SHORT CORNER
I love Leo, says Maradona
AFP
Diego Maradona says he "loves" Lionel Messi and described as "false" comments attributed to him attacking his Argentine compatriot and Barcelona legend.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "Leo is a friend of mine and I'd never speak ill of a friend," Maradona assured Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Wednesday.
Last month Maradona was quoted as telling Fox Sports in Mexico that Messi "is not a leader... It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game".
He told Marca that "all that was false". "All I said was that Leo is a phenomenon. And that there were players who go to the toilet 20 times, but I never made any reference to Leo," he insisted.
Maradona implored his fellow countryman to return to the national side after sitting out three friendlies since Argentina's group-stage elimination from this summer's World Cup in Russia. "I think he should return, because if not, we are in a pickle."
Ibra's debut strike voted MLS Goal of the Year
AFP
Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic's first goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy, a 77th-minute equalizer from 40 yards last March, was named Major League Soccer's Goal of the Year on Tuesday.
In fan voting from among 16 finalists, the spectacular scoring prize went to the 37-year-old striker.
Zlatan's first MLS goal was a memorable one against Los Angeles FC on March 31, a right-footed blast from long range over LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller into the back of the net to ignite cheers at StubHub Center.
Zlatan later nodded in the winning goal in stoppage time for a 4-3 victory.
Solari confirmed as Real coach until 2021
AFP
Santiago Solari on Tuesday was confirmed as Real Madrid coach until 2021 following his successful spell in charge as caretaker boss of the European champions.
"Real Madrid's board of directors met today and decided to name Santiago Solari as first team coach until June 30, 2021," the club announced in a statement.
Ref banned after rock, paper, scissors blunder
Reuters
Referee David McNamara has been handed a three-week ban by the English FA for asking two captains to play rock, paper, scissors to decide the kick-off before a Women's Super League (WSL) match after forgetting his coin, British media reported on Tuesday.
The incident took place ahead of Manchester City's home game with Reading on Oct. 26 and involved their England skipper Steph Houghton and visiting captain Kirsty Pearce.
McNamara left his coin in the dressing room and allowed the captains to play rock, paper, scissors to determine kick off and playing ends, the BBC reported.
The FA confirmed that the referee was handed a 21-day ban, starting from 26 November.
Radwanska retires at 29
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, a former Wimbledon finalist, announced her retirement from tennis at the age of only 29 on Wednesday, citing health issues.
Radwanska, who reached a career-high ranking of second in 2012, complained of health woes last year, including suffering from viruses which she had to fight using antibiotics.
She struggled for form in the 2018 season, falling to 75 in the world rankings after starting the year in the top 30.
The Shaons keep winning
The Shaons Club beat Bakshibazar Club by 59-37 points in the Unimed Unihealth First Division Basketball League at the Dhanmondi Wooden Floor Gymnasium yesterday.
The winning team led the first half by 26-18 points. Christopher scored highest 30 points for The Shaons Club.
In the late matches on Tuesday, Old DOHS beat Wraiths 49-37 while Bakishabazar outplayed Mohammadpur BC 69-31. -- Sports Reporter
National men's handball
Sports Reporter
Twelve matches took place on the second day of the Exim Bank 28th National Men's Handball Championship at the Shaheed M Mansur Ali Handball Stadium yesterday.
Barguna, Panchagarh, Chuadanga, Natore, Chattogram, Cumilla, Kushtia, Bandarban, Bagerhat, Dhaka and Narayanganj won their respective matches of the day.
29 teams, split into eight groups, are taking part in the championship. The eight group winners will be joined by Police, BGB, Ansar and Chapainawabganj in the second round.
Kante reportedly refused offshore payments
AFP
France midfielder N'Golo Kante refused to have part of his Chelsea salary paid under advantageous tax terms or to receive offshore payments for his image rights, according to a Football Leaks investigation published Wednesday.
The report says that before Kante left Leicester for Chelsea in 2016, a company was registered in an attempt to pay 10 per cent of the players' income abroad to avoid tax.
At first, Kante's lawyer suggested his client would "approve" the set-up, but last year the 27-year-old insisted through his tax advisor that he refused to take any offshore payments.
"N'Golo is inflexible, he simply wants a normal salary," Kante's tax advisor said in May 2017 in an email sent to Chelsea executives.