THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 SPORTS Marcello Lippi set for China post: Report MILAN: Former World Cup-winning coach selection process for a new coach was ings, China have claimed just one point Guardiola’s world-beating 17.7m euro the event and to one day win it. Marcello Lippi is being tipped to take over continuing. from four games and dropped to bottom (£15m) annual salary at Manchester City China have qualified only once for the as coach of China after being offered the “Only 2 things I can tell you now. place in a Group A which includes Iran, in the shade. World Cup, quietly departing the 2002 job following the resignation of Gao Firstly, we have accepted Gao Hongbo’s Uzbekistan, South Korea, Syria and Qatar. But the Chinese football federation edition without scoring a goal. Last year Hongbo, reports said yesterday. “Lippi, resignation. Lippi, who steered Italy to their fourth may be about to capture Lippi at a time officials declared football a compulsory coach of China,” ran the headline on the Secondly, for the coach candidate of and most recent World Cup triumph in when they are looking to make huge part of the national curriculum, with front page of Italy’s second most popular the national football team, we are doing 2006, is not new to working in China. strides forward in the game. pledges to open 20,000 football-themed sports daily Corriere dello Sport. relevant selection work and our selection The 68-year-old coached Chinese top Often a source of national embarrass- schools by 2017 with the aim of produc- It claimed the Italian maestro was has not been finished,” he said. flight side Guangzhou Evergrande to ment, improving the level of football at ing more than 100,000 players. There has “inclined to accept the offer” and added: Former China coach Gao resigned on three consecutive Super League titles club and national level has been one of also been a splurge of Chinese invest- “In the coming days, the former Italy October 11 following a 2-0 World Cup between 2012 and 2014. the priorities of China President Xi ment in some of Europe’s top clubs-Inter coach will travel to Beijing to pore over qualifying defeat to Uzbekistan. The Corriere dello Sport said last month Jinping. Milan, Manchester City, Aston Villa, the details of the Chinese football associa- result left China’s chances of qualifying for Lippi was set to return to the club on a Even before taking office, Xi under- Espanyol and Atletico Madrid to name but tion’s offer.” However, the China Football the 2018 World Cup in Russia looking three-year deal worth 20m euros net per lined his ambitions for Chinese football in a few-and some of the sport’s top stars Association’s Huang Shiwei told AFP the slim. Sitting a lowly 78th in FIFA’s rank- season-a salary that would have put Pep 2011: to qualify for the World Cup, to host have been lured to China. — AFP Family lobbying brings hope for autistic fans LONDON: Peter and Kate Shippey’s suc- Peter. “However, the first game with the cessful lobbying of Sunderland to install a music and other noise we had to leave ear- room dedicated to largely autistic football ly. “Then it struck us why couldn’t the club fans could see more Premier League clubs put in a sensory room like he had at his follow suit. school where children go when they’re Alex White, Premier League Charitable having a meltdown and it helps to calm Fund Executive, said the Shippeys had them down.” served as an example and funding has Thus the campaign started, including been made available to other clubs to set talks with Sunderland and also garnering up similar rooms for home and away fans. support from the community, including a “Their success has been inspirational,” petition signed by 3,000 backers including White said at the Beyond Sport Summit, schools dealing with similar problems. the leading movement for sport for social “That told the club that we weren’t just change. “With BT (the telecom company acting for ourselves...,” he said. He told the who provide the specialist equipment) we club the flood of cash flowing into the want to extend it into other clubs in the league would allow them to set aside a cor- Premier League, “ he said. “We have made porate box costing about £30,000. Instead funding available to them for both home the club opted for a purpose-built room in and away teams.” one of the lounges for the 2015-16 season. The Shippeys decided to take action “I think its the first one ever built,” he after two abortive trips to Sunderland said Sunderland’s example-the room can fit home matches with Nathan, one of their three people with sensory illnesses along three boys-all of whom are autistic. with a parent and a carer and for which “Two years ago I took Nathan to a home there was a waiting list at the end of last game even though we knew it would be a season-has been followed Shippey says by problem with all the noise,” said Peter fourth tier Notts County. “It has trans- Shippey. “We gave him ear defences to try formed his (Nathan) life, although it got and see if they worked. However, it was a interesting when there was a Newcastle fan big game which we won and so ensured in the room for the derby last season!” said we stayed up. Thus the noise was louder Shippey. Kate Shippey says the room has than ever and he couldn’t cope.” The revolutionised life for other parents. BANGALORE: Bengaluru’s captain Sunil Chhetri (2nd R) heads a ball during the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup semi-final second Shippeys thought that the experiment was “It’s had a massive and positive impact,” leg football match between Bengaluru FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim at the Shree Kanteerava stadium in Bangalore, yesterday. — AFP over, but Nathan’s passion for football grew she said. “One father brought his 24-year- after he watched the World Cup through old son to a game for the first time because the summer of 2014. before it had not been worth the risk. “So I bought season tickets for the “There was not a dry eye in the room, Saints chase famous win at 2014/15 campaign which aren’t cheap,” said the boy was awe-struck.” — AFP San Siro, Van Persie returns PARIS: Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster Manchester United entertain Fenerbahce in drawn away to AZ Alkmaar and beaten Maccabi is looking for the Premier League club to make “a Group A at Old Trafford. Tel Aviv in Group D to stay in touch with leaders massive statement” by beating Italian giants United have four points from two games Zenit. But as they close in on another Irish Inter Milan in the Europa League today. before a rematch with the Turkish giants, with league title, boss Stephen Kenny admits the The Saints travel to the San Siro-and as many whom they have a bit of history. number of games they have faced is beginning as seven thousand of their fans are expected to Fenerbahce inflicted a first ever European to take its toll. “Hopefully we can be energised follow them-knowing a win at the home of the home defeat on United back in 1996, while eight by the crowd. I think it will be a full house and three-time European champions would be a big years later Wayne Rooney hit a hat-trick against we will need that because on Sunday we have step towards progressing to the knockout phase the same team on his European debut. an opportunity to win the league against from Group K. It would also be another memorable result for a club who were in the third tier of English football just five years ago. “If we go and do that (win) it will be a massive statement. You look where the club was just a few years ago and even in the time since I’ve joined the club-you meet the owner and you meet the chairman, and when we came to the club that’s what they said, that they wanted to move the club forward SUNDERLAND: This file photo taken on April 2, 2013 shows the gates of the Stadium and get into Europe, and every summer they’ve of Light, home of Sunderland Association Football Club, in Sunderland, northeast backed us,” goalkeeper Forster told the club’s England. Peter and Kate Shippey’s successful and historic lobbying of Sunderland to website. “They’ve bought players, and step by instal a room dedicated to largely autistic football fans could see many more Premier step we’re achieving those goals and hopefully League clubs follow suit. — AFP we can do ourselves proud in the game, and if we can come out of it with three points that will be a massive achievement.” Korea’s Motors roar Southampton, who are fresh from beating Burnley 3-1 in the Premier League at the week- end, have so far beaten Sparta Prague 3-0 and into Asian final drawn 0-0 away in Israel to Hapoel Beer-Sheva. In contrast, Inter are struggling. SEOUL: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors stormed and fined after one of their scouts was con- Frank de Boer was only appointed in the sum- into the AFC Champions League final with a victed of bribing referees.