On the day of the Wimbledon singles draw, Billie Jean King and other founding members of the women’s professional tennis tour gathered 5 miles away at a London hotel to mark the 50th anniversary of a meeting that led to the formation of today’s WTA.That long-ago moment was prompted by frustration at being paid far less in prize money than the sport’s male athletes. For all of the progress since in that area, there remains an aspect of tennis in which gender equity is nowhere near being achieved: coaching.Of the 128 women in the singles bracket at Wimbledon, which ends this weekend, just six work with a female coach — roughly 5%. All of the coaches for men were men.&nbsp;-Terrible. Extremely disappointing - King, the International Tennis Hall of Fame member and rights advocate, told The Associated Press when asked about the scarcity of female coaches. “It’s about society, absolutely. You have to see it to be it. So if you don’t see a woman up there as a coach, it doesn’t even cross your brain. How do we get the top players to hire them? We’ve got to solve the problem.”<h2>Entrenched bias</h2>King and others in the sport consider that a reflection of the same sort of entrenched bias that has prevented women from advancing in all manner of other fields — and the WTA is making efforts to change that through an initiative that pairs aspiring coaches with established ones.Only 13 of the women ranked in the Top 200 have a female coach, according to the WTA; of those, four are the mother of the player.- We’re all about equality, and I’d like to see an equal amount of male and female coaches out there - WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in an interview. “To say, ‘We should have all female coaches’ isn’t what we’re looking for, either. ... In a perfect world, we’d have balance."<h2>Coach Inclusion Program</h2>That is why the WTA created a Coach Inclusion Program, which is in its first full year after a smaller pilot run in 2022. Ten applicants were chosen to take classes and be paired with veteran coaches. Five shadowed coaches and players at a tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, in April; others will get that opportunity at events in Montreal and Cincinnati in August. The WTA plans to expand the program in 2024.- A lot of these women taking part have the same level of qualifications as a lot of the coaches that are out on tour, but they have no idea how to actually put themselves out there and break into it - said Mike Anders, the program’s director. “A lot of what happens is that once you’re in, coaches more or less recycle themselves. So a big part is the exposure — getting the right contacts as much as the right experience.”The idea is to add candidates to the WTA’s regularly updated database of certified, eligible coaches that is part of its Player Zone, an online resource for athletes.At the moment, only 15 of the 186 active coaches are women. That’s 8%.- There just isn’t enough options - Simon said. "We need more females on that list.”<h2>Explanation</h2>Why aren't there more? One possible explanation mentioned by Simon, coaches and players in conversations with the AP was this: In general, the most likely path to coaching is being a former player, and women leaving the tour in their late 20s or early 30s might find it tougher to balance having children with traveling the world as a coach when they stop competing.- They have a family. They become mothers. It's easier for men to have a family when they're an ex-player. Look at me: I have one child who’s 6, one who’s 3, and another who’s 1 1/2. It’s unthinkable that I could take the time to coach someone - said Flavia Pennetta, who retired shortly after winning the 2015 U.S. Open. “Maybe, down the road, I could coach. But I couldn't completely dedicate myself to a player now.”One of the half-dozen women who coached a woman at Wimbledon this year, Pam Shriver, is a mom. For years, she didn't necessarily want to coach — other than at her son's middle school.But Shriver, who is also a TV commentator, is surprised no one even approached her about it before she connected last year on a part-time basis with Donna Vekic, who travels regularly with another coach, Nick Horvat.- One of the things I reflect on - said Shriver, who won 21 Grand Slam titles in doubles and reached No. 3 in singles, “is I realized that if I had been a male player with my background, my success as a player in singles and doubles, and then been broadcasting and observed tennis as much as I’ve observed as a broadcaster for the last few decades, I would have already been asked. For sure, I would have been.”<h2>Dearth of women&nbsp;</h2>Chris Tontz, who coaches American Claire Liu and mentored a pair of coaches at Charleston, points to a dearth of women hired at the lower levels by clubs, academies and federations.“It’s still a long road for women,” Tontz said. “All it would take is for someone to take a chance on them.”One of the coaches shadowing him in April, Iris Harris, was a talented teen who reached the junior doubles semifinals at Wimbledon in 2003 but had her playing career derailed when she tore a knee ligament and groin muscle. She turned to coaching and now, at 38, is a teaching pro in Florida.Harris thinks female coaches are limited by a perception that women “can get a little too emotional.” She also hears that they don't make as good hitting partners as men — even though female players don't hit against men in competition.Some of us," Harris said, “have never been given a chance.”At its root, King and others say, this is not merely about women’s tennis. Or tennis, even.<h2>7% of coaches worldwide were women</h2>A 2019 study by FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, found that more than 13 million girls and women played organized soccer, but only 7% of coaches worldwide were women. When the Women’s World Cup begins next week, 20 countries will be coached by men, 12 by women. In the NWSL women’s soccer league, eight clubs are coached by men, four by women. (The numbers tilt the other way in the WNBA basketball league: nine female coaches, three male coaches.)- I don’t think no one wants to hire a woman. It’s more that you just don’t see as many of them, so you just kind of always gravitate towards hiring a male coach — and there’s really no reason for it,” Wimbledon quarterfinalist Jessica Pegula said.And it’s not limited to sports, of course.- I do wish there were more female coaches. I do wish there were more women involved in tennis. Running tournaments. Agents. Journalists - 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens said. “It’s about the business world, the regular world, the entire world.”Caty McNally, who reached the past two U.S. Open women’s doubles finals, is one of the rare women with a female coach.She has two coaches: Kevin O’Neill, who is on tour full-time, and her mother, Lynn Nabors McNally, who travels part-time.- My mom knows just as much about tennis, in my opinion, as a lot of men - McNally said. "I would never label her as less qualified of a coach because she’s a lady.”<h2>Women have led women</h2>Women have led women to Grand Slam titles, including two in a span of 1 1/2 months in 2017, when Anabel Medina Garrigues coached Jelena Ostapenko to a trophy at the French Open and Conchita Martinez helped Garbiñe Muguruza at Wimbledon.That didn't turn out to be a watershed moment for female coaches.Nor was three-time major champion Andy Murray's hiring of Amelie Mauresmo as his coach in 2014.“It’s strange. I’m probably surprised ... there’s not more female coaches across both tours,” Murray said. “I didn’t necessarily think at the time that it was for sure going to spark loads of new or more female coaches to come into the game. It wasn’t exactly received unbelievably well at the time. ... But it’s probably slightly more, sort of, deeper-rooted, I guess, than just the top of the game."

