Real Madrid condemn fan for alleged Nazi salute — and more

Real Madrid have launched an investigation after a supporter allegedly performed a Nazi salute before the club's Champions League win against Benfica on Wednesday.

Prior to the kick-off at the Bernabeu, a fan appeared to make the fascist gesture as the television cameras panned around the 83,000-seater stadium.

The fan was identified by security staff moments later and ejected from the ground.

Real beat Portuguese side Benfica 2-1 in the second leg of their knockout round play-off tie to progress 3-1 on aggregate to the last 16 of the Champions League.

In a statement, the Spanish club said they have asked its disciplinary committee "to initiate an immediate expulsion procedure" for the fan.

"Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society," it added.

• Real Madrid win 'for everyone who stands against racism'
• 'He was always going to score' - Real beat Benfica to reach last 16

The incident comes after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg in Lisbon.

The 25-year-old Brazilian, who scored the only goal of the game, informed the referee he had been racially abused by Prestianni and the game was halted for 10 minutes after he and his Madrid team-mates left the pitch.

Argentine winger Prestianni was subsequently handed a provisional one-match ban and missed the second leg after Uefa rejected Benfica's appeal against his suspension. He could still face further punishment, pending the result of a full Uefa investigation.

Vinicius, who scored Madrid's winner on 80 minutes, received support by the home fans as a banner with the words "no to racism" in Spanish was displayed in the stands before kick-off.

His team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni also said the win was "for everyone who stands against racism".

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One and a half years before the launch of the planned NBA Europe league, many things are still unclear, according to the managing director of the basketball Bundesliga.

"There are still many questions and the NBA is called upon to answer them," Stefan Holz told dpa.

"We also need to work with the other European leagues to develop a common position, formulate questions, and take a stance," he added.

The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) need to "do more" in this regard, demanded the Bundesliga boss. "At the moment, there are still more questions than answers."

The NBA plans to start an European league in October 2027. Details about participants, format and financial aspects are expected to be clarified by the end of March.

Europe already has a successful EuroLeague competition but the NBA wants a piece of the action.

In Germany, top teams Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich are the strongest candidates to join NBA Europe.

Old Dominion Monarchs (10-20, 6-11 Sun Belt) at Georgia State Panthers (10-20, 7-10 Sun Belt)

Atlanta; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Old Dominion takes on Georgia State after Ketron Shaw scored 26 points in Old Dominion's 97-88 loss to the Marshall Thundering Herd.

The Panthers are 7-6 in home games. Georgia State averages 10.0 turnovers per game and is 5-10 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents.

The Monarchs are 6-11 against Sun Belt opponents. Old Dominion is 6-8 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 10.4 turnovers per game.

Georgia State is shooting 38.0% from the field this season, 6.5 percentage points lower than the 44.5% Old Dominion allows to opponents. Old Dominion has shot at a 44.0% rate from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points above the 43.5% shooting opponents of Georgia State have averaged.

The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. Old Dominion won 78-55 in the last matchup on Feb. 14. Shaw led Old Dominion with 28 points, and Malachi Brown led Georgia State with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jelani Hamilton is scoring 17.6 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Panthers. Brown is averaging 16.6 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 43.5% over the past 10 games.

Jordan Battle averages 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Monarchs, scoring 14.4 points while shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc. Shaw is shooting 53.8% and averaging 20.7 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 2-8, averaging 69.4 points, 29.2 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 37.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.0 points per game.

Monarchs: 4-6, averaging 78.2 points, 29.8 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.3 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Valencia CF continues to shape its sports organization for the upcoming season. As reported by Plaza Deportiva, the name of José Viñas is strongly featured on the list of candidates to join the technical secretariat at Mestalla.

Viñas, originally from Valencia, has an enviable track record in international football.

He is currently working as a scout for Schalke 04, a team leading the 2. Bundesliga and on the verge of promotion. His work in Germany has been crucial in rebuilding a historic club during tough times, contributing his ability to spot young and competitive talent.

Successes with Eintracht Frankfurt

His greatest professional success came with Eintracht Frankfurt. As the head of scouting in Spain, he was part of the team that led the German club to win the German Cup in 2018 and the Europa League in 2022.

This experience in successful projects is the main credential that the CEO of Football, Ron Gourlay, is considering for his potential incorporation.

Knowledgeable in the football business

Beyond the offices, Viñas possesses a comprehensive vision of the business. He has been on the benches of Villarreal CF and Torre Levante, and worked for eleven years as a football agent.

This triple background (coach, agent, and scout) gives him a competitive edge in the current market. The coach has an active contract in Germany but is seeking new professional challenges. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.