6 June 14, 2018 Carlos Queiroz Slams Nike, Wants U.S., Mexico, Canada to Apology Over World Cup Boots Snub Host 2026 World Cup

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -Head coach of the Iran men’s national football team Carlos Queiroz has demanded a formal apology from American sportswear manufacturer Nike over its decision to withdraw supply of boots to Iranian footballers ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The 65-year-old Portuguese described Nike’s statement not to provide the Iranian side, nicknamed Team Melli, with the footwear as unnecessary, and asked the world’s soccer governing body to intervene and help. “It has been a source of inspiration for us. This last comment of Nike was, in my personal President of United States Soccer Federation (C) poses for view, an unnecessary statement. Everybody is a picture next to CONCACAF President (L) and aware about the sanctions” Queiroz told Sky Decio de Maria President of the Mexican Football Federation (R) after Sports television network. announcing the next soccer 2026 World Cup. He added, “They should come out and apologize because this arrogant conduct MOSCOW (AFP) - The United be expanded to 48 teams, posing an against 23 boys is absolutely ridiculous and States, Mexico and Canada won the enormous logistical challenge for the unnecessary.” right to host the 2026 World Cup after hosts. “U.S. sanctions mean that, as a U.S. company, easily beating Morocco in a vote by FIFA President Nike cannot supply shoes to players in the FIFA member nations on Wednesday. was believed to have strongly backed Iranian national team at this time. Sanctions Head coach of the Iran men’s national football team Carlos Queiroz The joint North American bid the North American bid behind the applicable to Nike have been in place for many received 134 of the 203 votes, while scenes because the trio of countries years and are enforceable by law,” Nike had including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup when 1 last year, Team Melli joined the Portugal Morocco polled 65 in the ballot at a involved backed him in 2016 when said in a statement published by ESPN sports similar sanctions were in place. national football team, nicknamed A Selecção, FIFA Congress held in Moscow on he took over after the corruption- television network. During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of the eve of the 2018 World Cup. tainted reign of Sepp Blatter. Nike’s decision comes despite the fact that draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Morocco in the preliminary round of the Global football’s showpiece event Delegates had been faced with a it had been supplying Team Melli previously, Russian capital city of Moscow on December tournament. will return to the North American clear choice in the 2026 vote. continent for the first time since 1994 The joint North American bid when the United States hosted the boasted modern, established stadiums Spain Fire Lopetegui Two Days Before World Cup tournament. and well-developed transport links Bid leader Carlos Cordeiro said his underpinned by Mexican football Debut, Hierro Takes Charge team was “humbled by the trust our fervor. KRASNODAR, Russia unbeaten in his 20 games in colleagues in the FIFA family have Morocco, on the other hand, (Reuters) - Spain coach Julen charge, would take over next put in our bid” and his tournament promised a “European” World Cup Lopetegui was sensationally sacked season. had an opportunity to put football in Africa, playing on its proximity on Wednesday, two days before In announcing one of the most “on a new and sustainable path for to Europe and an appeal to take their opening World Cup match, extraordinary coach sackings generations to come.” the tournament back to the African for failing to tell his federation in World Cup history, Spanish It will be the first World Cup to continent for just the second time. about his move to Real Madrid football federation (RFEF) after the tournament and replaced president Luis Rubiales said he by Fernando Hierro. had found out about the move Hearn Calls Wilder’s Bluff Former Spain defender Hierro’s five minutes before it was only previous senior coaching announced by the Champions on Joshua Title Fight role was one season with Oviedo League winners. in the Spanish second division, “The coach, while he is a RFEF although he was also assistant to employee cannot do things in this Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid way. I found out with a phone call before that. Spain fires coach Lopetegui 2 days before World Cup opener five minutes before the official The 50-year-old will have announcement. We feel obliged barely 48 hours to prepare his