French Open doubles player Miyu Kato of Japan disqualified for accidentally hitting a ball girl
June 4, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — French Open doubles player Miyu Kato and her partner were forced to forfeit a match when Kato accidentally hit a ball girl in the neck with a ball after a point on Sunday.
Spectator dies from fall during River Plate match
June 3, 2023 GMTBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A spectator died from a fall at Estadio Monumental during an Argentine Primera Division match between River Plate and Defensa y Justicia on Saturday.
River Plate said in a statement that “a supporter jumped into the void” from one of the upper sections and “died immediately” during the first half of the game.
Champions League final referee keeps job after apologizing for ties to far-right leader
June 2, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Polish soccer referee Szymon Marciniak apologized Friday for speaking at a business event tied to a far-right politician and was confirmed by UEFA to officiate next week's Champions League final.
DENVER (AP) — Eric Lewis was not selected as one of the 12 referees who will work the NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, while the league continues to look into whether he used a Twitter account to defend himself and other officials from online critiques.
NEW YORK (AP) — Warming up to start the fifth inning, Max Scherzer was stopped by umpire Tripp Gibson from throwing his eighth and usually last warmup pitch. The 2-minute, 15-second clock between innings had run down.
PARIS (AP) — Swedish tennis player Mikael Ymer was docked a total of 37,370 euros (about $40,000) after being disqualified for smashing his racket against the umpire’s chair at a tournament the week before he competed at the French Open.
Player disqualified at smaller event for smashing racket on ump’s chair loses at French Open
May 28, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Four days after getting disqualified from a smaller tournament for smashing his racket against the umpire’s chair during a match, Swedish tennis player Mikael Ymer was back in competition at the French Open on Sunday, bowing out in the first round.
Yankees’ Aaron Boone returns from 1-game suspension, hopes to avoid crossing line with umps
May 27, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone returned from a one-game suspension Saturday following his third ejection in the last two weeks and said he will not stop fighting for his team but acknowledged he may need to be more mindful of not crossing a line with umpires.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ejected for the fourth time this season and second time in a four-game span, Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn't think there was a need for robot umpires.
“I don't want that,” Boone said after Thursday night's 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
‘I’ll gut you right here’: Man charged with threatening Little League umpire with knife
May 25, 2023 GMTLOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia man has been charged with threatening a Little League baseball umpire with a knife and telling him, “I'll gut you right here.”
Franklin Darby was charged with brandishing a deadly weapon and assault on an athletic official following Monday's altercation in Logan County, according to a criminal complaint.
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — After refereeing the World Cup final in December, Szymon Marciniak of Poland was picked Monday to officiate the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Female rugby ref Joy Neville to officiate at men’s World Cup
May 10, 2023 GMTDUBLIN (AP) — A female referee has been included in the list of match officials for a men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time.
Joy Neville of Ireland was among a group of 26 match officials representing nine nations announced by World Rugby on Wednesday.
Robo umps reach Triple-A, but MLB rollout still uncertain
May 9, 2023 GMTWORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Trailing Nashville with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, St. Paul Saints first baseman Alex Kirilloff watched the 3-2 pitch go by for strike three. He thought it might have missed the high and inside corner.
Soccer referees to wear body cameras after Sydney violence
May 5, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Body cameras will be worn by referees in an amateur Sydney soccer league a week after one of their colleagues had his jaw broken by a suspended player.
The 45-year-old referee, Khodr Yaghi, needed reconstructive surgery and spent four nights in a hospital after being struck by a man who went onto the field at the end of a match in the city's west last week.
Klopp charged by FA for ‘improper’ criticism of referee
May 2, 2023 GMTLIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Jurgen Klopp was charged by the English Football Association with “improper conduct” on Tuesday for his post-match comments about the refereeing in Liverpool's dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham.
Ref’s error casts pall on Bundesliga race; no help from VAR
May 1, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A refereeing error has become the focus of attention in the Bundesliga after it helped Bayern Munich regain the lead from Borussia Dortmund with four rounds of the league remaining.
Liverpool’s Klopp risks ban over feud with match referee
May 1, 2023 GMTLiverpool coach Jürgen Klopp risks getting a touchline ban for the team's upcoming key games over a feud with a referee who was strongly defended Monday by the Premier League's match officials group.
Angels manager Nevin ejected twice from same game
April 20, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin had never been ejected twice from the same game. Until Wednesday.
“That's a first,” he said before Thursday's series finale against the New York Yankees.
Mets’ Scherzer ejected for sticky stuff after umpire check
April 20, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Scherzer swore on his children’s lives he put nothing but sweat and rosin on his hands at Dodger Stadium. The umpires still ejected him Wednesday, telling the Mets ace his hand was too sticky to possibly be legal.
Barcelona says probe found no evidence of corruption by club
April 17, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — The investigation ordered by Barcelona into its controversial payments for refereeing reports found no evidence of corruption by the club, president Joan Laporta said Monday.
Laporta reiterated that the club’s payments over several years to the company owned by the vice president of Spain’s refereeing committee were only for technical reports and not to influence referees.
Police investigate threats to ref after Celtic-Rangers game
April 11, 2023 GMTMANCHESTER, England (AP) — Police in Scotland are investigating “threatening” messages sent to referee Kevin Clancy as another British soccer official is thrust into the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Clark tech, foul count put focus on officials in title game
April 3, 2023 GMTDALLAS (AP) — Iowa star Caitlin Clark was whistled for a technical foul late in the third quarter with her team trailing LSU by nine points in the NCAA championship game.
The bigger problem for the Hawkeyes was the call meant a fourth personal foul for the junior scoring sensation, moments after front court leader Monika Czinano had picked up her fourth.
