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Sports Tuesday, December 11, 2018 19

Sheikh Hamad re-elected as QFA president; Sheikh Ahmed, Abdulrahman al Qahtani new executive members

Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani was re-elected for another four-year term till 2022 at the General Assembly Meeting of the body held on Monday. The QFA General Assembly also retained members Saud al Mohannadi, Hani Ballan and Ahmed Abdulaziz al Buanain. Meanwhile Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad al Thani, president of Al Ahli club, was signed in as the new Executive Committee Member along with Abdulrahman Majid al Qahtani. River edge out Boca to win Copa afp

River Plate won the Copa Lib- ertadores by beating their fierc- est rivals 3-1 after extra time on Sunday, bringing an end to a final tainted by vio- Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed al Thani, Football President with an lence and moved more than six official in Madrid on Sunday. thousand miles away from Ar- gentina. Boca took the lead through QFA boss attends Copa Dario Benedetto but equalised before Juan Quintero and Gonzalo Mar- Libertadores final tinez scored in extra time, aided by Wilmar Barrios being sent qna Aleksander Ceferin and dis- off, to win a fittingly dramatic Madrid cussed football issues of joint contest for River. interest. It means River prevailed President of the Qatar Foot- 5-3 on aggregate after the first ball Association (QFA) Sheikh Rescheduled Liberta- leg finished 2-2 and the club Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed dores final a success, says reclaim the trophy they had last al Thani met with several foot- CONMEBOL chief won in 2015, lifting it for the ball personalities on the side- Meanwhile, CONME- fourth time in their history. lines of the BOL President Alejandro “The only thing I feel is sad- final between Boca Juniors and Dominguez hailed the re- ness for not winning the cup River Plate, which took place on scheduled Copa Libertadores and giving it to the people of Sunday at the Berna- final as a success and praised Boca,” Boca coach Guillermo beu Stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid president Flor- Barros Schelotto said. The president of QFA at- entino Perez for making it “It is difficult to say to peo- tended the final after receiving happen. “The important thing ple that we haven’t won, espe- River Plate players celebrate with the trophy after winning the second leg match of the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors, at the an official invitation from Ale- is that there was a winner at cially those that made so much Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Saturday. (AFP) jandro Dominguez president of last and there was no trouble. effort to come from .” CONMEBOL, and exchanged I have to thank Florentino Postponed on three occa- the lingering sense of regret. side of the stadium and had to The shame was only that the forfeited the trophy. They views with a of per- Perez because it was a spec- sions and then relocated from There was no repeat of go through checks even to en- operation was not as thorough took their case to the Court of sonalities on various football- tacular occasion for everyone, to Madrid, the the scenes that cast a shadow 15 days ago and that a minority Arbitration for Sport, but the ing issues of joint interest. I’m grateful to him for that,” supporters of these two great over Argentinian football and decided to take advantage. appeal was rejected on Satur- The main subject of dis- Dominguez told reporters. clubs showed in the Santiago saw the original game at Riv- Charged Both clubs were allocated day. cussion was Qatar’s hosting “The idea came from me Bernabeu why this fixture had er’s El Monumental on No- atmosphere 25,000 tickets, with 5,000 of When the players shuf- of the 2022 World Cup, which and my team and then we been billed as one of football’s vember 24 postponed, when those reserved for residents of fled out two hours before is now at the center stage of asked Florentino, he said ‘yes’, greatest ever. around 50 fans attacked Bo- Both clubs were allocated Argentina. The fear had been kick-off to inspect the pitch, world football since the con- this dream was made a real- Lionel Messi, Antoine ca’s team bus and left some of 25,000 tickets, with 5,000 of most of those buying would be they held up their phones clusion of the World Cup Rus- ity and this great final was en- Griezmann and Diego Godin their players injured. those reserved for residents tourists and neutrals, but the at- to capture the thousands al- sia 2018. joyed by everyone.” were among the 62,200 in at- Madrid, which will also of Argentina. The fear had mosphere suggested different. ready inside and the view of Talks also included the “Our aim was always for tendance. But, despite the host the Champions League fi- been most of those buying Both teams had initially a stadium most of them had participation of the Qatari the game to be played in Ar- bouncing huddles in the streets, nal in June, was chosen in part would be tourists and refused to play in ’s cap- never played in before. national football team in next gentina, we tried it twice but in the plumes of blue and red because of its record of host- neutrals, but the atmosphere ital but as the losers, Boca’s The cheers