That long-ago moment was prompted by frustration at being paid far less in prize money than the sport’s male athletes

Just 5% of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Central defender Iñigo Martínez says he's prepared to “work as hard as the next guy” for Barcelona.The 32-year-old Martínez was presented as Barcelona’s new player on Thursday, a week after he signed a two-year contract with the Spanish champions. He arrived on a free transfer after completing his former deal with Athletic Bilbao.Martínez has been among the best central defenders in the Spanish league for several seasons, playing first at Real Sociedad from 2011 before he joined Basque Country rival Bilbao in 2018.A left-footed player, he can pass from the back and provides a physical presence in the box. He can also shoot from distance. He will join a defense led by Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Koundé.- I would underscore my competitive spirit - Martínez said when asked to describe his strengths. “I will work as hard as the next guy. I know what kind of club I have joined and what I need to do.”Martínez has made 20 appearances for Spain but never at a major tournament.Besides Martínez, Barcelona has incorporated midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer from Manchester City this summer. Barcelona has also sealed a deal to bring in young Brazil forward Vitor Roque next season. The club is expected to look for a holding midfielder to help replace Sergio Busquets after his departure.

Martínez has made 20 appearances for Spain but never at a major tournament

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star’s smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a viral meme from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear.Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend.There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States. But his arrival is also bringing a note of sadness as fans know that at age 36 he is nearing the end of his career.<h2>Inter Miami</h2>Messi announced on June 7 that he will play for Inter Miami in a move that is expected to revitalize soccer in the United States and South Florida with one of the sporting world’s best-known figures. More than 100,000 Argentines live in Miami, which will host World Cup matches in 2026.The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, the soccer world's most prestigious individual award, is coming off two years with Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to make his Inter Miami debut against Mexican team Cruz Azul on July 21.In a career spanning more than 17 years with his country’s national team, Messi has scored more than 100 goals, including two against France at the 2022 World Cup, a match Argentina won on penalties.- I love that he’s in Miami because my children will be able to experience him like I experienced (fellow Argentina soccer star Diego) Maradona - said Maximiliano Alvarez, one of the owners of the Fiorito restaurant, where a wall has a giant mural of Messi. “It also makes me sad, nostalgic, because it looks like it is the beginning of his retirement."“Coming to this league is not the same as playing in the European league,” said the Argentine businessman.<h2>Mural</h2>Álvarez and his brother Cristian had the original mural with Messi’s face painted in the restaurant in 2018, when many people criticized the soccer star for his role in the Argentine national team’s poor performance. His idea was to honor him and the resilience he brings, never giving up.In 2021, they renovated the restaurant in Little Haiti in northeast Miami with another mural of Messi on the same wall, this one by Chilean-American artist Claudio Picasso.On the walls of another restaurant called Kao Bar &amp; Grill, in the Hallandale Beach area north of Miami Beach, Messi’s meme ”¡Andá pa’ alla bobo!” “Go over there, fool!” is immortalized along with a giant drawing of the soccer star.Angry after Argentina’s heated victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup, Messi said those words to a Dutch player who was passing by while he was being interviewed.Messi, who is known for his calm and cautious way of speaking, repented the comment, which immediately went viral.- He regretted it, obviously ... but it was left as a joke - said Augusto Falopapas, the artist who drew the meme on the restaurant’s wall.To the south, in Wynwood district, an area near downtown Miami known for its warehouse-turned-art galleries, other artists have painted murals of Messi. There are two giant images of the player, one with a smiling face, the other with him running as if in a game. And there are plans for more, including a 10-meter-high (32-foot-high) mural of Messi kissing the World Cup in an open parking lot.Messi’s arrival has also impacted breweries like Prison Pals Brewing Co., which sells a beer bearing Messi’s number 10. The can is painted pink with black lettering, a replica of Inter Miami’s colors.<h2>Messi t-shirts</h2>The Argentine grill The Knife offers a Messi mojito and the Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new “Messi Chicken Sandwich” made from the soccer star’s favorite “milanesas.” Messi t-shirts, pants, sweatshirts with a hood and water bottles will also be for sale.- When we found out that he decided to choose Miami as his South Florida home, it was incredible for us - said Elena Alvarez, vice president of global sales for Hard Rock International. “We are very, very grateful and we have him as a brand ambassador and we are launching (the new sandwich) at the same time that he is moving here.”Near Miami Beach, at the Café Ragazzi of Argentine-Venezuelan singer-songwriter Ricardo Montaner, they are welcoming his return.Messi was there on vacation after he won the America’s Cup with Argentina in 2021. The star caused an uproar in the restaurant as fans came to greet him, forcing staff, including waiters and kitchen workers, to form a wall around him to protect him and allow him to exit to his car.Now they want to offer the soccer legend more privacy and are thinking of putting up curtains.Emiliano Valdés, the café’s general manager, said “He is revolutionizing the entire city," and that Miami is welcoming Messi “with open arms.”

Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend

Artist Maximiliano Bagnasco paints a mural of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

For the second straight World Cup, Manchester City topped the list of FIFA payments to clubs whose players were selected for the 32 national teams in Qatar.From the $209 million fund allocated by FIFA, the Premier League and Champions League winner received almost $4.6 million — eclipsing the total sent to the entire continent of Africa, which had five national teams at the World Cup. The list published Thursday showed a total of 18 African clubs combined to earn $4.57 million.FIFA said 440 clubs in 51 countries were rewarded with payments funded by the governing body’s $7.5 billion income for the four-year commercial cycle mostly tied to the 2022 men’s tournament.<h2>Clubs in UEFA</h2>The project that was launched for the 2010 World Cup again starkly showed how clubs in soccer’s wealthiest and dominant continent have nurtured, lured and retained much of the best talent.Clubs in UEFA member countries got $159 million, 76% of the total fund, and clubs in England accounted for $37.7 million, FIFA said.A fifth-tier club in England, Boreham Wood, got double the FIFA payment — $31,026 vs $15,513 — given to Santos, the storied Brazilian team that was Pelé’s home and where Neymar started his career.FIFA calculated the payments at a daily rate of $10,950 for each of 837 players doing duty in Qatar until the day after their team’s last game. Each player’s allocation was divided among clubs who held their registration since the 2020-21 season.Man City was due payments for players ranging from Julián Álvarez and its former defender Nicolás Otamendi in Argentina’s title-winning team, six members of England’s quarterfinalist team and Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who exited in the group stage. City had received a list-leading $5 million from FIFA’s $209 million at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Barcelona was the next highest earner on the 2022 list with $4.54 million, including $131,405 for Lionel Messi’s time with the club in 2020-21 until leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.Bayern Munich’s share was more than $4.3 million, including payments for four players from runner-up France’s squad.Though Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, 27 Italian clubs earned a total of $18.7 million from their foreign players. Juventus got more than $3 million, including $394,215 for France’s Adrien Rabiot and allocations from Argentina trio Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala.A player with finalists Argentina and France who had been with the same club since the start of the 2020-21 season earned $394,215 for that club.However, storied Argentinian club Boca Juniors is due just $32,851 for defender Nahuel Molina's brief stay with the club in the 2020-21 season before moving to Europe. River Plate, Boca’s rival in Buenos Aires, was due $1.2 million.Spanish clubs collectively earned $24.2 million, German clubs shared a little over $21 million and French clubs’ payout was $16.5 million.Saudi Arabian clubs led the Asian list with $6.6 million and host nation Qatar’s clubs got $6.3 million. Clubs in the United States got $5.4 million, topped by $827,000 for the Seattle Sounders.Morocco’s historic run as the first African team to reach the semifinals was achieved with many Europe-based players. Just two Moroccan clubs in Casablanca earned money from FIFA: $1.4 million to Wydad and $31,938 to Raja.Just $20,075 went to a single club in Senegal, Génération Foot, for the 27 players in the national team squad that reached the round of 16 in Qatar. It included Sadio Mané, who withdrew injured before the first game.<h2>FIFA-ECA working agreements</h2>FIFA payments from its World Cup revenues were agreed to as part of a settlement with an elite group of clubs that formed the European Club Association in 2008 to represent teams that play in UEFA competitions.The ECA said in a statement Thursday it was “championing the interests” of clubs from all countries and “amplifying their contributions to the success” of national team soccer.The fund total is negotiated when FIFA-ECA working agreements are renewed and will be $355 million for each men’s World Cup in 2026 and 2030.The 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams and an expected 1,104 players selected.The comparable FIFA fund for the 2023 Women's World Cup that kicks off next week is $11.5 million for clubs providing at least 736 players to the 32 national squads in Australia and New Zealand.

Manchester City topped the list of FIFA payments to clubs whose players were selected for the 32 national teams in Qatar

Manchster City players celebrate their 1-0 win at the end of the Champions League final soccer match

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

A sponsor is giving away 20,000 tickets to Women’s World Cup matches in New Zealand as ticket sales remain sluggish in a country in which rugby dominates as the national sport.According to FIFA, 1.25 million tickets have been sold for matches across co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. Of those 320,000 have been sold to matches in New Zealand, but only six of those matches are close to a sell out.On Thursday, the accounting firm Xero, a tournament partner, said it would offer 5,000 free tickets to a match at each of New Zealand’s four venues.<h2>Tournament had increased</h2>Women’s World Cup chief executive Dave Beeche told the New Zealand Herald that FIFA is “comfortable” with the current rate of ticket sales in New Zealand. He said sales had picked up in recent weeks as coverage of the tournament had increased.- Naturally, there are some games that are experiencing higher demand with the Kiwis and some of the top-ranked teams - Beeche said, "but we’re happy with how the progress is overall.”Last month FIFA's head of women’s football Sarai Bareman indicated she had some concerns about the pace of ticket sales in New Zealand, despite overall sales being ahead of the 2019 World Cup in France.Bareman said sales in Australia have been bolstered by support for the Australian women’s team which is a genuine title contender, while New Zealand’s Football Ferns have never won a World Cup group match.<h2>Soccer is not generally a widely supported sport</h2>A larger problem is that soccer is not generally a widely supported sport in New Zealand and attracting fans to stadiums in the coldest months of the year was always going to be a hard sell.New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, will play South Africa in Auckland on Saturday in a match which could have been sold out several times over.

