SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015 SPORTS US sponsors, lawmakers seek swift Blatter action WASHINGTON: Just as US authorities provides the ultimate power and sup- by sponsor Coca-Cola that the sense of about FIFA’s corruption, collusion, and months ago for a four-year term but the said indictments of FIFA leaders were port for the global football governing violated trust will require transparency if cronyism, it’s high time for this internal 57-year-old did not attend Saturday’s only the beginning of their investiga- body, showed willingness to let Blatter he is to be seen as a credible agent of report to be released. If President Blatter first executive committee meeting fol- tion, US-based FIFA sponsors and law- make good on his promise to act, but change. doesn’t release the un-redacted report lowing Blatter’s re-election to a fifth makers said Friday that Sepp Blatter’s re- signaled they expected swift action and “FIFA must now seize the opportunity he deserves a red card. White House term. election only starts his work to rebuild major changes. to begin winning back the trust it has spokesman Josh Earnest kept US Blatter beat Prince Ali bin Al Hussein trust. FIFA backers Coca-Cola, Budweiser “Our expectation is that FIFA will now lost,” Coca-Cola said in a statement. “We President Barack Obama out of the FIFA of Jordan in Friday’s presidential election and McDonald’s called for quick moves act quickly, decisively and transparently urge FIFA to take concrete actions to ful- mess, saying, “This is a decision for that overshadowed by allegations of ram- to transparency while Visa let stand its to restore its reputation for both the ly address all of the issues that have organization, that’s now in some turmoil, pant corruption within FIFA. demand for changes with the threat to good of the game and for fans world- been raised, in a swift and transparent for them to make, and we’ll let them “This action is not something I take withdraw if none are forthcoming. wide who expect nothing less,” manner.” make it.” lightly but the terribly damaging events And US Senator Charles Schumer McDonald’s said in a statment. “The Another US-based FIFA sponsor, Visa, And US country music singer Brad of the last three days have convinced me demanded Blatter’s first act as the world expects concrete actions and so decided not to release a new statement Paisley reminded that many Americans it is not appropriate to be a member of reelected FIFA president be to make do we.” after demanding major changes just two aren’t interested in Blatter’s empire the FIFA executive committee under the public the details of a self-ordered FIFA Transparency was also a keynote of days earlier when the indictments were despite its prominence on US news and current leadership,” Gill, who was due to investigation by former US Attorney Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch revealed. sports television, tweeting: “Boy all this sit on the powerful committee as Michael Garcia, who called FIFA’s self- InBev’s statement. “We expect the next Only minutes after FIFA re-elected corruption at FIFA seems just terrible. Britain’s Fifa vice-president, told British produced summary of his report “incom- FIFA presidency to resolve internal embattled Blatter to an unprecedented Awful. And if I only knew what FIFA was media. plete” and filled with “erroneous repre- issues, install positive change and fifth term as president, Schumer I’m sure I’d be really upset by it.” “I do recognise that Blatter has been sentations of the facts and conclusions.” adhere to strong ethical standards and demanded the Garcia report’s release. Meanwhile, English Football democratically elected and wish FIFA Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan transparency,” it said. “Sepp Blatter’s first act in new term Association vice-chairman David Gill every success in tackling the many trou- lost Friday to Blatter in voting just two “Through our sponsorship, we have should be to release the Garcia report. confirmed yesterday he will not take up bling issues it faces. days after charges of fraud, bribery, time and again seen the power of soccer FIFA fans have waited long enough,” his post on FIFA’s executive committee “However, my professional reputation money laundering and racketeering in bringing people together and this is Schumer said. “The public has a right to following the re-election of Sepp Blatter is critical to me and I simply do not see were made against several of FIFA’s top what FIFA must represent for football see the full Garcia report to fully under- as president of soccer’s world governing how there will be change for the good of executives. fans around the globe.” stand what is going on behind the cur- body. The former Manchester United world football while Mr Blatter