Tigers draw level with leaders DPMM

•Balestier Khalsa are joint top of the S-League football table after a 1-0 win over Courts Young Lions at Toa Payoh Stadium last night.

Robert Pericic's 77th-minute strike gave them 40 points. But they are behind Brunei DPMM on goal difference and have played two games more.

Harimau Muda B drew 1-1 with Albirex Niigata in Malacca. They remain seventh (25 points), while Albirex move up to fourth (33) on goal difference above Warriors FC.

Santo drops Negredo after comments

MADRID • Nuno Espirito Santo, coach of Spanish football club Valencia, has left former Spanish international Alvaro Negredo out of his squad for the Champions League visit of Belgian champions Gent today as a fallout between the two escalated.

The striker claimed in an interview with sports daily Marca last week that the poor return from all of Valencia's forwards this season may be because the coaching staff are asking them to play too far away from goal.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Neymar's dad wants checks in place

MADRID • The father and representative of Barcelona star Neymar has said he will seek judicial and tax assurances before agreeing to a new contract for his son with the European champions.

The Catalan football club, its president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell, have all been charged with tax fraud in Spain for the transfer deal that brought Neymar to the club from Brazil's Santos in 2013.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Toure slams media over criticism

LONDON • Yaya Toure has launched a stinging attack on the media in England and Ivory Coast, insisting that he has been treated unfairly for his performances with English football club Manchester City, claiming: "I have won titles, lots of money, but I am not happy."

The midfielder told L'Equipe that his goal record deserves more praise.

THE GUARDIAN