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Kuwaiti rider India thump NZ reigns in Aquabike to celebrate 500th Championship16 test 16in style TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 Six vie for Asian spots on FIFA council after Qatari banned Page 18 MANCHESTER: Amanda Davies, Sport Presenter, CNN International (L); Clarence Seedorf, former International footballer, Netherlands (2L); FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura (3L); Ben Biggs of the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) (3R); Roisin Woods from Kick It Out (2R); German former International footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger (R) and Abhijeet Barse from Slum Soccer (C) winner of the first ever FIFA Diversity Award during the Soccerex Global Convention at Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester, northwest England yesterday. Slum Soccer is an organization which uses football to bring about a change in the lives of street dwellers based in India. — AFP FIFA disbands racism task force, says job done MANCHESTER: FIFA’s abolition of its anti-racism task in wider society. “The task force had a very specific mandate that to dice and hate are on the rise in developed societies, force was denounced as a shameful betrayal yesterday “There is still so much work to do, and FIFA must our knowledge it has fully fulfilled,” Samoura said at the particularly in Europe but also in different forms across as the governing body went on the defensive to reaf- show leadership, take responsibility for reform and be SoccerEx convention. “Its recommendations have now the world,” Kick It Out said in a statement. “Football firm its commitment to fighting discrimination. accountable if change isn’t put into practice,” Prince Ali been turned into a program and a strong one.” should seek to lead the way in combating such intru- The Associated Press revealed Sunday that the anti- said. “Transparency, trust, credibility and integrity are Samoura was appointed in May as the organization’s sions. racism group was being dismantled after FIFA decided the values that should run through everything FIFA first female and first African top administrator of world “It is clear that organizations that are actively cam- that its mission had been completed after three years. does. Not tackling the plague of racism and discrimina- soccer’s governing body as part of the overhaul under paigning against racism and discrimination will be Kick It Out , English soccer’s anti-discrimination tion properly is an absolute betrayal of those values.” Gianni Infantino. The Senegalese former United Nations deeply disheartened to hear news of the disbandment, organization, said it was “perplexed” by FIFA’s decision, The task force was established in 2013 by then-FIFA official said her “presence here is a strong testimony as they look to FIFA for leadership in a game which is so given the World Cup is being staged in 2018 in Russia President Sepp Blatter and headed by Jeffrey Webb, a that for FIFA, it is a zero tolerance policy” on discrimina- popular across the world.” “which is notorious for racism and abusive activities vice president of world soccer’s governing body until he tion and it is an inclusive organization. The pressing problems for FIFA are in Russia with less towards minorities.” was arrested in 2015 as part of the American investiga- Responding to criticism of the task force being shut than nine months until the country stages the Jordanian federation president Prince Ali said he tion into soccer corruption. down, Samoura said, “We can live with perceptions, but Confederations Cup, the warm-up event for the 2018 found it “incredibly worrying” that the task force was we are taking very seriously our role as the world gov- World Cup. being scrapped given the “very real and apparent” dis- RACKETEERING CHARGES erning body of football to fight discrimination.” Earlier this month, European soccer’s governing crimination problem that remains in soccer. Webb, who pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, Kick It Out urged FIFA to publish a “clear and concise body, UEFA, ordered Russian club Rostov to close a sec- “The fight against racism is far from over and the was replaced in September 2015 as task force chairman strategy” on its fight against discrimination and promo- tion of a stadium for a Champions League game as pun- notion that the current FIFA leadership believes that the by Congolese federation president Constant Omari. tion of equality. It was one of three organizations in the ishment for the racist behavior of fans. ‘task force’s recommendations have been implemented’ “The reality, as with many programs within FIFA, is that running to win FIFA’s new diversity award from Samoura The most recent research from the Moscow-based is shameful,” said Prince Ali, a former FIFA presidential the