THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 SPORTS Racism clouds Italian football renaissance

TURIN, Italy: These should be the best of to highlight his treatment in interviews, of recent cases of black players being nent black player, Mario Balotelli, he were they good or not so good.” times for Italian football. Juventus protesting at “being made to feel like a verbally attacked from the stands. Serie argued. “Balotelli had to endure endless Hoping the problem will go away is reached their second Champions League criminal” while the game’s governing A has sanctions procedures but the crite- abuse but he never had any kind of sup- not enough, said Valeri. “Many sociolo- final in three years on Tuesday evening, bodies sit on their hands. The spotlight ria for applying them (such as the whole port in trying to stop it,” said Valeri, not- gists talk of the phenomenon of the new investors are promising a revival of on Italian football brightened after stadium must be able to hear the abuse) ing how reluctant white Italian foot- weekend racist - someone who goes to AC Milan and and Serie A is casting off its Juventus’ Moroccan defender Medhi means they are hardly ever used. “It is ballers are to join anti-racism cam- the stadium and shouts abuse but does reputation for sterile defensive fare. But Benatia cut short a TV interview at the just ridiculous,” according to Valeri. “The paigns. “In Italy anti-racism is not every- not apply the same approach to people the renaissance risks being clouded by weekend after reportedly hearing some- result is racism is never punished.” one’s battle. If you say you are against he meets during the week. “Personally I reminders of football’s dark ages: the one involved in the production describ- Another problem is that although Italy racism, you risk people saying maybe think that is wrong and what is happen- specter of racism has returned to haunt ing him in racially derogatory terms. has strong legislation covering racial you’re a communist.” ing in the stadiums now risks being the national sport. Ten days after Ghana abuse, the law requires positive identifi- Mainstream Italian politicians are reproduced outside. If it is okay to insult midfielder Sulley Muntari walked off in ‘RACISM NEVER PUNISHED’ cation of the individuals involved, and reluctant to take a stand for fear of black players inside a stadium, it quickly disgust at being racially abused during a Italian football cannot be blamed for clubs cannot be held responsible for fail- being seen as not appreciating voters’ becomes normal to insult a young guy match at Cagliari, the fans responsible that incident. But sociologist and writer ing to identify perpetrators. Valeri says worries about the arrival of more than from Gambia or elsewhere that you meet have not been identified. And no action Mauro Valeri believes its racism problem clubs’ fear is alienating their most hard- half a million mainly African migrants in in the street.” has been taken against the Sardinian club. is only partly about sport reflecting the core fans, even if they have extremist or three years. “Today, talking about Sebastian Louis, a French expert on Muntari, in contrast, was sanctioned, outside world. “What happened with even criminal affiliations. And broader racism means losing votes,” said Valeri. fan culture, said the recent incidents after failing to persuade the referee to Muntari is a very important episode. But cultural and political influences also Within football, suggesting Italy could should not be downplayed but argues suspend the match. Remonstrating with only because he reacted. Sadly, this kind shape attitudes. learn from neighboring countries that Italy is changing. “You have to the fans earned him a first yellow card, of thing is all too common,” Valeri told seems to raise hackles. “I don’t believe it remember that in 1996, in a Verona der- walking off in frustration a while later got AFP. “And it is not just Serie A and B. In STADIUM TO STREETS is just an Italian problem, it’s global,” by, a black mannequin was brandished him a second and a sending off, leading junior football there have been 80 regis- “Within Italian football there is no Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said with a noose around its neck by two sup- to an automatic one-match ban. An out- tered cases of black players being anti-racism movement and other anti- ahead of Tuesday’s win over Monaco. “I porters wearing Ku Klux Klan hoods. cry spearheaded by the international abused in the last two years. Usually by racism associations don’t take any inter- just hope that as soon as possible we “Throughout the 1980s there were players’ union and the UN human rights parents of their opponents and almost est in football,” said Valeri. This leaves can stop talking about racism and race extreme right symbols in numerous sta- agency saw the ban overturned on invariably nothing is done about it.” anyone who takes a stand isolated, as and only talk about Chiellini, Benatia, diums, racist attacks outside them. The appeal. Muntari has subsequently sought The Muntari abuse was one of a string happened to the country’s most promi- Muntari, what they do on the pitch, situation has evolved.” — AFP

