THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 SPORTS

Vardy ban ‘unfair’ Record A$50m prize purse US striker Green quits says Leicester chief for 2017 Australian Open Bayern for Stuttgart BERLIN: USA international striker Julian Green will leave Bayern Munich for MELBOURNE: The Australian Open has increased its total LONDON: Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha yesterday rated second division VfB Stuttgart in January’s transfer window, the German England striker Jamie Vardy’s three-match ban as ‘unfair’. Vardy prize purse by 14 percent to a record A$50 million ($36.19 league leaders announced yesterday. With Poland hot-shot Robert received the suspension from the Football Association (FA) for million), with A$3.7 million up for grabs for the winners of Lewandowski as Bayern’s first-choice striker, the 21-year-old Green has strug- his sending off against Stoke City at the weekend. The FA on the singles tournaments, organisers said yesterday. The gled for opportunities and has signed a deal with Stuttgart until June 2019. Tuesday rejected the ailing Premier League champion’s prize money for the season’s opening grand slam has Green spent nearly seven years in Bayern’s youth academy and claim of wrongful dismissal which hinged upon Vardy being more than tripled since 2001, and risen A$10 million since reserve team. He played for the USA at the 2014 World Cup in off balance as he was harried by Glen Johnson when he 2014. Tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement Brazil and, aged 19, became the youngest player to score at the challenged Stoke forward Mame Diouf just before the half- that organisers were focused on increasing compensation finals by netting with his first touch of the ball in the 2-1 last 16 hour mark. Referee Craig Pawson did not hesitate in for players in the early rounds and qualifying, with first defeat to Belgium. Green is relishing joining fallen giants showing him a red card for the two-footed chal- round losers set for an A$50,000 windfall, up 30 percent Stuttgart, who are third in Germany’s second tier and chasing lenge. Srivaddhanaprabha wrote on Instagram: “I from last year. promotion at the first time of asking following their relegation am so sorry for the unfair judgement of referee Similarly, second round prize money has risen 29 per- from the Bundesliga in May. “I came to Bayern in the to Vardy and more sorry that our appeal was cent to A$80,000, with third and fourth round losers to Under-15 team and dreamed of becoming a profession- rejected. This kind of judgement distort the earn A$130,000 and $220,000 respectively. Total prize al, which I achieved,” he said. “In the last three years, I charming of English Premier. “I spend a lot of money for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, runners up and gained a lot of experience, for which I am grateful. time and effort to make my beloved LCFC a suc- “Now I have new goals with Stuttgart and am looking cess, but this incident made me feel dispirit from winner is up 9 percent. The Australian Open starts on Jan 16 in Melbourne. — Reuters forward to the challenge-above all to support football. — AFP Stuttgart in the second half of the season.” —AFP

