SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016 SPORTS Asia puts brave face on Salman defeat HONG KONG: Asian football leaders put The AFC has been a staunch supporter hoped to receive “due importance” a brave face on AFC boss Sheikh Salman of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, whose under Infantino. “I am sure FIFA under bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s FIFA presidential controversial bidding process was at the the able leadership of Infantino would defeat yesterday and pledged to work heart of the crisis which engulfed FIFA continue to give India its due impor- with the world body’s new head Gianni and prompted Friday’s poll. tance and co-operation for the develop- Infantino. Asian Football Confederation Sheikh Salman enjoyed strong back- ment and promotion of football,” All (AFC) head Sheikh Salman, gunning to ing among the Asian voters, including India Football Federation vice-president become FIFA’s first Asian leader, had the 10-member East Asian Football Subrata Dutta said. been the pre-poll favorite but he lost Federation which confirmed its support Infantino’s election was warmly wel- out in the second round of voting. The just before the election. The East Asian comed by Australia, an AFC member Bahraini royal had repeatedly denied bloc includes powerhouse China, which since 2006, despite its earlier announce- claims of complicity in human rights vio- aspires to host and even win a World ment that it would vote for Jordan’s lations during a crackdown on pro- Cup and has been splashing out on top Prince Ali bin Al Hussein. “Today was the democracy protesters in his home coun- players for the Chinese Super League. best day FIFA has had in many years,” try, calling them “nasty lies”. He warmly China’s Xinhua news agency said Football Federation Australia chairman embraced Swiss-Italian Infantino after Infantino had pledged that FIFA’s new Steven Lowy said in a statement. “The the election result and later said in a secretary-general wouldn’t be from mood for change was in the air and the statement that the AFC “looks forward to Europe, in a possible sign of hope for congress voted overwhelmingly to working with the new-look FIFA”. Asia. And sports.163.com called move forward with a new structure and He added: “The new FIFA needs to Infantino a “lucky star” for China after he new leadership to implement it.” become more inclusive and reflect the promised to expand the World Cup from New Zealand, from the 11-member diversity of world football. I trust Gianni 32 to 40 teams, which would give the Oceania Football Confederation, con- Infantino will provide the leadership to national team a better chance of qualify- firmed that it voted for Infantino after MANAMA: Bahraini supporters of FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin achieve this, as well as the rest of the ing. meeting the candidates in Zurich before Ebrahim Al-Khalifa (portrait), react following the news of Salman’s defeat in the reforms that are now urgently needed.” the vote. “The New Zealand Football del- elections, at the Rotana hotel, in the capital Manama. —AFP Sheikh Salman’s defeat is a blow to the ‘Mood for change’ egation is delighted Gianni Infantino ambitions of Asia and especially the Meanwhile India, another supporter was elected and we firmly believe he is said New Zealand Football president Kong’s Apple Daily splashing “End of the Arab world, where there had been antic- of Sheikh Salman which hosted the the right person to lead the next period Deryck Shaw. The election result made Blatter dynasty”, referring to suspended ipation of a powerful new voice in sport. annual AFC awards in November, said it for FIFA including the reform agenda,” headlines around the region, with Hong former leader Sepp Blatter.— AFP Celtic boss blasts wasteful champs GLASGOW: Celtic manager Ronny Deila as well so that’s hard to swallow. We had said his side need to start taking their three very big chances and should have chances after the Hoops were held to a 1-1 won the game.” Boyata’s red card for bring- draw by Hamilton at New Douglas Park on ing down Morris had a big influence on the Friday. Leigh Griffiths had given his side a game and television replays appeared to 35th-minute lead from the penalty spot suggest the Belgian defender got some- before teammate Dedryck Boyata saw red thing on the ball first. seven minutes later for a lunge on Carlton However, Delia said he had no argument Morris. Gary Mackay-Steven and Griffiths with referee Craig Thompson’s decision. both spurned chances to double Celtic’s “The sending off is an okay decision. He advantage before the Scotland striker