THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 SPORTS

Thailand media giants Photo of the day eye Bolton takeover

BANGKOK: A Thai consortium are in talks over a at 150 million pounds. However, the club is will- 40 million pounds ($64.5 million) takeover of ing to address this situation. English second tier strugglers Bolton Wanderers “They’re quite ready in almost every aspect. after being approached by the cash-strapped That will help us benefit in many ways especially club, local media reported yesterday. when it comes to Thai players playing in Bolton, however, denied they had been in England.” sale discussions with anyone from Thailand. BEC- Tero, an entertainment conglomerate that runs GARTSIDE DENIAL television and radio stations in south east Asia Bolton chairman Phil Gartside confirmed the as well as concerts and sports events, and local club had talked to different parties about a sale sports media giant Siam Sport Syndicate have but said no discussions had taken place with joined hands for the bid, said the Nation news- anyone from Thailand. “We have spoken to sev- paper. eral parties who have expressed interest in Bolton finished sixth in the Premier League investing in the club but these quotes from in 2005 and qualified for European competition Thailand come as a complete surprise to me,” he but have fallen on hard times of late and now told the Bolton News. find themselves in 22nd place in the 24-team “Other than what has appeared this morning second flight with huge debts. it is business as usual here.” Marcar, who BEC director Bryan Marcar said the club, declined an interview request from Reuters, said based in north west England and owned by he and Siam Sport executives Pongsak Pholanan Eddie Davies through the holding company and Wiluck Lohtong would travel to England to Burnden Leisure, remained an attractive look into the books and discuss the deal further prospect. “I must admit I have a close relation- with Bolton officials, the report added. ship with the club’s president. The club has plen- The consortium could become the third Thai ty of property and, most importantly, they have owners of an English soccer club, after Premier their own stadium, hotel and football academy,” League side Leicester City and second tier he was quoted as saying by the daily. Reading. The firm, which Marcar owns jointly “In terms of their financial status they made with Broadcaster BEC World Pcl, also owns for- profits between 2004 and 2006 but suffered mer Thai Premier League champions BEC Tero losses since then, with their debt now standing Sasana. —Reuters Al-Hilal offered bumper payday for Asian title Kyle Jameson competes in the Qualification Round for Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, USA. — www.redbull.com

SYDNEY: A Saudi prince has offered Al- Fourteen Wanderers fans have travelled Hilal players and team officials a bonus of from Australia for the match. $26,000 each if they can beat Australian According to the prince’s website Murray on brink of club Western Sydney Wanderers and win (www.alwaleed.com.sa), the Al-Hilal play- the Asian Champions League this week- ers received bonuses of 20,000 Riyals for end. The 13-times Saudi and twice Asian reaching the ACL quarter-finals and champions lost the first leg 1-0 in Sydney another of 40,000 Riyals for winning the last weekend but will be in for a bumper first leg of their ACL semi-final against Al World Tour Finals payday if they can overturn the deficit at Ain 3-0. He flew them to the Emirati city the King Fahd Stadium on Saturday. for the second leg in his private jet and PARIS: Andy Murray turned in a clinical perform- Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al gifts the already wealthy club 2.5 million ance yesterday as he joined Stan Wawrinka, Saud, who is worth $21.5 billion according Riyals per season. David Ferrer and Milos Raonic in the next round to Forbes, made the offer of 100,000 Riyals In 2007, Al-Hilal signed a sponsorship of the Paris Masters. (about $26,650) a man in a tweet just deal with Saudi Arabian mobile operator The two-time Grand Slam winner, who was before last Saturday’s first leg kicked off. Mobily worth 200 million Riyals ($53.31 absent last year afer undergoing back surgery, The Saudi royal also said he would be pay- million) over five years. Wanderers, by con- overcame the challenge of French world number ing for free entry for all fans of the club for trast, must work within a salary cap of 28 Julien Benneteau and advanced to the last Saturday’s second leg in Riyadh, where a A$2.55 million ($2.26 million) this season 16, 6-3, 6-4. crowd in excess of 65,000 is expected. under A-League rules. — Reuters The 27-year-old Scot will now meet either Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay for a place in the quarter-finals. If Murray, who won his third tournament of the season at Valencia on Sunday, wins his next match he will guarantee qualification for the World Tour Finals in London for the seventh straight year. Murray dictated play with pinpoint accuracy and although Benneteau put up some second set resistence the result was never in doubt. Also yesterday, world number four Stan Wawrinka snapped a three-game losing streak as he qualified for the third round with a 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory over