AP Sports

Wander Franco’s sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.

Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false.

Saudi rights activist says 2034 World Cup visitors will live in ‘a bubble’ and not see real life

LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn’t reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but “will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.”

Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU.

Chelsea teenager Marc Guiu scores twice in 3-1 win over Astana in Conference League

A youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the UEFA Conference League. Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu struck twice within five minutes early in the first half in freezing conditions in the Kazakh capital. Renato Veiga, who is 21, headed home the third off a corner. Chelsea has 15 points atop the standings of the third-tier competition with one more game to play in the league phase. More games including those in the second-tier Europa League were scheduled later Thursday. Among them unbeaten Manchester United is at Viktoria Plzen while Rangers host Tottenham.

North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference

North Carolina’s trustees have approved terms of the deal to hire Bill Belichick as the Tar Heels’ new football coach. The board met Thursday morning to sign off on the agreement, announced Wednesday night by the school as a five-year deal. Specific terms of that deal have yet to be released. The school is set to hold its introductory news conference for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Thursday afternoon. Belichick has never coached in college football.

Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach

Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach. Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring of Rodriguez. It comes 17 years after Rodriguez made a hasty exit from his alma mater for what became a disastrous three-year experiment at Michigan. Rodriguez replaces Neal Brown, who was fired Dec. 1. Rodriguez went 60-26 at West Virginia from 2001 to 2007. He led the Mountaineers to three straight 10-win seasons and four Big East titles in five years, including a win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl following the 2005 season. Rodriguez has spent the past three seasons as coach at Jacksonville State.

Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto will be introduced by the New York Mets at Citi Field, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Soto chose the Mets’ offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. The 26-year-old’s contract value eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034.

Steve Kerr deems foul call that led to Warriors’ loss to Rockets in NBA Cup ‘unconscionable’

HOUSTON (AP) — Golden State coach Steve Kerr said a foul call against his team that led to a loss to Houston on Wednesday night in the NBA Cup was “unconscionable” and that an elementary school referee wouldn’t have made it. After Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with Golden State up a point with 11 seconds to go, Gary Payton II grabbed the offensive rebound, but turned it over with a pass that Jalen Green intercepted. Jonathan Kuminga was then called for a foul against Green while they were on the floor, giving Green a pair of free throws that lifted Houston to the 91-90 victory and a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals. Said Kerr: “That is unconscionable. I mean, I don’t even understand what just happened.”

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow laments loss of privacy following home break-in

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow kept his comments short Wednesday when addressing the media about having his home broken into two nights earlier while he and the Bengals were on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. “I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one,” Burrow said. The NFL and NBA issued security alerts to their players late last month after several homes were broken into while athletes were away for games.