TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 SPORTS Platini vows to fight ‘injustice’ at FIFA appeal

ZURICH: The fallen head of European foot- determined. ball, Michel Platini, faced a FIFA appeals But on Monday he said he would face committee yesterday in a bid to clear his the appeals committee “eye-to-eye.” “I have name and overturn an eight-year ban from done nothing and I am afraid of nothing,” the sport for ethics violations. he said. “We’ll see what happens... Maybe “I am not fighting for my future, but this is not over.” against injustice,” the former French star Platini had been the favourite to win told journalists outside the Zurich head- FIFA’s February 26 presidential vote but the quarters of world football’s governing December ruling levelled the final blow to body. his hopes of succeeding Blatter. While most football power-brokers typi- He withdrew from the race, leading the cally enter FIFA’s compound in luxury European confederation (UEFA) to back sedans with tinted windows, the 60-year- Gianni Infantino, Platini’s long-serving old Platini walked the final 100 metres (330 deputy at Europe’s governing body. feet) to FIFA’s gate, smiling and looking But UEFA has said it will not elect a new upbeat as reporters peppered him with president until Platini’s appeals have been questions. exhausted, meaning the Frenchman could “If I had anything to feel guilty about, I reclaim his post at the top of European would be in Siberia, hiding in shame,” said football if his ban is overturned. Platini, also a former FIFA vice president. “I’m very well. There are worse things in NOT BLAMING BLATTER life.” Platini and Blatter have been the most In December, FIFA judges ruled that a high-profile casualties in the unprecedent- mysterious 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million, ed, wide-ranging scandal that has seen 1.8 million euros) Platini received from senior football executives suspended or Sepp Blatter in 2011 violated the world fired, with 39 people indicted for corrup- body’s ethics guidelines and that both men tion by the United States. had abused their positions. The saga has provoked endless discus- Blatter, FIFA’s disgraced president who sion about the complicated relationship turns 80 in March, was also hit with an between Blatter and Platini, who previously eight-year ban over the payment. His were allies before the relationship turned BARCELONA: FC Barcelona’s Luis Suarez kicks the ball to score during a Spanish soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at appeal hearing is set for today. publicly sour. the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. put on another show at the Camp Nou on Sunday, scoring a remarkable goal from a Both men, once the most powerful fig- Platini on Monday seemed to dismiss free kick and then helping to set up a hat trick for Luis Suarez - including a daring assist from a penalty kick - as Barcelona thrashed Celta Vigo ures in world football, have insisted that suggestions that Blatter was responsible 6-1. — AP the payment was part of a legitimate oral for his troubles. contract reportedly for consulting work “Is it Blatter who put me in this situa- performed by Platini a decade earlier. tion? Not at all, because he is in the same If the appeals panel rules against them, situation as me, but someone pushed the Suarez hat-trick as both are expected to take their case the button (against me) and I will try to find Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. out who,” he said. The notorious 2011 payment is also part Meanwhile, as the two men fight to pre- of a criminal probe by Swiss prosecutors serve their football careers, the campaign Barca hit Celta for six targeting Blatter, in which Platini has been to replace Blatter is heating up with the questioned in a capacity that falls between vote 11 days away. a witness and an accused person. Infantino and the head of the Asian BARCELONA: Barcelona maintained their grip visitors were given a lifeline as Jordi Alba time. Atletico had a far more routine win at Football Confederation Sheikh Salman bin on the Spanish title thanks to a wonderful Luis chopped down Guidetti inside the area. Getafe to remain in the title hunt. Torres ended a ‘EYE-TO-EYE’ Ebrahim al-Khalifa are widely seen as fron- Suarez hat-trick to see off a spirited Celta Vigo 6- The Swede missed a spot-kick as Celta bowed five-month goal drought to net his 100th Platini boycotted his December hearing trunners, ahead of Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al 1 on Sunday. out the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Sevilla Atletico goal against Eibar last weekend and was at FIFA’s ethics tribunal, claiming that a Hussein, South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale and Atletico Madrid remain three points behind in midweek, but the former Manchester City and brilliantly picked out by Yannick Carrasco’s low judgement against him had been pre- France’s Jerome Champagne. — AFP as they were 1-0 winners at Getafe thanks to Celtic striker dispatched the penalty confidently cross to get the visitors off to the perfect start. Fernando Torres’s first minute goal. into the bottom corner. Atletico then held on to record their 15th Real Madrid slip down to third, a further point Barca started much more brightly after the clean sheet in 