remains Sponsors, whose financial backing Blatter was told in no uncertain terms tain at FIFA. “With all we know now chief executive was only elected two in post. —Agencies Inverness clinches first Scottish Cup GLASGOW: Super-sub James Vincent fired home Houston said. “I thought we dominated the sec- Vaulks was once again the dangerman for a late winner for ten-man Inverness Caledonian ond half and we got the equaliser. If I’m being Falkirk and after and twisting and turning inside Thistle to claim the Scottish Cup for the first time honest I thought there was only one team going the Inverness box he lofted a shot on to the roof with a 2-1 win over Falkirk yesterday at on to win it.” of the net from a tight angle. Hampden. At Hampden, Inverness were first to threaten Falkirk’s hopes of an equaliser were given a Marley Watkins had fired Inverness into a when Graeme Shinnie, captaining the side on his boost in the 75th minute when Inverness were 38th minute lead as the Premiership side had last appearance before his move to Aberdeen, reduced to ten men. A lapse of concentration the better of the first half of an entertaining final. sent in a dangerous ball into the box that nar- saw the ball roll past Tremarco and the Inverness However, the pendulum appeared to swing rowly evaded Watkins when any touch would defender was shown a straight red for hauling in Championship side Falkirk’s favour in the sec- have diverted it into the net. down Blair Alston after the Falkirk midfielder had ond half following Carl Tremarco’s ordering off Falkirk took time to settle but had the first beaten him to the loose ball and was clear and Peter Grant’s deserved headed equaliser in shot on target in the 20th minute when Will through on goal. the 80th minute. With extra-time looming it was Vaulks fired in a low drive from 25 yards but his Two minutes later the Falkirk players were the ten men of Inverness who found a winner effort was easily held by Ryan Esson. screaming for a penalty when Ross Draper through substitute Vincent in the 86th minute to Vaulks came close eight minutes later when appeared to use his hand to flick the ball away in land the Highlanders their first major piece of sil- his fierce long distance strike whistled narrowly the box but referee Willie Collum ignored their verware in Scottish football since their formation wide of Esson’s goal with the ‘keeper stranded. pleas. Falkirk grabbed a deserved equaliser in in 1994. At the other end, Watkins sent an angled shot the 80th minute through Grant. Alston swung in Inverness manager John Hughes said the narrowly over the bar after collecting an Aaron a free-kick from the left wing and Grant rose result would take a couple of days to sink in. “I Doran pass in the box. However, Watkins wasn’t above the Inverness defence to bullet a header felt we started a little bit nervous but then got to be denied in the 38th minute when he fired past Esson. going and got a good goal,” Hughes said. “In the Inverness into the lead. Doran fed the striker Falkirk were on level terms for barely six min- second half we never turned up but the spirit to with a lovely through ball and he raced into the utes before Inverness regained their lead. turn it round and win it was exceptional.” box before rounding ‘keeper Jamie MacDonald Watkins won the ball in his own half and, with Falkirk manager Peter Houston said his play- and slotting the ball into the empty net. the Falkirk defence retreating, let fly with a fierce ers were reduced to tears by the defeat. “I have Falkirk started the second half on the front strike that MacDonald could only parry into got nothing but praise for the players and I’m foot and it was Vaulks who sent a low shot inch- Vincent’s path and the sub had the simple task absolutely gutted for them and the supporters,” es wide of Esson’s post from 20 yards. of rolling the ball into the empty net. —AFP BANGKOK: Chelsea’s Isaiah Brown (left) with Thailand All Star Mika Chunuonsee dur- ing their friendly soccer match at Rajamangala national stadium. —AP United defender Ferdinand retires LONDON: Former England and Manchester Chelsea sweat through 1-0 United defender Rio Ferdinand announced his retirement from football yesterday after being victory over Thai All Stars released by Queens Park Rangers. The 36-year-old centre back earned 81 caps and won six Premier League titles, the BANGKOK: Chelsea’s up-and-coming degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) even as Champions League, two League Cups and the youngsters got a chance to shine under night fell, Chelsea seemed in no particular Club World Cup during a 12-year spell with sweltering Bangkok skies yesterday as the rush to do much chasing and the drink Manchester United where he made more than Blues survived a brief second half scare to breaks were frequent.