THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 SPORTS Atletico primed for Barca and Real slips

MADRID: Last season’s Spanish champions Argentine added. Atletico Madrid will be ready to pounce “To become champions again we have again if wealthy heavyweights Barcelona to work to finish second, third and when and Real Madrid show any more signs of they (Real and Barca) get distracted win the weakness, according to coach Diego title again.” Simeone. Barca clinched the La Liga title on Once Barca’s prolific Argentina forward Sunday with a 1-0 win at Atletico, exactly a Lionel Messi, who scored the winner on year after Simeone’s side pipped them to Sunday, retired, Atletico would have an the Spanish league trophy, their first in 18 even better chance, he joked. years, with a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp. Simeone has long maintained that Atletico were able to capitalise on Barca Atletico had little chance of defending their and Real’s inconsistency in 2013-14 but title given the gulf in resources compared with one game remaining this term, are left to Real and Barca, insisting third place was fighting for third place and a berth in the a more realistic target. Champions League group stage. Atletico Despite losing top scorer Diego Costa to have 77 points in third, three ahead of Chelsea, Atletico have still put together an fourth-placed Valencia, with Sevilla a point impressive season, twice beating Real in La further adrift in fifth. Liga, including a 4-0 drubbing of their Simeone’s men face a tricky final match neighbours at the Calderon in February. on Saturday at Granada, who are 16th and However, they lost both La Liga matches fighting for the top-flight survival. “We have against Barca, were eliminated by the to prepare as a team for when Real Madrid Catalan giants from the King’s Cup and and Barcelona are not so attentive,” knocked out of the Champions League by Simeone told Spanish radio station Onda Real in the quarter-finals. Cero in a late-night interview on Tuesday. “When we said that our rivals were “Last year, they were not so focused Sevilla and Valencia we were right,” and we were able to get in the mix but Simeone said. “Until we know whether we Valencia and Sevilla are also aware of this have finished third we cannot give our- and that strengthens the league,” the selves a mark for the season.” —Reuters

WEST BANK: FIFA president Joseph Blatter plays football with Palestinian children during his visit to the village of Dura Al-Qaraa, near the West Bank city of Ramallah. —AFP FIFA chief’s Mideast peace bid fails

RAMALLAH: FIFA president Sepp Blatter saw his an attempt to mix politics and sport, saying such would mean a national association is playing on Mideast peace-making mission crumble yester- matters had not place within FIFA. the territory of another national association day after the Palestinians vowed to press efforts Rajoub’s remarks were a clear indication that without having received permission to do so,” he to have Israel suspended at the upcoming world Blatter’s peace efforts had failed, although the said. football congress. After months of rising ten- world football chief vowed he would not give “I had a meeting today with president Abbas sions over plans by the Palestinian Football up. and we discussed this matter and this is a big Association (PFA) to have its Israeli counterpart Blatter has spoken out against suspending question mark.” Explaining the decision to press expelled from FIFA, Blatter himself flew into the the Israeli FA, saying such a move would damage ahead with the resolution, Rajoub said that all region on Tuesday on a mission to resolve the the organisation as a whole and could set a“dan- other avenues for resolving the matters had not dispute. gerous precedent”. borne fruit and that it was up to FIFA member At issue is a Palestinian complaint over Israeli associations to decide. restrictions on the freedom of movement of its ‘NOT FOOTBALL’ Emmanuel Adebayor players and footballing officials. “If one association is not happy with the oth- NO MATCH FOR PEACE The Palestinians are also protesting the exis- er and claiming whatever they claim, and it is a “We are convinced that most FIFA members tence of five Israeli teams in settlements which political matter that cannot be solved by FIFA share our views on the situation and will support are built on land they want for a future state. The statutes... then (a suspension) would be a dan- our proposal... because racism is one of the Adebayor reveals clubs play in the third and fourth divisions. gerous precedent,” Blatter said, citing concerns greatest dangers that football faces at the pres- Blatter first met in Jerusalem with Prime that other federations in conflict zones could fol- ent time,” he said. Blatter also proposed the idea Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who pledged to low suit. of the two national teams playing a “match for suicidal thoughts take a number of steps to ease the situation. But “This is not football. That’s why I’m on a peace peace” - with Netanyahu welcoming the idea but after talks with Palestinian president Mahmud mission.” Blatter, 79, is seeking reelection at the Rajoub saying the conditions were not yet ready Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday, it quickly upcoming FIFA Congress which begins on May for such a game. LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Togolese In the latest 1,649-word offering-posted became clear it was not enough, with PFA chief 28 in the hope of winning a fifth term in office. “It’s a creative idea, I like it,” he told Blatter. striker Emmanuel Adebayor revealed in a in English and French-he alleged that he Jibril Rajoub saying they would not take the pro- During his talks with Abbas, Blatter told him “But we have to pave the road for that, we have candid Facebook post