MADRID, June 10 — LaLiga clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona along with Serie A’s Juventus will visit the United States in July to play a pre-season tournament, the clubs said today.

The teams will participate in the inaugural ‘Football Champions Tour’, with Mexican teams Club America and Deportivo Guadalajara also taking part.

The five-team event will be held from July 22-30 across Las Vegas, San Francisco, Dallas and Los Angeles.

The tour marks the first time since 2019 that Real and Barcelona have returned to play in the United States, while Juventus last played there in 2018.

Real were crowned LaLiga champions in the 2021-22 season as Barcelona finished second, while Italian club Juventus came fourth in Serie A. — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah today congratulated national tower runner, Soh Wai Ching, who reaffirmed his status as world number one.

“May you continue to achieve success and excellence,” Their Majesties said in a posting on Istana Negara’s official Facebook page.

The 27-year-old Soh reaffirmed his status as world number one after topping the ‘Tunnel to Towers Climb NYC’ competition in New York, on Saturday.

He also set a new record by scaling 2,226 steps and 104 floors of the One World Trade Centre building in 12 minutes and 46 seconds. — Bernama

LONDON, June 10 — The Premier League said it will continue to cap away ticket prices at £30 (RM165) for the next three seasons following unanimous agreement by all 20 clubs.

The cap was first agreed in 2016 before being extended for three seasons in 2019 and will next be reviewed in 2025. An away ticket price cap was also included in the Premier League rules.

In April, British inflation surged to its highest annual rate since 1982.

“All clubs recognise the crucial importance of supporters in generating the best possible atmosphere at matches and acknowledge the additional travel costs often involved when following a team away from home,” the league said in a statement on Thursday.

The clubs also agreed on a plan to improve the league’s “collective offer for fans,” which will include the introduction of ‘Fan Advisory Boards’ and the development of a ‘Fan Engagement Standard’. — Reuters

LONDON, June 9 — English football’s Premier League has suspended its six-year deal with Russian broadcaster Match TV, Britain’s Press Association news agency reported today.

The league’s deal with Russian media group Rambler was suspended in March, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a new contract with Match TV had been set to cover the next six seasons.

But with no resolution to the conflict in Ukraine in sight, the Press Association said the Premier League had decided at its annual general meeting to suspend the new television contract.

No timeframe, however, has been placed on when the suspension will be lifted. — AFP

VALENCIA, June 9 — Valencia have appointed former Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso as their new boss on a two-year deal following the exit of Jose Bordalas, the La Liga club announced today.

Gattuso, a former AC Milan and Italy midfielder, managed Serie A club Napoli from 2019-21 and led them to a Coppa Italia title.

The 44-year-old was named Fiorentina manager last summer but he left before his official start date, with no reason given for his exit.

Valencia finished ninth in La Liga in the 2021-22 season, failing to qualify for any European competition for a third straight season.

The club were in turmoil last month following leaked audio recordings of their president Anil Murthy making offensive comments. The Spanish club initially defended his actions, but he was eventually sacked. — Reuters

PARIS, June 5 —Rafael Nadal won a 14th French Open and record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title today with a straight-sets rout of Casper Ruud to become the oldest male champion at Roland Garros.

In a disappointing final, 36-year-old Nadal won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 with victory coming 17 years to the day since he claimed his first French Open as a 19-year-old in 2005.

Nadal is now two Slams ahead of old rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. — AFP

PARIS, June 5 —Spain's Rafael Nadal, bidding for a record-extending 14th French Open crown, took the first set 6-3 against Norway's Casper Ruud in the final today.

Nadal, looking to increase his record Grand Slam title haul to 22, and world number eight Ruud exchanged early breaks.

But the Spaniard broke again to charge 4-1 ahead and he served out for the set. — Reuters

BARCELONA, June 5 — World championship leader Fabio Quartararo extended his lead in the standings with a dominant victory at the Catalunya Grand Prix today as home favourite Aleix Espargaro threw away a podium position with an embarrassing mistake.

Yamaha's Quartararo, who started third on the grid behind pole-sitter Espargaro of Aprilia and Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia, stormed into the lead after the lights went out, overtaking both riders by turn one.

Frenchman Quartararo had struggled for grip on his Yamaha during practice but once he took the lead, he made no mistakes as he pulled away and quickly built a big advantage, forcing Espargaro to focus on the battle for second with Jorge Martin.

Espargaro looked set to finish runner-up but a premature celebration on the penultimate lap -- having thought the race was over -- dropped him down to fifth as Pramac Racing's Martin came second and his team mate Johann Zarco third. — Reuters