and bitter rivals Portugal in Sochi on Tuesday that Lopetegui, who to take this decision,” Rubiales team for their opening World on Friday. had only recently extended his told a news conference at the Cup match against neighbors Real unexpectedly announced contract with Spain and was team base in Krasnodar. Over 1,200 British ‘Thugs’ Stopped From Going to World Cup LONDON (Dispatches) - More Russia for the World Cup. than 1,200 people banned from In March, English police had attending football matches have to reassure Russian authorities surrendered their passports ahead only “genuine fans” would make of the World Cup, the Home Office the journey, after more than 100 LONDON (AFP) - American Deontay Complicating matters is that Joshua is says. supporters were arrested when Wilder will have a contract in front of already due to take on WBA mandatory Of 1,312 individuals with England played the Netherlands in him by the end of this week for a world challenger Alexander Povetkin. football banning orders, 1,254 Amsterdam. heavyweight unification bout with If the fight is confirmed, it will be have given up their documents There were also violent clashes Britain’s Anthony Joshua, the latter’s the biggest bout seen in the division in before the tournament in Russia, between Russia and England promoter Eddie Hearn said Tuesday. years. which starts on 14 June. supporters when the two countries Hearn told Sky Sports News it is The winner of a Joshua-Wilder bout Police say they will continue played each other in Marseille at the only way to find out if the WBC would be the first man to hold all four working to trace the remaining 58. Euro 2016. titleholder Wilder is serious about heavyweight titles -- WBA, WBC, IBF Police minister Nick Hurd said As well as the banning orders, fighting Joshua even though reports and WBO -- simultaneously. the action would ensure “thugs” police will be deployed at major travel to the country to work with up to 10 years. out of the United States on Monday “The fact that we’ve lost four weeks would not “ruin the tournament UK ports during the World Cup to their police counterparts during There are 327 banned individuals suggested he had accepted a two fight waiting for an answer from Deontay for real fans”. stop known troublemakers from the tournament. who do not hold passports and deal with the 2012 Olympic champion Wilder makes a fight happening in 11 or About 10,000 people from the travelling to Russia. Football banning orders are they are not required to report to and now holder of the WBA, WBO and 12 weeks of this magnitude unlikely,” UK are expected to travel to A delegation from the UK will imposed by courts and can last for police. IBF belts. Hearn said. Saudi Loan Plan in Spain Ends in Fiasco MADRID (AFP) - Nine Saudi players was hardest for him,” he said. Saudi winger Salem Al-Dawsari, who “From a sporting point of view, this loaned to Spanish clubs to improve their Al-Sulayhem, who only speaks Arabic, was on loan at Villarreal in Spain’s top- is perhaps the biggest fiasco of the level before the World Cup left without needed to be accompanied at all times flight, and striker Fahad Al-Muwallad agreement, because the participation of hardly playing in what ended up as a by a translator, even during training. He who went to Levante, only played for a these nine players has been practically “fiasco”. never played in an official match. few minutes at the end of the season when negligible,” former Gijon president and “Adapting is difficult,” said David A scenario was played out at six other their teams’ fate was already decided. University of Oviedo football economist Cobeno, sporting director at Madrid- Spanish clubs which took on one or two Attacking midfielder Yahia Al-Sheri, Placido Rodriguez told AFP. based second division side Rayo Saudi players during the winter transfer who went to Leganes, never played in a “Knowing training techniques or Vallecano, which signed 24-year-old window under an agreement between La match. playing with Spaniards, that is not why Saudi midfielder Abdulmajeed Al- Liga and the Saudi sports authority. In the second division none of the four they come, clearly. They come for more Sulayhem. The cost of the loans was split between clubs that received a Saudi -- Sporting than that, to contribute, to experience “Everything outside of sports, the the participating Spanish and Saudi Saudi midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari only Gijon, Valladolid, Numancia and Rayo another rhythm of play, and that is done language, food, the city, that was what clubs. played a few minutes while on loan to Vallecano -- used them in a match. by playing, not training.” Spanish club Villarreal