Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016 45 FIFA fines Hong Kong over booing fans

HONG KONG: FIFA has fined Hong They also held up white signs saying conduct among the supporters of its tent with Beijing’s rule. Kong after fans jeered the Chinese “boo” in English at the city’s Mong Kok team,” the statement said, adding that Fans’ anger against China was also national anthem during a crunch World Stadium, which segregated fans from any future infringements “will lead to stoked in June of last year when a pro- Cup qualifier last year, the city’s football both teams using separate entrances harsher sanctions”. The fine is double motional poster used by the China authorities said yesterday, the second and even different toilets in a bid to the amount of a previous fine issued in Football Association described the penalty in four months for such an head off any potential trouble. “The October when the HKFA was charged city’s team as “black skinned, white offence. Hong Kong fans jeered and Hong Kong Football Association has 5,000 Swiss francs after fans again skinned and yellow skinned,” which turned their backs during the “March of been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($9,911) jeered the Chinese national anthem and Hong Kong supporters criticized as the Volunteers” anthem, which the regarding the incident of the booing of threw a drink at a rival player during a racist. China’s perennially underachiev- semi-autonomous territory shares with the national anthem by the Hong Kong September match. The joint 2018 ing national team sacked its national China, at a match between the city’s fans,” said a statement published on the World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup quali- coach Alain Perrin last Friday after a dis- side and the Chinese national team last Association’s website yesterday, citing a fiers follows the “Umbrella Movement” appointing run of results left their November that ended in a goalless FIFA notification. pro-democracy protests in 2014, which World Cup qualifying campaign hang- draw. “The HKFA is liable for the improper gripped the city and underlined discon- ing by a thread. — AFP

Southampton sink Watford

Southampton 2

Watford 0

SOUTHAMPTON: Shane Long and Dusan Tadic scored in each half as Southampton steadied the ship with a 2-0 home win over dangerous Watford in the Premier League on Wednesday. Ronald Koeman’s side had won just one of their previous eight league games, losing six, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace at the weekend. But Irish striker Long’s 17th-minute header set them on their way to victory at a rain-soaked LONDON: Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater (center) goes to clear the ball under pressure from Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby St Mary’s. Tadic replaced Sadio Mane in the Alderweireld during their English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at the White Hart 71st minute and scored within two minutes Lane stadium in London on Wednesday. — AP to complete a victory that lifted Southampton up to 12th place, two points below 10th-place Watford, who are winless in Leicester deserve four league games. Southampton, who welcomed back goal- keeper Fraser Forster after 10 months out with a knee injury, went ahead when Long top 4: Pochettino headed in his eighth goal of the season from left-back Matt Target’s inviting cross. Watford’s away form has been key to their in the top four, less than a year after their dramat- team can play in a different way,” he said. “We successful readaptation to top-flight football, ic escape from relegation last season. “I think need to be stronger. We were missing something but they were forced to mount a rearguard Tottenham 0 they deserve it,” said Pochettino when asked if at set-pieces and we had chances to score.” Spurs action as Southampton looked to press home he though Ranieri’s side could maintain their remain fourth after the defeat, a point clear of their advantage. Visiting goalkeeper form. “Full credit to them. I’m very disappointed, fifth-place West Ham United. Ranieri still refuses Heurelho Gomes thwarted first Mane and but I think they deserve to finish in the place that to accept that this result provided evidence that then Long, while Mane wasted a great chance Leicester 1 they are. “Leicester play their way, but they his team can win the division. “Tottenham in my when he hit the post after intercepting a Jose deserve full credit for the way that they believe opinion are one of the best teams in the division Manuel Jurado pass intended for Sebastian on the pitch. It’s unbelievable.” and have some great players,” said the Leicester Prodl. Pochettino thinks that the inexperience of his manager. “It’s only January, it’s not May. It’s good, Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte also LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager own squad is hindering their consistency in key but we must continue to work hard and keep our sent a shot over the bar from marauding Mauricio Pochettino believes that his side’s matches, with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Harry feet on the ground. This is a crazy, crazy league right-back Cedric Soares’s cut-back. Watford defeat by Leicester City proves that Claudio Kane and Erik Lamela all vital to the team’s this year. “A lot of people say, ‘What happened manager Quique Sanchez Flores sent on Ranieri’s men deserve to finish in the top four of potency, but under 24 years of age. “I think it’s with Leicester, what can they do?’ The answer is I Ikechi Anya in place of Almen Abdi just after the Premier League. Spurs could have moved to difficult to explain to supporters that they should don’t know. It’s my first season with them, but the hour, but still Southampton came, Mane within a point of Leicester had they clinched vic- take this defeat in a positive way,” added we are very solid.” Asked what he said to people shooting just wide from Long’s pass. Mane tory at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, but Pochettino, after his team’s five-match unbeaten who claimed Leicester could win the title, the made way for Tadic moments later, but any instead they sit seven points behind their visitors league run came to an end. “We need to learn a Italian replied: “I laugh!” He added: “We now focus hopes Watford may have harbored that the after falling to Robert Huth’s late header. lot. We are very young. When we get positive on our match on Saturday. Aston Villa won their Senegalese’s exit would end their torment Leicester’s 1-0 victory moved them level on results, I try to explain that we are very young match (against Crystal Palace) and they don’t were dashed by his replacement within two points with leaders Arsenal at the summit of the and need to learn.” His team dominated posses- want to be relegated and they will fight.” Jamie minutes. From Steven Davis’s flick, Tadic division, as they ended their run of three games sion and created most of the chances, but the Vardy returned from minor groin surgery in the picked up possession, shifted the ball past without a goal or a win. visitors always looked dangerous with their victory, but was substituted for the final 20 min- Prodl and Anya and fired a shot beyond The prospect of Champions League football counter-attacking style and Pochettino hinted at utes. Ranieri believes it bodes well that his side Gomes from 10 yards. In a further boost to remains a strong possibility for both clubs, with a naivety among his squad. can win games without the England striker, who Saints fans, striker Graziano Pelle made his Pochettino striving to put Spurs back among has scored 15 Premier League goals this season. comeback as a late substitute after four Europe’s elite for the first time in six years. But it is ‘Crazy, crazy league’ “Vardy and (Riyad) Mahrez are very important for games out with a knee injury. — AFP Leicester who are best-placed to achieve that “We can play really well and believe in your us and if we can score without Mahrez and Vardy and the Spurs manager believes they will finish philosophy, and need to accept that another then that’s good,” he said. —AFP