Russia’s World Cup organizers face budget headaches

Saransk’s stadium for the 2018 World Cup is supposed to raise the profile of this little-known Russian city, but for now Alexei Merkushkin is just trying to keep costs down. As

F1 | Chinese Grand Prix | Vettel: Ferrari still ‘realistic’ about Mercedes advantage

New Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was still beaming two weeks after capturing his first Formula One race in 16 months, but said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix that he

FOOTBALL | UEFA orders match to be restarted after referee error

For the first time in its history, UEFA has ordered a soccer match to be restarted because of a referee’s error. UEFA has ordered the final seconds of a women’s

Boxing | Wladimir Klitschko looking forward to fight at MSG

Wladimir Klitschko has reached rare territory among heavyweight champions. Now, in his ninth year as champion, Klitschko is approaching Joe Louis and Larry Holmes in successful defenses. When Klitschko faces Bryant Jennings

SEC files fraud charges against ex-NFL player, partner

Federal regulators have filed civil fraud charges against former NFL cornerback Will Allen and his business partner. They’re accused of reaping more than USD31 million in a Ponzi scheme that

F1 | Mercedes looking to rebound at Chinese GP

As the Formula One circuit heads to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, it’s no longer a safe bet that Mercedes will top the podium by the end of the

Football | Gabon chosen as host of 2017 African Cup

Gabon will host the 2017 African Cup of Nations in place of war-torn Libya. Gabon, which co-hosted the tournament in 2012, was chosen again yesterday in a vote by the

NBA player, wife stabbed outside Manhattan nightclub

The NYPD says an NBA player, his wife and another woman were stabbed and injured outside a Manhattan nightclub. Police say they sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized. Their names

Olympics | Tokyo turns focus to delivering ‘sustainable’ 2020 Games

Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have promised the most innovative, impeccably run and "sustainable" games ever. With just a little more than five years to go, doubts are growing

Athletics 2004 | Olympic hurdles champ Liu Xiang confirms retirement

Former Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang confirmed his retirement yesterday, citing age and injuries 2 1/2 years after his last race. The 31-year-old Liu wrote in a lengthy statement on his

Football | European roundup | Ronaldo scores 5 in Madrid’s 9-1 rout, PSG beats Marseille

Cristiano Ronaldo took his scoring prowess to new levels Sunday, netting five goals for the first time in Real Madrid's 9-1 rout of Granada. Ronaldo took his league tally to 36

Rugby | England beats series leader South Africa at Tokyo Sevens

England beat world series leader South Africa 21-14 in the Tokyo Sevens final over the weekend for its first tournament victory in more than two years. Moreover, England rose above Australia

EPL Preview | Liverpool looks to stay in top-4 race

  Saturday, 7:45pm Arsenal v Liverpool H 1.86, D 3.9, A 4.6 Liverpool could slip out of realistic contention for Champions League qualification with a loss at Arsenal tomorrow as the Premier League returns

F1 | High winds cause damage to roof at Silverstone

Former Netherlands forward and assistant coach Patrick Kluivert has made a winning start in World Cup qualifying as coach of Curacao. The Caribbean island team advanced to the second qualifying

Sailing | America’s Cup teams vote to downsize boats

America’s Cup teams have voted to reduce the size of boats to be sailed in the 2017 regatta in Bermuda, a cost-cutting move that could lead to the two strongest

Rugby | North out of club’s biggest game of season after head injury

Wales winger George North will miss his club’s biggest game of the season as he recovers from a third concussion in four months, amid warnings from experts that he should

Baseball | Study projects average MLB salary tops USD4m

Even before the first pitch of the 2015 season is thrown, an eye-popping baseball record will be set. The average salary when opening-day rosters are finalized Sunday will break the

Brazil World Cup fever delivers Korean bond buyers reality check

Kwak spent 50 million won (USD45,230) of her savings on Brazilian sovereign bonds in June 2013, enticed by tax-free yields three times greater than at home and speculation the country

Indycar | Montoya has swagger back, but also shows softer side

There was a time when the edge to Juan Pablo Montoya was evident everywhere he went. His arrogance was on display as he walked through the paddock, his confidence in

Racial quotas controversy re-emerges in South African sport

  Did South Africa’s cricket team drop a white player and replace him with an injured black player for a World Cup semifinal match to make its lineup more racially acceptable? The question has revived an uncomfortable conversation over race and change in

Bleary-eyed Australians celebrate World Cup win

Australian players sheltered behind dark glasses yesterday at a public reception the day after their victory over New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup final. Captain Michael Clarke carried the World

Sailing | Joint leaders of Volvo Ocean Race quit with broken mast

The Chinese boat sharing the overall lead in the Volvo Ocean race was forced to quit the fifth leg yesterday when it broke a mast in the Southern Ocean. The incident

Alcoholism, violence and neglect: life as George Best’s son

There’s one place where the memory of George Best is forever of the stylish winger who bamboozled defenders and thrilled fans. Immortalized in bronze outside Old Trafford, a statue featuring Best

The Buzz | Australia beats NZ to win its 5th Cricket World Cup title

Michael Clarke raised his bat to acknowledge the massive crowd, and nodded to a fallen teammate he credited for inspiring Australia’s run to a fifth World Cup title that culminated with an emphatic win over New Zealand. Clarke scored 74

Vettel wins Malaysian GP to end Mercedes streak

It was Ferrari’s first victory since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. The 30-race gap between wins was the longest Ferrari drought for 21 years. Vettel — in only his second race

Rugby | Fiji reclaim Hong Kong 7s title beating NZ 33-19 in final

Fiji reclaimed the Hong Kong Sevens title when it routed defending champion New Zealand 33-19 in the final yesterday. Fiji blasted to a 21-0 lead in the first half, taking the tension out

Figure Skating | Tuktamysheva lands triple axel, takes women’s lead at worlds

It was far riskier to attempt it in the most important event of the year. The 18-year-old Russian landed a triple axel on her first leap of the figure skating world

Cricket | What to watch in the Australia vs India World Cup semi

Australia and India have won six of the last eight Cricket World Cup titles and have developed a heated rivalry over the last decade. When the teams meet in the

Figure skating | Americans Chock, Bates take lead in ice dancing at worlds

Madison Chock and Evan Bates will attempt to become just the second Americans to win gold in ice dancing at the figure skating world championships after taking the lead in

Figure skating | Russian, American women square off at China worlds

Russian teenager Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is looking to cap a dominant season with a gold medal at the world figure skating championships starting today in China, while Gracie Gold and Ashley

Athletics | Coach: Russia has turned over new leaf after doping scandals

Russia has put years of doping scandals behind it and now has a clean team ahead of next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the country's new head track and

Football | UEFA chief Platini warns of rising extremism, hooliganism

UEFA President Michel Platini was warned that nationalism and hooliganism is threatening European football. Rising extremism in European society is an "insidious trend (that) can also be observed in our stadiums,"

NBA | Spurs win 114-95 at faltering Hawks

San Antonio won comfortably at Atlanta 114-95 in weekend's clash of two teams with form lines heading in opposite directions leading up to the NBA playoffs. The Spurs have won three

Football | UEFA sets 2018 World Cup qualifying format, eyes 14th entry

Europe's World Cup qualifying process will be based on 13 available places for the 2018 tournament, even though UEFA thinks it deserves a 14th. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said yesterday

German building firm probes alleged bribes in Brazil

Bilfinger said yesterday it launched a “comprehensive investigation” involving outside auditors and a law office after receiving internal information last year about suspected bribery payments to public officials and employees

MACAU DAILY TIMES