Dominic Thiem. The Swiss 29-year-old came through a tight match in 1hr 36min against the Austrian to book a meeting with big-serving South African Kevin Anderson. “I’m trying to find my confidence, I have some victories but I know that my level of FRANCE: Britain’s Andy Murray returns the ball to France’s Julien Benneteau during the second- game is there. What I still miss is winning match- round match of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor tennis tournament. — AFP es,” said Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam Earlier on the third day of the penultimate Jeremy Chardy. at the Australian Open in January and admitted tournament of the season, Canada’s Milos Federer comes to the French capital less than he was somewhat surprised by his recent rise Raonic kept alive his chances of qualifying for 500 points behind Novak Djokovic in the race for into the top five. “I’m so happy, I didn’t think I the World Tour Finals with a tough three-set win the season-ending world number one spot. would be able to be ranked so high, but I had over American qualifier Jack Sock. There are a maximum 1,000 points on offer at ups and downs. In the summer I didn’t play very The number seven seed needs to win the Bercy for the champion while the World Tour well and I had bad moments, although I did well tournament in Paris to guarantee his place in the Finals offer 1,500 points. Federer can also close in the US Open. “I wouldn’t change anything and elite eight-man field to take part in the season ground or overtake the Serb, who won his sec- MOSCOW: The official logo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is presented on the facade of the I know I have a good level of game. I know finale, which begins in London on November 9. ond round match over Philipp Kohlschreiber on Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. FIFA President has revealed the logo for the things can change quickly; I can lose first round He scraped through against world number 44 Tuesday, when he plays the Davis Cup final for 2018 World Cup in Russia - with the help of a crew of cosmonauts. The logo depicts the and I can also go very far in a tournament, so the Sock, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) in just over two hours. Switzerland against France, starting on World Cup trophy in red and blue, colors from the Russian flag, with gold trim. — AP important thing is really to concentrate on Awaiting Raonic in the third round will be November 21 in Lille. Japanese sixth seed Kei improving my level.” Former champion and Roberto Bautista-Agut, who knocked out Nishikori will take on Spanish veteran Tommy fourth seed David Ferrer also advanced as he Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2. Later on Robredo later in the day while Frenchmen Jo- Rummenigge calls for subdued the talents of rising Belgian star David centre court, world number two Roger Federer Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils are in action Goffin 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to set up an all-Spanish third makes his much-anticipated debut in his second against Austrian Jurgen Melzer and American April World Cup in 2022 round tie against Fernando Verdasco. round match against another Frenchman, John Isner respectively. — AFP

LONDON: Leading European clubs want FIFA to told the R-Sport news agency in comments hold the World Cup in April 2022, Bayern translated into Russian. “We trust the country, its Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge government,” added Blatter who was in the FIFA gives Nigeria last said in a British newspaper interview published Russian capital to attend the official launch of yesterday. A task force set up by world governing the 2018 logo. “FIFA unconditionally supports body FIFA will meet in Zurich next week to inves- the staging of the World Cup by Russia,” he stat- tigate the feasibility of moving the tournament ed. Diplomatic sources said last month that from its traditional mid-year slot, amid fears European nations were discussing a possible chance to avoid ban about soaring summer temperatures in Qatar. boycott of the World Cup because of the conflict FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA want in eastern Ukraine. ABUJA: FIFA has given Nigeria one last chance occupy the offices of the NFF.” said. The African women’s final only went ahead the tournament to be staged during the Some politicians in Britain, Germany and the Northern Hemisphere winter, but Rummenigge, United States have called on FIFA to withdraw to avoid a “lengthy” ban that would prevent the “We also have been informed that security after Confederation of African Football President who chairs the European Club Association (ECA), the World Cup from Russia. “When we receive let- reigning champion from defending its title at forces prevented the (new) NFF President from Issa Hayatou, who is also a FIFA vice president, thinks it should take place in the spring. ters from North America (asking for the World next year’s African Cup of Nations. travelling to Namibia where he was supposed to pleaded with his FIFA colleagues to give Nigeria “At the moment, there are two proposals on Cup to withdrawn), we tell them that this is foot- FIFA wants a court order nullifying recent represent the NFF at the final match