AP National Sports

LONDON (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been charged by the Football Association in relation to an incident that saw the Manchester United forward apparently knock a phone out of an Everton fan’s hand at a Premier League match in April. The governing body says it is alleged that Ronaldo’s conduct was improper and/or violent. Ronaldo

By The Associated Press Daichi Kamada scored following Weston McKennie’s giveaway in the 24th minute, Kaoru Mitoma added a goal in the 88th and Japan beat an lackluster and injury-depleted United States 2-0 in the Americans’ next-to-last World Cup warmup. U.S. star Christian Pulisic did not dress because of an unspecified injury. The 14th-ranked Americans

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer The Zambian soccer federation has opened an investigation into claims of sexual abuse in the women’s game and says it is taking accusations made on social media serious enough to ask police for help with the inquiry. The Football Association of Zambia says there is no record of an

TOKYO (AP) — Two players from Russia and two from China advanced to the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open. Liudmila Samsonova eliminated 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and will next face Zhang Shuai. Zhang defeated Petra Martic 7-5, 6-2. Samsonova also beat current Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — This day, this match, had to come, of course, for Roger Federer, and for tennis, just as it inevitably must for every athlete in every sport. Federer was bidding farewell Friday night with one last contest before he heads into retirement at age 41 after an

PRAGUE (AP) — Portugal plays the Czech Republic in the Nations League on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo’s team hoping to set up a showdown with Spain to decide who advances to the Final Four tournament. Ronaldo is one of seven Portugal players who are only one yellow card from a suspension that would rule them

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Chris Buescher’s win at Bristol last week marked the first time in this version of NASCAR’s playoffs that drivers who are not racing for the championship swept the three races of the first round. Buescher wants to play spoiler again Sunday. The second round of the playoffs start

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer VATICAN CITY (AP) — A plain white helmet like the pope’s skullcap. The Holy See’s crossed keys seal stamped on his white and yellow jersey over his heart. Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis will carry an enormous sense of duty when he races for the Vatican in Sunday’s road race

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — More than half of the Spain women’s team has told their federation they no longer want to play because being on the team has “significantly” affected their “emotional state” and health. They insist they don’t want coach Jorge Vilda removed. The federation has interpreted the players’

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press In some Tampa Bay-area schools, students use foam rollers and vibrating spheres to massage their muscles as they work toward goals for strength and flexibility. It’s all part of a new physical education curriculum from quarterback Tom Brady, whose vision for healthy living is fueling a fitness empire. The arrangement

DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Christian Pulisic did not dress for the United States’ match against Japan because of an unspecified injury and missed the Americans’ next-to-last warmup before the World Cup. The U.S. Soccer Federation says Pulisic is out “because of a knock he took in training earlier this week.” The USSF says it is

BRUSSELS (AP) — Thierry Henry will be in charge of coaching Belgium in Sunday’s Nations League game against the Netherlands as a replacement for the suspended Roberto Martinez. It will be Henry’s first game in charge with Belgium. The former France striker returned to work with the Belgian national team last year after serving as

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Northern Ireland has taken Kyle Lafferty out of its squad for Nations League games after a video on social media appeared to show the veteran striker use a sectarian slur against Celtic. The Northern Irish soccer federation says it’s “aware of a social media video” circulating. It noted Lafferty’s Scottish

WANTAGE, England (AP) — Formula One team Williams is releasing Canadian driver Nicholas Latifi when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Williams made the announcement Friday without saying who will replace the 27-year-old Latifi who has not scored a point this season. Latifi is in his third season with Williams and

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer SYDNEY (AP) — Nirra Fields scored 17 points and Shay Colley added 11 to help Canada beat France 59-45 in the women’s basketball World Cup. The victory moved Canada into the driver’s seat as the only unbeaten team left in its group. In other games Friday, the U.S. routed

MANSFIELD, England (AP) — An English soccer club has brought forward the kickoff time of one of its league games as a trial run amid efforts to save money as energy costs escalate. Mansfield’s fourth-tier League Two game against Walsall on Oct. 15 had a scheduled kickoff at 3 p.m. local time but it will

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Marijuana use is to stay banned at sports events. The World Anti-Doping Agency has resisted calls to change its status on the list of prohibited substances. The agency was asked to review the status of THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, after the case

MILAN (AP) — England coach Gareth Southgate is taking inspiration from his rugby counterpart Eddie Jones by continuing to pick valued players even if they are not regularly competing at the highest level. Jones wrote in his book how he selected players from English champion Saracens despite the team’s relegation to the second tier at

By JOHN LEICESTER and SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press PARIS (AP) — A police investigation into allegations that France soccer star Paul Pogba was targeted by extortionists has taken a bizarre new twist with a series of videos released by his elder brother, who is one of the suspects. Mathias Pogba posted more than 30 videos