FOOTBALL | Page 4 CRICKET | Page 7 Dominant Abid, Masood City end centuries give Leicester’s Pakistan edge unbeaten run over Sri Lanka Sunday, December 22, 2019 Rabia II 25, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT SPOTLIGHT Infantino reveals aims for new Club World Cup AFP “I want the Club World Cup However, the new Club World Cup Doha to be the best in terms of will only be held every four years and re- quality on the pitch but places the Confederations Cup. also in terms of revenues” The 49-year-old said he accepted ianni Infantino is determined concerns about the amount of football to make his new, expanded now be played at the end of the Euro- being played, but defended FIFA’s need Club World Cup “the best club pean club season, makes it an irresistible to “foster discussions to see how we can competition in the world” as prospect for bidders. make the game better”. Gwell as the most lucrative, as he revealed “It will be in June when traditionally He recently made the same defence that FIFA have had nine off ers to buy the we have World Cups, so the conditions I amid reports he was backing a proposed commercial rights to the tournament. think will be optimal,” he said. breakaway Super League, but on Friday The president of world football’s gov- “We are commercialising the com- Infantino admitted he wanted to expand erning body was in Qatar for the fi nal of petition now and up to yesterday the number of clubs who could become this year’s Club World Cup, in what will (Thursday) we had nine off ers that were major global names. be the penultimate edition of the tour- much more interesting than what I had “Today we have 10 to 12 clubs who nament in its current format. thought, so that shows there is a big are up there, and they are all in four or It will return here next year, before commercial interest.” fi ve countries in Europe,” he said, be- a new, 24-team tournament begins in A larger Club World Cup raises the fore hinting at a possible move towards June and July 2021, with China having prospect of more match-ups like yes- a larger, closed elite. already been awarded hosting rights. terday’s fi nal, for which a huge Brazilian “If you want to develop football in the “I want the Club World Cup to be the contingent was in Qatar. world, then we need to have the ambi- best in terms of quality on the pitch but “When you see 15-18,000 Flamen- tion and the objective to have 50 clubs also in terms of revenues,” Infantino told go fans here, and we will have 30,000 around the world who people can iden- journalists in Doha, adding: “Whatever Egyptians here to see (Mohamed) Salah, tify themselves with, and we have to FIFA is doing has to be the best, that’s that shows the level of interest. think about what kind of platforms and clear.” “It is going to be a beautiful and very competitions we can give them. While the existing Club World Cup successful competition on the sporting “The new Club World Cup is certainly features only the six continental cham- side, and economically.” one that goes in that direction. pions as well as the champions of the There are many issues raised by the “If we can pay and generate more rev- host nation, the new event will see many introduction of such a new tournament, enues for the big clubs — the 10 to 12, or of the biggest sides in the world — in- not least the already bloated match cal- 15 to 20 Europeans, but also 30 around FIFA president Gianni Infantino with Qatar cluding eight from Europe — descend on endar. the world — then you have done some- Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh China for the fi rst edition. The inaugural edition is also set to thing good.” Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani at the Club The FIFA chief previously claimed clash with the next Africa Cup of Na- Infantino also recently proposed the World Cup final between Liverpool and that the expanded competition could tions, a competition that was recently idea of a pan-African league, and on Flamengo yesterday. generate as much as $50bn in revenue. moved from January-February to June Friday he confi rmed plans for a wom- He believes the added depth, com- and July to avoid clashing with the Euro- en’s Club World Cup were “a work in bined with the fact the competition will pean club season. progress”. FOCUS Goalie Cardenas the star as Monterrey fi nish third Cardenas saves Carlos Eduardo and Mohamed Kanno’s eff orts before scoring the decisive penalty AFC lal opened the scoring on 35 minutes as Doha