38 SPORT FRIDAY OCTOBER 30 2015 Blatter has lash at offsider

SCANDAL-TAINTED Sepp ed States who lost the (2022) the root cause of the scandal. ment the UEFA boss received was one of seven official can- heuser-Busch Inbev and Visa, Blatter has blamed Michel World Cup to Qatar,” the 78- “Platini wanted to be FIFA from Blatter on behalf of FIFA didates to succeed Blatter. The which have provided hundreds Platini, England and the US for year-old Swiss claimed. president, but he didn’t have in 2011 for consultancy work others are Prince Ali bin al- of millions of dollars to FIFA, igniting and escalating the cor- He said he as boss of FIFA, the courage to put himself for- carried out years before. Hussein, Musa Bility, Jerome all said there had to be greater ruption crisis that has engulfed and the World Cup, had be- ward (in the May 29 election in Blatter is facing criminal Champagne, Gianni Infantino, efforts on accountability and soccer’s world governing body. come pawns in a political which Blatter saw off Prince proceedings over the payment Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim transparency. “At the start it was only a game. Ali bin al-Hussein for his fifth and the sale of cut-price tele- al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale. Visa wanted “a different personal attack, it was Platini “The World Cup term of office). vision rights. FIFA’s major sponsors have governing body that can prop- against me, then it was no and the president of FIFA were “And now look where we The ban means Platini, a renewed demands for outside erly promote football in the longer only Platini against only a ball in the middle of a are! And the victim of all this at one-time favourite to succeed figures to lead reform of the way that we all want it to”, me,” the suspended head of game between super powers.” the end of the day is Platini Blatter, can take no part in the scandal-plagued body. Most sponsors have been FIFA said. For Blatter, Platini, the sus- himself!” election campaign until the Credit card giant Visa said it pressing for a reform process “It was also those who had pended head of European foot- Both Blatter and Platini are suspension is lifted and he is could end its deal with FIFA if similar to that used by the IOC lost (hosting) the World Cups. ball and one of seven serving suspensions from all cleared of any potential the organisation was not made after it was dragged into a brib- “England against Russia candidates for the February 26 soccer-related matters over a wrongdoing. more accountable. Coca-Cola, ery scandal over the Salt Lake (the 2018 hosts), and the Unit- election to succeed him, was $2 million (¤1.8 million) pay- FIFA has confirmed Platini McDonald’s, beer giant An- City Winter Olympics in 2002. Newcastle coach playing for keeps with decision on his keeper

VINCE RUGARI

N E W C A S T L E A - L e a g u e coach Scott Miller admits he faces an agonising decision over which of his goalkeepers will start tonight against Mel- bourne City. Ben Kennedy is the incum- bent, but could be replaced by returning gloveman Mark Birighitti, who has recovered from the gruesome facial injur- ies he suffered in his nasty clash with Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz two weeks ago and is ready to play. “I thought Ben Kennedy was superb last week,” said Miller. “It’s a tough one. ‘‘It’s not a toss of a coin – it’s based on who I feel is up to it mentally and who deserves that spot. “At this point, they both do so I’ve got to have a good think about that.” The Jets are also sweating on the fitness of playmaker Leonardo, who has been bat- tling a knee injury this week and has struggled to train. The Brazilian has been in- cluded in Newcastle’s squad for the clash with City. “Leonardo’s had a week A-LEAGUE DRAW with the physiotherapist, just giving him extra time,” Miller Round 4 (NT times) said. Today: City v Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park “We actually looked at his (6.10pm) GPS stats after the game Tomorrow: Central Coast (against Melbourne Victory) Mariners v Sydney FC at Central and it’s the most high intensity Coast Stadium (3.45pm), Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United he’s covered in the last three at Suncorp Stadium (6pm) games. Sunday: Western Sydney “I think that output’s Wanderers v Perth Glory at showed in his body and he’s Pirtek Stadium (3.30pm) Monday: Melbourne Victory v just had that inflammation of Wellington Phoenix at AAMI his knee all week.” Park (6pm) However, Miller confirmed Lee Ki-je (hamstring) is fit and will make his first appearance for the season at AAMI Park. Jets coach Scott Miller celebrates with his players after their 1-0 win over A-League champions Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium last Friday night Picture: DEAN LEWINS Phoenix exit fear unites clubs Cahill set to stay in Shanghai Nigeria thrash lacklustre Joeys

THREE days since Football expressed grave fears for the SOCCEROOS great Tim helped the side into the Chi- AUSTRALIAN coach Tony then doubled it from the pen- Federation ’s (FFA) future of the foundation A- Cahill has reportedly re-signed nese FA Cup final where they Vidmar says his Joeys will take alty spot – but only after the bombshell refusal of a long- League club if a southern Syd- with Chinese club Shanghai will fight for a first trophy in 17 some harsh lessons from their Joeys wasted a golden chance term A-League licence to ney team is introduced. Shenhua, ending speculation years as well as a ticket to the 6-0 mauling at the hands of de- to level the scores in between. Wellington, not one club has Sky Blues chairman Scott about his future and a possible AFC Champions League. fending FIFA under-17 World The match turned into a given support for the move. Barlow lashed out at the FFA return to Australia. Cahill’s decision to stay Cup champions Nigeria in procession after the break as a The cries of anguish are on Wednesday, calling on chief The 35-year-old striker might well put to bed any links Chile yesterday. clearly fatigued Australia un- loudest in New Zealand, fear- executive to stay originally joined the Chinese with a potential third Sydney It was a bitterly disappoint- ravelled, conceding a further ing the end of its professional true to assurances given to Super League outfit on a one- A-League team. ing result for the Joeys, who four goals as Nigeria waltzed footballing outfit, and Sydney, club chairmen that new licen- year deal but has taken up the Cahill, who has 86 Soccer- had their chances during the into the tournament’s final where existing teams are con- ces “are not on the agenda”. option to extend it. oos caps, remains a vital cog in round of 16 clash but seemed to eight. cerned over cannibalisation of Gallop has confirmed they Cahill has been in rampant Ange Postecoglou’s national lose their nerve during a defin- Vidmar was critical of Aus- the market. were an option should the form over the past few weeks squad and will be back in Can- ing stretch midway through tralia’s first-half performance, Sydney FC’s chairman feels Phoenix exit at the end of this and is Shenhua’s leading goal- berra next month for the quali- the first half. saying the team didn’t “play upset and disrespected, and season and admitted to “look- scorer with 11 goals this season. fier against Kyrgyzstan before In the space of three min- our game” and didn’t press coach has ing carefully” at Sydney. His latest goal and assist another against Bangladesh. utes, Nigeria took the lead and Nigeria aggressively enough.

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