Egypt's Mohamed Hany (3) scores an own goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and Egypt in Seattle, Monday. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Belgium

earns draw

SEATTLE (AP) — Romelu Lukaku’s mere presence sparked an attack that led to Belgium’s lone goal only seconds after he entered as a second-half substitute, helping his team earn a 1-1 draw with Egypt at the World Cup.

Lukaku came on in the 66th minute with Belgium trailing 1-0. He ran down the middle of the field and lurched to tap a cross from the right into the net, but Egypt defender Mohamed Hany did that instead, scoring an own-goal. The equalizing goal came only 23 seconds after Lukaku came on the field.

Emam Ashour had put the Egyptians ahead in the 19th minute with his first international goal.

Official may

be removed

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup has called for a video review official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign. When the official broadcast of Germany’s opening game against Curaçao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of video review analysts, Shaun Evans from Australia made an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg.

In 2019 the gesture was designated as a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League. Fare Network, FIFA’s long-time anti-discrimination partner, says the “OK” sign is a “white power symbol in global far-right circles.”

Anti-doping

rules doubted

(AP) — The U.S. drug czar portrayed a menu of changes to anti-doping protocols being proposed by a World Anti-Doping Agency panel in advance of the LA Olympics as moves that would “undermine the trustworthiness of the performances of competitors” at those games in two years.

Sara Carter, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, sent an open letter to WADA and its stakeholders. It comes a day before an “extraordinary meeting” of the WADA executive committee at which it will discuss recommendations from a “working group” put together in the wake of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers.

Strider

sidelined

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will be shut down from throwing for four weeks. Strider had been placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with inflammation in his right elbow. The Braves say the four-week plan for Strider came after a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister.

The Braves say Strider will have another MRI in four weeks and would then begin throwing if the inflammation has cleared. Strider had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and had the UCL in his right elbow repaired with an internal brace in 2024.

Bulls to

hire Splitter

CHICAGO (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to hire Portland Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter as their next head coach. The 41-year-old Splitter joined Chauncey Billups’ staff in Portland last June.

He was elevated from assistant to interim coach when Billups was arrested in October in a takedown of a sprawling gambling operation. Splitter coached Portland to a 42-40 record and a five-game loss to San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. He would replace Billy Donovan, who resigned after six seasons.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the deal with Splitter, which was first reported by ESPN.