TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 SPORTS Ex-president of Honduras admits to bribery in FIFA scandal NEW YORK: A former president of forfeit $650,000. He told the judge that charged in the fall in a second wave of reform and transparency measures that In a lengthy indictment, prosecutors Honduras pleaded guilty to conspiracy he had accepted bribes and distributed the prosecution that focused on a gener- gained support after the scandal was allege that hundreds of millions of dol- charges yesterday and admitted to tak- some of the money to others. He said he ation of football leaders in South revealed. In all, about 20 soccer officials lars in illegal payments made over the ing bribes in the wide-ranging FIFA foot- knew it was wrong. Callejas, who was America, a bedrock of FIFA and World have been indicted on charges related past quarter-century involved the use of ball scandal over lucrative broadcast president of Honduras from 1990 to Cup history. to the U.S. investigation of corruption in U.S. banks and meetings in the United rights. 1994, will be sentenced Aug. 5. In that crackdown, five current and the sport. States. The Justice Department has said Rafael Callejas, a member of FIFA’s tel- Initial arrests in the case last May former members of FIFA’s ruling execu- An indictment returned in Brooklyn that numerous guilty pleas in the case evision and marketing committee, resulted in charges against 14 people, tive committee were arrested at the in November charged Callejas for his have resulted in agreements to forfeit entered the plea to racketeering conspir- including seven top FIFA officials arrest- same Zurich hotel where the similar raid alleged role in a bribery scheme involv- over $190 million, and another $100 mil- acy and wire fraud conspiracy in federal ed at a Swiss hotel. His surrender came on FIFA officials occurred a half-year ear- ing lucrative broadcasting and hosting lion has been restrained in the US and court. Each charge includes a maximum after 16 additional defendants, most lier. Those arrests came just before FIFA’s rights for the World Cup and soccer’s abroad. The US has sought to restrain of 20 years in prison; he also agreed to from Central and South America, were executive committee met to approve other biggest events. assets in 13 countries. —AP Sturridge back for England as Milner is named captain LONDON: Daniel Sturridge is to play his that moment of satisfaction has now first international for 18 months while passed,” said the manager. James Milner will captain England from the start of a game for the first time when the FEEL-GOOD FACTOR Euro 2016 finalists host Netherlands at “Our heads are concentrated on the task Wembley today. ahead. The feel-good factor is always short- Liverpool goal poacher Sturridge has lived for me and the players.” been plagued by injuries since winning the Milner, who will win his 58th cap on last of his 16 caps against Norway in Tuesday, takes over as skipper from Chelsea September 2014. defender Gary Cahill who captained the “We’re pleased to welcome him back team against Germany. after his long layoff from England duty,” “To get the chance to lead out your manager Roy Hodgson told a news confer- country is a massive honour and some- ence on Monday. thing you’ll never forget,” said the Liverpool Experienced midfielder Milner, who will player. lead the side in the continuing absence of Milner echoed Hodgson’s words by urg- injury victim Wayne Rooney, said Liverpool ing his team mates to focus on the task team mate Sturridge had worked hard to ahead against Netherlands who have failed get back. to qualify for the European Championship “No one doubts his quality,” said Milner. in France in June. “Goals win you tournaments.” “It’s exciting to see the amount of young Hodgson is expected to make several talent coming through but we don’t want alterations to the side that rallied from 2-0 to get carried away,” he said. “If we don’t down to beat world champions Germany 3- perform tomorrow night everyone will for- 2 in Berlin on Saturday. get about Saturday and that momentum “There will be some changes. How will be lost.” wholesale those changes will be, you’ll The only sour note against Germany was have to wait and see,” he said. the fractured ankle sustained by Stoke City England delighted their supporters with goalkeeper Jack Butland that could keep victory against Germany but Hodgson is him out of the European Championship. refusing to let his young squad rest on their Hodgson called the injury “a devastating laurels. blow” but said Butland had told him he “We should be rightly proud of it but would “come back stronger”. — Reuters Belgian Demoitie dies LONDON: Netherlands’ midfielder Ibrahim Afellay (L) and Netherlands’ midfielder Memphis Depay take part in a