No 25 Toyota 86 MC VivaC bags GT300 class

TOCHIGI PREFECTURE: The Toyota camp had reasons to rejoice at the 2016 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, as a thrilling encounter in the final round (Round 8) resulted in a victorious No. 25 TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC passing the check- ered flag, with No. 31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT competing brilliantly for a second spot finish. The much-awaited contest was held on a dry course and under bright, clear skies at the Motegi Twin Ring in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. With this momentous win and overall sec- ond win of the season, the No. 25 TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC- expertly driven by Takeshi Tsuchiya and Takamitsu Matsui throughout the series- also bagged the GT300 class Drivers and Team Championship titles. The early stages of the all-important race belonged to No. 31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT- driven by Koki Saga and Yuichi Nakayama - that glided comfortably in the leading posi- tion through the first turn and beyond. Early threat to its spot came from competitor car No. 65 that made futile attempts to exploit any gaps. Well behind in the competition, the eventual winner of the race had a lukewarm start to the race. pared to competitors by skipping the tire- No. 31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT, still going OTA PRIUS apr GT on a ‘V’ corner, and retained throughout the championship. Finishing on a No. 25 TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC lost ground in change and bringing Takamitsu Matsui on strong in the leader’s position, mirrored the the marginal lead till it sped passed the high will lend the drivers and the support staff the opening laps and its driver Takeshi the driver’s seat. He immediately started ‘no-tire change’ tactic and only switched from checkered flag. The jubilant winner was a world of confidence and momentum for the Tsuchiya seemed visibly reluctant to increase making an effect on the proceedings by over- Koki Saga to Yuichi Nakayama in a bid to fin- trailed by the second best racer by a fraction next championship.” pace. This caution hinted towards a possible taking competing car No. 65 before it could ish strong. Having reserved its full-throttle for of a second, completing the race with a gap of Yoshitsugu added: “Participating and tactical maneuver that would contribute to a warm up adequately with the fresh tires. His the final stages of the race, No. 25 TOYOTA 86 0.929 seconds. excelling in such racing initiatives lays the strong comeback, and ultimately a victory for ability to handle the heated contest with MC VivaC came back from behind to clock an Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, foundations in our journey towards building the team. calm perseverance was particularly impres- incredible speed with the leaders of the pack. Middle East and North Africa Representative impressive, ‘ever-better’ cars that bring satis- Lap 15 into the race marked a pit stop for sive in the last leg of the race, as partner What then ensued was a close contest for the Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “We are faction and a smile on our customers’ faces. most cars, but foregoing the regulatory halt Takeshi Tsuchiya commented in the post-race ultimate prize. Takamitsu Matsui held on to overjoyed with this championship win by the We thank our racers and customers who was of much tactical interest to the No. 25 press conference: “It was great to see how the pace while his competitor Yuichi No. 25 TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC team and the bestow their confidence in us, and strengthen TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC that was now lagging cool Takamitsu Matsui was as he caught up Nakayama tried in vain to hold off the charge. podium finish by the No. 31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr our research and development efforts with behind in the tenth spot. It headed towards with the leader. I hope we can continue to Finally, in lap 34 of the nail-biting contest, No. GT team. We congratulate the Toyota team for their insights and feedback to push the limits the pit lane but took only half the time com- bring up young drivers like him.” 25 TOYOTA 86 MC VivaC passed No. 31 TOY- their excellent and inspiring performance of engineering.” Toulouse not taking Northampton spared over North head injury LONDON: Northampton should not have on the CMRG’s recommendations to ensure the unless there is clear reason to shorten it. Grenoble lightly allowed George North to continue playing after highest levels of player safety and well-being.” The CMRG also wants team doctors to review he sustained a head injury but they will not be Rather than instigate disciplinary proceed- video footage for permanent removal criteria PARIS: Toulouse are wary of a backlash 2010 and have not lifted the Top 14 punished, a concussion review panel announced ings against Northampton, the CMRG, set up in before and after the assessment process. from a rested Grenoble as they look to crown since 2012. Last year they were yesterday. The Wales wing, 24, was injured dur- partnership by the and North, who has a history of head injuries, has maintain their free-scoring European battling just to finish in the top six and ing an English Premiership game against , made nine recommenda- since returned to training and Saints director of form when returning to domestic Top 14 reach the play-offs. Leicester on December 3, but although he tions. They include a call for the full 13 minutes rugby Jim Mallinder said earlier this week that duty tonight. The big game of the week sees sec- appeared to have been knocked out, Saints’ set aside for Head Injury Assessments to be used he will play against Sale tomorrow. —AFP Back-to-back thumping victories (36-6 ond-placed Montpellier host mega-rich medical staff allowed him to play on. and 54-15) over hapless Italians Zebre in Toulon tomorrow night in an encounter A Concussion Management Review Group the European Champions Cup, in which rendered all the more important by each (CMRG) was set up to investigate the incident, they ran in 13 tries, has lifted the strug- side’s European struggles. the first such review since new concussion rules gling giants’ spirits ahead of the return to Toulon’s shock 22-21 reverse against came into force at the beginning of the season. domestic duty. Scarlets on Sunday means their knock- It found that while there had been “sufficient Currently sitting seventh and outside out stage hopes are hanging by a thread evidence” to take North out of the game, the the end-of-season play-off places, and the three-time champions will club did not “intentionally ignore the player’s Toulouse know a victory against almost certainly have to win away to best interests”. “ medical Grenoble is crucial. title-holders Saracens next month to team has accepted that North may have lost “We’ve got a positive dynamic. The stand any chance of progressing. consciousness and therefore should not have players are starting to play well together Montpellier likewise lost for a second returned to play,” the CMRG said in a press and we hope to continue in that vein,” time in four matches away to Castres 29- release. “The CMRG considered the welfare of said Toulouse’s forwards coach William 23 and face an uphill battle to get North was always at the centre of Northampton’s Servat. But he knows Grenoble, who have through a group in which three-time actions, and does not consider that the medical by far the worst defence in the league, champions Leinster are flying. team (or the club) failed to complete the HIA will be fired up having rested most of Montpellier will have South African (Head Injury Assessment) protocol nor intention- their first team in recent European No.8 Pierre Spies back but France inter- ally ignored the player’s best interests. Challenge Cup action, including last national week Benjamin Fall is out with a “In addition and although not a determining week’s humiliating 71-3 defeat to leg injury. Toulon sit fourth in a congest- factor, the CMRG is aware that the player Ospreys, just seven days after losing at ed top half in which only five points sep- appears to have had no residual effects in the home to the Welsh region 59-7. arate Montpellier and eighth-placed short term. “For the above reasons the CMRG will “They chose to manage their squad. Racing 92, the reigning champions. not be imposing any sanction against the club They want to survive in the Top 14 and Racing’s recent league improvement- or any of its individuals as a result of this inci- we’re expecting a physical battle,” added they have lost only one of their last six-is dent.” Northampton accepted the panel’s find- Servat. “They’re short of confidence but in stark contrast to their poor European ings. “Northampton accepts the conclusion that when they find their game, they can be form. Three straight Pool 1 defeats means George should not have been allowed to return formidable.” last season’s finalists are already out of to the field of play,” the club said in a statement. LONDON: This file photo of Wales’ George North, right, as he is tackled by England’s George The record four-time European and the Champions Cup. Club president “But we are pleased that the CMRG has Ford during the Six Nations international rugby match between England and Wales at 19-time French champions have fallen on Jacky Lorenzetti called on his players to reflected our concerns about the current tech- in London. English rugby authorities yesterday said it will not sanction leaner times since their heyday of the show humility to get their form back. “We nologies and processes available to medical Northampton following a review into an incident that saw the club’s medical team clear Wales 1990s and 2000s. need to rediscover our mental strength,” teams when assessing concussion. winger George North to continue playing, despite replays suggesting he lost consciousness They last won the European title in he said.— AFP “The club believes that this is now an oppor- tunity for the whole rugby community to reflect after a head injury. — AP