MUSIALA SAYS 'NO ONE TO BLAME' FOR SERIOUS LEG INJURY AT CLUB WORLD CUP

The Germany star posted an update on Instagram on Wednesday, when he thanked people for their support after he fractured his fibula (bone in the lower leg) during Bayern's loss to PSG in the QF.

Photo by Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala says there's no one to blame for the left leg fracture he sustained in a tackle from Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Club World Cup.

The Germany star posted an update on Instagram on Wednesday, when he thanked people for their support after he fractured his fibula (bone in the lower leg) during Bayern's loss to PSG in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

It's nice to see how the football world comes together in a time like this and I really appreciate it, Musiala said.

Musiala was flown back to Munich on Sunday for surgery on the injury that Bayern said was associated with an ankle dislocation.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had criticized Donnarumma for his action, suggesting his Italian counterpart didn't necessarily have to go in like that and that he had knowingly risked causing an injury.

Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl also criticized Donnarumma, saying there was a big danger something can happen with the goalkeeper jumping in to secure the ball and that the action was not without risk.

Donnarumma, who was visibly upset after seeing Musiala's injury, posted a message tagged to Musiala: All my prayers and well wishes are with you.

Thank you for your wishes and don't worry! That's part of football, the German player responded.

In his own post, Musiala appeared to address Neuer and Eberl's criticisms.

The surgery went really well, I'm in good care, and I wanted to say there's no one to blame for this, the 22-year-old forward said. I think situations like this happen and now I'm just going to use the next period of time just to build up my strength and positivity again. I'm looking forward to seeing you guys again.

Musiala spent much of last season injured. He missed around 2 months with a muscle tear in his left hamstring and had only made his comeback at the Club World Cup. He previously missed around a month in October with a hip injury.

- Syndicated feed

BAYERN'S JAMAL MUSIALA FRACTURED HIS LEG IN COLLISION WITH GDIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA AT CLUB WORLD CUP

MUNICH (AP) - Bayern Munich says attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala faces a "lengthy" recovery from a leg fracture after his collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Club World Cup.

Bayern said Sunday that Musiala had flown back from Florida to Munich that morning for surgery on the injury he picked up in Saturday's loss to PSG in the quarterfinals.

Bayern said doctors found Musiala "sustained a fracture of the fibula (bone in the lower leg) associated with an ankle dislocation."

Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala is taken off the field after an injury during the Club World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich in Atlanta, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

"This serious injury and the lengthy lay-off are a real shock for Jamal and us all," Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said in a statement.

"Jamal has just come back from an injury and will now be out for another long period. He´ll get everything he needs from us. We´ll support him intensively, be by his side and already look forward to when he´s back on the pitch."

- AP

BREAKING: NIGUEL OLIVEIRA DECLARED UNFIT

 

DODGERS' MOOKIE BETTS HIT BY PITCH, FRACTURES LEFT HAND

USA TODAY Sports 

 Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts fractured his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of a 3-0 victory Sunday over the visiting Kansas City Royals, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game.

The team also said Betts won't need surgery and there is no timetable for his return.

"It's just going to be rest and let the bones heal," said Roberts, calling it a big blow to the team.

Betts was hit in the left wrist by a 97.9-mph fastball from Royals reliever Dan Altavilla and went to the ground in extreme pain. Betts, who hadn't been hit by a pitch this season, took a few minutes before walking to the dugout. He was replaced by pinch runner Miguel Rojas with the Dodgers leading 3-0, and Rojas didn't score.

"Absolutely no intent," Altavilla said. "I was trying to go inside in a 1-2 count and it slipped armside out of my hand. I really hope he's OK."

Betts was last on the injured list in June 2022 with a cracked right rib. He said he will see Dr. Steven Shin, an orthopedic surgeon, on Monday to examine the hand and determine treatment.

"Obviously, I'll be watching the boys, cheering them on," Betts said. "But other than that, it's just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break. Be ready to go whenever it heals up."

Betts, 31, was 0-for-3 on Sunday to lower his batting average to .304. He entered the game leading the Dodgers in batting average (.307), on-base percentage (.407), hits (86), at-bats (280), triples (three) and walks (47) in 71 games. He also had 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in a National League-high 327 plate appearances going into Sunday.

"He's a superstar player; he's a big part of our ballclub," Roberts said. "But our guys understand that that's part of baseball and you got to move forward. And guys are going to get opportunities and got to play well."

One idea, Roberts said, is to move superstar Shohei Ohtani into Betts' spot at the top of the batting order, something he was comfortable doing while with the Los Angeles Angels.

"He's obviously a very important part of the team," Ohtani said through interpreter Wil Ireton. "And if he's out for some time, then it's really up to the rest of the team to pick him up so that we can continue."

A seven-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove Award winner, Betts was the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player while with the Boston Red Sox. He is a career .295 hitter with 262 home runs and 796 RBIs in 1,337 games over 11 seasons with the Red Sox (2014-19) and Dodgers.

- Reuters 

GRINER OUT INDEFINITELY WITH TOE FRACTURE

USA TODAY Sports 

 Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has sustained a toe fracture on her left foot and will be out indefinitely, the WNBA team said on Monday.

Griner, who was freed from a Russian penal colony in a high-profile prisoner exchange in December 2022, will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks and Phoenix said updates on her condition would be provided as appropriate.

The WNBA's 2024 season opens on Tuesday with four games, including Phoenix at the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces.

Griner was arrested in February 2022 at an airport outside Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.

She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and later transferred to one of Russia's most notorious penal colonies.

Griner was eventually released in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a deal that was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the U.S. and Russia after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In her first season back, Griner averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 2023.

RINS FRACTURED TIBIA AND FIBULA IN MUGELLO MOTOGP CRASH

 

LCR Honda MotoGP rider Alex Rins has been diagnosed with a fractured tibia and fibula after a nasty crash in the Italian Grand Prix sprint at Mugello.

The Spaniard fell at the first Arrabbiata corner on the fourth lap of the 11-lap sprint while running 12th.

The small glimpse of the crash on the MotoGP world feed suggested it was a small but violent highside.

UGAS IN HOSPITAL RECOVERING FROM ORBITAL BONE FRACTURE

Yordenis Ugas is recovering in the hospital after suffering a fractured Orbital Bone during a bout with Errol Spence Jr at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Spence Jr stopped Ugas in the 10th round  unifying the WBC, WBA and IBF world  titles.