SOCCER
Doubts and disputes over FIFA’s push for biennial World Cups contributed to Britain and Ireland dropping plans for a joint bid to host the 2030 edition and opting on Monday to pursue the 2028 European Championship instead.
A potential rival also moved aside when Italy switched its focus on bidding for Euro 2032 rather than the 2028 tournament.
The British Isles nations determined there was more certainty bidding for the UEFA tournament while FIFA’s plans for the World Cup beyond the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico are in flux.
Europe has been leading opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s push to double the frequency of World Cups so they are held every two years.
Resisting his key proposal while seeking a tournament from soccer’s ruling body would have impaired the prospect of success by the British Isles bidders.
The World Cup feasibility study was being led by the English Football Association, which assessed the prospects of winning after losing badly in 2010 in a tainted contest for the 2018 edition.
Countries have until next month to register interest in hosting the European Championship in 2028 or 2032, with a vote scheduled for next year.
BAYERN MUNICH: Bayern Munich will be without Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for some weeks after he opted for surgery on a troublesome knee.
Bayern said Neuer underwent an operation on his right knee joint the day before and the team will be without its captain “for the coming weeks.”
Neuer played in Bayern’s 3-2 win over Leipzig on Saturday, when he starred with five good saves and showed no sign of any knee problems. Kicker magazine reported that an operation to remove part of the medial meniscus had been an option for some time to prevent any further damage.
PROTEST: FIFA has dismissed a protest filed by the Jamaica Football Federation over its 1-1 draw with the United States in a World Cup qualifier on Nov. 16.
In a 34-point, eight-page decision, FIFA’s disciplinary committee said Jamaica failed to notify the match commissioner of the protest and failed to make a payment of 1,000 Swiss francs (then $1,075) to accompany the protest.
Jamaica said Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon improperly failed to call a hand ball in the first half, when Reggae Boyz claimed Chris Richards should have been penalized for a ball that struck him in the penalty area.
Jamaica also said Damion Lowe should have been credited with a goal in the 84th minute when he leapt above Walker Zimmerman at the top of the 6-yard box and headed Leon Bailey’s corner kick to the left of U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Calderon cited Lowe for infringement and disallowed the goal.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee said Jamaica “JFF failed to provide a copy of its original protest to the match commissioner, nor evidence that said protest had been submitted in writing to the latter within two hours of the match.”
TENNIS
ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY: Seeded players Anett Kontaveit, Belinda Bencic and Elise Mertens all got through tough three-set matches to reach the second round at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Kontaveit, who’s seeded No. 2 behind Maria Sakkari, had the least trouble of the three as she defeated Swiss player Jil Teichmann 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 on the opening day of the tournament.
Fifth seed Bencic came from 3-0 down in the third set to force a tiebreak and defeat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5), and No. 8 seed Mertens came from a break down in the third set to beat Alize Cornet 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Also, home favorite Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
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