of the South Africa tour.
Players will isolate for three days on arrival in Sri Lanka and will be tested for coronavirus every two days throughout the tour. The first Test will take place between 14 and 18 January, with the second Test following between 22 and 26 January.