Women’s World Cup chief executive Dave Beeche told the New Zealand Herald that FIFA is “comfortable” with the current rate of ticket sales in New Zeal

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

Novak Djokovic looked as if he were a bit surprised by the question.And maybe he should have been.The query, essentially, was this: Are you the favorite to win the championship at Wimbledon? Now, sure, there is some work to be done to collect that trophy.First Djokovic, 36, needs to beat No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner, 21, on Friday in what represents the largest age gap between two men's semifinalists at the All England Club in the professional era, which began in 1968.And after that, Djokovic would need to beat the winner of that day’s other match — No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev — in the final on Sunday.<h2>I would consider myself the favorite</h2>This, then, was Djokovic’s reply: “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite.”What Djokovic might have been forgiven for saying, but was too polite to, was: “Come on, my friend. Is that really what you want to ask? Of course I expect to win the title. And you should expect me to win the title. And everybody should expect me to win the title.”Start by looking at his accomplishments relative to the other three men still around at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament:—Djokovic has won seven Wimbledon titles. The other three guys have won a total of zero.—Djokovic has reached his 12th Wimbledon semifinal. The other three guys have never played in one.—Djokovic has won a men's-record 23 Grand Slam titles, including both so far this year. The other three guys have won a total of two: Medvedev at the 2021 U.S. Open, Alcaraz at the 2022 U.S. Open.<h2>Major semifinal on Friday</h2>—Djokovic will be participating in his 46th major semifinal on Friday, equaling Roger Federer's record for men. The other three guys have raised their combined total to 10: Medvedev is into his sixth, Alcaraz his third, Sinner his first.And then there's also this: Djokovic is a combined 12-5 against the other three guys head-to-head. He leads Sinner 2-0, including a win in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals. Sinner took the first two sets in that one but blew the huge lead and lost in five.After eliminating No. 7 Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals Tuesday, Djokovic was asked during his on-court interview what it feels like to constantly be the player every else is focused on trying to beat.“I know they want ... to win,” he said. “But it ain’t happening. Still.”One thing working in Djokovic's favor these days, unlike during most of his time on tour, is he no longer needs to deal with Federer, who announced his retirement last year, and currently does not need to worry about Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since January with a bad hip and indicated that, if he is able to return to competition, 2024 will be his final season.Will be Sinner Next to try to solve Djokovic, who has won 26 consecutive Grand Slam matches overall and 33 in a row at Wimbledon, will be Sinner, considered one of the leading members of the sport's next generation.Djokovic's scouting report on Sinner: “He’s so young, so of course it’s expected that he’s going to improve. He is improving, no doubt, I think, with the serve. He’s been serving better. On grass, obviously, (that) makes a difference. He’s a very complete player."Sinner's description of facing Djokovic: “It is also a little bit mental, no? If you play against Novak, it’s always tough to play ... especially (at) Grand Slams.”At 20, Alcaraz is even younger than Sinner, against whom he is already developing a rivalry thanks to some stirring matches between them. And Alcaraz has accomplished more so far. But he wants to do much more in the sport.He and Medvedev, 27, offer contrasting styles that could produce a scintillating matchup. Still, all eyes on Friday — and, most assume, Sunday, too — will be on Djokovic.

Djokovic’s reply: “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite"

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon? 

Before Gaetano Manfredi was elected mayor of Naples in 2021, he was a university professor specializing in seismic engineering — preparing and designing buildings to withstand earthquakes. As Manfredi rose up to become chancellor of the University of Naples Federico II, a study was commissioned to measure the impact of fans celebrating goals scored by the Napoli soccer club inside what is now known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.“The engineering department building is near the stadium and there’s a seismograph there that whenever Napoli scored would record enough shaking that it nearly registered as an earthquake,” Manfredi told The Associated Press in a recent interview.So what magnitude might the university seismograph record when Napoli wins its first Italian league title in more than three decades? With a 17-point lead and seven games remaining, the first chance to clinch comes this weekend — a long holiday weekend for May Day (Europe’s Labor Day).“We can’t predict what the number will be but there will definitely be a lot of vibrations,” Manfredi said, flapping his hand up and down to simulate the trembling. “An earthquake. A big earthquake of joy.”The mayor isn’t exaggerating.Support for Napoli is akin to religion in the southern city and the team hasn’t won Serie A since Diego Maradona led the club to its only two Italian championships in 1987 and 1990.“The passion for soccer in Naples is one of the biggest passions in the world,” Manfredi said.It’s so great that Neapolitans have cast aside their superstitions about celebrating — or even mentioning — the word “scudetto,” or title, before it happens and have been decorating the city with streamers, banners, flags and life-size cardboard replicas of Napoli players — all in Napoli blue.The title could also be a lift socially for Naples, a city that has had problems with trash removal and crime and is seen as a poor southern cousin to the traditional northern soccer capitals of Milan and Turin.“If we do this thing, we’ll remain on the walls of Naples forever,” Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said — avoiding the word “scudetto.”Every neighborhood in the city, from the steep and narrow alleyways of the characteristic Quartieri Spagnoli to the more modern Fuorigrotta area where the stadium lies, has its own style of celebrating.One banner stretching over the street in the Forcella neighborhood of the historic center, which is known for its mural of San Gennaro, the city’s patron saint, reads “Scusate per il ritardo” or “Sorry for taking so long” — a reference to the title of a 1983 film directed by and starring local actor Massimo Troisi, as well as the 33 years since Napoli’s last title.“We’re unique. There’s no other place in the world like Naples. Naples is an open theater,” local taxi driver Giovanni Murri said, in a reference to a poem by Neapolitan playwright Eduardo De Filippo.A saying heard often these days in the city goes, “Celebrations in Naples are unlike anywhere else.”As the mayor explained: “It’s because Neapolitans are cheerful. The cheerfulness of Naples is famous around the world.”GOMORRAH’S FOOTSTEPSNaples has waited so long for this that the city is preparing for multiple celebrations.There will be the spontaneous eruption when the team clinches the title — which could go on for days, weeks, or even months.“Obviously we don’t know when that will happen or what will really happen,” the mayor said.Then an organized celebration will be held downtown in Piazza Plebiscito on June 4 after the club is awarded the Serie A trophy following the final game of the season.“It’s going to be like celebrating New Year’s Eve twice — actually (bigger) than New Year’s,” said Vincenzo Masiello, who runs the ’O Vesuvio trattoria and pizzeria in the Quartieri Spagnoli.In order to avoid congestion downtown and a scene like the chaos when Argentina’s squad returned home with the World Cup trophy, simultaneous celebrations will be organized by the city on June 4 in different neighborhoods, including one in Scampia, the gritty northern suburb exposed as a crime-infested underworld in the “Gomorrah” book, film and TV series.MARADONA’S LEGACYEven 2½ years after his death, Maradona’s legacy remains a strong attraction in Naples.In the Quartieri Spagnoli, a huge mural of Maradona acts as an unofficial museum to the former Argentina great.“It’s a problem in terms of overcrowding,” Manfredi said. “It’s a sort of secular cult, which is really appreciated.”The mayor said that on days of big Napoli games or in holiday periods, up to 30,000 people visit “Piazza Maradona” daily, which makes it one of Italy’s most visited attractions.“Even after his death, he still brings people to Naples,” said Antonio Tortora, another local taxi driver. “He’s a saint.”

