Established 1961 27 Sports Sunday, April 7, 2019 Sheikh Salman retains place at helm of Asian football India earn top FIFA seat, eye 2026 World Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: Sheikh Salman bin in 2013 and was returned unopposed in 2015 The agreement with Chinese-backed Ebrahim Al Khalifa was re-elected unop- before running unsuccessfully against Gianni company DDMC Fortis will ensure revenues posed to the position as president of the Infantino for the position of FIFA president more than double from those under the cur- Asian Football Confederation yesterday after the following year. rent agreement with long-term partner the regional body’s congress confirmed a Initially elected on a platform of accounta- Lagardere Sports. new four-year term for the Bahraini by bility, he has becoming increasingly distant Meanwhile, India set their sights on quali- acclamation. during his presidency, rarely taking questions fying for the 2026 World Cup as Praful Patel The 53-year-old, who was not present at from the media since winning his second term became their first representative on the the meeting due to the death of his mother of office. The former Bahrain Football powerful FIFA Council yesterday. Patel, one earlier in the week, was handed a third term Association president has denied accusations of six Asian delegates elected to the Council at the helm after his rivals, Mohammed Al he was involved in human rights abuses by at the Asian Football Confederation Romaithi from the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf state’s ruling family during a crack- Congress, said the World Cup was the next Qatari Saoud Al Mohannadi, withdrew. down on democracy protesters in 2011. big step for India after making great strides Sheikh Salman will extend his reign as The issue resurfaced in January when in recent years. president until at least 2023, by which time Sheikh Salman’s position in world football India’s confidence has grown after a posi- he will have completed a 10-year spell in was questioned by campaigners seeking the tive Asian Cup in January, where they charge of the 47-member body after initially release of former Bahrain international returned to the tournament after eight years completing the truncated term of former Hakeem Al Araibi from a Thai detention cen- and were unlucky not to reach the second president Mohammed bin Hammam. tre under threat of extradition to the Gulf round. “I personally feel that among all the He took over for the last two years of Bin state. Sheikh Salman did not comment pub- countries in Asia there is a tremendous Hammam’s stint as AFC president after the licly on the matter and the AFC later claimed goodwill for India, and (also) China should Qatari was banned for life by governing to have recused him 18 months earlier from be much more involved in the game and also body FIFA from all football activities for his involvement in matters involving nations in the AFC and FIFA,” Patel said in Kuala involvement in a corruption scandal. the west of the continent due to a potential Lumpur. A member of the Bahrian royal family, conflict of interests. “We should be putting our best efforts to Sheikh Salman first came to prominence in Those matters, though, have done little to make sure that the Indian team qualifies in footballing circles in 2009 when he faced off dampen enthusiasm for him to remain in 2026 for the World Cup,” he added. against Bin Hammam for a seat on FIFA’s charge of Asia’s governing body, with his However, India are also searching for a new KUALA LUMPUR: FIFA President Gianni Infantino receives pennant from AFC senior vice decision making body, a ballot he lost by a hopes of reelection boosted in June last year coach after Englishman Stephen Constantine president Praful Patel during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress 2019 in single vote. when he signed off on a new deal for the quit following their Asian Cup exit after a Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — AFP However, he won the presidential election AFC’s commercial and broadcast rights. last-gasp defeat to Bahrain. — Agencies Benzema defies offside calls to Barnes hits back give Madrid victory to boost MADRID: Karim Benzema shrugged off having two goals Burnley’s ruled out to score twice as Real Madrid came back from behind to beat Eibar 2-1 at home yesterday in Zinedine Zidane’s 100th game in charge of the club. survival bid Benzema had an early strike disallowed at a barely half- full Santiago Bernabeu for offside and the visitors took a surprise lead in the 39th minute thanks to a cool finish from LONDON: Ashley Barnes