Digest

Soccer

Czech FA suspends drunken referees

The Czech Football Association (FACR) on Thursday banned two referees who appeared drunk on the pitch during a top-flight game between FK Pribram and Slavia Prague the day before.

The FACR said fourth official Marek Pilny and additional assistant referee Jiri Jech would lose their licences and face disciplinary action.

"Pilny was visibly drunk from the beginning of the game," the association said.

"He struggled for balance by the touchline, he fell, at times he ran with the linesman copying his movements."

It added assistant Jech was "also under the influence of alcohol and allegedly even peed during the game."

Martinez sacked after Everton slump

Everton have sacked manager Roberto Martinez, the Premier League club announced on Thursday, confirming widespread reports in the British media.

In place since joining from Wigan Athletic in 2013, the 42-year-old Spaniard paid the price for a run of one win in 10 league games and an FA Cup semifinal defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

Martinez departs with Everton 12th in the league table ahead of their final game of the season at home to Norwich City on Sunday. They have not announced who will take charge for that fixture.

Golf

Record-tying 63 puts Day ahead

Jason Day lived up to his status as the world's No 1 golfer as he charged into a two-shot lead with a record-tying nine-under-par 63 in Thursday's opening round of the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Taking advantage of a receptive layout at the TPC Sawgrass with very little rough and barely a breath of wind early on a sun-drenched day ripe for low scoring, the long-hitting Australian piled up nine birdies in a bogey-free display.

Day became just the fifth player to card a 63 at the event widely regarded as the unofficial fifth major.

Motor Sports

Zhangye hosts APRC in August

The FIA Asian-Pacific Rally Championship (China stop) and the China Rally Championship (Zhangye stop) will be held from Aug 5 to 7 in Ganzhou of Zhangye, Gansu province.

Though it is the sixth national championship that Zhangye will be hosting, the northeastern city is welcoming its first international motor sports event. Local organizers are upbeat on the chance of hosting a World Rally Championship event in the future.

The event, organized by the Federation of Automobile Sports of China, Gansu Sports Bureau and Zhangye municipal people's government, will attract more than 140 cars representing 40 teams from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, France, Britain and China.

Truck racing series launches in capital

The 2016 China Truck Racing Championship has been launched in Beijing and will feature three stops in Chengdu, Shanghai and Guangdong province from May to December.

Founded 14 years ago, the CTR Championship, is a home-grown event that provides crowd-pleasing motorized mayhem.

Inspired by the successful and popular European Truck Racing Championship, this year's CTR will have more than 20 trucks taking part. That number will increase to 30 next year and more than 40 in 2018, a similar level to its European counterpart.

Agencies - China Daily

(China Daily 05/14/2016 page11)