BITS AND PIECES

Olympiakos charged over tunnel bust-up

ATHENS: Greek champions Olympiakos are in the dock over an alleged tunnel bust-up at half-time in a Super league match last month against Platanias.

Olympiakos are charged by the Greek football federation’s prosecutor of “violating a number of articles of the disciplinary code of the federation.”

Platanias players have lodged complaints claiming they were beaten up by Olympiakos on the way to their dressing room at the break of the April 1 game.

Platanias le3d 1-0 at half-time with Olympiakos eventually winning 2-1 at their Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.

There are conflicting reports about the incident, with security cameras reportedly failing to shed any light on what took place.

If found guilty Olympiakos face starting their title defence next season docked six points, a substantial fine and playing matches behind closed doors.

Olympiakos were only confirmed champions last month after the federation rejected an appeal by second-place PAOK, who wanted the Piraeus club to be docked six points for fan violence during last month’s Greek Cup semi-final first leg against AEK Athens.

Man United and Man City to meet in Houston

LONDON: Manchester United and Manchester City will face off in a friendly in Houston, Texas in July in the first Manchester derby on foreign soil, the two clubs announced on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho’s United and Pep Guardiola’s City will meet at Houston’s NRG Stadium on July 20 as part of the International Champions Cup friendly tournament.

They had been due to play each other in Beijing, China last year, but the game was called off due to concerns about the pitch.

“The Manchester derby is one of the world’s most iconic games,” said City chief executive Ferran Soriano in a press release.

“We are very excited to play it in front of our passionate American fans. There are so many great memories from this game in history and we can’t wait to create some new ones in Houston.”

United last played in Houston in 2010, when they beat an MLS All-Stars team 5-2.

“The game in Houston gives our large US family of fans another chance to see the team play live,” said United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

“The last time we played in Houston, over 70,000 packed the stadium and we are looking forward to entertaining them again.”

United’s pre-season tour of the United States also features games against the LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Barcelona and Real Madrid. City will play Real Madrid in Los Angeles and tackle Tottenham Hotspur in Nashville.

Tonga withdraws from hosting 2019 Pacific Games

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga: Tonga has withdrawn from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games over funding concerns, according to media reports.

The cost of organising large-scale multi-sports events has deterred bids from many prospective hosts in recent years and a spokesman for the Tongan cabinet told Kaniva News that President Akilisi Pohiva had decided against making the “costly mistake”.

Pohiva’s decision was influenced by a World Bank report that predicted Tonga would face economic difficulties if it staged the quadrennial games that was first held in Fiji in 1963.

The spokesman added that Tonga could not afford the massive maintenance cost of the infrastructure needed for the event.

“We cannot afford that large amount of money and we do not have the number of people and sport events to use these facilities from time to time to generate funds for the upkeep,” he was quoted as saying.

Pohiva said the previous government probably did not conduct extensive feasibility studies before agreeing to host the event.

Durban lost the rights to hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games in March after Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said the projected costs were more than the country’s flagging economy could afford.

The 2015 Pacific Games were held in Papua New Guinea and featured 3,700 athletes from 24 nations.

Sochi silver medallist Creveling gets four-year doping ban

NEW YORK: Olympic speed skating silver medallist Chris Creveling will miss next year’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang after being given a four-year ban for testing positive for a prohibited substance, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has said.

Creveling, who won silver in the 5,000 metres relay at the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, tested positive for testosterone-booster clomiphene in an out-of-competition test taken in October.

Creveling’s ban had been backdated to November 18 last year, the day he accepted a provisional suspension, and he had been “disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to October 18, 2016,” USADA said in a statement.

Former world number 10 Monaco hangs up his racket

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s Juan Monaco announced his retirement from professional tennis on Monday at the age of 33.

Monaco, who reached his highest ranking of number 10 in the world in July 2012, won nine ATP singles titles during his career, eight of them on clay.

He also won three doubles titles.

“Although it creates me a lot of nostalgia I am sure I am making the right decision,” Monaco said in a statement on his verified Twitter account.

“I retire from professional tennis.

“There are so many feelings that it is very difficult to write them down. Thanks for what tennis gave to me: education, friendship and unforgettable moments.”

Grieving Pogba to miss Southampton trip

LONDON: Paul Pogba will miss Manchester United’s game at Southampton on Wednesday (today) after being granted compassionate leave following the death of his father, manager Jose Mourinho has revealed.

“I don’t think (he will be available),” Mourinho said, in comments published on the United website on Tuesday. “I think that his dad’s funeral has to be between on Tuesday and Wednesday in France.

“I don’t think that Paul has the conditions to play. We have left him completely free to be back when he thinks he’s ready.”

Pogba’s father, Fassou Antoine, passed away last Friday following a long-term illness. Pogba was left out of the squad for United’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.