Sports Thursday, November 22, 2018 19 QSL holds football festival to mark the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar countdown

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IN an effort to further pro- mote football culture and build constructive partner- ships with many sections of the society, the Qatar Stars League (QSL) played a pro- active role in the schools football festival organised by the Yarmouk Preparatory School for Boys to coincide with the start date of 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar four years from now. More than 350 students representing 30 schools took part in the festival, held in collaboration with the Min- istry of Education and High- er Education and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Al Rayyan striker Sebastian Soria celebrates with a student during a Legacy on Wednesday. kick around. HE Dr Mohammed Ab- dul Wahed Ali al Hammadi graced the festival, which marked the four-year count- down to the Qatar World Cup. QSL’s Executive Direc- Dignitaries, QSL football stars and students pose for a photo during the Football Festival held at Yarmouk Preparatory School for Boys to mark tor of Marketing, Sales and the countdown to the 2022 World Cup. Communications Hassan Rabia al Kuwari, repre- The events also featured portance of such an impor- “I wish there’re more sentatives of all stakehold- football matches among More than 350 students tant event especially among such initiatives and events ers, QNB Stars League stars school students, including representing 30 schools members of the educational in future. The QSL, as part of such as Sebastian Soria, those from the Al Noor In- took part in the festival, community.” its Corporate Social Respon- Meshaal Abdulla, Nigel de stitute for the Blind. held in collaboration with Kuwari said, “At the out- sibility, is keen to engage all Jong, Mahmoud al Mawas The minister expressed set, we thank the Yarmouk sections of the society.” and Adel Rhaili, artists Ali al his delight over the success the Ministry of Education Preparatory School for Boys Kuwari hailed the festi- Malki and Saad Burshid as of the festival saying, “No- and Higher Education and for their efforts. We also val’s successful organisation well as celebrities and media vember 21, marked the be- Supreme Committee for thank the Ministry of Edu- as well as the participation of representatives attended the ginning of four-year count- Delivery and Legacy. cation and Higher Educa- QNB Stars League stars and event. down to the Qatar World tion for supporting such an added that it would further Yarmouk School Princi- Cup, which will be an excep- initiative that marked the promote sports in general pal Ibrahim al Eidan wel- tional event not just for Qa- world. This festival succeed- four-year countdown to the and football in particular at Al Ahli midielder Nigel de Jong in action with other QSL Stars during comed the guests. tar, but for the entire Arab ed in highlighting the im- World Cup. the age-group levels. the Football Festival on Wednesday.

Blatter urges investigation of Infantino’s Neymar, Mbappe injured ahead meetings with Swiss prosecutor of PSG-Liverpool clash AFP vestigation into Mr Infantino. LAUSANNE “Where is the transpar- ency preached by Mr Infantino AFP soon afterwards to boos from FORMER FIFA president Sepp during his election? He should PARIS the crowd in the central Eng- Blatter called for an investiga- report himself to the Ethics lish town of Milton Keynes. tion into his successor Gianni Committee to show that he is PARIS Saint-Germain for- Brazil team doctor Rodri- Infantino, after Switzerland’s transparent.” wards Neymar and Kylian go Lasmar also said on Tues- Attorney General admitted Blatter added: “Infantino Mbappe are both in a race day player did not appear to meeting the current boss of met Mr Lauber several times, against time to recover from have a serious problem. world