Reuters Sports News Summary

The IBA lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers last October, against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) guidance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year. Soccer-Neymar ruled out of Champions League clash with Bayern due to injury Paris St Germain forward Neymar will miss the next two games due to an ankle injury, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday, ruling him out of their Ligue 1 clash with Nantes and the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Soccer-Everton and Leeds fined after 'mass confrontation' between players

Everton and Leeds United have been fined after a mass confrontation between players in their Premier League clash on Feb. 18, the Football Association said on Friday. Everton were hit with a 55,000 pounds fine ($66,022) and Leeds a 35,000 pounds fine following the incident in the 42nd minute of Everton's 1-0 win, where Weston Mckennie, Tyler Adams, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight Mcneil received yellow cards.

Soccer-Vecino scores as Lazio beat leaders Napoli 1-0

A second-half strike by midfielder Matias Vecino earned Lazio a 1-0 win over Napoli in Serie A on Friday, ending the runaway leaders' winning streak of eight games. Lazio, who made it three league wins in a row for the first time since October, have provisionally moved two places up to second in the standings on 48 points, one above third-placed Inter Milan and AC Milan in fourth, both with a game in hand.

Private equity can take Polish soccer to the 'next level', says Legia Warsaw president

Poland is an "undervalued gem in European football" and external investment in the top flight league and its clubs will help them narrow the gap to their continental rivals, Legia Warsaw president Dariusz Mioduski told Reuters. Although Polish teams have struggled to make a mark in European competitions and the country's coefficient places them 27th in the UEFA standings, there has been steady improvement in the last five seasons.

Tennis-Medvedev ends Djokovic run to book Dubai final with Rublev

Daniil Medvedev handed Novak Djokovic his first defeat of the year, beating the world number one 6-4 6-4 on Friday to reach the Dubai Tennis Championships final where he plays holder Andrey Rublev for a third title in as many weeks. In a contest where the players put their early season win streaks on the line, it was Rotterdam and Doha champion Medvedev who drew first blood by breaking an error-prone Djokovic twice and closed out the first set with a searing forehand.

Lawyers for ex-Fox execs attack star witness as FIFA corruption trial closes

Lawyers for two former 21st Century Fox executives accused of bribing South American soccer officials assailed the credibility of the government's star witness on Friday, as their seven-week trial draws to a close. Carlos Martinez and Hernan Lopez are charged with wire and securities fraud conspiracy for allegedly scheming to pay tens of millions of dollars in bribes to secure lucrative broadcasting rights for international soccer tournaments. Cooperating witness Alejandro Burzaco testified that his former business partners knew about and approved the bribes.

NHL-Oh brother, Nick and Brett Ritchie get traded for each other

There were no blockbuster deals to be made on the National Hockey League's deadline day on Friday but there was an historic swap when the Ritchie brothers Nick and Brett were traded for each other. In what the NHL said was the first ever trade involving two brothers, the Arizona Coyotes sent physical left winger Nick Ritchie and defenceman Troy Stecher to the Calgary Flames for right wing Brett and defenceman Connor Mackey.

Boxing-Russia and Belarus boxers should compete, IBA president says

Russia and Belarus athletes should be able to compete under their flag, said International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev on Friday. The IBA lifted a ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers last October, against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) guidance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year.

Soccer-Neymar ruled out of Champions League clash with Bayern due to injury

Paris St Germain forward Neymar will miss the next two games due to an ankle injury, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday, ruling him out of their Ligue 1 clash with Nantes and the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich. The Brazil international was carried off the pitch on a stretcher during PSG's 4-3 win over Lille on Feb. 19 with what was later confirmed to be an ankle ligament injury.

Soccer-Efficient Dortmund edge past Leipzig 2-1 to move into top spot

Borussia Dortmund took a two-goal lead in the first half and hung on for a nervous 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Friday to go top of the Bundesliga and stretch their perfect run in 2023 to eighth straight league wins. A Marco Reus penalty and a deflected shot from Emre Can in the first half put them in the driving seat before Leipzig pulled a goal back through Emil Forsberg late in the second half.

Soccer-Spirit sign 15-year-old Ricketts, youngest-ever contracted in NWSL

Washington Spirit have signed 15-year-old Chloe Ricketts on a three-year deal, making the midfielder the youngest-ever player to have a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) contract.

She may not be old enough to have her driver's license but the Michigan native joins the 2021 champions after impressing at a January preseason training camp, during which she travelled with the team to Florida and Leesburg, Virginia.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)