World Sports News in Brief

Simeone renews Atletico contract until 2022

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has renewed his contract until 2022, the club said on Thursday in a video posted on social media, meaning the Argentine is set to complete a decade in charge of the La Liga side.

Simeone and his family celebrate after winning the Europa League at Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - May 16, 2018. (Reuters)
Simeone and his family celebrate after winning the Europa League at Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - May 16, 2018. (Reuters)

* Chile joined three neighbouring South American countries in a bid to host the 2030 soccer World Cup, according to a joint statement from their governments released on Thursday. The bid, which previously included only Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, is up against bids from England, and another bid from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

* Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale could be sanctioned for his goal celebration in last week's 3-1 win in the league at local rivals Atletico Madrid after La Liga's organising body said on Thursday he had provoked the home supporters.

* Sepp Blatter has been summoned to explain how Germany was awarded the 2006 World Cup as prosecutors in Switzerland investigate suspected corruption in the bidding process, the disgraced former FIFA supremo said on Thursday (Feb 14).

* AS Monaco have sacked vice-president Vadim Vasilyev after "important mistakes" saw the club drop to the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, president Dmitri Rybolovlev said on Thursday.

* Italian Serie B club Palermo said it had been sold again on Thursday, the second time in three months that it has changed hands.

* The French football league (LFP) said on Thursday it will join a lawsuit against the authors of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic graffiti targeting Paris St Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.

* Slovakian Petra Vlhova claimed victory in the women's giant slalom at the Alpine skiing world championships as American favourite Mikaela Shiffrin settled for bronze on Thursday.

* According to a report published by FIFA on Thursday, spending by Italian clubs in the January transfer window soared by 459% compared to the same period last year. Accordingly, Italian clubs spent US$144.6 million on international transfer fees compared to only US$25.9 million (20.2 million pounds) in 2018, with only US$39.3 million being collected in receipts.

* John Isner made quick work of Australia's Bernard Tomic to advance to the quarter-finals of the New York Open on Wednesday with a 7-6(7) 6-4 victory. In the quarter-finals, the American will face Australian seventh seed Jordan Thompson, who defeated Christopher Eubanks 4-6 6-1 6-4 earlier on Wednesday.

* Spain's Jaume Munar battled back from a set down to defeat second-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini 4-6 6-4 7-5 in the Argentina Open on Wednesday and advance to the quarter-finals against local hope Guido Pella.

* World number three Simona Halep and three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber came through tough tests on Thursday (Feb 14) to reach the Qatar Open semi-finals, where they will meet Elina Svitolina (Czech Republic) and Elise Mertens (Belgium), respectively.

* Japan's Kei Nishikori carved out a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win over Latvian Ernests Gulbis on Thursday (Feb 14) to power into the Rotterdam Open quarter-finals. Nishikori will on Friday meet Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, for a place in the semi-finals.

Reuters, CNA