football’s governing body. whereas I have been questioned injuries in time for the crucial “He felt discomfort,” Las- The attorney general, Mi- by him just once since a proce- Champions League clash with mar said. “He will need a bit chael Lauber, told journalists dure against me was opened in Liverpool, the French club more time to evaluate it and earlier on Wednesday that his September 2015.” said on Wednesday. take a scan, but in principle it meetings with current FIFA In a separate case, Lauber’s PSG said a scan had is not a serious injury.” boss Infantino were “normal spokesman has become the showed that Neymar strained In Paris, Mbappe hurt and regular, especially in com- Swiss Attorney General Michael target of a grievance filed by an adductor muscle in his his right shoulder as he chal- plex cases”. Lauber gives a press conference former UEFA chief and French groin in Brazil’s 1-0 friendly lenged Uruguay goalkeeper The Football Leaks website on the latest series of Football football great Michel Platini. win against Cameroon on Martin Campana for the ball alleges that Infantino offered Leaks revelations in Bern on Platini was implicated in the Tuesday. in the World Cup winners’ vic- favours to a senior Swiss pros- Wednesday. (AFP) Blatter probe over a question- And Mbappe has a shoul- tory. ecutor, Rinaldo Arnold, in a able payment the Frenchman der contusion after falling France coach Didier De- bid to foster a relationship with plagued 17-year leadership of received from FIFA, but he was heavily in France’s 1-0 win A photo combo of Neymar (left) leaving the pitch, injured Kylian Mbap- schamps said Mbappe, the Lauber, possibly to obtain privi- Blatter. never named in a criminal alle- over Uruguay at the Stade de pe holding his shoulder in pain. Both players could be an injury doubt 19-year-old forward who shot leged information about the The body that oversees Lau- gation. France. for PSG’s Champions League clash with Liverpool next week. (AFP) to global prominence at the FIFA probe. ber’s office, known as the AS- Platini’s Geneva-based law- “A 48-hour period of treat- World Cup, “had some shoul- Lauber added that his office MPC, told AFP on Wednesday yer, Vincent Solari, told AFP ment will be undertaken to as- erpool at the Parc des Princes. Neymar played down his der pain after his fall”. was disclosing the meetings for that while Lauber was not un- that prosecution spokesman sess their clinical evolution,” All four sides could still injury, saying in an Instagram Neymar’s replacement in the sake of “transparency”. der investigation, it was exam- Andre Marty had engaged in PSG said. qualify for the knockout phase message that “it was nothing the Brazilian lineup, Everton’s According to Football ining the propriety of the meet- “actions” detrimental to Platini, It appears likely that both from Group C. Liverpool have serious”. Richarlison, headed in on the Leaks, the informal meetings ings between Infantino and the without providing further de- players will miss PSG’s Ligue the same number of points as In Tuesday’s match, the stroke of half-time to secure occurred in the spring of 2016, a attorney general. tails. 1 match against Toulouse on leaders Napoli while PSG sit Brazilian forward had treat- victory for the Selecao. few months after Infantino took Blatter reacted to Wednes- Solari said he had filed an Saturday, but their real target third, one point behind Liv- ment for an apparent groin France won thanks to Ol- charge of FIFA and vowed to day’s news by telling AFP: “The “administrative complaint” will be Wednesday’s Champi- erpool and one point ahead of problem after just five min- ivier Giroud’s 52nd-minute restore its credibility, which had FIFA Ethics Committee... must against Marty with the over- ons League match against Liv- Red Star Belgrade. utes and collapsed to the turf penalty. been shaken by the corruption- do something and open an in- sight body AS-MPC.

