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Home , Mario Balotelli, Mino Raiola, Steve Mandanda

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 SPORTS Spotlight on Cairo as African bosses meet

JOHANNESBURG: The African football spotlight dential election. The Swiss brought the World Cup to two years from now will be made only this week. back into a competition they won for the only time falls on Cairo this week with FIFA presidential hope- Africa for the first time in 2010 and FIFA financial Spiralling post-Moamer Kadhafi-era violence 39 years ago. Tunisia escaped a ban after apologis- fuls electioneering while a proposed rule change support helps keep afloat many national football forced 2017 hosts Libya to withdraw last year and ing for accusing CAF of bias in a controversial 2015 could extend the reign of CAF strongman Issa federations. Algeria, Gabon, Ghana are bidding to replace them. Cup of Nations quarter-final defeat by Equatorial Hayatou. Other CAF business includes choosing a Recurring crowd trouble could count against Algeria Guinea. host country for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and SENIOR AGE LIMIT and location might rule out Gabon as another cen- making the qualifying draw for that competition. CAF want to change a rule that prevents officials tral African state, Equatorial Guinea, were the 2015 FIFA EXECUTIVE There will also be a vote to select two African rep- serving beyond 70, which would force Hayatou to hosts. Ghana held a successful, goal-packed 2008 Tunisian Tarek Bouchamaoui and Constant resentatives for the FIFA executive committee. AFP step down as president in August next year. tournament, have the required four international- Selemani from the Democratic Republic of Congo sport looks at the main items as leading African offi- There is little doubt that the proposal will be standard stadiums, and appear to tick all the boxes. are expected to win a race with Ivorian Jacques cials gather at a hotel near the Nile river. passed, allowing the tall Cameroonian to continue a Anouma to fill two places on the FIFA executive reign that began in 1988. He is the longest serving CUP OF NATIONS DRAW committee. Anouma wanted to challenge Hayatou FIFA PRESIDENCY HOPEFULS CAF boss, surpassing the 16 years of Ethiopian Morocco and Tunisia will be among the entrants for the CAF presidency two years ago, but a rule FIFA president Sepp Blatter is sure to receive an Ydnekatchew Tessema, who died in 1987. for the 2017 Cup of Nations qualifying draw sched- change disqualified him. emotional welcome on a continent where he enjoys Hayatou considers helping bring the 2010 World uled to take place after the hosts are named Algerian Mohamed Raouraoua was expected to massive support. His three rivals for the top world Cup to South Africa his greatest achievement and Wednesday. Having refused to host the 2015 tourna- stand for re-election, but withdrew after reportedly football job-Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, dreams of a World Cup-winning African team. ment on the agreed dates because they feared visi- losing the support of Hayatou. The successful candi- Dutchman Michel van Praag and former Portugal tors could bring the deadly Ebola virus into the dates will join Hayatou and Egyptian Hany Abo Rida star Luis Figo-are also expected to seek support. CUP OF NATIONS HOSTS country, Morocco were barred from the 2017 and as CAF representatives at FIFA House in Zurich. It would be a shock, though, if Blatter failed to While Guinea were selected 2023 Cup of Nations 2019 Cup of Nations.But a successful appeal to the Burundian female Lydia Nsekera is a non-CAF mem- garner virtually all 54 African votes in the May presi- hosts last year, a decision on who stages the edition Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed Morocco ber of the global body executive. — AFP slam alleged racist abuse of 10 year olds

