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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 SPORTS Leicester a ‘motivation’ for all: Rovers owner Leicester set to offer Ranieri long-term contract

DOHA: Newly-crowned English Premier League champions Leicester City provide “extreme motivation” for all lower league football clubs, the Middle Eastern owner of Bristol Rovers said yesterday. Wael Al-Qadi, who watched his Rovers team dramatically promoted to the third tier of the English league last weekend, said Leicester’s exploits this season should give hope to everyone outside the traditional big clubs. “What happened with Leicester, it just gives extreme motivation not only to clubs but for fans, for players,” the Jordanian said. “It’s fantastic for us in the lower leagues, you FIFA President Gianni Infantino think any of your players can become the next Jamie Vardy.” Vardy, famously, was playing non- league football just four years ago but his rapid FIFA unveils timetable for rise will likely see him named as a member of England’s European Championship squad to 2026 WCup bidding process play in France next month. And even if it may not be possible to emulate Leicester and win the league, their success should spur clubs like MEXICO CITY: FIFA unveiled the timetable Criminal investigation Rovers to achieve the “highest level possible”, of its delayed bidding process for the 2026 FIFA said that a “consultation process”, added Qadi. The Qatar-born businessman took World Cup on Tuesday, with president outlining new standards for bidders, would 92 per cent ownership of the English south- Gianni Infantino’s plans for a 40-team run until May 2017, followed by a prepara- western club in February. tournament to be decided upon by tion phase running until December 2018 In a 15-match run since he took charge, October and a final decision on the hosts when countries would have to submit their Rovers only lost twice and snatched the final to be made in May 2020. Soccer’s world bids. The bids would be evaluated from automatic promotion spot to Football League ROME: Claudio Ranieri (left), Italian coach of the English football club Leicester, poses with governing body said it would consider January 2019 to February 2020 with a final One last Saturday with an injury-time winner. “It President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Giovanni Malago after receiving giving the green light to joint bids and decision three months later. FIFA was was amazing, really something special,” said the ‘Palma d’Oro’ - top annual award for achievements by Italian coaches, during a ceremony review a rule which currently allows a con- forced to reform its bidding process after Qadi, now back in Jordan. A member of the on at the CONI headquarter in Rome. —AFP tinent to stage the tournament every the vote in December 2010 awarded the Jordanian Football Association, Qadi has denied eight years. A FIFA source said they had 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and reports he is a billionaire or has limitless funds, club’s maiden Premier League title victory, vice- aire Thai owner Vichai, reiterated the club’s com- considered increasing this wait period to Qatar respectively. and says Rovers will not be big spenders next chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has said. mitment to keeping their best players and 12 years or more and that there had been That vote is the subject of a criminal season despite promotion. “Darrell Clarke Italian Ranieri took over from Nigel Pearson strengthening the squad in the close season. no discussions about allowing a continent investigation by Swiss authorities, while (Rovers’ manager) believes in this group of play- on a three-year contract in July and Leicester Speculation has mounted in the days following to host successive World Cups. Qatar’s preparations have also been marred ers more than going out and buying three or are keen to offer him improved terms and tie Leicester’s remarkable title triumph that the This could mean that with Russia host- by allegations of abuse of migrant workers four players,” he said. Next season Rovers will him down to a long-term deal in the wake of his likes of midfielder Riyad Mahrez, midfield ing the 2018 World Cup, Europe would in the construction industry. Qatar says it is play teams such as Coventry, Charlton and spectacular achievement. “At the end of the sea- enforcer N’Golo Kante and top scorer Jamie have to wait until at least 2030 before stag- working to solve the issue. Under revised Sheffield United, the latter also having Middle son we will talk about that (extending Ranieri’s Vardy may be lured away by bigger rivals in ing the tournament again. The decisions statutes, the hosts will be chosen by the Eastern owners, as they are the club of Saudi contract) with him,” Srivaddhanaprabha told England or Europe. “We will try everything that were among the first passed by the new- 209 members of FIFA at its annual prince Abdullah Bin Musaad Abdulaziz Al-Saud. British media. “We will sit down together and we can to build the team and to secure the look FIFA Council, which was holding its Congress. The Council, however, will still when we talk about something, it’s long term, same group of players and add some quality,” maiden meeting