saw doesn’t take the ball and we have to start his second penalty of the match saved by learning that you have to stay on your feet Hamilton stopper Michael McGovern. and run with the player in those situations,” Hamilton then grabbed a superb 73rd- the Norwegian manager said. “I’ve seen it minute equalizer through substitute one more time and he doesn’t take the ball Eamonn Brophy as they gained some so it’s a red card.” The point means Celtic redemption for their 8-1 humbling by the open a seven-point gap at the top of the Hoops back in January. It ends a run of table over Aberdeen, who could cut the three successive wins for Celtic and the deficit if they can defeat St Johnstone yes- Parkhead club’s manager was angry at his terday. “There are 11 matches left and a lot side’s lack of composure in front of goal. to play for. Nothing is finished here and I “It’s disappointing that we went down to say that all the time,” said Deila, whose side 10 men and we didn’t win this game,” Deila host Dundee on Wednesday. said. “We started well but in the second “But we are going to fight to the last half things were more open. You have to game and already on Wednesday we have take your chances especially when you are a game where we want three points.” down to 10 men. “We had three very big Hamilton manager Martin Canning was ZURICH: New FIFA president Gianni Infantino, of Switzerland, waves to delegates after his election, during the Extraordinary FIFA Congress chances and didn’t score and they got proud of the progress his side had made 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, Feb 26, 2016. —AP theirs from a set play and that was disap- since their 8-1 humiliation at Celtic Park. pointing. “The team worked ever so hard and “I think we defended in the second half deserved something from the game,” better than we have with 10 men before Canning said. “Michael McGovern kept us Infantino goes from stop-gap and they didn’t have a lot of chances and in it with the penalty save and then we got we had a lot of control. But we needed to our goal but with a bit of luck we might want the ball more and create more have got all three points. “I’m proud of the to soccer most powerful man chances and maybe have been braver on boys as it’s such a big effort to take some- the ball. “Leigh missed the penalty and he thing off Celtic, albeit with ten men, but was two times alone with the goalkeeper you have to put in the work.”— AFP FIFA elects Gianni Infantino as president ZURICH: Six months ago Gianni Infantino was a lem) is that it’s not all that easy sometimes to who has been banned for six years for ethics vio- low-profile right-hand man to European soccer understand how the system works, and maybe lations. Both were raised in the same Swiss valley, boss Michel Platini. He was the striking, shaven- UEFA has to do it more transparently,” said Bayern only 10 km (six miles) from each other, both were headed character who pulled balls out of glass Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. modest amateur footballers and both speak the pots during televised UEFA competition draws. Infantino’s watch has also seen the European same five languages. Each went to university and Barely-known by the general public, he was also Championship expanded from 16 to 24 teams then began their careers in the French-speaking the man behind a complex attempt to force and the innovative move of staging the 2020 part of Switzerland. During the campaign, Europe’s clubs to rein in their spending, but tournament in 13 cities around Europe rather Infantino often had to fend off suggestions that which ended up leaving fans and even club than a single host nation. Although it is hoped he is too Eurocentric. “I’m not the European can- directors confused. Infantino’s election will mark a clean break with didate, I’m not the UEFA candidate,” he respond- On Friday, Infantino was chosen as the new FIFA’s past, his rise to the top bears some similari- ed at one point. “I’m a football person, so I feel president of FIFA, a position which made his ties to that of his disgraced predecessor Blatter, that I am the candidate for football.”— Reuters predecessor Sepp Blatter as instantly recogniza- ble as some of the world’s leading statesman. It was a remarkable leap for the affable Swiss- Italian. The polyglot lawyer only entered the FIFA Sterling’s road to Wembley Manchester City’s Chilean manager Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp race in late October, one day before the dead- Manuel Pellegrini line, as a stop-gap candidate after Platini had brings City star back home been placed under investigation for ethics viola- tions.