Fire's Shaqiri becomes MLS's highest-paid at nearly $8.2M
Chicago Fire midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is Major League Soccer's highestpaid player, jumping past Los Angeles FC attacker Carlos Vela and breaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic's league record.
The 30-year-old Swiss international, who joined Chicago this season from Lyon, has a base salary of $7.35 million and total compensation of $8,153,000, according to figures released Tuesday by the Major League Soccer Players Association.
He is expected to be passed by Italian winger Lorenzo Insigne, who joins Toronto this summer from Napoli.
Ibrahimovic had the previous high of $7.2 million with the LA Galaxy in 2019.
Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez began this season in second at $6 million and Inter Miami striker Gonzalo Higuaín third with a $5.1 million base and $5,793,750 in total compensation.
Toronto midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo is fourth ($3.8 million, $4,693,000), followed by New England forward Jozy Altidore ($3,706,139 $4,264,963), Atlanta forward Josef Martínez ($3.75 million, $4,141,667), Vela ($2.25 million, $4.05 million), Atlanta midfielder/ forward Luiz Araújo ($3.6 million, $3,941,667), Columbus midfielder Lucas Zelarayán ($3.1 million, $3.7 million) and New England midfielder Carles Gil ($3,25 million, $3,545,833).
Atlanta has the highest payroll, with guaranteed compensation of $20,999,272, followed by the Galaxy at $20,128,040, Miami at $18,882,628 and New England at $18,141,886.
Salt Lake is last at $10,477,859, with Charlotte at $10,708,858.
LIVERPOOL WINS, TITLE RACE GOES TO THE WIRE >> Liverpool took the Premier League title race with Manchester City to the final round of the season after coming from behind again to beat Southampton 2-1.
Joel Matip completed Liverpool's latest comeback by unwittingly heading home the winning goal in the 67th minute, leaving Jurgen Klopp's team a point behind City with one game left for
each team.
That's on Sunday, when Liverpool hosts Wolverhampton at the same time as City is at home to Aston Villa — managed by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard.
MLB
O'S HARVEY SUSPENDED 60 GAMES FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION >>
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Matt Harvey was suspended for 60 games by Major League Baseball for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse, a punishment stemming from his admission of providing opioids to a teammate who fatally overdosed.
The former New York Mets star also admitted in February during a federal trial in Texas stemming from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs' death that he used cocaine while in New York and California.
Harvey, a 33-year-old right-hander, agreed last month to a minor league contract with the Orioles that called for a $150,000 salary while in the minor leagues, a $1 million salary while in the major leagues and a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded while under a major league contract. He has been working out at Baltimore's extended spring training facility
and has not pitched in any games.
GUARDIANS MANAGER FRANCONA STILL SIDELINED WITH COVID-19 >> Guardians manager Terry Francona missed his fourth consecutive game after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
Francona and most of his coaching staff were forced to return from the team's trip to Chicago and Minnesota after an outbreak in Cleveland's clubhouse. The series finale against the White Sox was postponed shortly after Francona's positive test.
First baseman Josh Naylor also remains out following his positive test on Friday.
Tennis
MEDVEDEV LOSES IN RETURN FROM INJURY >> Second-ranked Daniil Medvedev lost his comeback match after a six-week injury layoff, beaten 6-2, 7-6 (5) by Richard Gasquet in the second round at the Geneva Open.
Medvedev, who underwent hernia surgery last month, cautioned Sunday he was often a slow starter on clay courts. So it proved in his first match on the surface this season, in the last tournament before the French Open.
Medvedev doublefaulted
for the seventh time on Gasquet's first match point, as the Frenchman ended a 36-match losing streak against opponents ranked No. 1 or 2 after beating Roger Federer 17 years ago at Monte Carlo.
Rugby
NEW LAWS POUR COLD WATER ON TACTICS >> Rugby is trialing new laws banning certain officials from acting as on-field water carriers in a move viewed as a direct response to the contentious tactics of South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
The new laws, announced by World Rugby, explicitly ban teams' directors of rugby and head coaches from being water carriers.
Erasmus donned a bright yellow bib and acted as a water carrier during the Springboks' home series against the British and Irish Lions last year, sparking complaints from the opposition that he was using it as a guise to pass on coaching tips to his players.
Head coaches in rugby traditionally stay up in coaching boxes away from the action, but Erasmus has flouted that and acted as a water carrier since moving from his role as South Africa head coach to director of rugby