WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 SPORTS FIFA to brief executive committee on probes ZURICH: FIFA’s executive committee will be about a proposed black market deal for updated this week on the American and 2014 World Cup tickets. Valcke denies Swiss corruption investigations which wrongdoing. involve some of its own members, football’s The agenda said that Brazilian delegate governing body said yesterday. The two- Marco Polo Del Nero will present an update day session starting Thursday will be later this week on the work of the organiz- chaired by President Sepp Blatter, who is an ing committee for the Olympic football expected target of both federal cases. tournament next year in Rio de Janeiro. Del Nine current executive members, includ- Nero chairs that committee, which report- ing Blatter, took part in the votes for the edly met on Monday without him. Del Nero 2018 and 2022 World Cups which are the left Switzerland suddenly in May, hours focus of a Swiss investigation of possible after two FIFA vice presidents and other money laundering and criminal misman- officials were arrested in dawn hotel raids in agement of FIFA assets. In the US case, Zurich on the eve of Blatter’s re-election. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said last Del Nero did not attend Brazil matches at week in Zurich she expects more charges in the Copa America in Chile in June and an expanding investigation of racketeering skipped a FIFA executive committee meet- and bribery worth “well over $150 million” ing in Zurich in July. that has already indicted 14 men and Blatter has denied any wrongdoing and secured guilty pleas from four others. blamed individuals from football’s conti- Blatter’s reluctance to visit countries nental confederations for implicating FIFA which have an extradition treaty with the in corruption. Still, Swiss legal experts said United States appears to have affected this month that Blatter should be investi- FIFA’s business schedule. FIFA said the exec- gated by Switzerland’s attorney general for utive committee will decide Friday on the selling World Cup television rights for the date and place of its next meeting. That had Caribbean to former FIFA vice president previously been scheduled to take place on Jack Warner at well below market rates. Dec. 17-18 in Japan, which hosts the Club Swiss state prosecutor Michael Lauber World Cup and where Blatter could risk revealed last week that his office has seized arrest. apartments in the Swiss Alps and searched property in western Switzerland in a widen- Denies wrongdoing ing case that could take years to complete. One option could be to create a rare five- Lauber said his team must analyze mas- month gap between executive sessions and sive amounts of data and documents seized CAIRO: Zamalek’s Mahmoud Kahraba, (center) and his teammates raise the cup after winning their Egyptian Cup soccer match against Al Ahly to hold the meeting in Zurich days ahead of from FIFA headquarters and suspicious at the Petrosport Stadium. — AP the extraordinary congress on Feb 26 when activity reports from banks in Switzerland. Blatter’s successor will be elected. Blatter’s The case should go beyond the World Cup executive panel will approve an agenda for votes won in 2010 by Russia and Qatar, and Wenger warns Arsenal to the congress this week, FIFA said. FIFA’s move deeper into FIFA’s day-to-day busi- agenda was signed by acting secretary gen- ness during Blatter’s presidency since 1998. eral Markus Kattner, who was promoted last Blatter announced on June 2 he would Thursday after his boss Jerome Valcke was leave FIFA early, and later cited pressure keep cool in London derby suspended from duty following allegations from the dual investigations. — AP LONDON: Arsene Wenger has warned his hot-head- Tottenham have recorded three consecutive victo- “Things are looking very good. We have great ed Arsenal players not to lose their composure again ries to revive hopes of a successful season after a young players and a good mix, so there are great when they face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in sluggish opening. things for the team if we can keep working like this. the League Cup third round today. Wenger’s side And Tottenham’s Belgian defender Jan It looks very good for the future,” Vertonghen said. head to White Hart Lane for the first north London Vertonghen believes boss Mauricio Pochettino is One concern, however, remains the usually-prolific derby of the season after two successive defeats fea- building a young team capable of great things. Kane’s disappointing form. The England striker is turing three red cards for the Gunners. France striker South Korea forward Son Heung-Min, 23, is the new without a club goal this season but Vertonghen is Olivier Giroud was dismissed in last week’s idol of the Lane after his first Premier League goal- confident he will rediscover his touch soon. Champions League loss against Dinamo Zagreb, and third in just three appearances in all competi- “He has just been a bit unlucky,” Vertonghen while Brazilian defender Gabriel and Spanish mid- tions-clinched a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on said. “He scored for England and in the training ses- fielder Santi Cazorla were sent off in Saturday’s Sunday. Son’s fine start following his transfer from sions he has been doing very well, so the goals will painful 2-0 defeat at Chelsea. Wenger largely blamed Bayer Leverkusen is part of a youth movement also come. “He’s not a guy who will just have one good Chelsea’s Diego Costa for provoking Gabriel into the including 19-year-old Dele Alli, 21-year-old Eric Dier, season and then you never see him again. He has kick that led to his dismissal. 22-year-olds Ben Davies and Harry Kane and 23- the qualities to perform and the goals will come But the centre-back has since been charged with year-olds Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen. eventually.” — AFP improper conduct for his protests after being sent off and the Arsenal manager acknowledges his team needs to do a better job of keeping their emotions under control even in the face of extreme provoca- tion. “It’s true that we played the last two games with 10 men in the second half and I hope we play the next one with 11 v 11,” Wenger said. “But it’s another derby and that’s not guaranteed as well.” Yet there are few more testing environments in which to do that than White Hart Lane on derby day, when ZURICH: In this Monday, July 20, 2015 file photo, FIFA President Sepp Blatter is pho- the hatred and bile will pour down from the stands tographed while banknotes thrown by British comedian Simon Brodkin hurtle towards Wenger’s players. Another factor that could through the air during a press conference at the FIFA headquarters. — AP negate Wenger’s attempts to clamp down on the rash of red cards is Arsenal’s desperation to get back on track after a pair of defeats that raised renewed UK court asked to judge questions about their ability to win the Premier whether bridge is a sport League and Champions League. Feisty game LONDON: Is bridge a sport? A British gives pleasure to a lot of people, but it Although the League Cup is traditionally well judge has been asked to resolve this certainly isn’t getting the nation any fitter,” down Wenger’s list of priorities and he often fields inexperienced starting line-ups in the competition, weighty question after Sport England he said. Bridge Union spokesman Peter Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey suggested he ruled the popular card game is not a Stockdale said the court case is not just wouldn’t mind skipping an evening’s rest to help his sport. The decision is being challenged in about the lottery money, although he club to a morale-boosting win. Britain’s High Court yesterday and today concedes some extra cash would help “It’s not good enough for a club like Arsenal to by the English Bridge Union, which com- bridge attract more aficionados. “We feel lose two games in a row,” Ramsey said.”Hopefully plains that the adverse ruling by Sport it clearly meets the definition of a sport,” now we can put things right today. It will be a feisty England goes against the views of Britain’s he said, adding the International Olympic game with hopefully some goals in our favor.” Parliament and “significant international Committee has recognized bridge. “There While Arsenal’s spluttering start to the season has LONDON: Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud (left) takes the ball away from Chelsea’s Ramires during the English sporting organizations.” It says Parliament are many different sides to it: the personal taken a turn for the worse over the last week, Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium. — AP has recognized “mind sports” that pro- challenge and mental skill that it requires. mote mental skills and contends that It takes years to become a very good play- bridge has known health benefits. er,” he said. Sport England, a national body that At London’s ACOL Bridge Club, where Inter look to reinforce lead, plays a key role distributing lottery funds, the game is a welcome focus on many a has long taken the view that bridge and rainy afternoon, Joan Munro praised its other mental games, such as chess, are central role in her life - but conceded it Juve continue fightback not sports. Its director, Phil Smith, said the may not be a sport.