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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

S P O RT S

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.
While most football power-brokers typihis hopes of succeeding Blatter.
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 upbeat as reporters peppered him with president until Platini’s appeals have been questions. exhausted, meaning the Frenchman could
But UEFA has said it will not elect a new
“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 life.”

NOT BLAMING BLATTER

Platini and Blatter have been the most
In December, FIFA judges ruled that a high-proﬁle casualties in the unprecedentmysterious 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 corrupbody’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 La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Lionel Messi put on another show at the Camp Nou on Sunday, scoring a remarkable goal from a 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 6-1. — AP

appeal hearing is set for today.

publicly sour.

Both men, once the most powerful ﬁg-

Platini on Monday seemed to dismiss

ures in world football, have insisted that suggestions that Blatter was responsible the payment was part of a legitimate oral for his troubles. contract reportedly for consulting work performed by Platini a decade earlier.
“Is it Blatter who put me in this situation? Not at all, because he is in the same
If the appeals panel rules against them, situation as me, but someone pushed the both are expected to take their case the button (against me) and I will try to ﬁnd

Suarez hat-trick as

Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
The notorious 2011 payment is also part out who,”he said.
Meanwhile, as the two men ﬁght to preof a criminal probe by Swiss prosecutors serve their football careers, the campaign 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.

Barca hit Celta for six

BARCELONA: Barcelona maintained their grip visitors were given a lifeline as Jordi Alba time. Atletico had a far more routine win at

a witness and an accused person.

Infantino and the head of the Asian

Football Confederation Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa are widely seen as fron-

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

Suarez hat-trick to see off a spirited Celta Vigo 6- 1 on Sunday.
The Swede missed a spot-kick as Celta bowed five-month goal drought to net his 100th out the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Sevilla Atletico goal against Eibar last weekend and was

‘EYE-TO-EYE’

Platini boycotted his December hearing trunners, ahead of Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al at FIFA’s ethics tribunal, claiming that a Hussein, South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale and judgement against him had been pre- France’s Jerome Champagne. — AFP
Atletico Madrid remain three points behind in midweek, but the former Manchester City and brilliantly picked out by Yannick Carrasco’s low 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

Barca started much more brightly after the clean sheet in 24 Liga games this season to

Real Madrid slip down to third, a further point

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 Neymar 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 halftime through John Guidetti’s penalty.
However, Suarez took over in the final half through ball first time into the top corner. hour as he swept home Messi’s fine through ball
The Uruguayan was more precise on the hour ankle ligament damage early in the second perimark as he swept home Messi’s scooped od.
The Belgian international is now a major doubt for both Atletico’s trips to PSV Eindhoven

in the Champions League last-16 next week and

and before prodding home from point-blank

range.

MAGICAL

More magical footwork from Messi and the Madrid derby in a fortnight.
Elsewhere, Sevilla closed the gap on Villarreal passed a penalty into Suarez’s path to complete back ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as La Liga’s top in the battle for the fourth Champions League
The best was still to come, though, as Messi Neymar left Suarez with an open goal to move

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. magic of Barca’s star front three. resistance to register Sevilla’s 13th consecutive
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 with a sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards into Alvarez by Rakitic for the fifth.
Basque minnows Eibar’s brilliant second season 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 ahead of game with Chelsea

Arsenal fightback gives
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 Premier League on 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

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “In the last two days he was convincing confessed that he had glimpsed the grim in training. I planned at the start, when I apparition of Premier League title failures made my press conference on Friday mornpast during his side’s nerve-jangling 2-1 vic- ing, to play him next week.

game so far.

the Parc des Princes has been cleaned of its most declared ﬁt, Chelsea likely will throw together

The runaway French league leader should be violent supporters. But PSG has yet to pass the Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic at center back 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 their Champions League last-16 match today. been dented at the worst moment.
Cesar Azpilicueta would be moved to right back to accommodate Baba Rahman on the left.

