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Jakub Jankto: Czech Republic international midfielder comes out as gay

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Jakub Jankto of the Czech Republic says he “no longer wants to hide” as he comes out as gay in public, becoming the first active international player in men’s football.

The 27-year-old midfielder, on loan from Getafe of Spain, announced it on Twitter on Monday. In 45 appearances since making his senior debut for the Czech Republic in 2017, Jankto has four goals to his credit.

Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, I have a family, I have my friends,” he said.

“I have a job that I have been doing as best as I can for years with seriousness, with professionalism and passion.”

He added: “Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love.

“I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”

In the men’s game in the UK last year, Jake Daniels of Blackpool made history by becoming the first professional athlete to come out while still competing in more than 30 years.

Justin Fashanu, who played for clubs in England and Scotland after coming out as gay in October 1990, was the last active men’s professional football player in the UK to do so before Daniels.

Josh Cavallo, an Adelaide United player who came out in October, was the only active out homosexual top-flight male professional footballer in the world prior to Jankto’s public coming out.

Sparta Prague announced in a statement that Jankto had “some time ago” spoken openly about his sexual orientation with the club’s management, coach, and teammates.

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Formula 1: Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto to leave at end of year

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At the end of the year, Mattia Binotto will step down from his role as Ferrari team principal. The 53-year-old resigned from his position, according to a statement released by Ferrari on Tuesday, adding the search for a replacement was “underway”.

Since 1995, Binotto has been a member of the Ferrari team. He recently announced his decision to leave the company with regret. As difficult as it has been for me to make this decision, it is right to move forward.

Binotto rose through the ranks of the organisation, first overseeing the engine division, then serving as the technical director for the entire F1 team, and then becoming the helm. He leaves at the end of a season in which Ferrari achieved their goals of returning to winning races, but which was marked by a series of reliability failures and operational errors.

Binotto said: “I am leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set.

“I depart from a solid and expanding team. I wish a strong team all the best in the future as they work together to accomplish the highest goals.”

Binotto was praised and given good wishes by Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, who also said that because of his efforts, the team was “in a strong position to relaunch our challenge, above all for our amazing fans across the world, to win the ultimate reward in motorsport.”

Binotto’s successor is expected to be Frederic Vasseur, team principal of Alfa Romeo.

In an effort to eliminate the climate of fear that many people say prevents creativity and courageous actions at the team, Binotto strove to build a no-blame culture at Ferrari.

Ferrari was worried, though, because despite this, there didn’t seem to be any progress being made in resolving the team’s fundamental issues.

The goal of a no-blame culture is to foster an atmosphere of accountability and trust where problems may be recognised, comprehended, and resolved without anyone concerned about losing their job. Despite the numerous mistakes, however, not much seemed to change at Ferrari this year.

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Antonio Conte it is ’embarrassing for everybody’ after fan threw banana at Richarlison

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It is “embarrassing for everyone,” according to Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, because Richarlison was targeted by a banana during a friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia.  When the incident happened in Paris on Tuesday, the Spurs forward was celebrating a goal.

Conte demanded that the offending spectator receive a lifetime ban from football. Conte remarked, “What happened when Richy played for the national team and scored a goal is extraordinary. Being present for a situation like this in 2022 is embarrassing for everyone. The event is under investigation, and Fifa has stated that it has a “clear, zero-tolerance attitude” against racism.

Conte continued, “I hope this guy can receive a lifetime ban from playing football, but it is a circumstance that is very disappointing to make a comment about this.”

“As long as it’s ‘blah blah blah’ and they don’t punish, it will continue like this,” Richarlison tweeted after the game. “[Racism] occurs everywhere and every day. No time, buddy.

Before the game began, Brazil posed with an anti-racism flag and lined up with the words: “Without our black players, we wouldn’t have stars on our shirts.”

In a statement, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said it “reinforced its position to combat racism” and “repudiates any display of prejudice”.

Tottenham also condemned the the abuse and offered Richarlison support: “This has no place in football, or anywhere. We stand with you, Richy.”

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“24 Years Feels Like 24 Hours”: Roger Federer Announces Retirement

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The only male tennis player to win 20 grand slam titles, Roger Federer, has declared his intention to stop competing after the Laver Cup in 2022. Federer posted a message on his Twitter account announcing his choice. When he won the Wimbledon championship in 2003, Federer captured his maiden grand slam. Since then, he has won six Australian Opens, one French Open, eight Wimbledons, and five US Opens. He’s been dealing with a knee problem for a very long time.

He announced it on his Twitter account: “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event.”The 20-time Grand Slam champion, 41, has been out since losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2021 before requiring more knee surgery. Serena Williams’ retirement and Federer’s announcement are related events. Serena retired having won the second-most grand slam titles in women’s tennis (23). In terms of the total number of grand slam titles won, Federer sits third, behind his top competitors Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

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Ivan Kuliak: Russian gymnast given one-year ban for wearing pro-war symbol on podium next to Ukrainian

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Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast, was given a one-year suspension for wearing a national war symbol on the podium at a competition in Qatar in March.