Support for Napoli is akin to religion in the southern city and the team hasn’t won Serie A since Diego Maradona

Mayor: Napoli title will set off 'big earthquake of joy'

Year-end exams don’t come much tougher than the one facing Erik ten Hag and Manchester United. The Dutch manager was hired to return the storied club to its former glories after a decade of decline. Against Manchester City in the FA Cup final he will get the chance to show how far United has come in his first season in charge.While a one-off match cannot judge an entire campaign, the contrast in emotions for United’s fans will be stark depending on the outcome.A win on June 3 would not only secure a second trophy for Ten Hag — after the League Cup — but also serve as a statement of intent that he is building a team ready to go head-to-head with City, perhaps as soon as next season.Defeat wouldn’t necessarily alter that, but it would be painful confirmation of Guardiola’s ongoing dominance of English soccer.The potential that City could also be in contention for a treble of trophies — the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League — provides added spice to the occasion.United remains the only English team to have won those three major trophies in one season, in 1999. The chance to directly block City’s attempt to emulate that feat will likely be an extra incentive.“I understand, of course, the feelings from the Man United fans about it,” Ten Hag said Sunday.United beat Brighton 7-6 on penalty kicks after the FA Cup semifinal match at Wembley ended 0-0 through extra time.On Saturday, City made light work of second-division Sheffield United in a 3-0 win, also at the national stadium.This will be the first time the Manchester rivals have played each other in the FA Cup final, but there are parallels to be drawn with the semifinals match between them in the same competition in 2011.After three years under the ownership of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, City had lavished money on superstar signings like Yaya Toure, David Silva and Carlos Tevez, but the club was still waiting for a first major trophy since 1976.Former United manager Alex Ferguson had dismissed the rival as “noisy neighbors” following the influx money from its new owners.But Toure provided a sign of the changing landscape of English soccer by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win in the semifinals. City went on to lift the FA Cup, with Toure the matchwinner again in the final against Stoke.City has dominated ever since, winning 13 more trophies, including six Premier League titles.United, meanwhile, has suffered one setback after another after Ferguson retired in 2013 and went through four different permanent managers before hiring Ten Hag last year.While the former Ajax coach has had his own difficulties in his first season at Old Trafford, he has sparked hope that the good times could be on their way back. United is on course to qualify for the Champions League and also in contention to win a second cup.“We are on the right track. One trophy, another final and fighting for the top four,” goalkeeper David de Gea said. “It’s not enough but it’s a big step from last season.”After losing 6-3 to City in Ten Hag's first Manchester derby in October, United won 2-1 in January, in what the manager described as the “perfect game.”It is likely to take close to perfection to beat City in the final, with Guardiola's team in relentless form as the season enters the final stages.The win against Sheffield extended its unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.“The momentum is key, it doesn’t matter if you play every three or four days if you are winning, winning,” Guardiola said.While Guardiola has assembled possibly the strongest squad in club soccer — star striker Erling Haaland has scored 48 goals already this season — Ten Hag is still in the process building a team in his own image at United.United could not compete with City to sign Haaland last summer, but the improvements over the season could boost Ten Hag's chances of convincing an elite striker — the caliber of Harry Kane, for example — that he could win the biggest prizes at Old Trafford.Win or lose, progress has undoubtedly been made under Ten Hag, even if City's 11-point lead over United is evidence of the gap between the rivals.Victory in the final, however, would be a symbolic statement that may suggest the power balance in Manchester and English soccer could be about to shift again.