24 Liga games this season to adrift of Barca, who also have a game in hand on break and Suarez hit the post following brilliant- leapfrog Real Madrid back into second place. both clubs from the capital. Lionel Messi’s bril- ly wing play from just 60 seconds into However, Diego Simeone’s men did suffer a big liant free-kick opened the scoring at the Camp the second-half. injury blow when Carrasco hobbled off with Nou, but Celta deservedly drew level before half- The Uruguayan was more precise on the hour ankle ligament damage early in the second peri- time through John Guidetti’s penalty. mark as he swept home Messi’s scooped od. However, Suarez took over in the final half through ball first time into the top corner. The Belgian international is now a major hour as he swept home Messi’s fine through ball doubt for both Atletico’s trips to PSV Eindhoven and before prodding home from point-blank MAGICAL in the Champions League last-16 next week and range. More magical footwork from Messi and the Madrid derby in a fortnight. The best was still to come, though, as Messi Neymar left Suarez with an open goal to move Elsewhere, Sevilla closed the gap on Villarreal passed a penalty into Suarez’s path to complete back ahead of as La Liga’s top in the battle for the fourth Champions League his hat-trick before Ivan Rakitic and Neymar scorer 15 minutes from time. place to eight points with a 2-0 win over relega- rounded off the scoring. However, it was his third that will be replayed tion threatened Las Palmas. The final score was harsh on an under- the world over as after Messi was chopped down Second-half goals from Ever Banega and strength Celta, who acquited themselves well for inside the area, he causally passed the ball into Kevin Gameiro overcame the Canary Islanders’ the first hour before being blown away by the the path of the onrushing Suarez to slot home. resistance to register Sevilla’s 13th consecutive magic of Barca’s star front three. The party wasn’t finished there as Suarez’s home win in all competitions. Messi got a festival of brilliant goals started lovely through ball was looped over Sergio Basque minnows Eibar’s brilliant second sea- with a sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards into Alvarez by Rakitic for the fifth. son in the top flight continued as they saw off the top corner just before the half hour mark. And Suarez added another assist to a Levante 2-0 to move up to sixth. And Real Yet, Celta reacted positively and after Bravo sparkling performance for Neymar also to dink Sociedad moved into the top half with their parried Claudio Beauvue’s spectacular volley, the the ball over the stranded Alvarez in stoppage third straight win 3-0 over Granada. — AFP

ZURICH: Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini speaks to the media as he arrives to attend his appeal against a eight year ban from football yesterday at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. — AFP PSG facing internal crisis Arsenal fightback gives ahead of game with Chelsea

Wenger title belief PARIS: Despite enjoying a near-perfect season ganism and racism, and was everything but a hamstring and was substituted during the 5-1 on the pitch, Paris Saint-Germain is dealing with model of sporting stability. It has been trans- win over Newcastle in the on LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “In the last two days he was convincing a major internal crisis on the eve of its biggest formed into one of the world’s richest clubs, and Saturday. Terry trained on Monday but if he isn’t confessed that he had glimpsed the grim in training. I planned at the start, when I game so far. the Parc des Princes has been cleaned of its most declared fit, Chelsea likely will throw together apparition of Premier League title failures made my press conference on Friday morn- The runaway French league leader should be violent supporters. But PSG has yet to pass the Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic at center back past during his side’s nerve-jangling 2-1 vic- ing, to play him next week. full confidence as it prepares to welcome quarterfinals of the Champions League, and the to handle the threat of Ibrahimovic. tory over leaders Leicester City. “But in the last two training sessions he Chelsea at the Parc des Princes for the first leg of slick image its owners want to promote has Cesar Azpilicueta would be moved to right At half-time of Sunday’s table-topping was very strong and I decided just in the end their Champions League last-16 match today. been dented at the worst moment. back to accommodate Baba Rahman on the left. showdown at the Emirates Stadium, Leicester to include him in the squad. PSG is unbeaten in its last 44 domestic matches, Aurier has been a key player for Blanc, and is led 1-0 through Jamie Vardy’s penalty and “Everyone is extremely happy for him and key players Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti widely regarded as one of the best right backs COSTA REVIVAL Arsenal were staring down the barrel of an because he has been out for 10 months. have recovered from injuries in time. playing in Europe. But this isn’t his first run-in Striker is back to his best, and eight-point deficit to the summit. That’s an eternity for a player. Let’s not forget Instead, a poisonous atmosphere enveloped with authorities, as he was suspended