Sports News Roundup: Soccer-Ramos gifts Barca win over Sevilla amid boardroom tensions between clubs; Paralympics-Russian athletes to compete as neutrals at Paris Paralympics - IPC and more

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NFL-Players face tougher punishment for betting on league games

National Football League players who bet on NFL games will face harsher penalties under the league's revised gambling policy, according to a memo obtained by Reuters on Friday. Players who bet on games involving their own teams will face a minimum two-year suspension, while betting on any NFL game will result in a minimum one-year suspension.

Motorcycling-Pramac's Martin breaks lap record to grab pole position at Japanese Grand Prix

Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing set a lap record and stormed to his second pole position of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, with championship leader Francesco Bagnaia and last year's winner Jack Miller joining the Spaniard on the front row. Martin secured his spot atop the timesheets by improving on Brad Binder's Friday mark with a time of 1.43.198.

Soccer-Ramos gifts Barca win over Sevilla amid boardroom tensions between clubs

Barcelona moved provisionally top of LaLiga with a 1-0 home win over Sevilla on Friday after veteran defender Sergio Ramos accidentally bundled the ball into his own net in the second half. Ramos, a former Real Madrid captain playing his old rivals Barcelona again for the first time since 2020, was helpless when he attempted to block 16-year-old Lamine Yamal's header into the box and saw the ball creep over the line in the 76th minute.

Paralympics-Russian athletes to compete as neutrals at Paris Paralympics - IPC

Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as neutrals at next year's Paris Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee voted against maintaining a full ban of the two countries, imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The IPC members at their assembly in Bahrain first narrowly voted against a complete ban of the Russian Paralympic Committee (74-65) and then voted 90-56 in favour of a motion to partially suspend Russia for two years, subject to reassessment at a next general assembly.

Olympics-No restrictions on hijab in Paris 2024 Games' athletes village-IOC

Athletes can wear a hijab in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletes' village without any restriction, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday, days after France's sports minister banned it for the host country's athletes. The Olympic body also said it needed to better understand the situation in France and had been in contact with the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

Golf-Donald credits 'team unity' for Europe's dream start to Ryder Cup

Luke Donald admitted having sleepless nights while putting the finishing touches to Europe's Ryder Cup team but on Friday the first-time captain got more than he could have dreamed for as his squad enjoyed a superb start against the United States. Donald's team not only built a five-point lead but in doing so prevented the U.S. from winning a single match in a day at the Ryder Cup for the first time.

Golf-Struggling US Ryder Cup team hit by illness - Johnson

U.S. captain Zach Johnson did not want to make any excuses for his team's dreadful start to the Ryder Cup on Friday but did reveal an illness has spread through his team and that he is glad they have a doctor on hand. Johnson, whose 12-man team failed to win a single match on the opening day of the biennial competition against Europe, was vague on the nature of the illness but did admit that it had an impact on their sluggish start and his decision-making.

Soccer-Jamaica women's coach Donaldson parts ways with team

Jamaican women's national soccer team coach Lorne Donaldson will not renew his contract with the team, the country's football federation said on Friday. Jamaica's 'Reggae Girlz' reached the knockout phase for the first time in their second appearance at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand but lost to Colombia in the round of 16.

Soccer-Ten-man Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 3-1 to take over top spot

Borussia Dortmund battled past hosts Hoffenheim 3-1 on Friday with veteran Marco Reus on target for a third straight Bundesliga game as they provisionally climbed to the top of the standings. Dortmund's third consecutive league win lifted them to 14 points, one ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, who are in action on Saturday.

Baseball-Ohtani becomes first Japanese player to have top-selling MLB jersey

Los Angeles Angels two-way standout Shohei Ohtani had the top-selling jersey in Major League Baseball this season, marking the first time a Japanese player topped the list, according to data released by the league and MLB Players Association on Friday. Ohtani, who is considered a favourite to be named the American League's most valuable player for the second time in three years, appeared in the top 10 after two prior seasons (2018 and 2021) but until now had never headlined the list.

(With inputs from agencies.)