Digest

SOCCER

European leagues ban fans as coronavirus bites

All upcoming professional soccer games in Spain, France and Portugal, as well as some in Germany and a European Championship qualifying match in Slovakia, will be played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Spanish league said on Tuesday that matches in the first and second divisions will be played without fans for at least two weeks. The first major game without fans in Spain will be between Real Madrid and Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Friday.

The announcement came after Spain's government outlined a series of virus prevention measures.

La Liga said it will "follow its recommendations and/or decisions, prioritizing the health of fans, players, club employees, journalists, etc. due to the COVID-19 health crisis".

Portugal's pro league announced similar measures while all matches in France's top two divisions will be played without fans until April 15.

The Football Association of Ireland said its national team's Euro 2020 playoff against Slovakia on March 26 in Bratislava will be played behind closed doors "on the instruction of the Slovakian government".

Argentina picks Messi and Italy-based players

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's preliminary 23-man squad for its opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia.

The 32-year-old leads an attack that also includes Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni called up five Italy-based players despite the country's emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings.

All sport in Italy－including Serie A games－has been suspended until at least April 3 as authorities attempt to combat the virus. Scaloni is expected to add at least two Argentina-based players to the squad over the next fortnight.

The Albiceleste will play Ecuador in Buenos Aires on March 26 and Bolivia in La Paz five days later as part of the South American zone qualifying tournament. Messi is schedule to miss the first match because of suspension.

OLYMPICS

Tokyo 2020 promises record gender balance

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is on track for a new record－having an almost equal number of female and male athletes for the first time, the International Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday.

The percentage of female athletes competing at the Olympics in July is expected to rise to nearly 49 percent－from 34 percent in 1996, according to an IOC statement.

The IOC said it is committed to reaching full gender parity for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"It has been more of a marathon than a sprint, but female Olympians are at last catching their male counterparts in the numbers game," the IOC said in a statement.

The announcement is part of the international sports organization's greater push for women's rights.

This month the IOC announced that it will have full gender representation across all 206 teams and change its rules to allow one male and one female athlete to jointly carry national flags during the opening ceremony on July 24.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Browns' Tretter elected president of NFL union

Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter was elected as new president of the NFL Players Association, the union announced on Tuesday.

Tretter will begin his two-year term immediately.

"It's an honor to be in this position to lead our player membership," Tretter said. "This is what I'm passionate about, and I'm excited to fight to protect and advance the rights of all players, past, present and future."

Tretter was one of four players running for the post, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Sam Acho and New York Giants defensive back Michael Thomas.

Offensive tackle Russell Okung, soon to be a member of the Carolina Panthers, withdrew from the race earlier on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Okung filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday, claiming the NFLPA is negotiating the proposed new Collective Bargaining Agreement in bad faith.

Tretter replaced Eric Winston for the position. Winston was ineligible for re-election after not playing in 2019. Winston had served as president since March 2014.

MOTOR SPORTS

Saudi oil group Aramco becomes F1 sponsor

State-owned Saudi Aramco announced a long-term global sponsorship deal with Formula One on Tuesday in what could also be another step towards the country eventually hosting a grand prix.

Aramco said the move was the energy giant's first global sponsorship of a major sporting event.

Formula One added that Aramco will be title sponsors of the United States, Spanish and Hungarian grands prix this season.

The oil and gas company joins a group of six global partners along with DHL, Emirates, Heineken, Pirelli and Rolex.

Formula One said the sport and Aramco will together "identify opportunities for the advancement of sustainable fuels, enhanced engine efficiencies and emerging mobility technology".

Saudi Arabia and Formula One have been discussing the possibility of holding a race in the country for some time.

BASKETBALL

Aldridge erupts as Spurs down Dallas

LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 24 points, nine of them in a pivotal late-game stretch, as the San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 119-109 on Tuesday to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Spurs trailed by five points at the half but by just 85-83 entering the fourth quarter before rushing past Dallas with a 9-0 run and eventually taking an 11-point lead.

After Dallas pulled to within 104-101 on a putback layup by Kristaps Porzingis with 4:07 to play, Aldridge scored six straight points, and nine of the next 11, and the Mavericks never challenged again.

Marco Belinelli scored 16 points for the Spurs, with Rudy Gay hitting for 17, Trey Lyles and Derrick White adding 14 points each, DeMar DeRozan scoring 13 points and dishing out 12 assists and Patty Mills tallying 12 in the win.

Luka Doncic had another brilliant game for the Mavs, scoring 38 points.

Xinhua - Agencies