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In the world of football, Everton has appealed the Premier League’s decision to deduct 10 points from their ongoing campaign in the English club competition for breaching the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Vaishali Rameshbabu became India's 84th Grandmaster as well as the only third Indian woman to do so. Not only this, but she and her younger brother R. Praggnanandhaa also became India's first sibling grandmasters duo. The junior Indian women's hockey team had an unexpected outing when they were defeated by Germany in the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023.
Read below to learn details about these top stories and other happenings in the sporting world in the last 24 hours.
Football
Everton appeals decision of docking 10 points in Premier League for breaching FFP rules
Everton have lodged an appeal with the judicial panel of the Premier League, which will be heard by an appeal board, following a 10-point deduction in the English club competition for breaching the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. The statement from the Toffees regarding the matter read, “Everton Football Club has today lodged with the chair of the Premier League's judicial panel its appeal of the decision by a Premier League commission to impose a 10-point deduction on the club.”
Ruben Neves confirms he won’t go to Newcastle on loan deal in January 2024
Ruben Neves, the former captain of Wolves, who had joined the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in the summer for £47 million, stated that he won’t be going to Newcastle on a loan deal in January. The 26-year-old, who helped Al-Hilal defeat their arch-rivals Al-Nassr by 3-0, was quoted as saying, “I think that's rumours because of the owner of the clubs of course, and because I've played in England as well. There was Newcastle interest before I came here but I'm really happy here, my family's really happy, so I'm having a great time.”
Brentford manager expects Ivan Toney to remain at the club after January transfer window
Brentford manager Thomas Frank stated that he expects the English striker Ivan Toney, who is set to return to football after serving an eight-month ban, to remain at the club after the January transfer window. The 50-year-old was quoted as saying to The Standard, “Everyone saw what he (Ivan Toney) did last year. It’s not like he broke a leg or did his ACL, so he’s fit and probably even more ambitious to get success. I’m convinced he will be absolutely on it. I don’t want to lose him. I hope, and think, he’ll be a Brentford player on February 1.”
Juventus to bring-in Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips on loan deal in January: Reports
The Italian giants Juventus are reportedly planning a loan deal for Manchester City’s midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has played only 216 minutes worth of football in his eight appearances for the club this season, falling out-of-favour with the manager Pep Guardiola, who has preferred Rico Lewis ahead of him. As per the report from the Daily Mail, Juventus could be the place for the 27-year-old to kick-start the next stage of his footballing career, if he decides to leave Manchester City during the January transfer window.
Some major results in football are as under:
FA Cup 2023-24
Notts County 2-3 Shrewsbury Town
York City 0-1 Wigan Athletic
La Liga 2023-24
Las Palmas 2-0 Getafe
Bundesliga 2023-24
Darmstadt 0-1 FC Koln
Serie A 2023-24
Monza 1-2 Juventus
Ligue 1 2023-24
Reims 2-1 Strasbourg
Eredivisie 2023-24
SC Heerenveen 3-0 Almere City FC
Saudi Pro League 2023-24
Al-Hilal 3-0 Al-Nassr
FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup
Argentina 0-3 Mali
Chess
Vaishali Rameshbabu-R. Praggnanandhaa becomes India’s first sibling grandmasters pair
Vaishali Rameshbabu became India’s 84th Grandmaster, and with this, she, along with her younger brother R. Praggnanandhaa became India’s first sibling duo to be Grandmasters. Not only this but by achieving the feat, Rameshbabu became India’s third female Grandmaster from India, after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. On Saturday, she achieved the feat after crossing the hallowed 2500 Elo rating during the 2023 IV El Llobregat Open in Barcelona, Spain.
Hans Niemann accused of ‘cheating’ after historic Tournament of Peace 2023 win
American Grandmaster Hans Niemann has found himself in hot waters after his seamless win at the Tournament of Peace 2023 win. Niemann found himself entangled in unsubstantiated cheating allegations after his massive three-point lead over the 10-man field in Croatia’s Zagreb on Thursday. Grandmaster Susan Polgar shared a quote from the organiser who called Neimann’s performance ‘out of the world’ on her X.
Polgar’s tweet quoted the organiser as telling the newspaper “We have no concrete evidence that he is cheating. We have some indications, but we don’t know if anyone will report him.”
Hockey
India go down 3-4 against Germany in FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023
The Indian junior women’s hockey team was defeated by Germany 3-4 in the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 on Friday, December 1. On the Indian side Annu (11’), Ropni Kumari (14’), and Mumtaz Khan (24’) scored goals, while Germany’s goals came from Sophia Schwabe, Laura Pluth, and Carolin Seidel in the 17th, 21st, and 36th as well as in the 38th minute of the clash. India will take on Belgium in their next clash of the elite tournament on December 2 at 18:30 hours.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal announces return to international tennis after year-long break
Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal announced his return to international tennis in an Instagram post. In the video, Nadal announced his tennis comeback saying that he will make his return in the first week of January 2024. Nadal will participate in the Brisbane International, which will take place from December 31 to January 7. The 22-time Grand Slam winner is ranked 663 in the ATP circuit. In the video he posted on Instagram, Nadal said, “It will be in Brisbane in the first week of January. I’ll see you there.”
Nick Kyrgios opens up on Andy Murray’s support during “dark” times
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios recently revealed how advice against self-harm from Britain's Andy Murray helped him get out of the rough patch in life. Kyrgios recalled how the British tennis player extended support to him during the early phase of his career while he was dealing with bad mental state. Kyrgios said, “He [Murray] saw it [the self-harm] and he said, ‘What’s that on your arm?’ It was pretty bad at that stage. Andy obviously was trying to give me advice on it. But I was just so stuck in my ways at that time that I didn’t listen. Obviously, I’m very thankful. I thank him a lot.”