since it replaced the old draw up a shortlist of three candidates. Ranieri long-term contract not just until September. I like people to work Aiyawatt added. “I have to talk to all of the executive committee under reforms passed Previously, hosting rights were decided by Leicester City will discuss a possible contract for me when they are happy and enjoy working scouts when they give me the lists. I have to talk in February. The Council, which has a the old executive committee. extension with manager Claudio Ranieri at the with the group of people.” to Claudio about which player he wants. I strategic role, ruled that bidding nations FIFA said that Gibraltar and Kosovo’s end of the season as a reward for his role in the Srivaddhanaprabha, son of Leicester’s billion- always support, always.”—Agencies would have to meet requirements on applications for membership would be human rights, sustainable event manage- submitted to the Congress on Friday and ment and environmental protection. that both would be allowed to take part in Bidders who did not meet “technical the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition requirements” would be excluded, it said. if accepted. Benin was suspended with Infantino was elected as FIFA president in February when one of his main promises immediate effect due to legal interfer- was to increase the number of teams in the ence in the country’s football federation. finals from 32 to 40, a proposal which is A decision not to suspend Greece was rat- strongly opposed by Europe’s biggest ified by the Council. FIFA Council member clubs. FIFA said that decisions were expect- Fernando Sarney praised Infantino’s lead- ed by October on the number of teams, the ership on Tuesday. “Things are getting format for the tournament, the “eligibility of calmer in FIFA,” the Brazilian representa- (continental) confederations to bid” and tive told reporters. “Gianni is talking whether to allow joint bids. Joint bids were about football, he is travelling around, banned in 2011 but Infantino has said he talking to people and trying to put foot- wants to encourage them, possibly spread- ball back into our conversations because ing the tournament around several coun- before we talked about everything apart tries in a region. from football.”— Reuters

Scandal-plagued CONCACAF to pick new chief president

MEXICO CITY: The scandal-plagued foot- January, appeared in a New York court last ball confederation of North America, month and pleaded guilty to four criminal Central America and the Caribbean (CON- charges, including racketeering and wire CACAF) will pick a new president today, fraud in connection with the FIFA scandal. after its last three leaders faced corruption While the regional grouping will pick a new allegations. CONCACAF members will meet leader, FIFA will hold a Congress today and in Mexico City to choose a new leader tomorrow during which new president some five months after its last president, Gianni Infantino will push reforms to clean Ilkay Gundogan Alfredo Hawit, was arrested in December. up world football. The two finalists for the job-Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani: backed by big nations Montagliani and Bermuda Football Montagliani, 50, has headed Canada’s Go or stay long-term, Dortmund Association president Larry Mussenden football association since 2012 and serves have both vowed to clean up the organiza- on the FIFA reform committee. He has the tion. Antigua and Barbuda official Gordon backing of the United States, Mexico, tell Man City’s target Gundogan Derrick, who had been seeking the presi- Canada, the seven Central American associ- dency, was barred from running last month ations and four from the Caribbean (Cuba, BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund have told injury-hit join Bayern for next season. Hummels has sale of Hummels will make Dortmund 38 million after a background check by world football Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Manchester City target Ilkay Gundogan to either become the latest Borussia star, after Mario euros ($43.3m) and Watzke has said the team governing body FIFA, which did not reveal Republic). Montagliani, who has worked in leave at the end of the season or sign a long- Goetze and Robert Lewandowski, to join Bayern, will be “just as good as this year” as they look to the reason for his exclusion. CONCACAF the insurance business, has vowed to bring term contract extension. After Bayern Munich but Watzke hopes there will be no more negativ- sign a replacement. Austrian international has been at the heart of the global corrup- more transparency at CONCACAF, starting announced on Tuesday they have signed ity from the Dortmund fans. “I hope and wish Aleksandar Dragovic at Dynamo Kiev has tion scandal engulfing world football since from the top. The scandals “have sullied our Borussia’s captain Mats Hummels on a five-year that it’ll be the case,” said Watzke. “I’d be happy if expressed an interest in joining Dortmund while May last year. sport and badly undermined the public’s deal, Dortmund are looking to keep hold of their the whole club showed how big we are, there is Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi at Valencia Long-time CONCACAF president Jack trust in football’s governing bodies,” other stars as they plan for next season when no reason for bitterness, we respect his decision, and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane are also Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, is cur- Montagliani wrote in an open letter Borussia will be back in the Champions League. also when it’s a pity.” According to reports, the reportedly on Borussia’s wish list.