task force was never given real support since its at a ceremony at SoccerEx. SOVA Center and the UEFA-affiliated FARE Network candidate and FIFA vice president. “Now the idea that conception and its role was more about FIFA’s image Although racism is no longer rampant in English soc- reported a surge in the number of racist displays by FIFA believes that it’s the right time to disband its anti- than actually tackling the issues,” Prince Ali said. cer, 402 incidents of discrimination were recorded by Russian soccer fans, with most cases going unpunished. racism task force is ridiculous.” FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura fended off Kick It Out last season - up more than 40 percent from Researchers logged 92 incidents of discriminatory dis- Prince Ali believes the task force should have been the criticism, insisting her organization remains com- two years earlier, although reporting mechanisms have plays and chants by Russian fans in and around stadi- empowered to work further with soccer authorities and mitted to combatting discrimination in the world’s most been enhanced. ums in the 2014-15 season, compared to a total of 83 governments to use the sport to tackle discrimination popular sport. “There is clear evidence that discrimination, preju- for the previous two seasons combined. — AP Beloved golf great Arnold Palmer dies at 87: USGA WASHINGTON: Arnold Palmer, the golf great His go-for-broke style enthralled fans, and he son of the club professional and greens superin- whose charisma and common touch drew a became one of golf’s first television superstars, tendent at Latrobe Country Club. Palmer started legion of fans known as “Arnie’s Army” and pro- helping make the sport accessible to a much caddying at 11 and went on to work almost pelled the game into the mainstream, died wider audience. every job at the club. Sunday at the age of 87. His rise-along with those of Nicklaus and Fans identified with his blue-collar back- “Arnold Palmer will always be a champion, in Gary Player-set the stage for the sport’s huge ground, and he never forgot his roots even as he every sense of the word,” the US Golf Association broadcast rights fees and prize money riches, piloted his own jet to charity functions and busi- said in a statement mourning the death of “golf’s which were later enhanced by the success of ness meetings and became a friend of presi- greatest ambassador.” Tiger Woods. dents and corporate big-wigs. “He inspired generations to love golf by shar- “Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel Palmer attended Wake Forest University on a ing his competitive spirit, displaying sportsman- and a lot of laughs,” Woods said on Twitter after golf scholarship. At age 24, he won the 1954 US ship, caring for golfers and golf fans, and serving news of Palmer’s death. “Your philanthropy and Amateur at the Country Club of Detroit. Later as a lifelong ambassador for the sport. humility are part of your legend. that year, Palmer turned pro. In a career that “The game is indeed better because of him, “It’s hard to imagine golf without you or any- spanned more than six decades, he won 62 PGA and in so many ways, will never be the same.” one more important to the game than the King.” Tour titles, putting him at fifth on the Tour’s all- Palmer, a native of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, died at Palmer looked frail when he joined fellow time victory rankings. UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, where icons Player and Nicklaus for the ceremonial first He led the PGA Tour money list four times, he had been since Thursday while undergoing tee shot at the Masters in April. and was the first player to win more than heart tests, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report- For the first time in 10 years, he didn’t swing a $100,000 in a season. ed. No cause of death was immediately given. club, instead sitting in a chair to watch the spec- He played on six Ryder Cup teams and was “We just lost one of the incredible people in tacle. In June, he elected not to travel to the winning captain twice. In 1974, Palmer was the game of golf and in all of sports,” 18-time Oakmont, Pennsylvania, for the US Open in his one of the original inductees into the World Golf major champion Jack Nicklaus said. “He has home state. Hall of Fame. “For all who love the game of golf always been a fighter and he never gave up on Although Palmer’s presence around the and love to see it played, there has never been a anything. He didn’t give up even now. Maybe his game had become less regular in recent years, sight quite like Arnold Palmer walking down the body did, but I know Arnold’s will and spirit did today’s young stars were aware of the iconic fairway toward the 18th green,” said former pres- not.” Palmer, known as “The King,” captured sev- player’s impact on their sport.