SHORT CORNER
Mbappe slapped with three-match ban
--AFP
French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe was banned for three matches Friday following his sending-off for a reckless tackle during Paris Saint-Germain’s French Cup final debacle against Rennes.
The French football Federation (FFF) said they had also opened disciplinary proceedings against Mbappe’s teammate Neymar for striking a Rennes fan following the shock defeat on penalties after extra time.
Mbappe, PSG’s gifted 20-year-old striker, lunged with his studs into the knee of Rennes defender Damien Da Silva near the close of extra time on Sunday.
Having already missed one game, Mbappe will miss Saturday’s match against Nice and the trip to Angers the following week but will be available for the last two games of the season.
The threat of further sanctions hangs over Neymar, banned for three Champions League games after insulting the referee following PSG’s exit from the last 16 at the hands of Manchester United.
Rain ends day’s play
--Sports Reporter
All three of yesterday’s Premier Division Women’s Cricket League fixtures were abandoned due to inclement weather at each of the three different venues.
At BKSP-2 in Savar, Rupali Bank Krira Parishad won the toss and scored 63 without loss in 10 overs before rain stopped play.
At BKSP-3, Sharmin Sultana’s 56 off 62 balls and Shamima Sultana’s 45 of 56 balls helped Abahani Limited post 154 for four in 32 overs. Coming in to chase, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan managed 78 for one in eight overs but then rain intervened.
The other game between BD Ansar & VDP and Khelaghar Shamaj Kalyan Shamity was also called off due to rain after Khelaghar scored 36 without loss in eight overs in response to BD Ansar’s 108 for seven -- courtesy of Shahnaj Parveen’s 42 off 81 and an unbeaten 21 off 26 balls from Tithi Rani Sarkar at the death -- in 36 overs.
Solsjkaer to stick with struggling De Gea
--AFP
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer has insisted that David De Gea will retain his place for Sunday’s trip to Huddersfield despite the goalkeeper’s recent errors.
Solskjaer said Friday that the Spain international has been “fantastic” for United this season, even though he has not kept a clean sheet for 13 matches.
Sergio Romero, De Gea’s deputy, is not available for the Huddersfield match after suffering a knee injury in training on Thursday.
“He will play,” Solskjaer said of De Gea. “Sergio was injured yesterday (Thursday) and didn’t train. David’s been training well this week and he will play.”
Solskjaer, a former United striker, gave De Gea a vote of confidence by adding: “Of course I trust him. He has been fantastic this season.”
Keita out for season
--AFP
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will miss the rest of the season with an adductor injury that is set to sideline the Guinea international for two months, manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday.
Keita limped off midway through the first half of Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou during Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg.
“Bad news, a high-grade adductor injury with the tendon rupture so it keeps him out for at least two months,” said Klopp of Keita, who will now miss Saturday’s trip to Newcastle, as well as home games against Barcelona and Wolves -- Liverpool’s last match of the Premier League season.
“Bad news for us and for Guinea with the Africa Cup of Nations coming up. Not nice,” German boss Klopp added.
Maradona’s Dorados held in first leg of final
--AFP
Diego Maradona’s Dorados played a 1-1 draw Thursday in the first leg of the Mexican second-division finals, setting up a do-or-die last match of the season against rivals Atletico San Luis.
The Argentine great will now have to coach the club to an away victory Sunday to win the league title and force San Luis into a playoff for promotion to the first division.
“We’re groggy, but it wasn’t a knockout,” Maradona said after the match, in which Dorados led most of the way before the late equalizer.