went from zero forward Marc Cardona, who is on loan from Barcelona. to hero as Burnley boosted their bid for Eibar had humbled Madrid 3-0 back in November and Premier League survival with a crucial 3-1 looked to be on course to do the double on the deposed win against Bournemouth yesterday. European champions until Benzema headed in an equaliser Sean Dyche’s side made the worst pos- in the 59th minute, shortly after being denied again by the sible start at Dean Court when Barnes linesman’s flag. headed into his own net as he tried to clear Benzema netted another header in the 81st minute to put under pressure from Bournemouth’s Madrid in front and the Frenchman passed up two opportu- Nathan Ake in the fourth minute. nities to clinch a hat-trick in the closing stages, missing the However, Burnley were gifted an target and then hitting the post in stoppage time. equaliser in the 18th minute as Madrid moved on to 60 points after 31 games thanks to Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic let Ashley Westwood’s corner go straight the victory but remain third in the standings, 10 points MADRID: Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane (L) jumps for the ball during the Spanish league football through his hands and Chris Wood nodded behind leaders Barcelona who host nearest challengers match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP Atletico Madrid in a top-of-the-table clash later. — Reuters in at the far post. Inspired by the New Zealand forward’s 11th goal this season, the Clarets struck snatched a late 2-1 win at Schalke. again two minutes later, with Westwood Cunha seals comeback Ante Rebic rounded Schalke goalkeeper Alexander firing home after Chris Mepham failed to Nuebel on 13 minutes to put Frankfurt ahead, but Suat Matches on TV clear Dwight McNeil’s cross. Serdar levelled the scores with his second goal in two Burnley were well on top and Barnes win to keep Leipzig games. Yet Frankfurt were awarded an injury-time penal- (Local Timings) struck at the right end in the 57th minute. ty by VAR and Luka Jovic fired in the winner. Once again Begovic was guilty of poor handling, allowing the ball to slip to Wood, on Champions Schalke remain five points clear of the bottom three ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE after Nuremberg and Stuttgart shared the points in a rel- who laid it back for Barnes to slot into the Everton FC v Arsenal FC 16:05 empty net. League course egation showdown. Matheus Pereira’s opener for beIN SPORTS HD 2 Nuremberg came against the run of play just before half- Burnley are eight points clear of the rel- egation zone, and although third bottom BERLIN: LB Leipzig remain on track for a top-four fin- time. Stuttgart’s Ozcan Kabak then scored a controversial SPANISH LEAGUE ish in the Bundesliga after Matheus Cunha’s delightful equaliser, given by VAR despite an apparent offside in the Cardiff have a game in hand, Dyche’s men Deportivo Alaves v CD Leganes 13:00 have taken a major step towards staying chip sealed a 4-2 win over top half rivals Bayer build-up. beIN SPORTS HD 1 Leverkusen yesterday. Leipzig twice came from behind to The equaliser keeps Stuttgart four points ahead of up. Leicester powered to a 4-1 rout of rel- Getafe CF v Athletic de Bilbao 15:00 egated Huddersfield as Brendan Rodgers’ claim a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions and Nuremberg in the relegation play-off place. Relegation beIN SPORTS HD 3 side moved into seventh. cement their claim for a Champions League place. seems all but certain for Hanover, meanwhile, after they v Sevilla FC 17:15 Youri Tielemans put Leicester ahead at “We fought back well today after a tough week. It was suffered a 3-1 defeat to local rivals Wolfsburg. beIN SPORTS HD 3 the John Smith’s Stadium with his second an important three points in terms of the Champions Hanover had an early penalty appeal turned down, but Celta de Vigo v 19:30 goal since joining on loan from Monaco. League,” said Leipzig forward Marcel Sabitzer. Kai Henrik Weydandt broke free on the counter-attack to beIN SPORTS HD 3 The Belgian midfielder netted with a Havertz gave Leverkusen the lead from 12 yards after Levante v Huesca 19:30 slide in the opener after half an hour. Their lead lasted all deflected strike from the edge of the area beIN SPORTS HD 6 Willi Orban tripped Kevin Volland in the box early on. of 100 seconds, a Renato Steffen header bringing after Huddersfield were unable to clear Real Betis v Villarreal CF 21:45 Leipzig replied almost immediately when Sabitzer Wolfsburg level. Jamie Vardy’s miscued shot in the 24th beIN SPORTS HD 3 curled in a