Kuliak took bronze in the Apparatus World Cup parallel bars final in Doha, wearing a letter ‘Z’ taped to his chest as he stood next to Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who won gold. Kuliak must now return his medal, but he has 21 days to file an appeal.

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the letter Z became symbolic. It was painted on the sides of tanks and military vehicles, and it was worn by pro-war Russian politicians.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) investigated the incident, and Kuliak was sanctioned by the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) disciplinary commission for violating FIG rules.

For the next 12 months, the 20-year-old is not permitted to compete in any FIG-sanctioned event or competition hosted by an affiliated FIG member federation. “If the protective measures preventing Russian athletes from competing are still in place on 17 May 2023, the ban shall continue and expire six months after said measures are removed,” the statement added.

Kuliak must also repay his prize money of 500 Swiss francs (£403) as well as a 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,612) contribution to the proceedings’ costs. Valentina Rodionenko, the head of the Russian delegation, and coach Igor Kalabushkin were found not to have broken any FIG rules.

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Golden Games: Elaine Thompson-Herah clocks fastest women’s 100m in the world this year

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Elaine Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic champion, ran the fastest women’s 100m in the world this year at the Golden Games in California.  Thompson-Herah of Jamaica won her semi-final in 10.89 seconds in her first outdoor 100m race of the season.

She then declined to compete in the final, which was won by Twanisha Terry of the United States in a wind-assisted 10.77 seconds. Gabby Thomas, who finished third in the 100m, ran the fastest 200m time of the season, which is her preferred distance.

Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist in the event, won in 22.02 seconds, while American Fred Kerley won in 19.80 seconds in the men’s equivalent.

Christian Coleman, the world 100m champion, was announced at the start of the 200m but did not run because he was serving an 18-month suspension for missing three drug tests.

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Novak Djokovic Expresses Gratitude to His Supporters

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Tennis star Novak Djokovic has expressed gratitude to supporters “all around the world” as he awaits a judgement on his expulsion from Australia. 

Djokovic arrived in Australia this week to compete in the Australian Open, after being granted a contentious exemption from Australia’s immunisation restrictions. However, upon landing, he was abruptly denied entry. Djokovic is presently being held in immigration custody in Melbourne, with a court hearing scheduled on Monday.

In his message, the men’s world number one tennis player thanked fans “all over the world for your unwavering support.” “I can feel it, and it is sincerely appreciated,” he added in an Instagram statement. Djokovic, who has stated his opposition to vaccination, was granted a medical exemption to play in the event for unclear reasons, infuriating many Australians.

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Ronald Koeman: Barcelona Fires Their Head Coach

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After 14 months in command at the Nou Camp, Ronald Koeman has been fired as Barcelona’s head coach. Barca has only 15 points from ten games in La Liga and has already lost twice in the Champions League group stage this season.

After losing against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, they are ninth in the table, six points behind the joint leaders. Barca had lost three of their last four games, including a Clasico loss to Real Madrid on Sunday. Last season, the 58-year-old former Netherlands, Everton, and Southampton manager could only lead the five-time European winners to third place in the league.

The club’s enormous financial issues, which culminated in Lionel Messi’s leave and subsequent move to Paris St-Germain in August, haven’t helped the Dutchman.

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Tokyo Olympics: Coaches from Belarus being Investigated

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Two Belarusian coaches are being investigated for allegedly attempting to coerce an athlete to return home from the Tokyo Olympics.

After criticising her trainers, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya claims she was transported to the airport in Tokyo against her will. After expressing concerns about her safety, the athlete was given police protection and later granted refuge by Poland. The International Olympic Committee and the World Athletics Federation have launched a “formal procedure” into the matter.

The inquiry against the two coaches, who had their Olympic accreditations revoked and were withdrawn from the Games, will be conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

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Euro 2020: England beats Croatia in group D Opener

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On Sunday as England registered a 1-0 victory over Croatia, Raheem Sterling scored his first tournament goal in the opening game at the Euro 2020. The Manchester City forward got on the end of a through ball from Kalvin Phillips and slipped it into the net in the 57th minute.

England have opened the continental tournament with a win in 10 attempts for the first time. England now lead the Group D points table and will square off against Scotland on Friday. Austria defeated debutants North Macedonia 3-1, in the Group C opener, at the Euro 2020. Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautović came off the bench to score a goal each and help Austria win the game. It was Austria’s first win at a major soccer tournament in 31 years and its first-ever at the European Championship.

Austria now lead the Group C points table while the Dutch side is placed second. Both teams have 3 points each in their kitty.

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