At half-time of Sunday’s table-topping was very strong and I decided just in the end showdown at the Emirates Stadium, Leicester to include him in the squad.

PSG is unbeaten in its last 44 domestic matches, and key players Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti widely regarded as one of the best right backs have recovered from injuries in time. playing in Europe. But this isn’t his ﬁrst run-in
Aurier has been a key player for Blanc, and is

led 1-0 through Jamie Vardy’s penalty and Arsenal were staring down the barrel of an because he has been out for 10 months. eight-point deﬁcit to the summit. That’s an eternity for a player. Let’s not forget
But after Leicester’s Danny Simpson was he has not played one minute for us.” sent oﬀ, substitutes Theo Walcott and Danny Vardy’s goal on the stroke of half-time, his
“Everyone is extremely happy for him

COSTA REVIVAL

Striker Diego Costa is back to his best, and
Instead, a poisonous atmosphere enveloped with authorities, as he was suspended for three that spells danger for PSG. the club over the weekend after defender Serge matches last year for insulting a Champions Aurier was suspended for insulting coach League referee on social media.
He appeared to be more interested in ﬁghting 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 two points of ﬁrst place and rekindle hopes of for another big win after their 3-1 success at

Laurent Blanc and some of his teammates in an

Against Chelsea, he is likely to be replaced since Jose Mourinho departed, Costa has been

online video. During a live session with fans on either by Marquinhos or Gergory Van der Wiel. more focused on his primary job and scored social media, Aurier aimed abuse at Blanc and Ibrahimovic and Di Maria are expected to start eight goals in 10 games.

a ﬁrst league crown since 2004.

Manchester City the previous weekend.

But Simpson’s dismissal after two book-

“A loss today (Sunday) would have been

insulted Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria.

up front, with Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani

massive,” Wenger told his post-match press ings-for impeding Alexis Sanchez and holdconference. “Even after that you get all the ing back Olivier Giroud-changed the course negative vibes, the belief goes down. It would of the game and they ﬁnished the weekend

Aurier has since apologized but could soon in competition for a starting position on the left

VERRATTI EXTENDS DEAL

be placed on the transfer list.

ﬂank of the attack.

Midﬁelder Marco Verratti has extended his

contract with PSG until 2020. He has played a crucial role in PSG’s rise to the summit of French
The video left the club’s Qatari owners unimpressed, and president Nasser Al-Khelaiﬁ said he would not allow anyone to get away with damaging PSG’s image.

have been much more diﬃcult.

with Spurs and Arsenal breathing down their

MAKESHIFT DEFENSE

“We would not have given up, but eight necks. Having only previously seen his side points is three games to come back. We beaten twice, Leicester manager Claudio would need to win three, they would need to Ranieri has not had much to rail against this lose three.” Welbeck’s goal, a 95th-minute season, but he declared himself “very angry” header on his return from a 10-month injury with referee Martin Atkinson’s decision to lay-oﬀ, sets Arsenal up nicely for a run of send Simpson oﬀ.

The central-defensive pairing of Kurt Zouma football since his arrival in July 2012. and John Terry also has been integral to Blanc has often expressed his admiration for
Aurier’s comments are a setback in Qatar Chelsea’s improvement under coach Guus Verratti, who has 155 appearances.

Sports Investments’ attempt to turn PSG into a Hiddink, but it has been split up.

PSG said the “contract extension demon-

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-

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.”
Wenger revealed that he had waited until the last minute before deciding to put Welbeck on the bench following his return from a long-term knee problem.

(Local Timings)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Benﬁca v Zenit St. Petersburg 22:45

beIN SPORTS

Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea 22:45

beIN SPORTS

‘I HAVE A DREAM’

“You know Danny Welbeck. He is a great guy, with a great mentality. He worked extremely hard. That is why he is ﬁt,” Wenger

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) and his teammates warm up during a training session yesterday in Saint- Germain-en-Laye, western Paris, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against Chelsea. — AFP