PREVIEW Herrera says fans can fire Man Utd to final

LONDON: Ander Herrera wants upon cup pedigree that saw them over- Manchester United’s supporters to turn Old come Real in the quarter-finals of Trafford into a cauldron when his side look this season’s Copa del Rey, a year after they to complete victory over Celta Vigo in had accounted for Atletico Madrid at the Thursday’s Europa League semi-final return same stage of the tournament. “It is still leg. Marcus Rashford’s sweet second-half close,” said Celta striker John Guidetti, who free-kick brought United a 1-0 win in last was formerly on the books of United’s week’s first leg, putting Jose Mourinho’s cross-town rivals City. “It is half-time. They side within touching distance of the final in are leading 1-0 and we have to go out and Stockholm on May 24. But although United make the second half count. At the end of have gone 17 European home games with- the day, if we go to Old Trafford and score out defeat, Celta have scored in all six of the first goal, we are in the driving seat their Europa League away matches this because if we score another one, they have season and Herrera says everyone in United to score two.” red will have to be on their game. Celta’s Europa League commitments “They have scored away in every game have had a striking impact on their league they’ve played in the competition so we form, largely due to coach Eduardo have to be aware of that,” the Spanish mid- Berizzo’s determination to rest players. fielder said. “They are a very good team, Their 3-0 defeat at Malaga last weekend very dangerous when they play away and was their sixth loss in seven outings we will need our fans at home. “I tell them and they have won only two of their last 10 we really need them to create a good games in all competitions. Peter Bosz’s daz- atmosphere, a difficult atmosphere for the zling young Ajax team are likely to be opponents, who can push us to be in the awaiting the victors in the final, having final. It’s not going to be easy.” beat Lyon 4-1 in the home leg of their semi- United have never won the Europa final. But Lyon have averaged over four League and are bidding to reach a first con- goals per game in their Europa League tinental final since their 3-1 loss to home matches and coach Bruno Genesio Barcelona at Wembley in the deciding believes his side’s 3-2 victory over Nantes match of the 2010-11 Champions League. on Sunday showed they are capable of But while success in Europe’s second-tier pulling off a famous comeback. “There’s an competition will complete United’s collec- hour and a half to overcome our deficit,” he tion of trophies, what motivates them said. “We’ll have to create chances and take SYDNEY: Shanghai SIPG’s Lyu Wenjun (right) falls over Sydney Wanderers’ Vedran Janjetovic as Wanderers’ Haritz Borda watches during their above all is the place in next season’s them, but also remain calm and organized Asian Football Confederation Champions League match yesterday. — AP Champions League that Europa League when we lose the ball. “We have to remem- success will yield. Mourinho has openly ber that we scored three goals. And if we abandoned United’s hopes of securing the score three on Thursday, we could go top-four finish in the that through.” —AFP Wanderers down Hulk-less SIPG would open the door to the Champions League. He made eight changes to his SYDNEY: Western Sydney Wanderers pinched starting XI for last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at only their second win of this season’s AFC Arsenal, which brought an end to United’s Champions League with a late winner over big- Buffon seeking to get 25-game unbeaten run in the league and Matches on TV spending Shanghai SIPG in their final group left them four points below fourth-place (Local Timings) game in Sydney yesterday. Jaushua Sotirio had a Manchester City. Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, tap-in in the 89th-minute to claim a 3-2 win for gloves on elusive prize Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba and Rashford UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE the 2014 AFC Champions League winners who are among the players expected to return grabbed a consolation win after failing to qualify TURIN: Cardiff beckons for Gianluigi Buffon on more than patriotic fervor. for United today. Man United v Celta de Vigo 22:05 for the last 16. SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas did- and an elusive Champions League winners’ beIN SPORTS HD 2 FR n’t risk his star Brazilians Oscar and Hulk given medal is not the only prestigious prize within ‘DONE NOTHING YET’ ‘STILL CLOSE’ his Chinese Super League giants were already the gangly reach of one of the great goalkeep- “If they win the Champions League I really Celta need not look far for inspiration, Lyonnais v Ajax Amsterdam 22:05 safely through to the knockout stages. ers. At 39, Buffon feared his chance to win club think he would deserve it,” the former Leicester having overcome a 1-0 home defeat beIN SPORTS HD 3 Shanghai found the net after just 21 seconds football’s biggest competition might have and Chelsea boss told SkyItalia. “It is a very against Shakhtar Donetsk to prevail 2-1 on through Wu Lei but Wanderers scored the next gone after featuring in losing Juve teams in particular role and it is not easy. They have aggregate in the last 32. They can also call two goals through Japanese Jumpei Kusukami the 2003 and 2015 finals. But the 2006 World only given it to a goalkeeper once, with Yashin. and Steven Lustica in the space of three minutes Cup winner has never been one to let any- But if you ask, who is the best footballer in the to lead 2-1 in the sixth minute. Spanish defender thing slip easily through his fingers. world, then yes, the answer can be Buffon.” Aritz Borda conceded a penalty which Brazilian His exemplary form this season has been a Juve booked their second final slot in three I’ve not gambled on Europa Elkeson converted in the 23rd-minute penalty to key reason for Juve’s irresistible advance on seasons on Tuesday by beating Monaco 2-1, equalize. The game looked like petering out to a the Welsh capital, where they will face Real completing an impressive 4-1 aggregate win League success: Mourinho draw in the second half before Jumpei claimed Madrid or Atletico Madrid on June 3. And if in front of home supporters convinced this another assist for Sotirio to prod home. Buffon and co. do return from Wales victorious, could be their year. MANCHESTER: Manchester United man- points off the Champions League places Shanghai SIPG finished second in Group F to what price the skipper crowning a silverware- As a club, Turin’s Old Lady has a habit of ager Jose Mourinho has not gambled with three matches of the Premier League ’s , who lost 1-0 to FC sprinkled career by becoming the first goal- stumbling on the doorstep of glory. Eight with the club’s season by prioritizing season remaining. More accustomed to Seoul in Korea courtesy of Yoon Seung-Won’s keeper since Lev Yashin in 1963 to win the times Juventus have reached the final match Europa League success over a top-four competing for Champions League titles, 38th minute goal. It means Shanghai face a Ballon d’Or? in the world’s most prestigious club competi- finish in the Premier League, he said yes- United are bidding to reach the final of mouthwatering all-China last-16 clash against With Real Madrid the more likely oppo- tion, but only twice have they brought the tro- terday. Mourinho has given up on Europe’s second-tier competition for the Group H winners Jiangsu Suning with the first nents, shutting out Cristiano Ronaldo would phy back to Italy. “We had some tough United’s hopes of securing Champions first time in their history. leg in two weeks’ time, while Urawa will have inevitably bolster Buffon’s prospects of ending moments,” Buffon said after sending a young League qualification via the league and Korean opposition in Jeju United. the Portuguese striker and Lionel Messi’s Monaco side packing. “And it would have been fielded a weakened team in last Sunday’s ATMOSPHERE ‘NOT CONSISTENT’ Japan’s Kashima Antlers ensured they would recent monopoly on world football’s leading even harder if we had gone out there with our 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. United are 1-0 up Spanish side Celta have never reached top Group E - and face a last-16 encounter individual award. The notion that “Gigi” noses in the air. But we didn’t, we knew we ahead of the home leg of their Europa a continental final of any stripe, but against China’s two-time Asian Champions deserves nothing less is already being pushed had to suffer. Now this final is here. But it League semifinal against Celta Vigo today Mourinho says there will be no difference Guangzhou Evergrande - thanks to a 2-1 win at noisily by the adoring Italian media. But the