Quick read Ireland part company with O’Neill and Keane Ingenious format and even games DUBLIN: Ireland have parted company with manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane after a run of six matches without a victory, the country’s Football Association said on Wednesday. Their equals UEFA Nations League success last game in charge was a turgid 0-0 draw with Denmark in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. FAI Chief Executive John Delaney paid tribute to O’Neill by saying: “I would like to thank Martin, Roy, REUTERS World Cup semi-finalists 5-2. ten based on guaranteeing es and topping their groups. and the management team for the impact that they had with the ZURICH Lower down the ladder, teams a set number of games, “At the start of this cam- Ireland team. “There have been many highlights during Martin’s the competition has produced making them bigger and paign our main objective was reign - none more so than Euro 2016 in France, which will live long UEFA’S new Nations League historic first competitive wins more complex and resulting to top the group,” said Faroe in the memory of all Irish supporters.” (REUTERS) competition has proved an for Gibraltar and Kosovo, in too many unappetising fix- Islands coach Lars Olsen. instant success thanks to the putting the latter within two tures. Kosovo, only admitted German league to Bendtner drops appeal apparently simple, but often matches of an improbable The Nations League for- to international football in ditch Monday against conviction for forgotten, combination of an place at European Champion- mat itself looked Byzantine 2016, took one point from 10 matches from 2021 attacking taxi driver ingenious format and evenly- ship in 2020. when it was first presented matches as they found them- matched teams. It has been a far cry from but turns out to be remark- selves out of their depth in BERLIN: The German Football COPENHAGEN: Denmark striker Initially seen as another the traditional World Cup and ably simple. the last World Cup qualifiers. League (DFL) on Wednesday Nicklas Bendtner has had to unwanted addition to an al- Euro qualifying tournaments Europe’s 55 national But in the Nations League, conirmed that Monday night drop his appeal against a 50-day ready cluttered fixture list, the where six-team groups fea- teams are divided into four they blasted 15 goals and won matches will be scrapped in the prison sentence, the state pros- Nations League has proved a ture mismatches such as Ger- divisions, or leagues, ranging four out of six games in win- Bundesliga from the 2021/22 ecutor of Copenhagen announced welcome alternative to luke- many against San Marino and from A, the strongest, to D. ning Group D3. season. While other European on Wednesday. “The footballer warm friendly internation- Spain against Liechtenstein. These are in turn each divid- They will now go into leagues are prolonging their is withdrawing his appeal. The als and one-sided European England’s progress to the ed into four groups of three playoffs with the other group football weekend with televised public prosecutor of Copenhagen qualifying ties. last World Cup was so serene or four teams. winners in the league – Geor- Monday kick offs, Germany’s believes that there is not suf- The last week saw England that, when they beat Slovenia The winners of each group gia, Belarus and Macedonia top light is bucking the trend, icient reason to maintain his ap- go from relegation to winning 1-0 to guarantee their place in UEFA President Aleksander are either promoted, in the – with the eventual victors following pressure from fans. peal. The verdict therefore enters their group in eight minutes, a Russia, bored fans threw pa- Ceferin presents the Nations case of Leagues B, C and D, earning a place at Euro 2020. Fans rallied against the ive into force,” tweeted the prosecu- dramatic qualification for the per planes onto the pitch. League trophy during the tourna- or qualify for the so-called Fi- “It’s great for the D league matches held on Monday nights tion. Bendtner was found guilty Netherlands at the expense of “We always had com- ment draw in Lausanne. (EPA) nal Four in the case of League where a team can qualify for last season, when the initia- earlier this month of assaulting world champions France and plaints from the big foot- A. The bottom team in each the Euro, something they tive was introduced, either with a taxi driver, the victim reportedly the astonishing humbling of ball countries about playing game is interesting.” group is relegated. could never do before,” said silent protests at matches or suffering a broken jaw. The player Belgium by Switzerland. against small countries, (in- The smaller teams also Ceferin. boycotts. The irst Monday night claimed he was acting in self- Trailing 2-0 after less than stead of) among each other, Less is more had cause for to be happy. “I know some big teams kick-off this season is on De- defence. It was not immediately 20 minutes and needing to and complaints from small One of the lessons from Instead of parking the bus are disappointed because cember 3 when Nuremberg host clear if, or when, the striker would score four times to win their ones that they never win,” the competition is that less and aiming to keep the score they were relegated but this Bayer Leverkusen. (AFP) serve his time. (AFP) group, the Swiss pulled them- said UEFA president Alek- can be more in a sport where respectable, they are able to is sport and this is why it’s selves together to beat the sander Ceferin. “Now, every competition formats are of- dream about winning match- interesting.”