grew louder year’s Copa America, which the end it was a party that took smoke, the swinging scarves, ing major events and the se- sense of grievance will now when they came out for kick- will be a milestone for Qatari place in Madrid,” he added. fluttering flags and fans that curity, which included around suggested different. become more entrenched. off. Then there were whistles football’s participation in for- “We saw a very intense were chanting in their seats 2,500 police officers, did its They felt River were re- as the teams swapped ends and eign competitions. game of football and there three hours before kick-off, job before kick-off. Fans were ter the area immediately sur- sponsible for the chaos two each were greeted by their op- The President of QFA also was a lot of happiness in the there was nothing to extinguish separated into zones either rounding it. weeks ago and should have ponent’s fans behind the goal. met with President of UEFA stadium.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Klopp says Liverpool need big display to beat Napoli given the defeats they have he went for the corner and I Reds must beat suffered in their group this saw a few guys shouting,” he . ”We will not get car- said. Napoli at Anfield to ried away. We know how dif- “I didn’t hear, I’m not sure ficult it is,” he said. if it was possible to hear what stand any chance of “We are not the most ex- they shouted, but I already progressing to the perienced side but we know thought his reaction was just our way and which way we brilliant. “You saw his face. He knockout stage will go all the time. gave the right response, not to “The league is not impor- react for these people. afp tant at the moment because “They don’t deserve any re- Liverpool tomorrow we play Napoli. action, they don’t deserve any We were confident before the respect. Jurgen Klopp has called on away games in Napoli and Bel- “I am obviously not sur- Liverpool to produce “some- grade, and that didn’t help.” prised that things like this still thing special” when they face Klopp, meanwhile, has happen but I like the fact that Napoli in a do-or-die Cham- commended former Liverpool we put the finger on it and say: pions League showdown on player Raheem Sterling for ‘You cannot say what you want, Tuesday. the way he dealt with alleged it is not possible.’” Klopp’s side must beat racist abuse directed towards Napoli at Anfield to stand any him while playing for Man- likely to start chance of progressing from chester City at Chelsea on for psg against Red their group into the knockout Saturday. Neymar is set to start Paris stages. A 1-0 victory or any Chelsea and the Metropoli- Saint-Germain’s crucial Cham- two-goal win will see the Reds tan Police are investigating the al- pions League tie at Red Star through. legations after a video was posted if he comes through a Liverpool have a long on social media that showed the pre-match training session un- history of success on big Eu- winger being shouted scathed, coach Thomas Tuchel ropean nights on their own at by Chelsea fans as he collected said on Monday. ground, dating all the way the ball behind the goal. “I think if training goes back to the memorable Eu- On Sunday, Sterling pub- well today (Monday) then it’s ropean Cup quarter-final win Liverpool’s striker Divock Origi (left), Mohamed Salah (second left), Dejan Lovren, Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri at lished a post on Instagram obvious he will play,” the Ger- over Saint-Etienne in 1977 a training session at Melwood in Liverpool on Monday. (AFP) saying that British newspapers man said. The world’s most that kick-started their conti- are helping to “fuel racism” be- expensive player came off ear- nental reign. The Italian side have con- “We really need to make Napoli are dangerous on the mier League on Saturday cause of the way they portray ly in the 2-2 draw at Bordeaux That gives Klopp hope as tinued to look strong despite sure we are ready for Napoli. counter attack and good de- when they won 4-0 at Bourne- young black footballers. on December 2 after hurting he prepares to face a major losing manager Maurizio It’s difficult to come in after a fending. “They are a typical mouth and previous leaders He also wrote in the post the same groin he injured test against Napoli, who are Sarri to Chelsea in July, with successful coach such as Sarri Italian team. But if something Manchester City lost 2-0 at that he “had to laugh” when playing for against second in and un- Carlo Ancelotti taking over and make changes but they special is possible, then it’s Chelsea. he heard the alleged racist in November. beaten in Champions League and Klopp knows Liverpool are so good,” Klopp told re- here, and we will try that.” Klopp, however, is cer- remarks during the game be- The Parisians need to win Group C, having defeated Liv- will have to produce one of porters on Monday. Liverpool go into Tues- tain that his players will not cause he expects “no better”. in on Tuesday if they erpool 1-0 when they met in their most dominant displays “We know the result we day’s match in good spirits, get carried away, either in the “I watched the game and I are to guarantee a place in the in October. to advance. need, and it’s difficult because having gone top of the Pre- Premier League or in Europe, think I saw the situation when last 16.