Tuesday 31st May, 2011 15 FIFA’s Valcke claims Qatar ‘bought’ 2022 World Cup BY ROB HARRIS, AP SPORTS “You would have to ask Jerome Valcke been suspended by FIFA after an ethics WRITER what he was thinking,” he told the BBC panel on Sunday found there was suffi- ZURICH (AP) — FIFA Secretary when asked about the e-mail’s contents. “I cient evidence to further investigate alle- General Jerome Valcke confirmed don’t know why he has said that. gations that they offered $40,000 bribes to Monday that he sent a private email sug- “If I was paying money for Qatar you delegates at a Caribbean football associa- gesting Qatar had “bought” the right to also have to ask the 13 people who voted tion meeting earlier this month ahead of host the 2022 World Cup. for Qatar.” the presidential election on Wednesday. The email was made public by FIFA The allegations were also dismissed by Warner, the now-suspended president Vice President Jack Warner after he was Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organizers. of CONCACAF, said he told the panel suspended by FIFA on Sunday over “Qatar 2022 categorically deny any that Blatter gave a $1 million “gift” of bribery allegations in Qatari Mohamed wrong doing in connection with their win- FIFA money to a meeting of CONCACAF bin Hammam’s campaign to replace Sepp ning bid,” organizers said in a statement. to spend “as it deems fit.” Blatter as its president. “We are urgently seeking clarification Warner said the money given to CON- The accusation of having ‘bought’ the from FIFA about the statement from their CACAF — the regional body for North, tournament was denied by Qatari organiz- General Secretary.In the meantime we are Central America and the Caribbean — ers in a statement released after Valcke’s taking legal advice to consider our “annoyed” UEFA President Michel comments. options.” Platini. “For MBH, I never understood why he FIFA is meanwhile still looking into However, Platini saw things different- was running,” Valcke told Warner in the claims made in a British parliamentary ly on Monday. email. “If really he thought he had a inquiry that two African FIFA executive “It’s not like that, it was a joke with chance or just being an extreme way to committee were paid $1.5 million in bribes me and Mr. Blatter,” Platini said. “He can express how much he does not like any- to vote for Qatar in the December ballot. give the projects that he wants to give. I more JSB (Blatter). Or he thought you can CAF Football President joke, I said, ‘But Sepp this was not buy FIFA as they bought the WC.” and Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma — accepted by the committee,’ — but he can Valcke, speaking before attending a also members of FIFA’s executive com- give many projects to many national CONCACAF meeting in Zurich, said: “It mittee — have strongly denied any associations and we will confirm in the was a private email and we will discuss it. wrongdoing. The evidence was submit- GOAL project after. He sent me an email asking if I want that ted by the Sunday Times to a British par- “In many Congresses for many, many (bin Hammam to run), he said that I liamentary inquiry, having been unable years the president can give one or two should ask bin Hammam to pull out.” to publish parts of an undercover inves- projects to national associations — he tigation for legal reasons. has his own budget and he can give to Asked whether’s Valcke’s assertion Petrus Damaseb,left, deputy chairman of the FIFA ethics committee, and FIFA FIFA is still hoping to speak to the one confederation and then it has to be about Qatar 2022 in the email was true, Secretary General Jerome Valcke, arrive prior to a press conference following the newspaper’s whisteblower. approved of course by the executive com- bin Hammam responded Monday by say- Ethics Committee meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, , Sunday, Both bin Hammam and Warner have mittee next time.” ing: “What do you think? May 29, 2011. Monaco GP is an F1 race Warne to be bronzed in that is like no other statue outside MCG MELBOURNE, Australia Rajasthan Royals in the Indian mighty MCG,” on his Twitter page. directly proceeding the princi- (AP) — Spin great Shane Warne Premier League after announcing Laumen is the sculptor of the pality’s annual grand prix, will soon have himself immortal- he was retiring from all cricket, 10 statues already erected which Explorers Piano Bar, a popular ized in a bronze statue outside the met Monday with Melbourne include cricketers Donald restaurant located close to La Melbourne Cricket Ground, join- Cricket Club’s sculptor Louis Bradman and Dennis Lillee. Rascasse corner, sees its 150-seat ing 10 other Australian sports Laumen. Warne retired from test cricket terrace reduced by two-thirds stars. The 41-year-old leg spinner in 2007 after playing 145 tests and and for the four days of on-track Warne, who recently returned tweeted “just finished measure- taking a then world-record 708 action, the entire business is from a fourth season as captain of ment sitting for my statue at the wickets. forced to remain closed until 7.00 pm. Outside of grand prix week- end, it usually opens for busi- ness at midday. “During the GP we open at 7pm because we have the race all day long and the track runs through our boardwalk,” said The Monaco FI GP Circuit. (File Photo) Julien Quinson, the Frenchman in charge of Explorers. BY GARY MEENAGHAN “We close for lunch, but at least we open at night. Yes, we lose some money, but it’s part of May 30, 2011: Only in Monaco would a the Grand Prix; it’s part of the game. Monaco track so narrow, so winding and ultimately so is grand prix racing. dangerous remain on the Formula One calen- “And it’s beautiful during these four days. dar for 69 years. Only in Monaco would access “We can’t complain. People come from all to that same street circuit be open to the pub- over the world. If they are happy, I am happy. lic for 12 hours each day. Voila.” And only in Monaco would the public And they are happy - some of them ecstatic choose to revel in the festival atmosphere on - to be involved in Formula One’s most spectac-

