Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016 47 Blatter wages final ban appeal NNE: Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter ball, was also sanctioned by FIFA over the ex-Juventus star. Platini had been hired by agement during his 17-year tenure as FIFA mounted his final appeal yesterday against funds. The Frenchman lost his CAS appeal in a FIFA as a consultant from 1999 to 2002 and president. his six-year ban from football, in a long-shot May verdict that likely diminishes Blatter’s had apparently not received his full compen- He was replaced in that job by fellow Swiss quest for redemption after his career ended in hopes of victory. Speaking to reporters before sation. “I am sure, at the end... that the panel national and former UEFA number two Gianni scandal. Blatter was at the world’s top sports appearing to give evidence at the closed-door will understand that the payment made to Infantino in February. An investigation com- court for a one-day hearing seeking to over- hearing, Platini said Blatter’s fate may already Platini was really a debt that we had” with missioned by Infantino’s administration also turn a suspension imposed by FIFA over be sealed. “I’m not sure if a decision hasn’t him, Blatter said yesterday. “This is a principle: accused Blatter and two top deputies-Jerome ethics violations. already been made,” he said, pledging to tell if you have debts you pay them.” FIFA’s ethics Valcke and Markus Kattner-of awarding them- “I will accept the verdict,” Blatter, 80, told the truth about the infamous payment “for committee was not convinced by the expla- selves nearly $80 million worth of improper journalists outside the Court of Arbitration for the umpteenth time.” CAS secretary general nation, banning both Blatter and Platini for salary increases and bonuses during their final Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. “I do Matthieu Reeb said the hearing may not wrap eight years in December. Those suspensions five years in office. hope it will be positive for me, but we are up until 7:00 pm (1700 GMT), citing delays. A were however cut to six years on appeal in Both Valcke and Kattner have been sacked footballers. We learn to win but also we learn decision may take several weeks. February. CAS however judged FIFA’s sanc- by FIFA. Valcke is also the subject of a Swiss to lose,” he said. The case that triggered tions against Platini “too severe” and trimmed criminal probe. Blatter and Platini were the Blatter’s downfall first emerged in September Settling a debt? his suspension to four years. That outcome most prominent casualties during more than of last year, when Swiss prosecutors said they Blatter arrived at the treelined court- would likely offer little comfort to the ageing a year of unprecedented scandal that upend- were investigating him over a suspect two house in a black Mercedes Sedan and flanked Blatter, whose four-decade career as a foot- ed world football, but many others have fall- million Swiss franc payment ($2 million, 1.8 by his Zurich-based lawyer Lorenz Erni. ball broker is likely over. Separate from yester- en. Prosecutors in New York have indicted 40 million euros) he authorized in 2011 to his Restating a justification for the Platini pay- day’s appeal, Blatter is also the target of a football and sports marketing executives over one-time heir apparent, Michel Platini. ment he has made repeatedly over the last criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors allegedly receiving tens of millions of dollars Platini, the former head of European foot- year, Blatter insisted FIFA owed money to the over the Platini payment and alleged misman- in bribes and kickbacks. — AFP Hull confounding grim preseason forecasts MANCHESTER: Hull started the season as the English Premier League’s “crisis club,” regarded by some as the worst-pre- pared team ever to begin a top-flight campaign. No manager. Owners that want out. Only 13 fit senior players. Not a penny spent in the offseason. One of their best players sold to a low- er-league club on the eve of the season. With two wins from two games, including one over reigning champion Leicester, the side from the northeast of England is confounding the grim preseason predictions and is mixing with Premier League royalty atop the fledgling standings. Hull sits alongside Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea on a maximum six points so far. One of them - United - visits the KCOM Stadium tomorrow. “I’m not sure we could have imagined or hoped for the start we’ve had,” Hull midfielder Shaun Maloney said. “But when the games come along, all the stuff off the field gets pushed to the back of your mind.” The build-up to the season couldn’t have been more different