team training session at Wembley Stadium, in west London, yesterday, ahead of their international friendly football match against England today. — AFP in race motorbike smash LILLE: Belgian cyclist Antoine Demoitie has one to ensure that attention, awareness died after he was struck by a motorbike fol- and control over safety standards are main- Ebullient England lowing a fall during the Gent-Wevelgem tained to a very high level.” race in Belgium, police said. The Gent-Wevelgem cobbled classic The 25-year-old, a member of Belgium’s lived up to its gruelling reputation on Wanty-Gobert team, was involved in a fall Sunday, with riders battling strong winds along with three other riders around 150 as they tackled 10 climbs over a 243 kilo- gunning for Dutch kilometres (90 miles) into the race on metre route. Sunday as it lopped briefly out of Belgium Former Belgian national champion Jens into northern France. Debusschere was also hospitalised after he LONDON: Invigorated by Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 coach Danny Blind lost another stalwart in the Marco van Ginkel called up as replacements. He was then hit by a race motorbike sustained a concussion following a heavy friendly win over world champions Germany, game against France when Wesley Sneijder suc- Meanwhile, Daley Blind, the coach’s son, is a while on the ground, before being trans- crash, his Lotto-Soudal team said. England tackle the Netherlands today seeking to cumbed to a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper doubt with a hamstring problem of his own. “My ported first to Ypres hospital and then The race, which includes two ascents of sustain the feel-good factor ahead of the Jasper Cillessen and midfielder Davy Klaassen hamstring is stiff,” said the polyvalent being transferred to an intensive care unit the hills of Kemmelberg, was won by European Championship. have also withdrawn from the squad-the former Manchester United defender. “I didn’t want to at Lille, where he succumbed to his injuries. Slovakia’s Peter Sagan. Goals from Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Eric after breaking his nose in training, the latter take any risks in view of the upcoming games. “The rider died. An inquiry is under way A number of accidents have struck the Dier saw an England team inspired by Dele Alli after injuring his knee-with Michel Vorm and We have to look how it goes.” — AFP to determine the circumstances,” Frederic sport this year, including the death of come from 2-0 down to beat Germany and while Evrard, spokesman for the Nord-Pas-de- young hope Romain Guyot. manager Roy Hodgson was quick to downplay Calais regional gendarmerie in France, said The 23-year-old Frenchman died on the result’s importance, there was no disguising late on Sunday. March 3 when he was hit by a truck at a the ebullience of his youthful team’s display. Brazil without Neymar, A witness quoted by Belgian daily crossroads in the west of the country. Tuesday’s game is Hodgson’s last chance to SudPresse said four riders were involved in In January, six racers from the Giant- experiment before he announces his squad for a fall in front of the motorbike, which “liter- Alpecin team, including German John Euro 2016 on May 12 and with Daniel Sturridge, Luiz for Paraguay trip ally fell on top of” Demoitie. Degenkolb and French Warren Barguil, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott also candi- Other witnesses said the Belgian rider were injured in a collision with a car during dates for attacking roles-not forgetting injured MONTEVIDEO: Brazil will be without Barcelona the Olympic team, to replace Neymar while was hit on the head. a training ride south of Valencia. duo Wayne Rooney and Raheem Sterling-he has star Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain defender Corinthians defender Felipe will come in for Luiz. The cyclist’s team earlier said Demoitie In 2011, Demoitie’s compatriot Wouter plenty of options. “I am sure he wants that,” said David Luiz today when they face a tricky 2018 Gabriel, 19, known widely as “Gabigol” and was taken to hospital in “extremely serious Weylandt died from injuries suffered in a Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane, who took his World Cup qualifying trip to Paraguay with regarded as the heir apparent to Neymar, will be condition”. “His wife and his family are at his crash during the third stage of the Giro international tally to four goals in nine appear- renewed uncertainty swirling around their cam- making his first senior appearance for Brazil after side,” the team wrote on Twitter. d’Italia. ances. “He wants everyone on top form and paign. starring for the Under-23s last year where he The International Association of On Saturday, 22-year-old Belgian rider applying themselves well.