Eduardo headed home Yasser Al Shah- rani’s cross past Monterrey goalkeeper Luis Cardenas. l Hilal SFC were denied a third Eduardo could have put Al Hilal place fi nish in the FIFA Club further ahead in the 40th minute but World Cup Qatar 2019 by sent his header over the crossbar while AMexico’s Monterrey who tri- Omar Khribin was denied by Cardenas umphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout after shortly after. a 2-2 draw at the Khalifa International Monterrey started the second Stadium yesterday. half aggressively and levelled the tie Monterrey goalkeeper Luis Cardenas through Arturo Gonzalez’s header in Monterrey coach Antonio was the hero in the shootout as he saved the 55th minute. Mohamed (C) and players greet Carlos Eduardo and Mohamed Kanno’s The Mexicans took the lead fi ve min- fans after the 2019 FIFA Club eff orts before scoring the decisive pen- utes later when Angel Zaldivar sent a World Cup 3rd place playoff alty. low cross to Maximiliano Meza who against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal at Al Hilal took the lead in the 35th scored from close range. the Khalifa International Stadi- minute through Eduardo but Monter- Al Hilal, however, drew level in the um yesterday. Picture on right rey scored two quick goals in the second 66th minute as second half substitute shows Monterrey goalkeeper period through Arturo Gonzalez and Gomis headed home Eduardo’s cross. Luis Cardenas celebrating his Maximiliano Meza, only for Bafetimbi The left post denied Gomis, the 2019 goal in the penalty shootout. Gomis to draw the 2019 AFC Champi- AFC Champions League MVP and ons League winners level and force the Top Scorer, a winner late into the tie tie to penalties. as Monterrey prevailed in the penalty After a slow start which saw neither shootout with goalkeeper Cardenas side having clear looks on goal, Al Hi- emerging the hero. Gulf Times Sunday, December 22, 2019 FIFA Club World Cup 2 Qatar 2019 Sights from the FIFA Club World Cup PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil, Ram Chand and Reuters Gulf Times Sunday, December 22, 2019 3 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Rayyan take on Wakrah as QNB Stars League resumes By Sports Reporter slip-up in their bid to be in strong of victories in the QNB Stars placed at the 11th position with Doha contention for the title. League, The Kings will look to just fi ve points. The Orange For- Al Wakrah are eighth in the begin from where they left off tress need to lift their game by table with 12 points (three victo- under former Qatar international several notches if they are to he QNB Stars League ries, as many draws and four de- midfi elder Wesam Rizik, who is avoid relegation. However, time resumes today after a feats). The Blue Wave have a goal now at their helm. is on their side as the league is long break with title diff erence of -3 (16 goals for and Al Arabi occupy the fi fth po- only reaching the halfway stage. contenders Al Rayyan in 19 against). sition with 14 points. They have Umm Salal have so far recorded Taction against Al Wakrah, Umm Al Rayyan drew 2-2 with Al registered four wins, two draws just one victory. They drew two Salal taking on Al Sailiya and Qa- Shahania, while Al Wakrah beat and three defeats to have a goal matches and lost seven to have a tar SC meeting Al Arabi. Al Ahli 2-1 in Week 10 of the QNB diff erence of +6 (18 goals for and goal diff erence of -14 (seven goals The prestigious domestic Stars League. 12 against). for and 21 against). tournament was suspended for Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre The Dream Team have the ad- Al Sailiya are sixth with 14 several weeks accommodate the said he used the break to good vantage of having played one points (four wins, as many de- Gulf Cup, the FIFA Club World eff ect. “The league stopped for game less as their match against feats and two draws). They have a Cup and several rounds of the a long time. It was the job of the Al Sadd was postponed due to the goal diff erence of -2 (12 goals for Ooredoo Cup. coach to fi nd the appropriate latter’s AFC Champions League and 14 against). Al Rayyan are second in the ways to prepare his team for the Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre speaks to the media ahead of his team’s match against Al Wakrah. commitment. The Peregrines, who fi nished a league standings with 22 points, matches during that time and I Al Arabi include the likes of creditable third last season, will four less than Al Duhail.