Sports World: John Murtough Steps Down As Manchester United Football Director - As It Happened

Here are the highlights of the news from the sporting world for April 9, 2024. The first ODI between South Africa women and Sri Lanka women at Buffalo Park in East London was abandoned due to rain. In IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Punjab Kings by two runs in Chandigarh. Chennaiyin FC beat NorthEast United 2-1 and FC Goa defeated Jamshedpur FC 3-2 in the ISL 2023-24. Catch the highlights of world sports for today, 9 April 2024, here.

The return to 26-man squads for Euro 2024 moved a step closer on Monday after receiving the backing of the majority of coaches at a pre-tournament workshop, the PA news agency understands.

Teams have been preparing to return to 23-strong selections this summer after being allowed expanded groups to help cope with the knock-on impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Real Madrid have asked for permission to close the Bernabeu Stadium’s new retractable roof for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with holders Manchester City.

It is thought the record 14-time winners of the competition hope playing under the optional covering of their newly-redeveloped arena can enhance the atmosphere and make it more intimidating for the visitors.

(Live Streaming details here)

"FIFA and Relevent have agreed to resolve this matter as it concerns FIFA, pending FIFA's consideration of changes to existing FIFA policies with respect to playing official season games outside of a league's home territory," FIFA said in a statement.

"FIFA has not admitted any liability and continues to deny the legal claims alleged in Relevent's complaint."

"I remember in 2022 when he told me, 'Probably not next year, but after that, you might get a chance to lead, so be ready for it'. So, obviously after that, I was always ready for it," said the opener.

"Even last year, Fleming and I used to discuss captaincy after every game, about how I felt, what changes, bowling changes what I felt we needed to do, this or that. Every game, we had one-on-one conversations so that really helped."

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood is likely to be named assistant coach of the national team across formats.

Mahmood was on Monday named the interim head coach for the home series against New Zealand beginning April 18 as the board is yet to announce finalise long-term deals with foreign coaches Australian Jason Gillespie and South African Gary Kirsten.

While Gillespie has been picked to be head coach for the red-ball format, Kirsten will be head coach for the white-ball formats. (PTI)

"When I saw the wicket, it appeared to be a flat one. But the way it behaved was totally different," said Chakaravarthy in the post-match media interaction.

"We could have assessed the pitch better because it was very slow initially. It was tough to connect the ball, but I felt 160 would have been a par score."

After the series opener at Hagley Oval, the tour will move to the North Island for tests in Wellington from December 6-10 and in Hamilton from December 14-18.

The last time the Test teams met in February and March of last year, they split a two-match series after England was on the verge of a 2-0 victory when skipper Ben Stokes enforced the follow-on.

New Zealand won by one run — only the fourth team in history to win a Test after following on — in the second Test after England won the first by 267 runs. (AP)

Yashasvi Jaiswal would be desperate to let his bat do the talking when an unbeaten Rajasthan Royals take on an under pressure Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in Jaipur on Wednesday.

(Read Full Preview Here)

Rising Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod won both her matches to qualify for women's singles main draw of the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo China on Tuesday. She first defeated Nurani Ratu Azzahra of UAE 21-18, 21-10 and then outclassed Sofiya Zakirova of Uzbekistan 21-4, 21-5 to win both her group B qualifying matches. (PTI)

UEFA insists this week’s Champions League quarter-final ties will go ahead as scheduled amid an Islamic State terror threat. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium will host the first leg of the Gunners’ last-eight tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening, while Manchester City are also in action away to Real Madrid.

A media outlet linked to the terror group has issued a threat concerning all four of this week’s ties, and European football’s governing body UEFA has now issued a statement on the matter. (Stats Perform)

Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday roped in young Sri Lanka leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League, according to PTI reports.

The 22-year-old Vijayakanth, who has played one T20I for Sri Lanka, is a like-for-like replacement for leg-spinner Hasaranga.

The Olympic rings will be displayed on the Eiffel Tower, organizers said in a statement on Tuesday, as the French capital prepares to mark 100 days until the start of the Paris Games, according to AP reports.

A 29-meter (95-foot-) -long and 15-meter (49-foot) -high structure of five Olympic rings, made entirely of recycled French steel, will be displayed on the south side of the 135-year-old historic landmark in central Paris, overlooking the Seine River.

Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a two-game suspension after receiving his first red card in Saudi Arabia for elbowing an opponent as Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals, according to AP reports.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who signed for Al-Nassr in December 2022, was dismissed in the 86th minute for striking Al-Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulaihi. According to media reports in Saudi Arabia, the 39-year-old soccer great may receive further punishment after seeming to mock the referee as he left the field in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Top Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar will compete in back-to-back Diamond League Meetings in Shanghai/Suzhou and Doha on April 27 and May 10 respectively to begin action in a crucial Olympic year, according to PTI reports.

The 25-year-old Sreeshankar last year became only the third Indian to finish in the top three in a Diamond League Meeting in the Paris leg on June 9 with a third-place finish, after Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda.

Already assured of a play-off spot, FC Goa defeated Jamshedpur FC in a 3-2 thriller to move up to the third spot in the Indian Super League points table here on Tuesday, according to PTI reports.

The Gaurs now have 42 points from 21 matches. They are level on points with Mohun Bagan Super Giant but have played one match more than the Kolkata side.

Gujarat Titans' designated finisher David Miller, who hasn't featured in their last two games which ended in defeats, in all likelihood will also miss their next game against Rajasthan Royals, the team's left-arm Australian pacer Spencer Johnson said on Tuesday, according to PTI reports.

The 2022 champions and last year's runners-up GT lost to Punjab Kings by three wickets and Lucknow Super Giants by 33 runs in their last two matches, and Miller's firepower was sorely missed at the back-10.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce, a Kolkata-based body, has come on board for the Bengal Pro T20, the three-year tie-up giving a boost to the regional franchise league, the inaugural edition of which is starting from June 12, according to PTI reports.

The agreement comes a week after the official announcement of the eight-franchise tournament, and this partnership is expected to play a major role in the development of the sport in the region.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters tournament on Tuesday because of a muscle injury to his right forearm, according to AP reports.

The Wimbledon champion had been doing low-key training with strapping to his arm and announced that he was unable to play.

Spanish tennis player Aaron Cortes has been given a 15-year ban for match-fixing and other offences, according to AP reports.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Tuesday that the 29-year-old Cortes admitted 35 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program between 2016 and 2018.

Novak Djokovic made light work of his return to clay and did not face a break point when beating Roman Safiullin 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, according to AP reports.

Serving for the match, Djokovic won on his second match point when Safiullin's return sank into the net. Overall, Djokovic could perhaps have been a little more clinical, since he forced 19 break points and converted just five of them.

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini was fined 5,000 euros ($5,430) on Tuesday but avoided a ban for his actions at the end of a Serie A match at the weekend, according to AP reports.

Mancini — whose goal gave Roma a 1-0 win over Lazio in the capital derby on Saturday — sparked controversy when he was seen waving a huge flag in Lazio colours that also had a giant rat painted on it as he celebrated with his teammates in front of the Giallorossi fans.

Chennaiyin FC sent NorthEast United FC crashing out of the play-offs race with a 2-1 victory while keeping themselves in the reckoning in the Indian Super League in Chennai on Tuesday, according to PTI reports.

With both teams vying for the sixth spot in the standings, NorthEast United took a decisive step forward, thanks to the goal by the in-form Jithin MS.

John Murtough is stepping down from his position as Manchester United's football director ahead of the appointment of a new leadership structure at the English club under its new investors, according to AP reports.

Murtough has worked at United for 11 years in a variety of roles, including in recruitment and the regeneration of the academy.

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Punjab Kings by two runs in their Indian Premier League match in Mullanpur on Tuesday, according to PTI reports.

Chasing 183 for a win, Punjab could only manage 180 for 6 with Shashank Singh top-scoring with 46 not out off 25 balls.

Greek authorities launched a ban on paper tickets for all league soccer matches on Tuesday as part of an effort to crack down on the violence that has plagued the sport for decades, according to AP reports.

Under new rules, fans will only be allowed into stadiums using their cellphones and displaying a government-issued QR code so they can be identified and attendance bans can be enforced.

We will be taking your leave now. That's all from our side. Goodnight!