MILAN: AC Milan have hit out after several unacceptable.” It is the latest in a long line of black players in the side’s under-10 incidents of a racist nature to sully Italian foot- squad allegedly suffered racist abuse at the ball. In January 2013, former Milan forward hands of parents attending an international Kevin Prince-Boateng reopened the debate junior football tournament over the Easter into how to tackle in football when he weekend. and several other black players were targeted The incidents are believed to have taken by racists during a friendly with a lower divi- place during the side’s 4-0 win over Paris sion side. Boateng walked off the pitch, his Saint-Germain in the Universal Cup, currently teammates followed and the game, against taking place in Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany, Pro Patria, was abandoned. Boateng and for- yesterday. mer teammate Balotelli were targeted Players’ agent , who represents by monkey chants later that season by fans of and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among rival Serie A side Roma. other top players, pulled the alarm when he More recently, former Italy and AC Milan posted a message about the scenes on Twitter coach Arrigo Sacchi kicked up a storm that late on Sunday. “In shock about today’s warranted a stiff response from the Italian gov- Milan/PSG in Universal Cup, parents booing ernment when he complained under-20 teams colour 10 year olds. Heads up boys we’re in Italy contained “too many blacks”. Graziano stronger than weak ignorant racists,” said Delrio, the State Secretary to Prime Minister Raiola. Matteo Renzi who also holds responsibility for Milan on Monday did not confirm whether sport in the Italian council of ministers, hit out: the incidents took place, but said if confirmed “The Italy of 30 years ago is not the Italy of they were “unacceptable”. “We have been told today. “Today there are young players who are of alleged incidents of a racist nature during Italian citizens in fact and by right given that yesterday’s game between Milan and PSG in they were born and raised in Italy even if their which coloured kids were targeted by ‘people’ parents had overseas roots. “They are part of attending the game,” read the statement. “We the young generations who go to our schools, do not want to amplify or exaggerate any- who play on our football and sports fields. “And thing, but we sincerely hope the allegations the theme of skin colour is certainly not where are unfounded or that it has been an isolated we should start trying to revitalise our youth case. “However, if they are true, it is absolutely system.” — AFP

FRANCE: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic (center) vies for the ball with Marseille’s French defender Rod Fanni (left) and Marseille’s Togolese midfielder Jacques-Alaixys Romao (right) during the French League football match. — AFP PSG back on top with 3-2 win over Marseille

PARIS: Two goals in three minutes earned Paris PSG centre back sustained a possi- Marcelo Bielsa substituted the disappointing St Germain a 3-2 win at bitter rivals Olympique ble hamstring injury and was substituted by for Lucas Ocampos in midfield de Marseille as the French champions regained in the 34th minute. before sending on Michy Batshuayi for Gignac, the lead on Sunday. In the 35th, PSG hit back with Matuidi curling who was sent off after the final whistle for argu- Andre-Pierre Gignac scored twice as OM a superb shot from just inside the box into the far ing with the referee. Neither change could alter reached the interval with a 2-1 advantage after top corner. then lost possession in Marseille’s fate, which had been sealed by their had equalised, only for the visitors the midfield and Alaixys Romao set up Gignac, three-minute snooze. PSG, who will take on to score through and Jeremy Morel’s who slotted the ball past Sirigu two minutes Barcelona in the Champions League quarter- own goal in the 49th and 51st. PSG have 62 before the break. Marseille though got off to a finals in 10 days, then lost to a pos- points with seven games left and lead terrible start in the second half and they paid sible thigh injury in added time. “We lost two , who beat En Avant dearly for it. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s free kick was players and it’s worrying ahead of the important Guingamp 3-1 away on Saturday, by one point deflected by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda into games that await us,” said Matuidi. It meant that with Marseille in third on 57. the path of Marquinhos, who smashed the ball PSG, who had made their three substitutions, fin- OM, who had lost only one of their last eight into the roof of the net in the 49th minute. ished the game with 10 men but they calmly league games, were on the back foot early on but Two minutes later, Morel, pressured by held on. Earlier, Girondins de Bordeaux kept they went ahead on the half hour when Gignac Ibrahimovic, deflected a cross into his own goal their slim Champions League hopes alive by sent a powerful header past from as PSG took the lead. PSG came close to making beating bottom club RC Lens 2-1 to stay sixth on ’s cross. it 4-2 when Pastore’s low shot shaved the post. 51 points. — Reuters Dortmund eye Europa place via Cup success

