I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 13, 2020 SPORTS 11

Sardar Azmoun needs to grow up Persepolis run riot against By Masoud Hossein Al Shahaniya in friendly match — Sportspersons have to be- SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis geared up for the sec- have more professionally since they serve deskond match day of Asian Football Confederation as role models for future generations. On (AFC) Champions League with a thumping 8-0 win over Qatari club the other hand, they have no choice but to Al Shahaniya in a friendly match in Duha, Qatar on Wednesday. show professionalism. , head coach of Persepolis, used players Dragan Skocic was appointed as Team who were not in the main squad against Al Duhail FC in the first day Melli coach last week and the fed- of 2020 AFC Champions League (ACL) group stage on Tuesday. eration - without a shadow of a doubt Persepolis lost 2-0 to Al Duhail in Group C at the Abdullah – is subject to criticism over the lack bin Khalifa Stadium in . of transparency but this doesn’t mean (2), Saein Hosseinpour (2), Omid Alishah, that a player to allow himself to interfere Christian Osaguona, and Amir Roustaei scored for the decision. the Reds in the friendly match against Al Shahaniya. Sardar Azmoun used his Instagram ac- Persepolis travel to Sharjah next week. The result of the match count to publish a text attacking the new- day one of the Group C means Al Duhail top the group after all ly-appointed coach closely related to what teams had played their first match, with Al Taawoun second the federation has done. with three points. Meanwhile, Sharjah and Persepolis occupy It has nothing to do with the players to the last two spots respectively. talk about the decision taken by the clubs and the federations. Azmoun, as a rising star, has to grow and mature and take responsibility for his actions. Iranian referees The Team Melli veterans have not ex- to judge 2020 Volleyball pressed their opinions on the issue so far and have respected the federation’s decision but Nations League young Azmoun has stated his dissatisfaction with the current situation. The most promising young talent, IRNA — International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has invited Azmoun has represented Iran national three Iranian umpires to judge the 2020 FIVB Men’s and Wom- football team at the 2015 and 2019 AFC en’s Volleyball Nations League slated for May. Asian Cups and 2018 World Cup but he Farhad Shahmiri, Massoud Yazdanpanah and Ebrahim Firouzi has not yet learned to focus solely on his are the three invited Iranian referees. own responsibility. players must respect the choice although matches in late March and early June in difficult the situation is. In line with the League’s competitions, Iranian volleyball team Iran football federation decided to appoint they disagree with the decision. the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Every player must know what their role is to host Brazilian, Australian and Slovenian teams on June 12-15. Skocic as the Team Melli head coach and the Team Melli will have four must-win Asian Cup China 2023 and it shows how is on the field and Azmoun is no exception. The 2020 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) will start on May 19 for women and on May 22 for men. ACL 2020: Iran’s Persepolis fall short ACL 2020: Sepahan of Iran down against Al Duhail of Qatar UAE’s AL Ain Casillas weighing run for Spanish football presidency: media

Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas plans to run for the presi- dency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Spanish media reported on Wednesday. Casillas told the national sports council (CSD) of his intention to run in the upcoming RFEF elections, reported the Cadena Ser radio station early Wednesday. According to this media, Casillas “has made the decision to run” for the elections and has informed Irene Lozano, who as secretary of state for sport is president of the CSD. Contacted by AFP, the CSD made no comment. The date of the election has not been decided. The AS news- paper, citing CSD sources, Casillas met Lozano and expressed an interest in running. Casillas, 38, played 167 times for Spain, winning two Euros and one World Cup, and more than 700 games for Real Madrid, with whom SPORTS TEHRAN — Two from the left side of the box found the SPORTS TEHRAN — Sepahan Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa. he won the Champions League three times. He joined Porto in 2015. deskearly goals from back of the net in the 13th minute. deskof Iran began their 2020 Al Ain, the 2003 AFC Champions League Last April he suffered a heart attack during training and has Mario Mandzukic and Edmilson Junior Persepolis put the hosts under pres- AFC Champions League campaign in style winners, looked out of sorts as they began not played since. His name has been linked with the RFEF pres- earned Al Duhail FC a 2-0 victory over sure in the second half and created after defeating UAE’s AL Ain 4-0 in Group D to give the ball away and fell further behind idency for some months. Iran’s Persepolis as the Qataris got their several scoring chances but failed at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday. in the 52nd minute as Aghaei found an The Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said that “it was AFC Champions League campaign off to score. Sepahan took a half-time lead courtesy unmarked Rafiei, who blasted the ball into Casillas who requested the meeting” with Lozano. to a winning start on Tuesday. Earlier on the day, Al Taawoun of Mohammad Mohebbi’s header in the the bottom right corner to put Sepahan Current RFEF president Luis Rubiales is in perpetual conflict In the match held at the Abdullah bin of Saudi Arabia had defeated Emi- 38th minute when he rose the highest to three goals up. with Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish league. Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Mandzukic rati football club Sharjah 1-0 in nod home the opener from close range off Mohammad Tayebi made it 4-0 with a According to the rules, the elections should be held in the second header from very close range to the Group C. ’s cross. header in the 78th minute following Omid half of the year after the Tokyo Olympics. However, Rubiales has bottom right corner put the visiting Persepolis travel to Sharjah next Sepahan Brazilian striker Brazilian Kiros Noorafkan’s cross. asked the CSD to bring the date forward to the first half of the team into the lead just five minutes week, while Al Duhail make the trip made it 2-0 one minute into the second Sepahan will face Qatar’s Al Sadd SC, year before Euro 2020, which will run from 12 June to 12 July. into the match. west to Buraidah where they face Al half when he pounced on an errant back while Al Ain will be hoping to bounce back (Source: AFP) Edmilson Junior’s right-footed shot Taawoun on Matchday Two. pass to slot the ball past a full stretch Al against Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia. Golmohammadi: Al Duhail punished us for our mistakes On-form Iniesta steers Kobe SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis keeper had a good day” he added. to emphatic ACL victory deskhead coach Yahya Gol- The Reds put the hosts under pressure in mohammadi says his side were punished the second half and created several scoring against Qatari side Al Duhail due to their chances but failed to score. Andres Iniesta was in dazzling form on Wednesday as the former own mistakes. Golmohammadi believes that Al Duhail Barcelona midfielder drove to a 5-1 thrashing of Persepolis lost 0-2 to Qatari club in their made the most of their chances to score Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in the Japanese club’s first-ever first match of Group C of Asian Football against his side: ‘They had only three chances appearance in the Asian Champions League. Confederation (AFC) Champions League. and scored two goals. In the second half, we Keijiro Ogawa scored a hat-trick with Kyogo Furuhashi and Two early goals from Mario Mandzukic put all the attacking players on the pitch but Brazilian striker Douglas also on target, but it was the Spanish and Edmilson Junior earned Al Duhail FC we were unable to score. Conceding the two World Cup winner who stole the show in the Group G clash a 2-0 victory over Persepolis on Tuesday. goals was just an unfortunate phase we went with a vintage performance at the heart of Thorsten Fink’s side. “We expected a difficult match but we through. We had a bad start and we were not Iniesta rolled back the years with a midfield masterclass, made so many mistakes and Al Duhail pun- focused during the game and that caused setting up Ogawa’s first with a perfectly weighted pass from ished us for a couple of mistakes.” Golmo- problems for our team” he said. inside his own half that allowed his team mate to lift the ball hammadi said. Persepolis travel to Sharjah next week, over goalkeeper Farizal Marlias. “After conceding two early goals we tried while Al Duhail make the trip west to Bu- Iniesta pulled the strings for Vissel’s third in the 58th minute to score but the Qatari side played an intense raidah where they face Al Taawoun on as Ogawa scored again while Douglas outmuscled the defence and closed game and of course their goal- Matchday Two. four minutes later to claim the fourth. The Spaniard was at his most audacious in setting up Oga- wa’s third, lifting the ball invitingly towards the far post for the forward to head into an empty goal. Chinese F1 postponed over coronavirus fears It was a good night for Japanese clubs as J-League champions Yokohama F Marinos began their campaign with a 2-1 win over The Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 19 has been “All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to two-time champions Jeonbuk Motors in South Korea in Group H. postponed because of the “continued spread” of the deadly study the viability of potential alternative dates later in the (Source: Reuters) coronavirus, motorsport›s governing body FIA announced year should the situation improve.” Wednesday. That could prove tricky with FIA organizing a record-break- FIA said promotors of the Shanghai race had requested ing 22 Grand Prix this season, including the Shanghai race. a postponement “in view of the continued spread of novel Important part of calendar Man Utd seek permission for coronavirus”, now named COVID-19. FIA added: “The Chinese Grand Prix has long been an “As a result of continued health concerns and with the important part of the F1 calendar with many passionate fans. 1,500 ‘safe standing’ seats @WHO (World Health Organization) declaring the coro- The FIA F1 community looks forward to racing in China navirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and @F1 as soon as possible and wishes everyone in the country the A Manchester United fans’ group says it welcomes the club’s Formula 1 have taken these measures in order to ensure best during this difficult time. application to have 1,500 rail seats installed at Old Trafford, the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship “The global situation regarding this virus will continue intended to allow supporters to stand in safety. participants and fans.” to be monitored by the FIA with regard to other motor The club applied for permission to the local Safety Advisory The Shanghai race, the fourth of the new season, sport events.” Group (SAG) in December and hopes to be given the go-ahead becomes the latest -- but easily the most high-profile Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, speaking in London to introduce a safe standing section. -- sports event to fall victim to the virus outbreak which on Monday, said not going to Shanghai would be a “shame”. The world›s most populous country has increasingly United have experienced long-running problems with fans refusing has killed more than 1,100 people in China, where it “We had full grand stands last year,” he said, adding become a powerhouse in hosting international sport in recent to sit down in parts of their all-seater Old Trafford ground but rail seats emerged at the end of last year. that China was beginning to become a “really important years, but has had its sporting calendar thrown into chaos. are designed to lock into a folded position, giving fans space to stand. The postponement also throws into doubt the inaugural market in terms of fan followership”. Athletics› World Indoor Championships, scheduled for “We hope to see this progress as quickly as possible as we have race in Vietnam, which takes place two weeks before but “Not going there would not be great for the fans and Nanjing in March 13-15, have been postponed for a year. long argued that rail seats are a safety enhancement as well as where there have also been cases of COVID-19. ourselves, but health comes first.” The Chinese Formula E Grand Prix, due to take place popular with many fans whether they prefer to stand or indeed “The FIA and @F1 continue to work closely with the China has been forced to cancel or put off a host of sporting in Sanya on the southern island of Hainan on March prefer to remain seated throughout the game in other areas with teams, promoter, CAMF and local authorities to mon- events due to the coronavirus epidemic, from suspending 21, was called off “after close consultation” with gov- an unobstructed view,” a statement from the Manchester United itor the situation,” FIA said in relation to the Shanghai all football in the country to postponing the first badminton ernment authorities. Supporters Trust (M.U.S.T) said on Tuesday. postponement. tournament of the 2020 world tour season. (Source: AFP) (Source: Mirror)