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p15_Layout 1 9/27/14 10:23 PM Page 1 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 SPORTS Blatter: I’m just a servant Overhaul forecast in Brazil D’backs manager fired ZURICH: FIFA president Sepp Blatter is a mere servant at the service of foot- SAO PAULO: FIFA’s decision to ban third party ownership (TPO) of football NEW YORK: Kirk Gibson was fired as manager of the Arizona ball, he said on Friday as he re-stated his intention to run for a fifth mandate players could herald a revolution in Brazil, where the majority of players are Diamondbacks after posting the worst record in the National League, the in next May’s election. Blatter also declined a challenge from Jerome not wholly owned by their clubs, investors and clubs said on Friday. club announced on Friday. Champagne, his only declared opponent so far, to take part in a public Brazilian football is bankrupt with the top 20 teams owing a collective 5.1 Also relieved of his duties was bench coach and Gibson’s former Detroit debate about the future role of soccer’s governing body, saying “we shall billion Reais ($3 billion). The clubs survive by selling parts of player con- Tigers team mate Alan Trammell. The Diamondbacks, who won the National not imitate politics”. “I’m not running, I’m at (their) disposal,” Blatter told tracts to third parties who hope to recoup their money when the players League West title in 2011 with a 94-68 record in Gibson’s first full season at reporters after informing his executive committee that he would stand are sold. Those investors believe there are ways round the ban, but warned the helm, were 63-96 heading into the final weekend of the regular season. again. “What is FIFA? FIFA is a serving company for our society,” he said. “If it was not workable in the short term and would require a complete over- Overall, Arizona compiled a 353-375 record in more than four seasons you go into the statutes of FIFA, you will read the objectives of haul of Brazilian football. “Eighty percent of the players in Brazil have a per- under Gibson, 57, who was named NL manager of the year in 2011. The FIFA (which are) to develop football around the world, to centage of their contract owned by a third party so, if (FIFA) ends this, the Diamondbacks will immediately begin a search for a new man- take into consideration the unifying educational, cultural, teams won’t have the money to pay salaries,” Roberto Moreno, executive ager, said Tony La Russa, the team’s chief baseball officer. humanitarian values of football and then to develop foot- director of DIS Sports, one of the country’s biggest funds, told Reuters. Dave Stewart, the Diamondbacks’ new general manag- ball through youth and development programmes... “We “It can’t work in the short term. One after another, teams will stop pay- er, will have an important role in selecting the next are a service and I am still at the service,” he said, adding ing salaries and football will be over.” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said FIFA manager. “Kirk has done an admirable job under dif- that only ill-health would stop him standing. would ban the practice worldwide on Friday, but promised clubs they will ficult circumstances and we are grateful for his pro- “I don’t know....we are not masters of our destiny. have between six and eight transfer windows - three to four years - to fessionalism and his dedicated service to the organiza- Now I feel well, perhaps in a few months who adapt to the new rules. tion over the past eight years,” La Russa said in a state- knows, but if I am still well and if they want me, I Moreno said companies like DIS could avoid the ban by purchasing a ment. “We feel like it is time for a fresh start, and with our am at (their) disposal and I want to go on serv- club. Investors could then buy players for their team and loan them to big- recent restructuring in baseball operations, we want to get ing football.”—Reuters ger clubs who would give them a shop window.