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sports Diaranson 27 Januari 2021

West Ham into 4th place in EPL with 3-2 win at Palace

(AP) — Tomas Soucek again to equalize in the ninth a right-wing corner from Jar-
scored twice to lead West minute after Michail Antonio rod Bowen in the 65th, as
Ham to a 3-2 win at Crys- lobbed a cross into the center Palace showed its aerial sus-
tal Palace and fourth place of the area. That canceled out ceptibility once again.
in the Premier League on Wilfried Zaha's third-minute
Tuesday. opener for Palace. Michy Batshuayi grabbed a
consolation for Palace in the
The Czech Republic interna- Soucek then gave West Ham seventh minute of stoppage
tional is proving a solid source the lead in the 25th following time.
of goals for West Ham, hav- a free kick to the back post
ing scored seven times in his by Aaron Cresswell, with West Ham moved above
last 13 league matches despite the goal needing the say-so Everton, Tottenham and Liv-
playing as a defensive central of VAR because of a possible erpool, and onto 35 points
midfielder. touch by Antonio, who had from 20 games. That is just
been standing in an offside four fewer points than the
Soucek has a knack of timing position. team collected in the whole
his runs into the box to per- of last season.
fection, though, and did so Craig Dawson headed home

Government decree saves Italy from Olympic suspension

The International Olympic “I was very worried. I saw mittee,” Sports Minister Vin-
Committee’s executive board the days passing by and I was cenzo Spadafora said.
had on its agenda Wednesday stunned that people were not
whether to impose a humili- grasping the gravity of the sit- “Considering the long and
ating probation on Italy be- uation,” Malagò said. “Over glorious sporting and demo-
cause of a two-year domestic the last few days, though, ev- cratic history of our country
dispute that it said amounted eryone began to understand it was improbable that Italy
to government interference. — from public opinion to the would be sanctioned," Spada-
country’s leaders.” fora added. "But today’s de-
After the decree was ap- cision removes every doubt
proved, Italian Olym- The IOC had taken issue and resolves the issue of CO-
pic Committee president with the Italian government’s NI’s independence.”
Giovanni Malagò immedi- formation of an organization,
ately called IOC president “Sport e Salute,” that was The decree should give
Thomas Bach and both par- created at the start of 2019 CONI more control over its
ties expressed their “satisfac- to run the country’s sports employees and training cen-
tion” over the development. finances. The money was ters.
(AP) — The Italian gov- previously controlled by an
ernment pushed through It was one of the final acts “Over the last two days all arm of the country's Olympic Possible punishments from
a last-minute decree Tues- of Giuseppe Conte’s gov- of the big athletes called me committee, which is known the IOC could have included
day providing more au- ernment before the premier asking what to do,” Malagò as CONI. preventing Italian athletes in
tonomy for the country’s headed to the presidential said. “They were prepared to Tokyo from wearing their
Olympic committee in an palace to offer his resignation come to Rome (and protest) “The cabinet has approved a national team uniforms and
effort to prevent the team amid an unrelated political in front of Palazzo Chigi (the decree containing regulations from hearing their national
from being suspended for crisis. premier’s office).” that provide autonomy for anthem being played.
the Tokyo Games. the Italian Olympic Com-

Phillies, Realmuto agree on $115.5 million deal

(AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies Joe Mauer averaged in a $184 million, His deal is the second-largest of the Realmuto’s market narrowed last
and two-time All-Star catcher eight-year deal with the Minnesota offseason behind outfielder George month when the New York Mets
J.T. Realmuto agreed on a $115.5 Twins that covered 2011-18. Springer’s $150 million, six-year went for a less expensive option and
million, five-year contract, two contract with Toronto. signed James McCann to a $40.6 mil-
people familiar with the deal told Realmuto was acquired from the lion, four-year deal.
The Associated Press. Marlins in February 2019 in a trade
that sent right-hander Sixto Sanchez
Both people spoke to The Associ- and catcher Jorge Alfaro to Miami
ated Press on condition of anonymity along with pitching prospect Will
Tuesday because Realmuto’s deal was Stewart and $250,000 in international
pending a successful physical. signing bonus pool allocation.

Realmuto gets $20 million next sea- Realmuto made his second NL All-
son, of which $10 million is deferred, Star team with the Phillies in 2019
with $5 million each payable in 2026 and earned a Gold Glove. He had
and 2027. He gets $23,875,000 in career-highs in homers (25), RBIs
each of the final four years. (83) and slugging percentage (.493)
that season.
He does not have a no-trade provi-
sion. The deal includes a $1 million Realmuto, who turns 30 in March,
assignment bonus if traded. hit .266 with 11 homers, 32 RBIs and
a career-best OPS of .840 last season.
Realmuto's average annual salary of He earned $3,703,704 prorated for
$23.1 million will become the highest the pandemic-shortened season from
for a catcher, topping the $23 million a $10 million salary.