Digest

NFL

Team doctor punctured Chargers star's lung

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor missed last Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs because a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung, according to a source. The source spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because of medical restriction issues.

Coach Anthony Lynn said Taylor is still not 100 percent and that rookie Justin Herbert will get his second NFL start on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Lynn said he wasn't angry about what occurred because the mistake wasn't intentional.

"There were complications with the shot but I know the man (who gave it). People make mistakes. It is something we will talk about internally," Lynn said.

Taylor was taken to the hospital due to difficulties breathing after Lynn said he had a reaction to an injection.

SOCCER

De Boer succeeds Koeman in Dutch job

Frank de Boer has been appointed as the Netherlands' new coach, the Royal Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced on Wednesday.

The third-most capped Dutch player of all time, De Boer replaces his former Netherlands teammate Ronald Koeman, who resigned earlier this year to take the reins at Barca, and caretaker coach Dwight Lodeweges.

"The 50-year-old former international will be at the helm of the Oranje until the World Cup in 2022," the KNVB said in a statement. De Boer "is to start immediately," it added, saying he "will already be on the bench in the upcoming practice match against Mexico and the Nations League duels with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy".

De Boer, a former Barcelona defender, has had a mixed career as a coach, thriving in six years at Ajax but struggling in short stints at Inter Milan and Crystal Palace.

Mourinho 'convinced' Alli will stay at Spurs

Jose Mourinho said he was "convinced" midfielder Dele Alli will still be at Tottenham when the transfer window closes next month, challenging the England international to prove his worth.

The midfielder, who was left out of Spurs' match-day squads for the wins over Southampton and Lokomotiv Plovdiv, has been linked with a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Alli traveled with Tottenham for Thursday's Europa League third-round qualifying clash against Shkendija in North Macedonia.

When asked if he expected Alli to stay, Mourinho told Sky Sports on Wednesday: "I believe, I can even say I am convinced, that he will be."

The Portuguese added in a media conference previewing the game:"I always told (you) that he will have his opportunities, that (there's) no problem at all to have him and, like every other player, performances are very important."

TENNIS

Roland Garros braced for crowd limit of 1,000

The French Open at Roland Garros is braced to cut its crowd limit once again to as low as 1,000 fans a day after the country's government announced new limits in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

French tennis chiefs had already reduced the number of fans allowed in for the season's concluding Grand Slam tournament, which starts Sunday in Paris, to 5,000 earlier this month, down from 11,500.

However, on Wednesday, health minister Olivier Veran demanded new limits at sports grounds in 11 'red zones' in the country, one of which is the French capital.

"To date, we have no confirmation on the conditions of organization of the tournament," said a French Tennis Federation spokesman.

This new ceiling of 5,000 will apply "from Saturday after consultation between the prefects and local elected officials", said Veran. He also announced "the closure of sports halls and gymnasiums" because "they are confined spaces... and which are unfortunately places of significant contamination".

Xinhua - Agencies