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. 400 appearances. dispatch the Thai All Stars 1-0. Manager Jose Mourinho had to make do Ferdinand, whose wife Rebecca died from The English Premier League champions with flimsy plastic pitchside chairs instead cancer this month, made 12 appearances for were visiting the Thai capital for the first of a plush Stamford Bridge manager’s box. QPR last season after joining on a free transfer stop on an end-of-season tour that will also English football commands a huge fol- from United but was released following the west take in Australia. lowing in Thailand with Chelsea, sponsored London club’s relegation from the Premier Youngsters Izzy Brown, Ola Aina, Nathan by the local Singha beer brand, one of the League. Ake and Dominic Solanke all began the favorites. Among the fans inside the stadi- “After 18 years as a professional footballer, I match pitchside, with the latter showing um, blue shirts easily outnumbered the now feel it’s the right time for me to retire from why he was named Chelsea’s academy local team’s red strips. the game that I love,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. player of the year last week. The 17-year- The second half saw some of Chelsea’s “I’d also like to thank and pay tribute to my old hammered home a perfectly-executed more experienced players take the pitch, wife Rebecca and my family, including my moth- volley in the 12th minute after a low cross including captain John Terry and injury- er and father, for their sacrifices, their encour- from Aina, 18, received a light touch from prone Diego Garcia, who was pulled off agement and their advice throughout my Loic Remy before finding Solanke’s right again after less than 20 minutes. career.” foot. Kiatisuk Senamuang’s All Star team, Eden Hazard got a cheer from the crowd Ferdinand started out with West Ham United made up of local premier league players, almost every time he went near the ball in and also played for Leeds United before joining proved little resistance for the visitors. the second half and the Belgian had a cou- Manchester United for 29.1 million pounds But they nearly caused some embarrass- ple of close shots. ($44.49 million) in 2002 to become the most ment in the 67th minute with an on-target The only yellow card of the evening expensive player in English football at the time. shot kept clear by a brilliant header from went to All Star and Bangkok United OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United soccer player Rio Ferdinand seen in this file photo. —AP Ferdinand said he would look back on his Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen. defender Mika Chunuonsee after a fairly England career “with immense pride” and he Leeds United, win the Champions League with today, that was all I cared about. “None of that Conditions for the visitors inside blatant handball halted what could have paid tribute to former Manachester United boss Manchester United, or rejoin my first manager would have been possible, without the genius Thailand’s national Rajamangala Stadium been a dangerous attacking run from Alex Ferguson who will “always be the greatest Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers,” he of one man, Sir Alex Ferguson. “Finally, I’d like were far removed from the more comfort- Jeremy Boga. Chelsea leave Bangkok late manager in British football history.” “As a 12-year- said. to thank all the fans from all the clubs for with- able-and balmy-climes the Blues are used yesterday and fly straight to Australia old boy, kicking around a football on the Friary “Winning trophies at Manchester United out them professional football would not exist. to in west London. where they face Sydney FC in another exhi- Estate in Peckham, I never dreamt that I would allowed me to achieve everything that I I will miss each and every one of you on my With the mercury hovering around 34 bition bout on Tuesday.—AFP play for my boyhood club West Ham, captain desired in football. From a young child to Saturday afternoons.”—Reuters Spurs win in Sydney

SYDNEY: Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane’s Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. run of goals shows no sign of drying up as the “It was important for him to keep the momen- England international struck to secure a 1-0 win tum (so he can) score a lot of goals in the Euros over Sydney FC in front of 71,549 fans in a friendly and help the under-21s to win the trophy.” at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. Pochettino said he was “very happy” for Kane to The 21-year-old netted 31 goals in all competi- play in the tournament and thought he could be tions for Spurs in the recently concluded English one of the standout players in the Czech Republic. season and grabbed a double in a 2-1 victory over “I think that Harry Kane with (Chelsea’s Eden) a Malaysian XI in the first stop on their post-season Hazard was the best player in the Premier League, tour on Wednesday. The first half of Saturday’s I hope he scores a lot of goals and helps them win match looked like ending goalless despite a string the championship,” he added. of chances for the Premier League outfit until Erik The Argentine reiterated that Kane would not Lamela broke forward in the 43rd minute. be leaving the club and said French goalkeeper The Argentine released Kane down the right Hugo Lloris, who has been linked with a move to and the prolific striker took one touch before Manchester United, would be sticking around as unleashing his shot across goalkeeper Ivan well. “Hugo wants to stay with us, he wants to Necevski into the bottom corner of the net. achieve something important for the club,” he Kane nearly scored a second when he found said. “We are happy with him, he is happy with us space for a shot in the 70th minute only for ...” Sydney FC, runners-up in the A-League final two Sebastian Ryall to clear the ball off the line with weeks ago, had their chances too with Socceroos Necevski beaten. There were another couple of forward Alex Brosque wasting the best of them half chances before Kane, who will play for when his poor finish allowed Spurs defender Jan England in the European under-21 championship Vertonghen to clear off the line. The growing pop- next month, was brought off to a standing ovation ularity of football in Australia has made the coun- in the 84th minute. try a popular destination for European clubs in the SYDNEY: Tottenham Hotspur player Harry Kane (center) is held back by Sydney FC player Sebastian Ryall (left) during their friendly “Fantastic season for him, on the post-season off-season and Sydney FC face English champions match. —AP tour he scored our three goals,” Spurs manager Chelsea at the same venue on Tuesday. —Reuters