Sports News Roundup: NFL-Jaguars’ Ridley reinstated after suspension for gambling; Golf-Australia’s Lee backs ‘tough’ PGA Tour changes and more | Sports-Games

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NFL-Jaguars’ Ridley reinstated after suspension for gambling

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been fully reinstated after serving one year of an indefinite suspension for violating the National Football League’s gambling policy, the NFL said on Monday. The 28-year-old had been suspended since March 2022 when the NFL found he had bet on games during a five-day period when he was not with his team, then the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons traded him in November.

Golf-Australia’s Lee backs ‘tough’ PGA Tour changes

Reduced fields and no cuts at designated events will be “tough” on players trying to make the grade on the PGA Tour but will ultimately reward good golf, according to Australian Min Woo Lee. The Tour has approved sweeping changes for 2024 in response to the threat posed by the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, drawing a scathing reaction from lower-ranked players.

Jurors weigh fate of ex-Fox execs in FIFA corruption case

Jurors began deliberating Monday in a case against two former 21st Century Fox executives and a sports marketing company accused of bribing South American soccer officials in exchange for lucrative broadcasting rights. Brooklyn federal prosecutors allege Carlos Martinez and Hernan Lopez oversaw a multi-million dollar bribe scheme to land below-market media contracts and secure the loyalty of officials at South American soccer’s governing body, CONMEBOL. Co-defendant Full Play Group SA is accused of similar conduct.

Spring training roundup: Orioles beat Phillies on walk-off HR

Ryan O’Hearn launched a three-run home run to left-center in the bottom of the ninth and the host Baltimore Orioles walked off the Philadelphia Phillies 10-7 in a spring training game Monday in Sarasota, Fla. The Orioles trailed 7-3 entering the bottom of the eighth. They tied the game in that frame on Coby Mayo’s run-scoring single, Connor Norby’s RBI groundout and Colton Cowser’s two-run homer.

Cricket-Buttler happy could tinker with team despite loss to Bangladesh in final ODI

England failed to seal a series clean-sweep after losing to Bangladesh in the final one-day international but captain Jos Buttler said the match offered him a chance to experiment with players ahead of their World Cup defence later this year. England lost to Bangladesh by 50 runs in the third ODI in Chattogram on Monday after they won the first match by three wickets and the second game by 132 runs, with both contests played in Mirpur.

Soccer-Napoli striker Osimhen ready to become ‘an icon’ with title win

If striker Victor Osimhen manages to lead Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title in more than 30 years, he believes he will become a club “icon”. However, the 24-year-old Nigerian said he would not be able to reach the status of late Argentine great Diego Maradona, whom he called a “demi-god”.

Tennis-Defending champions Fritz, Swiatek headline Indian Wells main draw

American Taylor Fritz will take on either compatriot Ben Shelton or Italian Fabio Fognini as he begins his title defence at Indian Wells this week, with top-ranked Iga Swiatek facing a potential third-round showdown with 2019 champ Bianca Andreescu.

Fritz battled through excruciating pain to end Rafa Nadal’s 20-match winning run and claim his first Masters 1000 championship last year and will hope for another story-book finish after the main draw was announced on Monday.

Soccer-Head injury charity says IFAB losing credibility over brain health

Soccer’s rule making body IFAB’s decision not to introduce a trial for temporary concussion substitutes has been criticised by leading head injury charity Headway. The International Football Association Board had been urged by the Premier League to trial a temporary substitution to allow players with head injuries to be assessed.

Soccer-Brentford beat Fulham to fuel European dream

Brentford fuelled their ambition of playing European football with a 3-2 home victory over fellow hopefuls Fulham to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 games on Monday. Ivan Toney’s second-half penalty and a late effort by Mathias Jensen sealed the points for ninth-placed Brentford against their west London rivals to edge them closer to the European qualification places.

Boxing-Benn says he had suicidal thoughts after positive drugs tests

British boxer Conor Benn said he felt suicidal after his failed drugs tests last year caused his much-hyped fight with Chris Eubank Jr to be cancelled in October. Benn, who tested positive for the banned substance Clomiphene, has been cleared of an intentional doping offence by the World Boxing Council (WBC) after the body ruled a “highly elevated consumption of eggs” resulted in the adverse finding.

(With inputs from agencies.)