BERLIN: aim to win this sea- Robert Lewandowski headed the winner against Bayern are already missing a trio of injured son’s German Cup to keep alive their hopes of his former club. stars in David Alaba, Arjen Robben and Franck European competition next season ahead of Holders Bayern have fresh injury woes for the Ribery. But Pep Guardiola’s Bavarian giants wel- today’s quarter-final against Hoffenheim. key tie of the round in Leverkusen with Germany comed back Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara Dortmund host Hoffenheim while Wolfsburg star Bastian Schweinsteiger the latest on their for the last 20 minutes in Dortmund after a year are home to Freiburg on Tuesday, then holders casualty list. An injury to his left ankle saw out with injury. The German Cup semi-finals will Bayern are at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday Germany’s captain hobbled out of Saturday’s 1-0 be played on April 28 and 29 with the final in as second-division Arminia Bielefeld host win at Dortmund. Berlin on Saturday, May 30. — AFP Borussia Moenchengladbach in the rounds only ARGENTINA: San Lorenzo’s defender Mario Yepes (right) and River Plate’s defender Jonatan non-Bundesliga tie. Maidana vie for the ball during their Argentina First Division football match. — AFP Borussia’s 1-0 league defeat at home to Bayern on Saturday left them tenth in the table and effectively ended their hopes of a fifth year Boca defeat Huracan in the Champions League next season. Jurgen Klopp’s side are now 15 points from qualifying with a top four finish following a dire BUENOS AIRES: Boca Juniors went top of the he began his career 10 years ago in the second set of results earlier in the season which left Argentine championship with a 2-0 win at division before moving to Italy as a 19-year-old. Huracan on Sunday thanks to a brace from mid- Osvaldo was unable to add to his three first divi- them bottom of the Bundesliga in February. fielder Marcelo Meli. sion goals, having an effort ruled out for offside, But the 2012 German Cup winners could yet The match marked the return of Boca striker but hit a superb through ball into the box for claim a Europa League berth, either by winning Daniel Osvaldo to Huracan’s Duco ground where Meli’s 25th-minute opener. this year’s final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium or a Huracan had more of the ball than Boca in top six finish in the Bundesliga table. the second half but were largely ineffective up “The cup game is now very important for us. front with striker Ramon Avila regularly caught Going to Berlin is still a major goal for the sea- offside. son,” said Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Matches on TV Meli made sure of the points two minutes Zorc. (Local Timings) from time when he scored his second of the “And although it is still far away, it is of course game. Unbeaten Boca have 20 points from eight a way to get back into international competi- matches, two more points than San Lorenzo, English tion.” Dortmund have to rediscover their scoring River Plate and Rosario Central. Rodolfo touch at home after failing to claim a single goal Aston Villa v QPR 21:45 Arruabarrena’s side have made their best start to in any of their last three games at Borussia’s beIN SPORTS 1 HD a championship but the coach was not interest- Westfalenstadion in all competitions. ed in statistics. Spanish League “We can give ourselves a big boost for the “Record? We have to become champions, rest of the season with a good result and per- Atletico v Sociedad 21:00 that’s the record we need,” Arruabarrena told formance against Hoffenheim,” said Germany beIN SPORTS 2 HD broadcaster Futbol Para Todos. “The rest is statis- midfielder Sven Bender. SD Eibar v Malaga 23:00 tics which only indicate that we’ve got used to But Dortmund will need to improve on their beIN SPORTS 6 HD winning.” San Lorenzo began the weekend in Bayern defeat which left captain Mats Hummels Levante v Sevilla 23:00 first place but lost 1-0 at River earlier on Sunday ruing their “inefficiency” after failing to convert beIN SPORTS 7 HD while Central were held 3-3 at Defensa y Justicia on Saturday. —Reuters their 15 chances as Bayern’s ex-Dortmund striker GERMANY: Dortmund’s head coach Juergen Klopp attends a match in this file photo. — AFP