free-kick from the edge of the box, but Steffen scored again after half-time, and Jerome minute. Havertz quickly restored the lead with a superb half- Roussillon added a third late on to seal the win and push Vardy doubled Leicester’s lead three ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE volley. Leverkusen looked comfortable until Timo Hanover further towards the drop. Elsewhere, Benito minutes after half-time, collecting Ricardo Werner suddenly smashed in Leipzig’s second just after Raman continued his excellent recent form with a brace ACF Fiorentina v Frosinone Calcio 13:30 beIN SPORTS HD 4 Pereira’s cross and slotting home after the hour mark. for Fortuna Duesseldorf in their 2-1 win over Hertha rounding keeper Ben Hamer. Huddersfield Emil Forsberg then put Leipzig in front from the penal- Berlin. Hertha’s Marko Grujic cancelled out Raman’s first- Udinese Calcio v Empoli 16:00 beIN SPORTS midfielder Aaron Mooy reduced the deficit ty spot before Cunha secured the three points with a half opener, but the Belgian striker scored again after the with a 52nd minute penalty controversially splendid lob seven minutes from time. Leipzig are three break to secure three points and move Duesseldorf a step Cagliari Calcio v spal 16:00 beIN SPORTS awarded for Caglar Soyuncu’s challenge on points ahead of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who closer to safety. — AFP SS Lazio v US Sassuolo Calcio 19:00 Karlan Grant. beIN SPORTS HD 2 James Maddison put the result beyond doubt with a fine free-kick in the 79th desperately required in the 80th minute, racing away to Internazionale Milano v Atalanta 19:00 minute. Bottom of the table Huddersfield, score a majestic solo goal. beIN SPORTS HD 4 Liverpool strike playing their first home match since rele- It was Salah’s 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool SSC Napoli v Genoa CFC 21:30 gation was confirmed, endured one last and six minutes later Henderson, on as a substitute, beIN SPORTS HD 4 blow when Vardy stroked in an 84th minute late to win 3-1 wrapped it up with a close-range finish. Shane Long had penalty after the England striker was made it a nail-biting night for Liverpool’s massed ranks of GERMAN BUNDESLIGA 1ST DIV brought down by Terrence Kongolo. supporters when he fired relegation-threatened FC Augsburg v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 16:30 at Southampton Luka Milivojevic extended his superb Southampton ahead in the ninth minute. beIN SPORTS HD 5 penalty record as Crystal Palace won 1-0 But Liverpool recovered from a surprisingly sluggish Borussia Monchengladbach v SV Werder Bremen19:00 LONDON: Late goals by Mohamed Salah and Jordan at Newcastle to climb 11 points clear of the start and Naby Keita’s header, his first goal for the club, beIN SPORTS HD 5 Henderson earned Liverpool a crucial 3-1 victory at bottom three. Newcastle defender Florian levelled the scores before halftime. Victory lifted Liverpool Southampton to move them back to the top of the Premier Lejeune was stretchered off with his left to 82 points from 33 games, with City on 80 from 32. FRENCH LEAGUE League on Friday. For the second week running Liverpool knee heavily strapped after a nasty second “It was very big. Every game is massive. We’ve got to Stade Reims v LOSC Lille 6:00 looked like losing ground on Manchester City in a titanic half collision with Andros Townsend that win every game. I thought we showed great character in beIN SPORTS HD 6 title race, but once again Juergen Klopp’s side would not left him needing a hospital scan. the first half,” Henderson told Sky Sports. “It was a big per- Toulouse FC v FC Nantes 16:00 be denied as they edged a step closer to a first league title Roy Hodgson’s team took the points in formance in the second half and a big result.” Liverpool beIN SPORTS since 1990. the 81st minute when Wilfried Zaha was needed a stoppage-time winner to beat Tottenham Hotspur OGC Nice v Montpellier HSC 18:00 With games running out they lead City by two points, clipped by DeAndre Yedlin and Serbian 2-1 at Anfield last weekend and they were forced to do beIN SPORTS HD 8 although Pep Guardiola’s champions have a game in hand. midfielder Milivojevic slammed in his 10th things the hard way again at St Mary’s. They were caught Paris Saint-Germain v RC Strasbourg 22:00 Locked at 1-1 Liverpool were laying siege to the successful spot-kick this term. — AFP Southampton goal but it was Salah, who had not scored cold early on and Long punished them, calmly firing home beIN SPORTS HD 6 for eight games, who provided the moment of magic they after Ryan Bertrand’s cross was flicked on. — Reuters