FIFA bans Chelsea from next two transfer windows

London

FIFA have banned Chelsea from the next two transfer windows after the Premier League club was found guilty of breaching rules regarding overseas players under the age of 18. In a statement, FIFA said Chelsea had also been fined $599,460 and had been given 90 days to “regularise the situation”. The club said it would appeal the transfer ban. After a lengthy investigation into how Chelsea register players at academy level, they were found to have breached article 19 of the regulations in the case of 29 minor players. FIFA added the London club had also breached article 18bis in connection with agreements it concluded concerning minors and which allowed it to influence other clubs in transfer matters. Chelsea say they “categorically refute” breaking FIFA rules over the international transfer of players aged 18 or under and will appeal against the ban.

Shillong

Lajong hold Gokulam to 1-1 draw in I-League

Shillong Lajong held Gokulam Kerala FC to a 1-1 drew in their final home fixture of the I-League. Gokulam drew the first blood through a stellar finish from Marcus Joseph in the 43rd minute before Samuel Lalmuanpia restored parity for the hosts in the 65th minute. 

Delray beach

Del Potro beats Opelka 6-4 6-4 in Delray Beach Open

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro cut towering American Reilly Opelka down to size with a 6-4 6-4 victory in the second round of the Delray Beach Open in Florida. Next up for Del Potro in the quarterfinals is unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald, who beat Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5 6-4. American fourth seed Steve Johnson beat Italian Paolo Lorenzi 7-5 7-5 and Radu Albot of Moldova beat Nick Kyrgios 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Mexico City

Shubhankar tied-19th after Round 1

Shubhankar Sharma (in pic) made two birdies over the last four holes to ensure a solid start with a score of a 1-under 70 to be placed tied-19th after the first round of the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. Rory McIlroy (63) and Dustin Johnson (64) pulled themselves well clear of the field at the par-71 Chapultepec Golf Club. Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat produced his best opening round of the year on the PGA Tour, carding a 3-under 68 for a share of the seventh spot. 

Port Elizabeth

Sri Lanka need 137 more to beat SA and win series 2-0

South Africa and Sri Lanka were locked in a tense, low-scoring battle at the end of the second day of the second Test at St George’s Park. Needing 197 runs to achieve an historic series win, Sri Lanka were 60/2 at the close. It was an extraordinary day’s play during which 18 wickets fell and 282 runs were scored, leaving both teams with a chance of victory.

Brief Scores: SA: 222 and 128 (du Plessis 50*; Lakmal 4/39, de Silva 3/36);  SL: 154 and 60/2 in 16 overs (Fernando 19*; Olivier 1/10) agencies