yesterday that he was threatened with a knife after refusing posal off the agenda for the upcoming FIFA Israel had agreed to station people at check- to prepare the environment. But this should be considered suicide over a feud with his to give Kola money to set up a car business Congress. points “to facilitate the movement of football an endgame, this should be a purpose for you family. during his time at Monaco. “We will keep the proposal on the agenda (of people” and to establish a VIP service to allow and I urge you not to give up,” he said. The 31-year-old, who has barely fea- “I was very tired and decided to go take the upcoming FIFA Congress) for sincere and players to move between the West Bank and The Palestinians say they are confident of tured for Spurs this season, also claimed a nap. I woke and a knife was held to my open discussions by the FIFA member associa- Gaza. winning support from many federations within that he had had a knife held to his throat throat,” Adebayor wrote. “As I opened my tions,” Rajoub said at a joint press conference They also agreed to create a special ID card the congress, notably those based in Africa and by his brothers, Peter-who died in July 2012 eyes, both of my brothers (Kola and Peter) with Blatter. for Palestinian players, and to set up a third-par- Asia, recalling how the Asian Football — and Kola. were there. They were shouting and they “There will be no compromising on free ty working group comprising Israeli, Palestinian Conference banned Israel in the mid-1970s. “Many times I wanted to give up,” claimed that I was wasting their time. “Peter movement of our athletes and officials.” The and FIFA representatives which would “meet Israel’s Football Association, which was recog- Adebayor wrote. “Ask my sister Iyabo was going mad and Kola was supporting Palestinians want the matter to be put to a vote monthly to analyse and monitor the situation”. nised by FIFA in 1929 during the British Adebayor how many times I have called (him). I asked them, ‘Is this the only way to at the annual FIFA Congress where it will only But he said that the question of the five set- Mandate, was admitted to the Asian Football and was ready to commit suicide. I kept solve this issue? If yes, then kill me and take pass if it gets the support three-quarters of the tlement teams had not been resolved, describ- Conference in 1954, but expelled 20 years later these stories for years. the money.’ It’s only at that moment that he 209 member federations. ing it as “a delicate problem”. “This has nothing following pressure from Arab and Muslim mem- “But if I die, no-one would know my sto- put the knife down.” Adebayor explained Israel has denounced the Palestinian move as to do with FIFA statutes but it could (do) if this bers. It was admitted to UEFA in 1994. —AFP ry, no-one would learn from it. Some peo- that he had taken to Facebook after his sib- ple say I should keep these stories private, lings spoke out about “family issues” on but someone has to sacrifice himself, some- social media. one has to talk about it.” Adebayor has been at Spurs since 2011, Injury-time penalty It is the third time this month that following previous spells with Arsenal, Adebayor has published a lengthy post on Manchester City and Real Madrid, but has Facebook about his disagreements with made only 10 appearances this season, rocks Guangzhou members of his family. scoring two goals. —AFP SINGAPORE: An injury-time penalty Jorginho on 23 minutes, but the Brazilian’s rocked the AFC Champions League hopes effort was cancelled out just before half- Italy’s PM calls for of 10-man Guangzhou Evergrande yester- time by Huang Bowen’s stunning equaliser day as the favorites went down 2-1 to from 25 metres. FC in the last 16 first leg. Fabio Guangzhou were reduced to 10 men in match-fixing clean-up Cannavaro’s 2013 winners recovered from the 65th minute when Li caught Bueno in going an early goal down and despite a red the chest with a high boot. And the ROME: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Match-fixing allegations have blight- card to Li Xuepeng, the wealthy Chinese Brazilian drew another pivotal foul when he John Carver yesterday he was embarrassed and dis- ed the lower leagues of Italian soccer in club looked set to escape with a 1-1 draw. won the penalty deep into stoppage time. gusted by the latest match-fixing scandal recent years as criminal groups increas- In , Takashi Usam’s second-half Carver in bid to save to hit Italian soccer and called for sweep- ingly use the sport as a focus of the coun- brace gave a 3-1 away win ing changes to clean up the game and try’s legal gambling industry, Europe’s over FC Seoul as the Japanese treble-win- Magpies from drop attract families to stadiums. largest, as a way to earn and launder ners took a giant stride towards the quar- Renzi had already promised to make money. ter-finals. LONDON: Newcastle United manager John Carver is radical changes to professional soccer a “The episodes in our third division are Seoul had not conceded in their previ- attempting to wrap his players in a low-tech blanket in a bid year ago after a supporter was shot dead embarrassing,” said Renzi, who is an ous six home games in the competition, to save them from relegation. Having lost nine of their last 10 by a rival fan at the Italian Cup final, but ardent supporter of Serie A team but Gamba ended that defensive record Premier League matches, the Magpies need a win against these reforms never materialised. Fiorentina, which represents Florence with a superb counter-attacking display at West Ham in the final game of the season on Sunday to guar- Police on Tuesday detained around 50 where he used to be mayor. Seoul World Cup Stadium. antee safety. people including team managers, players Investigators suspect 28 matches The deadlock was broken in the 62nd A loss to the Hammers