for United and Hull. At United, Jose Mourinho arrived as coach, around $200 million was spent on a quartet of signings that includes world-record transfer Paul Pogba and THURINGIA, Germany: Bayern Munich’s defender Mats Hummels reacts after scoring during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while the team’s best players first round football match between the German first division team Bayern Munich and the German regional soccer team were retained despite its failure to qualify for the Champions Carl Zeiss Jena. — AFP League. Over at Hull, Steve Bruce resigned as manager three weeks before the season started, reportedly unhappy at not being able to sign players while the club’s owners - the Allam Ancelotti’s Bayern kick off family - look to sell up. Long-term injuries have robbed them of Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo and Allan McGregor, while Mohamed Diame - the player whose winning goal in the eyeing fifth straight title League Championship playoff secured Hull’s return to the Premier League - was sold to Newcastle in early August. BERLIN: Bayern Munich kick off the son opener in Munich amid terror fears in Dortmund’s new eight 2016/17 German Bundesliga season at Germany. Rucksacks over an A4 size and New-look Borussia Dortmund, who Protest continues home to Werder Bremen today with large bottles are banned with a crowd of finished second to Bayern last season, Meanwhile, Hull fans disillusioned with the owners contin- their rivals out to stop them winning a around 75,000 expected. Nothing short open their campaign at home to Mainz ue to protest against the way the club is being run, and will fifth straight Bundesliga title. Germany of three points will be acceptable for the tomorrow having made eight new sign- likely do so again tomorrow. “No communication, no manag- defender Mats Hummels and burly defending champions who made history ings over the summer. Spain defender er, no engagement, no signings, no identity, no concessions, Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches last season by becoming the first club to Marc Bartra, France under-21 winger no honesty,” the Hull City Supporters’ Trust said in a state- have been Bayern’s only off-season sign- win four consecutive German league Ousmane Dembele, midfielder Sebastian ment. It’s against this backdrop that caretaker manager Mike ings, but it’s all change behind the titles. Bremen are without Germany strik- Rode, Portugal international left-back Phelan is working, but the former Manchester United assistant scenes at the Munich giants. Against er Max Kruse, who injured his knee in Raphael Guerreiro and Germany winger coach has come up with a winning formula. Hard work, good Bremen, new coach Carlo Ancelotti will their shock German Cup defeat to third- Andre Schuerrle are some of the new preparation and making the most of limited goalscoring be in charge of his first game at the division Sportfreunde Lotte last Sunday. signings set to feature for Thomas chances are reasons behind Hull’s flying start - a 2-1 win over Allianz Arena as he becomes the fourth Kruse has undergone an operation and Tuchel’s side. World Cup-winner Mario Leicester followed by a 2-0 victory at Swansea. Midfielder Italian to coach in the Bundesliga after will be out for the foreseeable future. “It’s Goetze is also back in the yellow and David Meyler gave an insight into Phelan’s methods after the Giovanni Trapattoni, Nevio Scala and a real blow because it looks like we’re black shirt after three years at Bayern. Swansea game on Saturday. Roberto Di Matteo. going to be without a key player for a Having signed Germany and former “We could tell you everything about them - how long they “Our priority is to win the league,” good while,” coach Viktor Skripnik told Bayern striker Mario Gomez from sleep, how many times they go to the toilet every day,” Meyler Ancelotti said when he first took over the club’s website. However Bremen, Fiorentina, Wolfsburg open their cam- said. “That’s just the type of person he is. He’s a winner and he’s from Pep Guardiola. “We’re looking for- who narrowly avoided relegation last paign at Augsburg, who have former trying to embed that into us.” Meyler wants Phelan to be hired ward to the start of the season and we’re season, hope to have ex-Bayern striker Darmstadt coach Dirk Schuster in charge as full-time manager and that possibility could materialize now ready for the first game against Bremen.” and Peru veteran Claudio Pizarro, who this season. Alongside Gomez, Wolfsburg that Hull’s No 1 target, Wales coach Chris Coleman, has pledged Ancelotti has brought in an entire new turns 38 in October, back from a thigh have signed Stuttgart forward Daniel his future to the national team.