—Reuters started immediately moving in a new direction.” —Reuters Nationals blank Marlins, Royals roll WASHINGTON: For the second time in three leagues. With Detroit losing to Minnesota, the Athletics moved ever so close to their third seasons, the Washington Nationals will head to Kansas City trails the Tigers by a game in the AL consecutive playoff appearance with a victory the postseason with the top seeding in the Central with two to play. If they are tied after over Texas. National League. Sunday, the teams will play game No. 163 at The A’s, who snapped a three-game losing The NL East champion Nationals locked up Detroit on Monday to determine the division streak, would clinch an American League wild- home-field advantage until the World Series by winner. card spot with a loss by Seattle against the AL beating the Miami Marlins 4-0 on Doug Fister’s Guthrie (13-11) allowed four hits while win- West champion Los Angeles Angels later Friday three-hitter in the opener of a day-night double- ning his third straight start. He struck out six and night. header Friday. walked one. Hector Noesi (8-12) allowed six hits Adam Dunn, the big designated hitter batting Miami earned a split by winning the insignifi- in six innings. in the No. 2 spot for the first time since June cant second game 15-7 with 22 hits, including 2008, had a two-run double in the third for Kike Hernandez’s grand slam and J.T. Realmuto’s YANKEES 3, RED SOX 2 Oakland (87-73). Nick Tepesch (5-11) allowed six three-run triple. Derek Jeter took the night off after his emo- runs and six hits, with four walks, in 4 1-3 innings. Washington’s record was 94-66 at the end of a tional final home game and watched a bunch of Kazmir (15-9) struck out five without a walk while long day; the last pitch was thrown 9 hours, 35 Yankees rookies beat a group of Red Sox rookies. limiting the Rangers to two runs (one earned) minutes after the first. Taylor Hill (0-1) took the Watching from the dugout, there was little and four hits over seven innings. loss in his first major league start, allowing seven excitement for him to see one day after he pro- runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings. A.J. Ramos (7-0) vided plenty with his ultimate walkoff ‚Ä” a game- TWINS 11, TIGERS 4 earned the win with a 1-2-3 eighth inning. winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning Rick Porcello allowed six runs in fewer than Earlier, Solano was the only player who got a in the final home game of his 20 seasons. four innings, and Detroit lost to the Twins on a hit off Fister (16-6). Washington’s Anthony The Yankees had five rookies in the starting night the Tigers had hoped to clinch the AL Rendon hit a solo shot to left off wild-as-can-be lineup for the first time in more than 30 years Central title. Jarred Cosart (4-4), who walked eight. and the Red Sox started seven, including pitcher Detroit could have wrapped up the division Steven Wright (0-1). with a victory and a Kansas City loss, but Porcello ROYALS 3, WHITE SOX 1 David Robertson pitched the ninth for his (15-13) endured another rough outing down the Kansas City’s long postseason drought is over. 39th save a night after failing to protect a three- stretch. The Royals clinched a playoff spot for the first run lead, setting up Jeter’s dramatic moment. Porcello allowed four earned runs and six hits time in 29 years, beating the White Sox behind New York gave Chris Capuano (3-4) got the win. in 3 2-3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 6.20 ERA in seven scoreless innings from Jeremy Guthrie. September. AJ Achter (1-0) earned his first career Kansas City secured at least a wild card and ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 2 win with a solid relief effort. ended the longest active postseason drought Josh Reddick drove in three runs, Scott CHICAGO: Greg Holland No. 56 of the Kansas City Roya lspitches in the 9th inning for his among the major North American sports Kazmir won for the first time in seven starts and DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 4 45th save of the season against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. —AFP Justin Turner’s two-run infield single high- of the season with an elevated heart rate, a con- dropped two games off the pace in the race to lighted a six-run sixth inning, and the NL West dition he has dealt with before, and the Astros host the NL wild-card game on Wednesday. MLB results/standings champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Rockies rallied against reliever Carlos Torres for a victory Kennedy (13-13) gave up one unearned run Washington 4, Miami 0; Cleveland 1, Tampa Bay 0; Miami 15, Washington 7; Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 4; Toronto 4, for their third win in a row. over New York. Jose Altuve, closing in on the and four hits while going over 200 innings Baltimore 2; Minnesota 11, Detroit 4; NY Yankees 3, Boston 2; Pittsburgh 3, Cincinnati 1; Houston 3, NY Mets 1; Justin Morneau of Colorado went 2 for 3 with American League batting title, hit a tying single pitched for the third time in his career.