Tennis umpire handed lifetime ban for manipulating scoring
March 30, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — A tennis umpire from the Dominican Republic was handed a lifetime ban from the sport on Thursday for manipulating the scoring of matches in 2019.
Fabián Carrero was found to have committed 16 breaches of tennis’ anti-corruption program across eight matches in tournaments held in the Dominican Republic in November and December 2019.
Cricket ump Aleem Dar retires after record 435 men’s games
March 16, 2023 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Cricket umpire Aleem Dar of Pakistan has retired after officiating in a record 435 men’s international matches.
Dar was replaced by countryman Ahsan Raza, who joined newcomer Adrian Holdstock of South Africa on an expanded 12-man panel of elite International Cricket Council umpires on Thursday.
Prosecutors accuse Barcelona of corruption in ref payments
March 10, 2023 GMTBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Prosecutors have formally accused Barcelona of corruption because of its payments of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to the vice president of Spain's football refereeing committee.
Raptors’ VanVleet heavily criticizes officiating after loss
March 10, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Fred VanVleet tried to take a double breath before addressing reporters. But the Toronto Raptors guard was unable to suppress his frustration with referee Ben Taylor and his crew.
Sharks coach David Quinn fined $25,000 for berating referee
March 9, 2023 GMTSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn was fined $25,000 for his profanity laced tirade against a referee that led to a game misconduct.
The NHL announced the penalty on Wednesday for “conduct demeaning the officials” by Quinn during last Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Report: Barcelona to be accused of corruption for payments
March 7, 2023 GMTBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Prosecutors will accuse Spanish soccer club Barcelona of corruption because of its payments to the vice president of the refereeing committee, the daily newspaper El Pais reported Tuesday.
Cadiz wants to halt Spanish league after refereeing mistake
March 1, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Cadiz on Wednesday asked a sports tribunal to temporarily suspend the Spanish league because of a refereeing mistake against the club.
Cadiz wants to halt the competition until a decision is made to its challenge of a 1-1 draw against Elche in January, when the Video Assistant Referee failed to spot that an Elche player was clearly in an offside position in the buildup to Elche’s 81st-minute equalizer.
Ex-umpire Jake Garner promoted to US Open tournament referee
March 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Former chair umpire Jake Garner will be the new tournament referee for the U.S. Open as of this year’s tournament, responsible for making the draws, preparing the daily match schedule and overseeing all officiating.
Nagelsmann fined for outburst against ref, avoids suspension
February 22, 2023 GMTFRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann was fined 50,000 euros ($53,200) on Wednesday but avoided suspension for his outburst against match officials after the Bundesliga leader's 3-2 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
John Paramor, longtime European tour referee, dies at 67
February 17, 2023 GMTVIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — John Paramor, the mustachioed European tour rules official whose career spanned six decades, has died after a bout with cancer. He was 67.
The European tour confirmed the death of Paramor, who retired in 2020 as chief referee.
Barcelona’s rep jeopardized by payments to former referee
February 17, 2023 GMTBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona, the team that once awed the soccer world with its beautiful style on the field and its social commitment to being “more than a club,” is in danger of tarnishing its reputation with a scandal of its own making.
League: Sanctions over reports not possible for Barcelona
February 16, 2023 GMTBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona is not facing sanctions for having made payments for technical reports on referees to a company that belonged to the vice president of the refereeing committee, the Spanish league said Thursday.
Barcelona downplays payments for refereeing reports
February 15, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Barcelona denied a possible conflict of interest on Wednesday for having made payments for technical reports on referees to a company that belonged to the vice president of the refereeing committee in Spain.
Fox’s Pereira knows pressure Super Bowl officials are facing
February 6, 2023 GMTMike Pereira knows the pressure Carl Cheffers and his officiating crew will be under during Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
That’s because he either hired or promoted most of them.
Mark Geiger replaces Howard Webb as head of MLS referees
February 3, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Mark Geiger will take over from Howard Webb as the head of referees in Major League Soccer.
The 48-year-old Geiger, who retired as a referee after the 2018 season, was promoted Friday to general manager of the Professional Referee Organization that supplies MLS match officials.
1st round of Dubai Desert Classic to be closed to public
January 25, 2023 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Spectators will not be allowed to attend the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday because of what organizers have described as “severe weather conditions” forecast at Emirates Golf Club.
German referee wins compensation for age discrimination
January 25, 2023 GMTFRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A leading soccer referee in Germany was awarded 48,500 euros ($52,800) in compensation on Wednesday after a court found he was discriminated against when he was no longer considered for games because of his age.
Spain referees ask for help after VAR mistake in league game
January 17, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spanish referees are calling for VAR to be boosted by semi-automated offside technology after a video-review mistake in a league match between Cádiz and Elche.
The referee's technical committee made a request to the Spanish league in a statement released on Tuesday by the Spanish soccer federation.
Bloodied Sidibe briefly wears Rutgers coach’s ceremonial uni
January 3, 2023 GMTPISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Awa Sidibe briefly wore the ceremonial No. 1 jersey given to coach Coquese Washington when she was hired in May after the Rutgers guard got blood on her uniform during the Scarlet Knights' 78-67 loss to No.
Rosburg, Broncos try to move on from officiating in KC
January 2, 2023 GMTENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Jerry Rosburg doesn't want to get fined during his two-game stint as the Broncos' interim coach.
So he declined to criticize the officials for not flagging Chris Jones after he hit Russell Wilson in the head and then body-slammed him on a game-sealing fourth-down sack Sunday.
Hall of Fame NFL official Art McNally dies at age 97
January 2, 2023 GMTArt McNally, the first on-field official inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has died. He was 97.
His son, Tom McNally, said Monday that his father died of natural causes at a hospital in Newtown, Pennsylvania, near his longtime home.