counts for nothing yet.” and with victory in the between the teams when home to ’s Muangthong United, who well-travelled Claudio Ranieri, whose long tournament yielding a it comes to their will to are also through. But Kashima needed a contro- career included a stint managing Buffon at ‘IMPOSSIBLE INTO REALITY’ Champions League slot, win. “In terms of motiva- versial winner from Yuma Suzuki, whose second Juventus, says the case for Buffon is founded Juventus were well beaten when they lost Mourinho says his choic- tion we are even,” said goal of the game in the 60th minute appeared to Barcelona in 2015 in what was their fourth es were entirely rational. the Portuguese, who led to be scored with his left arm. final setback since they beat Ajax in 1996. “The situation is sim- Porto to glory in the Muangthong’s Teerasil Dangda had earlier Heartbreak followed in 1997, 1998 and 2003 ple. Seventeen matches UEFA Cup - as the Europa equalised Suzuki’s 18th-minute opener with a and many feared Juventus’ days as a great in seven weeks with 16 League was formerly searing strike from outside the box on the force in European football were over when the players is impossible. It known - in 2003. “For stroke of half-time. Muangthong will face club was caught up in a match-fixing scandal was not a gamble. It was Celta, in their words it’s Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the knockout and relegated to Serie B following the 2006 a simple decision,” he the most important stages. South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai came from World Cup. Buffon was among the club’s lead- told reporters at Old match of their history. My behind to beat Roar 3-2 in a battle for ing stars who opted to stay and he has been a Trafford. “It was a deci- Jose Mourinho feeling is also the most the Group E wooden spoon in Brisbane. A- pillar of its rebirth as the predominant force in sion based on common important match of our League marksman Jamie Maclaren put Roar Italian football. sense. Seventeen matches in seven weeks, history. It doesn’t matter what happened ahead with two first-half goals after a goalkeep- A point at direct rivals Roma on Sunday will April and May. Seventeen matches with 16 before, how big the matches before were. ing howler from Jamie Young had gifted Ulsan wrap up a sixth straight Scudetto and, with a players is completely impossible. We lost What matters is the next one and the next the lead in the ninth minute. Coppa Italia final to come against Lazio on four players in one week, when we lost one is tomorrow. I don’t think Celta want it Ulsan equalized through Nam Hee-Cheol off May 17, a memorable treble looks like a dis- (Chris) Smalling and (Phil) Jones in the more than us. So in this aspect I don’t a misjudged backpass from Tommy Oar in the tinct possibility. There is little doubt about (England) national team and (Marcos) Rojo think there will be a difference between 54th minute before substitute Kim Young-Jin which piece of silverware counts most. “When and Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) against the teams.” scored off a free kick to put them ahead. Ulsan’s we played in the 2015 final, everyone thought Anderlecht (in the previous round). After Mourinho revealed United will be with- victory gave them third place in Group E with it would be my last in the Champions,” Buffon that we lost boys that could be alterna- out Rojo, Shaw, Young, Fosu-Mensah and Roar finishing last. AFC Champions League (east- said. “Even I thought it, even if underneath I tives: Ashley Young, Luke Shaw, Timothy Ibrahimovic for the rest of the season, but ern region) knockout stage draw: Muangthong kept hoping.” And the sense of being on the Fosu-Mensah. When we lost these players he reported no new injury problems. Celta United (THA) v Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), brink of history was underlined in a tweet in a period of 17 matches in seven weeks, have scored in all six of their Europa Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) v Kashima Antlers from Italy’s most capped player yesterday. “We it was the impossible job. It was not a League away games this season and with (JPN), Shanghai SIPG (CHN) v Jiangsu Suning will be remembered for our actions,” he wrote. gamble, just a consequence of our situa- United’s lead so slender, Mourinho chal- (CHN), Jeju Utd (KOR) v Urawa Reds (JPN). First “For our capacity to turn the impossible into leg to be played May 23/24. Second leg May tion.” Mourinho has already led United to lenged the club’s supporters to provide a Gianluigi Buffon reality.” — AFP victory in the League Cup, but they lie four fitting atmosphere for the occasion. —AFP 30/31. — AFP