Sports

LYON, France (AP) — French soccer club Lyon has condemned the online racist abuse suffered by midfielder Houssem Aouar after he chose to represent Algeria despite previously playing for France’s national team. The 24-year-old Aouar has French and Algerian nationality. He decided to make the switch to play for Algeria last week and posted a

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ivan Toney has been racially abused and faces a potential ban for allegedly breaking gambling rules. Yet only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have scored more Premier League goals than him this season. Toney faces an uncertain future but his form made it impossible for

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer MIAMI (AP) — This year’s World Baseball Classic left lasting memories, 47 games over two weeks that restored Japan’s supremacy and reinforced Shohei Ohtani’s unmatched ability while expanding the sport’s global footprint. While not a global fixation like soccer’s World Cup, the event has grown though its five editions

LONDON (AP) — The proposed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since 2000 is on shaky ground with the boxers seemingly unable to agree to rematch terms. Usyk promoter Alex Krassyuk says the Ukrainian’s team ended negotiations because Fury was “putting so many obstacles in front

ISTANBUL (AP) — Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil has retired from soccer at the age of 34. The 2014 World Cup winner says injuries made it “more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.” His immediate retirement brings an early end to his season with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir.

By DANIELLA MATAR AP Sports Writer MILAN (AP) — Some of the spotlight will be on a player from Argentina when Italy and England kick off their European Championship qualifying campaign against each other in Naples. Argentina-born Mateo Retegui has been called up for the first time by Italy coach Roberto Mancini. The 23-year-old Retegui

LONDON (AP) — The red card given to England fullback Freddie Steward in the team’s Six Nations rugby loss to Ireland has been overturned after a disciplinary panel ruled the offense only merited a yellow card. England announced the panel’s decision after Steward appeared before a virtual disciplinary hearing late Tuesday. Steward was sent off

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer Jerome Tang took his time finding the right players to fit into the program he wanted to build at Kansas State. They meshed just right, taking Tang and the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in a season that started with them being picked to finish last in the Big

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Japanese television stuck to its live coverage from Miami for almost two hours after Japan beat the United States 3-2 to win the World Baseball Classic. This was must-see viewing. Shohei Ohtani striking out Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout on a pitch away to end

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Women’s college basketball has displayed an odd mix this season and now there’s the rare combination of South Carolina’s undefeated dominance alongside parity in the Sweet 16. Just two of the four No. 1 women’s seeds advanced through the first two rounds, which hadn’t happened

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Toffoli had three assists, Calgary scored twice on the power play and the Flames bounced back from a six-goal loss one night earlier with a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Toffoli has nine points in the past four games, including six assists. Nick

By MATT SUGAM Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored on a breakaway with 1.3 seconds left in overtime and Filip Gustavsson made a career-high 47 saves to give the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The game was a chippy, defensive struggle. After two scoreless periods, the Devils

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Phil Kessel and Reilly Smith scored in the first period, and the Vegas Golden Knights held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 for their fifth straight road win. Teddy Blueger and Pavel Dorofeyev also scored, and William Karlsson had two assists to help Vegas win for the ninth time

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George got hurt in the fourth quarter of the team’s 101-100 loss to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. George went down hard under the Thunder’s basket with 4:38 remaining. He lay on his back for several minutes before