of the one more chance, according to the NFF. the table: the FIFA proposal in November and the ball,” Blatter said. Nigeria Football Federation elections to be African Women’s Championship,” FIFA said. According to the federation, Hayatou also met UEFA proposal in January,” Rummenigge told The “Russia is the world’s biggest country. You rescinded by midday Friday Nigerian time, Nigeria is also the African women’s champion with Nigeria sports minister Tammy Danagogo Times. “Our proposal is a bit different. We will know, Russia is in the eye of the international regarding it as government interference in foot- after winning the title last weekend, but was at the African women’s championship in publish that in the next few days. “We have made media. Football can not only unite Russia but ball, which isn’t allowed under the world body’s nearly prevented from playing in that game Namibia and told the minister that “FIFA and CAF some research ... and the outcome of this show the whole world that it is stronger than any rules. FIFA said in a statement to The Associated because of the federation problems, the NFF have had it up to their neck with Nigeria.” — AP research is that the best option would be to start protest movement.” He compared the situation Press that Nigeria has until the deadline to prove the World Cup at the end of April, finishing in with Russia’s hosting of the Winter Olympics in the court order has been withdrawn and the May. “It’s still hot, but it would be something like the Black Sea resort of Sochi this year, when elected NFF leadership is able to work “without 35 degrees (Celsius) maximum. If you then play Western leaders stayed away. “There was the any hindrance.” If Nigeria doesn’t comply, FIFA in the evening, let’s say 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm, same situation ahead of Sochi, but neither dur- said it will be banned from international football then 9:30 pm (in Qatar) is 7:30 pm in central ing nor after the Games, has there been a single at least until FIFA’s Congress in Zurich on May Europe, 6:30 pm in the UK. word against these Games.” 28-29 next year. “From all points of view, that’s no problem. That would mean Nigeria is thrown out of the We will bring this option to the table to discuss WORLD CUP LOGO ongoing African Cup qualifying campaign ahead at the FIFA task force on November 3.” Meanwhile, the 2018 World Cup logo was of the start of the finals in January. None of Speaking earlier this month, Rummenigge simultaneously presented to the public on a live warned that European clubs will not foot the bill Russian TV late chat show and also as a part of a Nigeria’s national or club teams would be able to if the 2022 World Cup is moved to a different light show projection on the facade of Russia’s play in international tournaments under a FIFA time of year. “If now there is a strong wish (to historic Bolshoi Theatre. suspension. Nigeria’s football federation has move the 2022 World Cup) from various stake- The logo, which was unveiled by the Russian been in turmoil for months and it has been holders like FIFA, UEFA, FIFPro and so on, we are cosmonaut Maxim Surayev in a live broadcast- warned repeatedly. ready to discuss, but under one condition: that ing from the international space station 400 kilo- The country - which made the last 16 of the there is no damage for club football,” he told the metres above World Cup in Brazil - was already suspended Leaders Sport Business Summit in London. Earth, represented the ball surrounded by the from internationals for nine days in July after “Because if we have a change from summer to elements of the traditional Russian decor in the previous NFF President Aminu Maigari was November or to January, then they will be affect- shape of the World Cup trophy. The TV show was detained by security forces on his return from ing our business, our calendar. And the bill at the also attended by FIFA secretary general Jerome the World Cup and ousted from office. A new end can’t be paid by the clubs. We are not ready Valcke, Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko and leadership was then installed in government- to pay such a bill.” Italy’s former football great Fabio Cannavaro. backed elections that were not recognized by Meanwhile, world football boss Sepp Blatter “Today is the World Cup’s kick-off as we intro- FIFA. Maigari was reinstated and oversaw proper on Tuesday opposed any boycott of the 2018 duce the event’s official logo,” Blatter said at the elections on Sept. 30, when Amaju Pinnick was World Cup in Russia and backed the huge prepa- ceremony. “I’m confident that the World Cup voted in as new NFF president. rations undertaken by President Vladimir Putin’s here will be a success.” “Of course I already saw But FIFA said the Nigerian government is BRAZIL: In this Monday, June 30, 2014 file photo, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike (center) looks government for the mega event. “A boycott will the logo and I liked it very much. This is the sym- interfering again after “persons claiming to have up as his team form a huddle before the start of the second half during the World Cup round of never give any positive effect,” the FIFA president bol of the country, its heart and soul.” —AFP been legitimately elected previously went to 16 soccer match. — AP