Aurier draws flak, praise after match
PARIS • Controversial Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge Aurier is under investigation by Fifa after making a throat-slitting gesture while celebrating a goal for Ivory Coast during a World Cup qualifier last weekend.
Although he came under fire in some quarters on social media, he was also the subject of some rare positive attention when Mali coach Alain Giresse praised the player for his quick thinking which helped save Moussa Doumbia's life as the unconscious Mali player was in danger of swallowing his tongue.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ronaldo vows to have 'spectacular' season
MADRID • Three-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo insists he will have a "spectacular" season despite a slow start to the campaign caused by knee ligament damage.
The Real Madrid footballer has scored just once in four La Liga games since making his return, but netted five times in Portugal's routs over Andorra and the Faroe Islands in the past week.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Hasselbaink retains QPR's backing
LONDON • Queens Park Rangers have insisted that their manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has the "unanimous support" of the London football club's board after he was caught up in the newspaper sting that cost Sam Allardyce his job as England manager.
The Daily Telegraph has been publishing information obtained during a 10-month probe which the newspaper claims lifts the lid on bribery and corruption in British football.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Hulkenberg to drive for Renault next year
LONDON • Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg will race for Renault next season after signing a multi-year deal.
The German, last year's Le Mans 24-Hours winner, is currently with Force India.
REUTERS
Family walk out of Hughes inquest
SYDNEY • The family of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes walked out of an inquest into his death yesterday after a submission from the lawyer for Cricket Australia that the coroner should not rule on claims the batsman had been subjected to threatening language.
In the family's submissions to the inquest, which were leaked to The Australian newspaper, his father Greg alleged that hostile comments and a barrage of "illegal" short deliveries aimed at Hughes made the Sydney Cricket Ground a "very unsafe workplace" that day.
REUTERS
Wiggins will miss Olympic parade
LONDON • Bradley Wiggins will be a notable absentee from next week's celebration of Britain's success at the Rio de Janeiro Games despite being the country's most decorated Olympian.
The five-time Olympic champion is at the centre of a controversy over corticosteroids and will not attend the parade in Manchester on Monday or the celebration in London's Trafalgar Square the following day.
THE TIMES, LONDON