While a one-off match cannot judge an entire campaign, the contrast in emotions for United’s fans will be stark depending on the outcome

Man United manager Ten Hag faces ultimate test against City

Barcelona may be lucky Real Madrid has loftier goals than trying to mount a desperate comeback in the Spanish league. If not, then Barcelona would face Sunday’s game against Atletico Madrid with the added pressure of ending its scoring drought to ensure it doesn’t get mired in a late-season slump.Barcelona still has a healthy lead of 11 points over Madrid with nine games remaining. But the team hasn't scored in three straight games after being beaten by Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey and being held to scoreless draws against modest league opponents in Girona and Getafe.So a loss to Atletico combined with a win the previous night by Madrid when it hosts Celta Vigo could stir up fears of a meltdown as Barcelona tries to win its first league title since the departure of Lionel Messi two seasons ago.Madrid, however, has two other titles almost in its grasp. The team will play Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final in Seville on May 6, and three days later it will host Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals. After brushing aside Chelsea this week, Madrid is now only three games away from defending its title and adding to its record 14 European Cups.That alone should mean Barcelona won't face a serious challenge from its top rival as Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti rests his top players — but just to be sure it better beat Atletico.The other Madrid team struggled early in the season, quickly falling out of contention for the league title and finishing its Champions League group in last place. But Atletico has been the hottest team in Spain in 2023. It is unbeaten in 13 matches and takes a six-game winning streak to Barcelona.Barcelona dealt Atletico its last loss back on Jan. 8 when it won 1-0 in the capital. That was João Félix’s last game for Atletico before he joined Chelsea on loan.Since the Portugal forward left, Antoine Griezmann has been playing like he did in his very best seasons during his first stint at Atletico before he spent 2019-21 at Barcelona, where he never fit in.The France forward is now leading his team in scoring with 11 league goals and leading the league with eight assists. Griezmann scored twice in the last match to secure at 2-1 win over Almeria.Atletico is in third place, two points behind Madrid. And while overtaking its crosstown rival won’t add any titles to its collection, it would be a great finish to the season.“We are on a good run and we want to keep it up,” Atletico midfielder Axel Witsel said Thursday. “We are going to be strong defensively just like in recent games, and if we do that, we will surely have a chance to score."

If not, then Barcelona would face Sunday’s game against Atletico Madrid with the added pressure of ending its scoring

Barcelona needs to beat Atletico to avoid fears of meltdown

Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto, who recently came out as gay, is taking time off from soccer following a traffic incident. Jankto's Sparta Prague club said he was not with the team anymore and was given time to deal with his “personal situation.” Sparta declined to give more details and asked the public and media to respect Jankto’s privacy.Jankto said in a statement that his health didn’t make it possible to continue helping Sparta in title and cup races and thanked the club and the fans for their support.Police said he was checked by officers after they were notified by another driver on Tuesday. An alcohol test was negative but Jankto refused to be tested for other drugs.According to media reports, he also didn't have a driver's licence, which was taken from him previously by police. Failure to have a licence was punishable by a prison term.Jankto’s future was not clear.He was playing for Sparta Prague this season on loan from Spanish club Getafe. He has previously played for Italian clubs Sampdoria and Udinese. He scored only once for Sparta and was mostly used as a substitute

Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto, who recently came out as gay, is taking time off from soccer following a traffic incident

Traffic incident sidelines Czech footballer Jankto

A manager in England’s lower soccer leagues had a ban for using discriminatory language toward his players increased to three years Wednesday following an appeal by the Football Association. John Yems, the former manager of fourth-tier club Crawley Town, admitted to one charge and was found guilty of 11 others relating to comments made from 2019-22 that referenced ethnic origin, color, race, nationality, religion, belief or gender.Among the evidence given to a disciplinary panel set up by the FA, the 63-year-old Yems was found to have used anti-Muslim language, as well as racial slurs and stereotypes toward Black players.He was handed a 15-month ban in January but the FA wanted a longer sanction, saying it “fundamentally disagreed” with the findings of a panel which sided with Yems’ lawyers, who argued he was “not a conscious racist” and did not “ever intend to make racist remarks.”An appeal board more than doubled the length of the sanction, which means he is banned from all soccer-related activity until Jan. 5, 2026.The FA said it was the longest ban ever issued in English soccer for discrimination, adding that it was justified because there were “numerous examples of inherent and obvious racist language.”“This is a deeply distressing case for the victims involved, and we hope that the outcome of this appeal will help to bring some closure,” the governing body said. “We also hope that this will encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed discrimination in the game to report it.“Everyone should be able to play the game in an environment that is free from discrimination and know that they can trust those who occupy positions of responsibility and power to lead a safe and positive culture, free from harm.”Former Chelsea player Paul Canoville, who was racially abused during his career, described the ban as “still insufficient” in a post on Twitter.Canoville addresses racism and discrimination through his own foundation, which acts as a youth education and outreach charity.“Whilst this ban may be the longest issued in English football for discrimination, it still doesn’t come close to being equitable to the abhorrence of the offenses," the foundation's CEO, Raphael Frascogna, said in a statement. "Racial stereotypes, slurs and tropes are often the more visible elements of far worse behaviour and beliefs.“People come and go but these detestable ideas will never die so long as they have a voice."In the original disciplinary hearing, the panel said that what it described as Yems’ “banter” had “undoubtedly came across to the victims and others as offensive, racist and Islamophobic.” Yems, the panel said, had “no appreciation that much of the sort of language which might have been in common usage some 40 or 50 years ago has no place in modern society.”A number of Crawley players complained about Yems to the Professional Footballers’ Association, sparking an investigation and leading to Yem’s suspension for 12 days before he was fired in May.Anti-discrimination campaigner Kick It Out described Yems’ language as “simply shocking.”