for three that spells danger for PSG. But after Leicester’s Danny Simpson was he has not played one minute for us.” the club over the weekend after defender Serge matches last year for insulting a Champions He appeared to be more interested in fight- sent off, substitutes Theo Walcott and Danny Vardy’s goal on the stroke of half-time, his Aurier was suspended for insulting coach League referee on social media. ing than scoring at the start of the season, but Welbeck struck to lift Wenger’s side to within 19th of the season, put Leicester on course Laurent Blanc and some of his teammates in an Against Chelsea, he is likely to be replaced since Jose Mourinho departed, Costa has been two points of first place and rekindle hopes of for another big win after their 3-1 success at online video. During a live session with fans on either by or Gergory Van der Wiel. more focused on his primary job and scored a first league crown since 2004. Manchester City the previous weekend. social media, Aurier aimed abuse at Blanc and Ibrahimovic and Di Maria are expected to start eight goals in 10 games. “A loss today (Sunday) would have been But Simpson’s dismissal after two book- insulted Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria. up front, with Lucas Moura and massive,” Wenger told his post-match press ings-for impeding Alexis Sanchez and hold- Aurier has since apologized but could soon in competition for a starting position on the left VERRATTI EXTENDS DEAL conference. “Even after that you get all the ing back Olivier Giroud-changed the course be placed on the transfer list. flank of the attack. Midfielder Marco Verratti has extended his negative vibes, the belief goes down. It would of the game and they finished the weekend The video left the club’s Qatari owners unim- contract with PSG until 2020. He has played a have been much more difficult. with Spurs and Arsenal breathing down their pressed, and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he MAKESHIFT DEFENSE crucial role in PSG’s rise to the summit of French “We would not have given up, but eight necks. Having only previously seen his side would not allow anyone to get away with dam- The central-defensive pairing of Kurt Zouma football since his arrival in July 2012. points is three games to come back. We beaten twice, Leicester manager Claudio aging PSG’s image. and John Terry also has been integral to Blanc has often expressed his admiration for would need to win three, they would need to Ranieri has not had much to rail against this Aurier’s comments are a setback in Qatar Chelsea’s improvement under coach Guus Verratti, who has 155 appearances. lose three.” Welbeck’s goal, a 95th-minute season, but he declared himself “very angry” Sports Investments’ attempt to turn PSG into a Hiddink, but it has been split up. PSG said the “contract extension demon- header on his return from a 10-month injury with referee Martin Atkinson’s decision to world-class club. When QSI took over in June Zouma was ruled out for the season last week strates the importance of the 23-year-old mid- lay-off, sets Arsenal up nicely for a run of send Simpson off. 2011, PSG endured serious problems of hooli- with a knee ligament injury, and Terry hurt his fielder.” —AP games that sees them tackle Hull City in the In stark contrast to Arsenal, Leicester now FA Cup and holders Barcelona in the have two weeks to prepare for their next Champions League before returning to league assignment-a home game with league action at Manchester United on Norwich City-and Ranieri said that he would February 28. They must also visit second- be giving his players a week off. place Tottenham Hotspur and fourth-place “It’s the same as if you won the match,” he Manchester City over the season’s closing said. “‘Go home, and we will see you next weeks, but Wenger said the nature of the vic- Monday,’ because they deserve it. They made tory over Leicester would give them great a fantastic performance today. They go, I heart. don’t know where. Dubai maybe. They go “It will strengthen our belief that we are in wherever they want.” the fight,” said the Frenchman, whose side Asked if Leicester’s title dream was still had won 2-0 at Bournemouth on their previ- alive, a smiling Ranieri answered cryptically. ous outing. “Because we had a bit of a dodgy “I have a dream,” he said. “But I don’t tell spell-with Liverpool 3-3, Stoke 0-0, we lost (1- you what is my dream.” — AFP 0) against Chelsea, played 0-0 at home against Southampton-so now after that we win two games. “We’re still mathematically in the fight and Matches on TV that will strengthen our belief of course.” (Local Timings) Wenger revealed that he had waited until the last minute before deciding to put Welbeck on the bench following his return UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE from a long-term knee problem. Benfica v Zenit St. Petersburg 22:45 beIN SPORTS ‘I HAVE A DREAM’ Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea 22:45 “You know Danny Welbeck. He is a great beIN SPORTS guy, with a great mentality. He worked PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) and his teammates warm up during a training session yesterday in Saint- extremely hard. That is why he is fit,” Wenger Germain-en-Laye, western Paris, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against Chelsea. — AFP