No fans
ASUNCION - The South American football federation says Brazilian club Corinthians will play without its fans for the next 60 days because of the death of a 14-year-old boy during its Copa Libertadores match this week. Federation spokesman Nestor Benitez told The Associated Press the sanction is temporary pending the result of the investigation by Bolivian authorities after Kevin Beltran Espada died with head injuries caused by a flare allegedly thrown from the Corinthians fan section. Twelve Corinthians supporters remain detained in the Bolivian city of Oruro, where the match against San Jose was played Wednesday. Corinthians, the defending champions, are expected to appeal.
Dubai final
DUBAI - Petra Kvitova will bid for the trophy at the WTA's Dubai Open today after dispatching former number one Carolina Wozniacki 6-3 6-4 to set up a title match with Sara Errani. The Italian, last year's Roland Garros finalist and ranked seventh to Kvitova's eighth, won her fifth straight match over friend and Grand Slam-winning doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-3 yesterday. Kvitova defeated Wozniacki, a former number one and 2011 Dubai champion, in less than 90 minutes with a break in the final game as Wozniacki, out of electronic linecalling challenges, hit an overhead backhand apparently wide. Without the chance to see the replay, she conceded the match.
Investigation
GENEVA, Switzerland - FIFA is investigating Zambian officials over allegations they allowed eight players banned for match-fixing in a notorious case in Finland to return to football without permission. FIFA said yesterday it opened a disciplinary case and invited the Football Association of Zambia to provide an explanation "together with any documentary evidence it might deem appropriate." "The players were all suspended by the Finland Football Association for match-fixing offences and these sanctions were extended as to have worldwide effect by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee," football's world governing body said in a statement.
Windies victory
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada - The West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 156 runs yesteday to win the opening one-day international (ODI) at the National Cricket Stadium. Johnson Charles (130), Darren Bravo (100 not out) and Kieran Powell (79) steered the West Indies to a daunting 4-337 in the first of three ODIs. Zimbabwe then struggled to 9-181 off their 50 overs with Malcolm Waller top-scoring with 51. Sunil Narine was the pick of the Windies' bowlers with 3-28, supported by Andre Russell (2-24) and Dwayne Bravo (2-30).
Sociedad wins
BILBAO, Spain - Real Sociedad fought back to claim a long-coveted 3-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao yesterday in the 66th and final Basque Country derby to be played at San Mames stadium. Bilbao bossed the opening stages of the match and went ahead through Ibai Gomez's vicious volley at the half-hour mark. But Antoine Griezmann headed Sociedad level four minutes later, and striker Imanol Agirretxe then gave the visitors the lead in the 66th minute thanks to an error by goalkeeper Raul Fernandez. Substitute Carlos Vela added another goal 10 minutes later.