Kiev, Aug 28, 2018 (AFP) – Supporters of Dynamo Kiev and Dutch side Ajax clashed in the Ukrainian capital before a Champions League playoff on Tuesday, leading to nine arrests.
“Police ended the fight,” a police statement said, adding the trouble had broken out in a bar near the Olympic Stadium.
Nine “active participants” were taken to a police station.
Video of the incidents on social media showed dozens of young men running towards a cafe in an otherwise deserted road and sounds resembling shots could he heard.
Around 1,500 police and soldiers were on patrol in Kiev for the match, which ended in a goalless draw, with Ajax reaching the group stages thanks to a 3-1 win in the first leg.
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins’ offense, which hasn’t been together in full this preseason, should receive a boost for the regular-season opener. Tight end Jordan Reed and third-down back Chris Thompson are on pace to play Sept. 9 at Arizona.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden said both players, who fill important roles on offense, should be available. Thompson is recovering from a broken fibula; he also tore a ligament and had screws inserted into his leg. Reed played only six games last season and needed surgery to repair both of his big toes.
Thompson appears a little further ahead than Reed.
“Chris looks fantastic,” Gruden said. “He’s been great — his pass blocking and obviously his routes, and he’s hitting the hole. He looks great. He’s ready to go. Jordan is getting there. The more he works and more he runs … he had a great day today, just getting in and out of his cuts, getting a feel with [quarterback Alex Smith] and the different formations. He’s on pace to be ready.”
The Redskins’ running-back position has been hit with injuries this summer. Rookie Derrius Guice suffered a torn ACL in the preaseason opener, taking away one of Washington’s playmaking hopes. Backups Samaje Perine (ankle) and Byron Marshall (knee) then were hurt in the second game. Though Perine is now back practicing, Marshall remains sidelined.
Because of those injuries, the Redskins signed Adrian Peterson, who is expected to start the season opener. But Thompson plays a crucial role for Washington. Before getting hurt in Week 11, Thompson had rushed for 294 yards and gained another 510 receiving. There was some concern earlier in camp about how much work he could handle early in the season, but Thompson said Monday he can resume a full workload in the team’s third-down packages.
Reed has been practicing with the starters for several weeks, gradually increasing his snaps. But, like Thompson, he hasn’t participated in a preseason game. His toe injury led to other leg issues last season, limiting him to a career-low 27 receptions and two touchdowns. With Reed, the Redskins are dangerous in their two-tight-end package. His presence enables Vernon Davis to get more favorable matchups. Last season, Davis averaged 22.25 yards on 12 catches in games played with Reed and 12.7 yards when Reed wasn’t available, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
The brother of Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri, an Ajax youngster who sustained permanent brain damage after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia attack during a match in July 2017, has confirmed marked improvements in the 21-year-old’s condition and communication.
Nouri, touted as a future star after impressing for the Amsterdam side’s reserve side Jong Ajax, collapsed during a friendly against Werder Bremen last summer and was placed in an induced coma. Ajax subsequently announced the former Netherlands youth international had suffered “serious and permanent” brain damage and that there was no chance of a full recovery.
However, speaking to Dutch outlet NOS, as reported by CNN, Abderrahim Nouri provided a positive update on his brother’s condition, revealing Appie has awoken from his coma and has been able to communicate with family members.
“Not in the beginning, he was just in the coma and had his eyes closed. Slowly, he was waking up a bit more and more. But, since December and January, his awareness has become a little better and there is a form of communication. When you asked him something, he opened his mouth or confirmed he understood by raising an eyebrow …
Neurologically, he is much better than before. Physically, it’s a little more difficult and we see a little deterioration but that’s pure(ly) because he is not moving. Sometimes, he comes out of bed to sit in his wheelchair. That was more difficult before. But he has ups and downs. His resistance and immune system are very low. It swings a lot.
Since day one, there has been a difference from when we see him compared to the doctors. In the beginning, it was true that we were not allowed to stay with him for a long time, as these are the hospital’s rules. But the doctors saw that we as a family had a lot of influence on Abdelhak. He became calmer, he recognized us, and he was quieter with us than with the doctors. You reassure him, he hears a familiar voice, especially if my mum and dad are with him. We’re staying 24/7 with him, because it does him good …
Of course, I believe in science and I believe in what I see, but if we talk about the future, I think: time will teach us. We believe he is capable of anything. Nothing is difficult for him. And we keep our hopes up. For people from outside that won’t understand: you just need to keep hope.”
Nouri, named the Dutch second division’s Player of the Season in 2017 after his stellar season with Jong Ajax, played 15 league and cup games for the senior team in 2016-17, scoring his first Ajax goal in a Dutch Cup tie.
In June, club general manager Edwin van der Sar admitted the club’s liability for Nouri’s condition. “We recognize our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this,” the former Manchester United goalkeeper said. “For a long time, we were convinced that Abdelhak had received the best possible care on the field.”
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Sunday he’s happy cornerback Denzel Ward avoided a major back injury but that the first-round draft pick’s poor tackling technique is the reason he got hurt.
Ward, the No. 4 overall draft pick, suffered a back injury in a preseason game Thursday night when he got twisted making a tackle on Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. He underwent an MRI, which revealed no structural damage. He officially has been diagnosed with back spasms.
“It is good. I do not worry about those things, but I was glad to hear that. Maybe he will finally listen to me and stop doing those stupid things the ways he is trying to tackle and maybe tackle the way I tell him to tackle and he will not get hurt,” Williams said.
Asked for specifics on how he is telling Ward to tackle, Williams said, “You are going to have to ask Denzel.”
Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward twisted his back making a tackle of the Eagles’ Zach Ertz last Thursday night. Jason Miller/Getty Images
However, later when asked about the difficulty in teaching defensive backs to use their arms and wrap up when tackling opponents, Williams discussed Ward’s technique on the tackle of Ertz.
“It depends on the size of the person. Also, I am not worried as much about the wrap-up part of it as it is about getting the guy to the ground. What you do is you cut the guy. He should have cut the guy that time right there instead of a 290-pound man running over his face,” he said.
Williams credited Ward, too, saying he “has come a long way” but added that “he just needs to stay healthy. He needs to tackle the way that I tell him to tackle.”
“At this level, you have to stay healthy every day. As a pro, you have to understand that there are so many things that you have to do in a 24-hour day, and that it is you have to stay healthy. I tell him all of the time, there are two words that begin with the letter ‘A’ that you have to own to be a professional football player — one is accountable, and the next one is available. When you are not available, you are working on your training room internships,” he said.
On Saturday, Browns head coach Hue Jackson said there was “no doubt” Ward would be able to play in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