The Grand Prix of Monaco is a great mythical race that all the pilots dream to win on the cir- cuit of the Principality. It is the slowest and the hardest of the World Formula 1 Championship. Shane Warne bows out of the game after sharing an emotional moment with Elizabeth Hurley, Mumbai Indians To win in Monaco is hard, because even a Vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2011, Mumbai, May 20, 2011. (AP Photo) small error in the streets of the principality is fatal. The first Grand Prix of Monaco was won by William Grover-Williams, then followed by oth- Holcim FA Cup 2011 National Sports Festival ers great names like Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio and Graham Hill. Coming to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Marathon, race walking Monaco is one moment unforgettable that you Quarter-finalists found in FA Cup must anticipate and prepare. and cycling on Saturday Navy, Ratnam, Blue Stars, penalties at City Football Army, Nandimithra, New Youngs, Grounds. The three grueling long dis- ular race. SL Police and Don Bosco Ratnam beat Air Force 3-2 at tance disciplines of the XXXVII In the early hours of Sunday morning, advanced to the quarter-finals of Kelaniya Football Complex National Sports Festival, name- the Holcim FA CUP 2011 by New Youngs beat Renown 4-2 Explorers was buzzing, as were its neighbour- ly the marathon, the race walk- virtue of the pre-quarter final on penalties at Wennappuwa ing restaurants along the street. ing and the cycling events will victories recorded over the last Blue Star beat Java Lane 1- 0 be held over the weekend at The track was so thronged with people it weekend. at Kalutara Puttalam, the officials of the looked like a protest, but instead of placards According to the officials the SL Army beat Old Bens 3 – 1 Department of Sports the revellers held cameras and cocktail glass- quarter-finals of the tournament at Old Bens grounds Development told the media at a es. A woman in a Carnival-esque costume will be held during this week Nandimithra beat Matara briefing held yesterday. walked the corner on stilts. Interlagos does not weather permitting. City 2-0 at Matara The Director General of allow that. Don Bosco beat Colombo FC 4- Sports Ranjani Jayakody told Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s chief, told The final results of the 2 at Negombo the media that the three events ‘The National’ last year that Yas Marina was pre-quarter finals. SL Police beat SLCTB 3-1 at Shalika grounds will be held at Puttalam on the track until the sun begins to awake over more impressive than Monaco Harbour, but Navy beat Saunders 4-3 on (MP) Saturday. the Mediterranean. there are few sights as picturesque as the city As Lotus Renault’s official Twitter account of Monte Carlo, built into the cliff side, gradu- observed on Sunday: “Just how Champagne ally coming into focus, as darkness recedes soaking of the road affects the chemical grip and the yachts begin to glimmer again. Royal College Inter House TT Tournament 2011 of this year’s Pirellis remains to be seen.” “Monaco is beautiful. It’s part of the histo- Only in Monaco would you see off-duty ry of motorsport, both rallying and F1,” said engineers from one of the smaller racing Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, world Malavige emerges senior TT Champion teams at 3.00 am on the day of a grand prix. motor sport’s governing body. Sarinda Malavige of Harward Under-12: Champions- Marsh Ranchagoda(Boake) Only in Monaco would a reporter find him- With the sun rising, the track was closed to House emerged Senior (over 15) House, Runners-up - Harward Under-13: Champion- Askar Champion, overcoming Osura House Ahamed (Marsh), Runner-up- Senel self on duty and interviewing a restaurant the public and the clean-up started. The streets Nawagamuwa of Reed House in Under-14: Champions- Hartley Ratnayake (Hartley) manager at 3am on the day of a grand prix. remained busy, but instead of women dressed straight sets in the Finals at the House, Runners–up- Marsh House Under-15: Champion- “Monaco is an anomaly,” said one journal- in pink stilettos, men appeared - armed with Annual Inter-House Table Tennis Under-16: Champions- Boake Kulanaka Hendahewa(Boake), ist, who requested anonymity. brushes and hoses. Tournament of Royal College held House, Runners-up- Marsh House Runner-up– Abdul Azeez (Marsh) “It’s the one weekend of the year when By 9.45am, a fleet of Porsches contested the recently at the Royal College Sports Over-16: Champions- Harward The Principal of Royal College, everybody - teams, media, everyone - stay out Porsche Supercup Series. Eighty-five minutes Complex. Marsh House emerged House, Runners–up- Marsh House Upali Gunasekera, was the Chief until 6am and go to work … at 9am.” later the World Series by Renault took place overall Champions with Harward Guest, while former Royal College Several of the restaurants, cafes and bars and by 1.30pm Prince Albert and his fiancee House being Runners-up. The other Individual events Table Tennis Captain, Vipul Perera see their working hours disrupted by the infra- were completing a lap of honour before the results were: Under-9: Champion- Kavindu was the Guest of Honour. A presen- structure involved in constructing the Circuit main event, waving to the wealthy figures sun- Suranga (Reed), Runner-up- Isiwara tation was also made to the long Team Events Dissanayake (Hartley) standing Royal College Table de Monaco street track. ning themselves on the nearby yachts. Only in Under-10: Champions– Under-11: Champion- Tennis Coach, N. H. Perera for During the three months leading up to and Monaco. Harward House, Runners-up – Virunaka Hendahewa(Harward), services rendered to the College Marsh House Runner–up– Nimesh Team.