An appeal board more than doubled the length of the sanction, which means he is banned from all soccer-related activity until Jan. 5, 2026

English soccer coach gets longer ban for discrimination

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Thursday: <h2>EUROPA LEAGUE</h2>Injuries and a key suspension has left Manchester United with some issues heading into its match at Sevilla in the second leg of the quarterfinals, with the score at 2-2 from last week's game at Old Trafford. Playmaker Bruno Fernandes is banned after an accumulation of yellow cards while first-choice center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are injured. Forward Marcus Rashford has been nursing a groin injury but was back in training Wednesday. Sevilla might be 13th in the 20-team Spanish league but the club has an aura in the Europa League, having won the second-tier European competition six times since 2006. It leaves the match delicately poised, as are the other three contests in the quarterfinals. Juventus and Feyenoord take 1-0 leads to Sporting and Roma, respectively, while Union Saint-Gilloise and Bayer Leverkusen are locked at 1-1 before their game in Belgium.<h2>EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE</h2>West Ham is locked at 1-1 with Gent as the English team bids to reach the semifinals of a European competition for a second straight year. West Ham, which is fighting relegation in the Premier League, reached the last four in the Europa League last season. David Moyes' team is at home for the second leg. Fiorentina has a comfortable 4-1 advantage from the first leg at Poland’s Lech Poznan, Anderlecht travels to AZ Alkmaar after winning 2-0 in Brussels last week while Nice and Basel split the first leg 2-2.

Juventus and Feyenoord take 1-0 leads to Sporting and Roma

MATCHDAY: Sevilla-United headlines Europa League quarters

Eight health care professionals will stand trial in the death of soccer great Diego Maradona in 2020, an Argentine court has ruled. The date of the proceedings has yet to be set, but they are unlikely to begin before next year, the court said Tuesday.A medical board’s report previously given to prosecutors concluded that Maradona was in agony for more than 12 hours, did not receive adequate treatment and could still be alive if he had been properly hospitalized.Three judges from an appeals court in San Isidro, outside Buenos Aires, confirmed the charges brought by prosecutors of homicide by negligence against the members of Maradona’s medical team.Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov are accused of failing in their care for Maradona. Maradona’s medical team also included psychologist Carlos Díaz, doctors Nancy Forlini and Pedro Di Spagna, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni and nurses Ricardo Almirón and Dahiana Madrid.Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, died of a heart attack on Nov. 25, 2020, at a rented residence outside Buenos Aires following brain surgery two weeks earlier. He was 60.Maradona’s autopsy showed he died of natural causes.

The date of the proceedings has yet to be set, but they are unlikely to begin before next year, the court said Tuesday

Maradona's medical team on trial in former great's death

NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said Wednesday that the decision to suspend Golden State's Draymond Green for Game 3 of the Warriors' first-round series against Sacramento was difficult, and wasn't made without serious consideration of many factors. Dumars, who oversees the league's basketball operations and sanctions for on-court incidents, said Tuesday night that Green would sit a game for stepping on the chest of Kings center Domantas Sabonis. That incident happened midway during the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Monday night.Green was ejected for the play, and the league escalated the punishment a day later.“This was not some snap-of-the-finger decision to do this,” Dumars said. “There was much discussion, and back and forth, looking at the play itself over and over. And then ultimately we came to the decision that the act itself, and repeat offenses, actually did warrant a suspension.”Green spent several moments gesturing at and yelling to the crowd in Sacramento after the play, and Dumars said that also was a factor.“The stuff that happened afterward, that doesn't help the situation,” Dumars said. “But if it was just that alone, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I focused on the act itself, the fact that it's a repeat offense, those were the two main things.”

Green was ejected for the play, and the league escalated the punishment a day later

Dumars: Decision to suspend Draymond Green was "difficult"

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek routed Claire Liu in 65 minutes to win her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. Swiatek, the defending champion who took over the No. 1 ranking nearly a year ago, won 6-0, 6-1. She lost just seven points in the first set.“Tactically and tennis-wise, everything was on point,” she said. “I had so many matches that were going my way in last couple of weeks that I know what to do.”Carlos Alcaraz, the second-ranked men's player, defeated qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis, 6-3, 6-3. Alcaraz reached the semifinals in the desert last year and could return to the No. 1 spot for the first time since January if he wins the title.Taylor Fritz, the defending men's champion, rallied past former NCAA singles champion Ben Shelton, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.Shelton’s biggest serve reached 147 mph.“I expected him to come out serving bombs, playing well,” Fritz said. "I was ready for it, I just had to regroup, just find a way and problem solve. He’s an incredible player and it was an extremely tough first match to come out and play, so I’m happy to get through it.”Andy Murray beat Radu Albot, 6-4, 6-3 in his first straight-set victory of the year to set up a third-round match with Jack Draper. Murray had just 18 unforced errors to 35 for Albot, and never faced a break point on his serve while firing six aces.“Hopefully I can keep pushing myself up the rankings, keep building that confidence, and maybe get a few more straightforward draws, as well,” Murray said.Jannik Sinner defeated Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 7-6 (2). The 21-year-old Sinner fired 20 forehand winners against the 36-year-old veteran.“Obviously it was a tough match today, especially in the beginning I was a little bit tight,” Sinner said on court.Another 21-year-old, Draper, beat No. 24 Dan Evans, 6-4, 6-2. Draper has lost just eight games through his first two matches of his Indian Wells debut.No. 10 Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the third round with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Pedro Martinez.Emma Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, beat No. 20 Magda Linette, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Linette, a semifinalist at the Australian Open, got an early service break, but Raducanu jumped on her serve and tied it, 5-all, before forcing the tiebreaker.“I was so pleased with the way I fought. Because Magda played at a really high level,” Raducanu said. “Like some things that were working in the past weren’t working today, and I adapted.”No. 5 Carolina Garcia outlasted Dalma Galfi, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-4. Eighth-seeded Daria Kasatkina beat Tatjana Maria, 6-2, 6-1.Karolina Muchova beat two-time Indian Wells champion Victoria Azarenka, 7-6 (1), 6-3 while attacking the net in swirling wind conditions. Muchova is back after injuries curtailed her last year.Other seeded players joining Azarenka on the sidelines were No. 25 Petra Martic and No. 28 Marie Bouzkova.

