WORLD SPORTS AT 0000 GMT
TOP STORY:
SOC--EUROPA LEAGUE ROUNDUP
Captain Kostas Fortounis scored late from the penalty spot to help Olympiakos defeat AC Milan 3-1 on Thursday and knock the seven-time European champion out of the Europa League. Sevilla, Villarreal, Genk, Celtic, Rapid Vienna, Malmo, Krasnodar, Rennes, BATE and Slavia Prague also qualified for the knockout rounds of Europe's second-tier competition on the final night of group-stage matches. By Karel Janicek. SENT: 910 words, photos.
NEW/DEVELOPING:
RGU--NEW ZEALAND-HANSEN
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will step down after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, ending a 16-year involvement with the world's top-ranked team. By Steve McMorran. SENT: 580 words, photos.
SPORTS-BRITAIN-GAMBLING
LONDON — Television advertisements for bookmakers will largely disappear from British broadcasts of live sporting events, although not completely, beginning in summer 2019. By Global Soccer Writer Rob Harris. SENT: 350 words.
FOOTBALL
SOC--EUROPEAN SOCCER WEEKEND
Jose Mourinho loves nothing more than spoiling the party at Anfield, so ending Liverpool's unbeaten start and potentially knocking it off the Premier League summit is a tantalizing prospect for Manchester United on Sunday. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
SOC--FRANCE-MATCHES POSTPONED
PARIS — For the second straight weekend, Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain will not play after several games were postponed at the request of authorities. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 290 words, photos.
SOC--SPAIN SPOTLIGHT-REUS' DEMISE
MADRID — Spanish second-division club Reus could be about to play its last match this weekend. The club is on the brink of extinction after players demanded out of their contracts because they haven't been paid in three months. By Tales Azzoni. SENT: 500 words.
SOC--CHELSEA-ANTI-SEMITISM
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Chelsea has issued a harsh condemnation of its supporters after several were heard singing an anti-Semitic chant during the 2-2 draw against Vidi in the Europa League on Thursday. SENT: 180 words, photos.
Also:
— SOC--INTER-MAROTTA — Inter Milan ought to be satisfied if new CEO for sport Giuseppe Marotta is half as successful as he was at Juventus. SENT: 360 words, photos.
— SOC--ENGLAND-FA CEO — The English Football Association is searching for a new leader while it considers whether to press ahead with a bid for the 2030 World Cup. SENT: 230 words, photos.
GOLF
GLF--ALFRED DUNHILL
MALELANE, South Africa — Oliver Bekker put together a run of four straight birdies to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Thursday. SENT: 230 words.
TENNIS
TEN--ITF WORLD CHAMPIONS
LONDON — Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep were named the 2018 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation on Thursday after each won Grand Slam titles and finished the year atop the world rankings. SENT: 190 words, photos.
SWIMMING
SWM--FINA-NEW SERIES
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Under pressure from a privately run rival competition and a class action suit by Olympic and world champion swimmers, FINA has pledged to start a new elite race series. SENT: 300 words, photos.
Also:
— SWM--SHORT-COURSE WORLD RECORD — The United States has set a world record in the 4x50-meter mixed medley relay at the world short-course swimming championships. SENT: 110 words, photos.
OTHER STORIES
— RGU--NEW ZEALAND-COCKSEDGE — Black Ferns scrumhalf Kendra Cocksedge has made history as the first woman to be named New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year. SENT: 130 words.
— SKI--WCUP-MEN'S DOWNHILL TRAINING — Already the winner of two World Cup races this season, Austrian skier Max Franz showed he's the man to beat by leading the final training session Thursday for the Val Gardena downhill. SENT: 170 words, photos.
— FHK--WORLD CUP — Belgium came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and reach the field hockey World Cup semifinals for the first time on Thursday. SENT: 200 words, photos.
— CAN--DOPING-CHINESE CANOEISTS — The International Canoe Federation says two Chinese paddlers have been banned for two years for doping. SENT: 90 words.
YOUR QUERIES: Questions and story requests are welcome. Contact your local AP bureau or the AP International Sports Desk in London by telephone at +44 207 427 4224 or email lonsports@ap.org.