—AFP rently fighting against extradition to the announcing his candidacy in February. He Midfielders Gundogan and Henrikh United States after being indicted for rack- said the game must be “governed in a prin- Mkhitaryan have been linked to Premier League eteering and conspiracy. Jeffrey Webb, who cipled and professional way that, above all clubs with City and Chelsea respectively report- succeeded Warner, pleaded guilty to rack- else, protects the integrity of the game.” He ed to be interested. Gundogan’s agent met with eteering, money laundering and wire fraud has also said the organization, which FIFA warns Nepal’s FA City’s director of sport Txiki Begiristain in last year after being extradited from groups 41 football association, must be less Amsterdam in March and reports in the German Switzerland. Hawit, who is from Honduras fragmented between the interests of its dif- media say the deal is set to be finalised at the and was extradited from Switzerland in ferent regions.—AFP to get house in order end of the season. But the situation has been complicated after Gundogan, who has a year left BERLIN: Nepal’s troubled football association dent Narendra Shrestha, seen as close to on his current Dortmund contract, dislocated his could have a “normalization committee” Thapa. Members of ANFA’s executive commit- knee in training last week. imposed on it, unless it reinstates suspended tee, including two former vice presidents who The injury has ruled him out of next month’s executives and calls an immediate congress, had been critical of Thapa and had taken the European championships in France with FIFA has warned in a letter seen by Reuters. In issue to FIFA last year, have been dismissed for Germany and no date has been given as to when the letter, sent to ANFA General Secretary allegedly missing meetings. he can play again. “I have spoken to him, he’s Dhirendra Pradhan on May 9, FIFA’s acting “FIFA and AFC would kindly ask you to very down after another serious injury. He Secretary General Markus Kattner said ANFA abide by the following: first to reinstate the knows we’ll stand by him,” Dortmund’s CEO had failed to act according to its own statutes. four dismissed ANFA members by May 23, Hans-Joachim Watzke told local newspaper the Ganesh Thapa, former president of ANFA, was 2016 the latest, and second, to convene an Ruhr Nachrichten. “There are two options, which banned in November 2015 for 10 years and ordinary congress of ANFA as soon as possible we have discussed with Ilkay for a while. “Either fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,542.32) for a thereafter,” Kattner said in the letter. “It now he leaves or he stays and extends his contract, series of acts of misconduct. Former footballer appears their dismissal was not done proper- but it must be long-term.” Thapa had acknowledged receiving money ly,” FIFA said, adding ANFA had also failed to Gundogan is injury prone and missed most of from former Asian Football Confederation convene its congress for more than two-and- the 2013-14 season, including Germany’s World Cup triumph, with a persistent back injury. In President Mohammad bin Hammam, who has a-half years instead of annually. “This is a con- recent seasons, he has only signed year-long been banned from football for life after allega- travention to the ANFA statutes,” it said. extensions, but Borussia now want a longer tions he paid bribes. FIFA said the members’ dismissal was also commitment while Watzke says discussions with Thapa said the money had been lent by bin undermining the proper functioning of the Mkhitaryan are still ongoing. Meanwhile, Hammam for business purposes. As well as association and questioned whether the meet- Hummels will play his final league game for two decades leading Nepal’s football associa- ings they had allegedly missed had been prop- Dortmund at home to Cologne on Saturday and tion, Thapa had also served as a vice-president erly convened. “Should these steps not be fol- VANCOUVER: Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani, CEO of the of the Asian Football Confederation, the conti- lowed FIFA and AFC would have no choice but National Organizing Committee, attends the closing news conference for the FIFA Watzke says the farewell will have to be handled sensitively. The Germany centre-back was nent’s 47-nation soccer bloc. Since his depar- to submit the issue to the appropriate FIFA bod- Women’s World Cup soccer tournament in Vancouver. Montagliani is one of two can- ture, however, critics have said little has ies, which would possibly include the establish- didates running for president of soccer’s governing body for North and Central booed and jeered during Dortmund’s previous changed with officials, including acting presi- ment of a normalization committee.”—Reuters America and the Caribbean, or CONCACAF. —AP home game after news first broke that he would