Tactically and tennis-wise, everything was on point, she said

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot to Thanasi Kokkinakis, of Australia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 11, 2023

Swiatek dominates at BNP Paribas Open; Murray advances

Stephen Curry knocked down all the dazzling shots everybody has come to expect from him in crunch time night after night — and then a surprising block at the rim that mattered just as much or maybe even more. Curry scored 36 points with 22 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime, shining in his first home game back from a long injury absence and leading the Golden State Warriors past the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks 125-116 on Saturday night.Curry hit a tying 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in regulation, then blocked a layup attempt by Jrue Holiday in the closing moments.“He came out of nowhere. Jrue had a straight line drive to the rim,” Draymond Green said.The Warriors got the ball back with 1.9 seconds remaining and Curry inbounded to Green, who missed from deep though he thought for sure it was “cash.”Holiday had put Milwaukee up on a 3 with 32.7 seconds to play and wound up with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But the Bucks (48-19), playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, had their three-game winning streak snapped with just their second defeat in 21 games since Jan. 21.“I loved this game. I thought we competed the entire time,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought we were really solid for most of the night.”Curry’s 3 with 1:08 remaining in regulation got Golden State within 108-106. A steal by Klay Thompson on the other end moments later led to a tying layup by Curry before Holiday delivered.“Overtime and fourth quarter, he got away from us a little bit,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Curry. “Some of them were high level.”Thompson added 22 points, Donte DiVincenzo had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Warriors won at home for the seventh in a row and 11th in 12.Curry loved making a difference on the defensive end.“To hit a couple big shots down the stretch and then find yourself in a position where you can make a play on the other side, it gives everybody a good boost because it's shocking,” Curry said. “I think I got more about that in the locker room than any shot I made tonight, which speaks for itself.”Khris Middleton had 19 points and five assists, Bobby Portis contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds and Brook Lopez 19 points, seven boards and five blocks.Bucks leading scorer and rebounder Antetokounmpo missed his second straight game with right hand soreness and third overall after sitting out March 7 with a non-COVID illness.Golden State used a 16-4 burst out of halftime to go ahead 66-53 but the Bucks fought back to get within 80-77 heading into the fourth.Green went down hard and limped to the locker room midway through the third quarter before returning with 38.7 seconds left. While cutting through the key, Green's left foot got tangled with Holiday's right leg and Green tripped and rolled his ankle.While sore, “I will 100% expect to play,” Green said of Monday's game with Phoenix.Green finished with five points, 13 rebounds and nine assists and Golden State shot better from beyond the arc (41.8%) than it did inside (40.4%).Curry returned March 5 at the Lakers from a left leg injury suffered Feb. 4 that sidelined him for 11 games. He played on the team's three-game road trip.DiVincenzo has learned that anything Curry lets fly has a chance.“It’s super fun to watch,” he said. “Sometimes when it leaves his hand I’m like, ‘No way.’”KLAY'S GIFTThompson presented soon-to-be 16-year-old Braulio Noriega with a birthday surprise: a custom-basketball wheelchair. Noriega had his left leg amputated from above the knee because of cancer as a 6-year-old.The teen hopes to compete playing wheelchair basketball in college and eventually in his home country of Mexico.“I can't even describe how I felt,” an overjoyed Noriega said. “... There's so much emotional energy from him.”TIP-INSBucks: Milwaukee shot just 9 of 25 on 3s in the first half to 10 for 24 by the Warriors. Allen missed his initial five and shot 2 of 9 overall. ... The Bucks managed just seven offensive rebounds to the Warriors' 18.Warriors: JaMychal Green scored 11 of his 18 points in the first quarter for Golden State making three 3-pointers. ... Golden State had 33 assists — its 35th game with 30 or more to tie the Nuggets for most in the NBA. ... G Moses Moody was recalled from the G League Santa Cruz Warriors and grabbed four rebounds in six minutes as the Warriors held a 65-48 advantage on the boards.UP NEXTBucks: Visit Sacramento on Monday night riding a 13-game winning streak against the Kings.Warriors: Host the Suns on Monday night having lost the last two in the series at home.

Curry scored 36 points with 22 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in San Francisco

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon?

Mayor: Napoli title will set off 'big earthquake of joy'

Man United manager Ten Hag faces ultimate test against City

Barcelona needs to beat Atletico to avoid fears of meltdown

Traffic incident sidelines Czech footballer Jankto

English soccer coach gets longer ban for discrimination

MATCHDAY: Sevilla-United headlines Europa League quarters

Maradona's medical team on trial in former great's death

Dumars: Decision to suspend Draymond Green was "difficult"

Swiatek dominates at BNP Paribas Open; Murray advances

Curry, Warriors rally past NBA-best Bucks 125-116 in OT

Sports

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon?

Mayor: Napoli title will set off 'big earthquake of joy'

Man United manager Ten Hag faces ultimate test against City

Barcelona needs to beat Atletico to avoid fears of meltdown

Traffic incident sidelines Czech footballer Jankto

English soccer coach gets longer ban for discrimination

MATCHDAY: Sevilla-United headlines Europa League quarters

Maradona's medical team on trial in former great's death

Dumars: Decision to suspend Draymond Green was "difficult"

Swiatek dominates at BNP Paribas Open; Murray advances

Curry, Warriors rally past NBA-best Bucks 125-116 in OT