and a Hull City win over and a suspected Calabrian mobster from the third division Lega Pro and minute when the ball was worked down Manchester United would see Newcastle relegated and accused of fixing dozens of soccer semi-professional Serie D from the 2014- the left flank to full-back Hiroki Fujiharu, Carver is doing all he can to tip the odds in his favour; start- matches in the country’s third division 15 season were rigged. Among those whose cross was met by Usami with a firm ing with a ban on players using social media. “People are say- and its top semi-professional league. sought by police for bribing players and volley that left goalkeeper Yoo Sang-Hoon ing this is the biggest game in six years at this club, and let’s “I am disgusted by what is happening coaches were Serbs, Albanians and helpless. The visitors extended their lead 11 be honest, it is,” Carver told reporters. “We have got to deal in our soccer. In the last few years there Maltese nationals. minutes later after more good work by with that. “There is going to be a lot of media hype which we have been repeated scandals that leave Without naming names, Renzi said Kim Do-Heon Fujiharu, who sent a chip from the left expect. I have had a chat with the guys and said... try and stay you speechless,” Renzi said in a radio Italian soccer had to get rid of “characters byline to the far post where Koki Yonekura off social media, stay off Twitter, keep off the internet.” interview ahead of this year’s Italian Cup with a questionable approach that gov- But there was late drama when Brazilian was on hand to slam the ball home. Carver does not even want his players watching football final late yesterday. ern our soccer at all levels.” forward Ricardo Bueno took a tumble in Usami netted his second of the night on TV in case it tires them out. “Don’t watch football because He said Italy should follow the exam- Despite the scandals, after years in the the box and captain Kim Do-Heon held his with a superb individual effort with four sometimes mentally that can fatigue you and put a bit of ple of Britain, Germany and Spain, which doldrums Italy’s top teams have fared nerve to bury his spot-kick in the 96th minutes left, holding off two defenders pressure on you,” he said. “It’s come to this and we have to have largely rooted out fan violence and better in international competitions this minute. before sending a low, left-footed shot past deal with it. But I’m looking forward to the challenge that this invested in high quality stadiums to season. Juventus faces Barcelona in the It sparked celebrations for Seongnam Yoo. week will bring. “I have enough players in that room who make them more attractive to families. In final of the showcase Champions League but they still have much work to do away Yun Ju-Tae pulled a goal back for Seoul realise what this game means. I’m expecting the big players Italy, violence is rife and its stadiums are next month, and Fiorentina and Napoli next week, especially if Guangzhou wel- in stoppage time but the Korean side will to step up and perform. We have to win the game. If we win, often half empty, even in the top tier both reached the semi-final of the less come back injured Brazilian trio Elkeson, need to score at least three goals next we take care of our own business. Winning is our only Serie A. prestigious Europa League. —Reuters Alan and Rene Junior. week in Japan to have any chance of pro- thought. Seongnam went ahead through gressing. —AFP “We need the supporters this weekend. Put all your differ- ences to one side and get behind the team. We will have an inquest after.” Sunday’s clash, however, will be played out against a backdrop of fan unrest, with supporters planning a Kevin-Prince is Schalke’s scapegoat, says brother protest against owner Mike Ashley. The AshleyOut.com group plan to “continue to occupy the BERLIN: Germany defender Jerome Boateng has threatened to see Schalke drop out of the top six Schalke has told both Sam and Berlin-born weeks in the starting side. ground” after the final whistle regardless of the result and are jumped to the defence of half-brother Kevin- in Germany’s Bundesliga after the Royal Blues had Kevin-Prince, who played for the Black Stars at the “Just because he started one game in the team, calling on fellow supporters to join the protest. Prince Boateng by insisting the Ghana internation- already missed out on a Champions League berth 2014 World Cup, that they have no future with the which has been playing without success for weeks, “Together we will make it clear that enough is enough al is being used as a scapegoat by Schalke follow- for next season for the first time since the 2010/11 club, but Bayern Munich defender Jerome he is supposed to have suddenly pulled the whole and demand-on the worldwide platform that is Sky Sports- ing a poor season. The Royal Blues kicked both season. Boateng says his half-brother has been treated team down? that the man ultimately responsible for the club’s demise into Kevin-Prince Boateng and Germany winger Sidney Boateng, 28, remains under contract with unfairly. “He doesn’t have an explanation for the sud- mediocrity, Mike Ashley himself, puts the club up for sale Sam out of the squad, and suspended mid- Schalke, but is allowed to talk to other clubs to “They were clearly looking for a scapegoat,” den turn of events, he is naturally very disappoint- with immediate effect to ‘a worthy custodian of such a fine fielder Marco Hoeger, 10 days ago following their negotiate a transfer and has already been linked to the Bayern defender told German magazine ed with those responsible at Schalke, which I can football club’,” the AshleyOut campaigners said in a statement shock 2-0 league defeat at Cologne. The result had former club AC Milan. Sport Bild. “My brother hadn’t played for completely understand. —AFP on their website. —Reuters