WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 SPORTS FIFA ethics judge Photo of the day hesitates on hosting of WCup

GENEVA: For Qatar or Russia to be potentially be involved in legal cases aris- stripped of the World Cup, a key person in ing from the Garcia-Eckert probe. Eckert the legal chain needs to make use of the refused to say if sanctions were likely powers available to him. against some officials involved in the con- Events of recent days, however, suggest test, such as voting members of the FIFA FIFA’s independent ethics judge Joachim board or staffers from the nine bidding Eckert will interpret the rules more cau- candidates from 11 countries. However, tiously and have added to the pessimism Garcia’s initial investigative reports sug- of critics who want the 2018 and 2022 gested “conclusions concerning further World Cup hosting awards overturned. action with respect to certain individuals,” Eckert is a middle man in the process - according to a FIFA news release this between Michael Garcia, the ethics prose- month. Eckert said he expects to finish cutor who must provide the evidence, and reading these reports within weeks. Further FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who heads the drafts and evidence-gathering can be 27-member executive committee and ordered before formal cases are opened, Congress of 209 national associations. possibly in November. Defendants and It may fall to Eckert - in the toughness of charges are unlikely to be identified then, his verdicts and language of his final report and Eckert has suggested the first verdicts - to raise public pressure on FIFA to take the could follow in the European spring next highest-risk, highest-reward options in a year. By playing down expectations, the case that will define the reputation of foot- German judge was supported by some ball’s world governing body. established sports lawyers. “That is not our job,” Eckert said at FIFA One who has worked in past FIFA cases last Friday, when giving his most detailed agreed that Eckert could only target indi- insight yet on the investigation. “We will viduals, and not collective bodies such as not make any recommendations.” an executive committee or bidding team. Alex Sorgente performs at the Vans Bondi Bowl-A-Rama at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on February 22, 2014. —www.redbullcon- Ever since a 22-man FIFA executive com- Eckert does not have the powers of “a tentpool.com mittee chose Russia and Qatar in December super-president or a super-ExCo” to change 2010, critics have sought reasons to justify decisions, the lawyer suggested. change. Their hope has been sustained by Asked if Russia or Qatar could lose host- reports and allegations calling into ques- ing rights, the lawyer said: “Personally, I tion Qatar’s fitness to host the world’s doubt that.” “The assumption that some- Serena follows seeds favorite sporting event: Voting collusion, thing is wrong was so strong,” said Luis bribery, rights of slave labor and gay fans, Moreno Ocampo, a prosecutor from extreme heat and disruption to European Argentina who was blocked for the FIFA club football have all been raised as rea- position in 2012 by the executive commit- out of Wuhan Open sons to remove the tournament. tee, when Garcia was appointed. The wait for a definitive independent A majority of the 2018-2022 voters were probe into the contests has been peppered also on the FIFA board that chose Germany CHINA: World number one Serena Williams with resignations of FIFA executive com- ahead of a South Africa bid supported by added her name to the list of slain seeds at the mittee members implicated in other cases Nelson Mandela to be 2006 World Cup Wuhan Open yesterday after the American was of unethical behavior. host, and then took South Africa ahead of forced to retire from her second round match The integrity of FIFA’s ruling board has Morocco for 2010. Both votes were dogged against France’s Alize Cornet because of illness. been lacking so often that it added to an by rumors, intrigue and - in the case of The top seed, playing her first match since impression something must have been Morocco - verbal evidence of bribes paid winning her 18th grand slam singles title at the wrong when those now-discredited men that was presented to the Court of U.S. Open earlier this month, broke Cornet to were power brokers. Arbitration for Sport. lead 6-5 in the first set when she called for the For those critics of FIFA, last Friday must A majority of the FIFA board who took doctor to come on court at the change over. have been difficult.Still, Eckert has more part in those World Cup votes were still in Williams sat solemnly, head down with a tow- authority than he admits to, according to office in December 2010, when the Qatar el around her neck and a thermometer in her some sports lawyers who talked to The vote was taken. mouth during the examination before making Associated Press about the blockbuster Most have since left, and could refuse the quick decision against continuing. case. Eckert suggested last Friday he is lim- Garcia’s request for cooperation. Mohamed The 32-year-old also had her blood pressure ited by FIFA rules to only judge individuals bin Hammam, Jack Warner, Ricardo Teixeira checked and walked slowly off court with the using evidence provided by ethics prosecu- and Nicolas Leoz all resigned while under help of the trainer, with reports saying she went tor Michael Garcia, the American lawyer investigation in other cases. to hospital for further tests. leading the investigation. “90 percent of the big guys have gone,” She had shown flashes of her usual brilliance It is, according to Eckert, for the FIFA noted one senior sports lawyer to the AP but looked shy of full fitness throughout her executive board or the congress of 209 about Eckert’s limited sanctioning powers. hour of activity on the centre court, with the member associations to decide if the inde- However, with some reform-minding lengthy 11th game, which included several pendent ethics committee’s work justifies newcomers at the FIFA board table perhaps deuces, proving particularly taxing as she leant voting again on which country should host the 27 current members could push for a on her racquet between points. the competition. Not necessarily so, some high-risk, high-reward strategy of a re- Her exit only added to the headache for CHINA: Alize Cornet of France hits a return during her women’s singles match against Serena experienced sports lawyers told the AP in vote? Unlikely, the sports lawyers suggest- organisers of the inaugural $2.4 million hard recent interviews. ed. A breach of contract case brought by Williams of the US at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament. — AFP court event, where top names tumbled in early tournament. One German who did make it highest seed standing at the tournament at “What is the point of an ethics commis- the Russian and Qatari organizing commit- action after the city’s tennis trailblazer Li Na sion if it can’t take the biggest political tees would likely go through civil courts, through was seventh seed Angelique Kerber, third, had a relatively easy outing in the day’s announced her retirement from the game last who also needed three sets to beat Kazakh qual- last singles match. The Czech world number decisions?” said one lawyer who has been not CAS, and embroil FIFA in lengthy, costly week. Former world number one and 10th seed involved in FIFA cases.”According to the actions with the clock ticking ahead to the ifier Zarina Diyas 4-6 6-2 6-4. three brushed past Italian qualifier Karin Knapp Jelena Jankovic was also forced to quit her sec- Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the 6-3 6-0 in just over an hour. — Reuters rules it is possible,” said another, suggesting 2018 kick off. “Those are the practical con- ond round match yesterday in the first set while that FIFA’s ethics committee can take “any siderations,” said one lawyer. Another sim- trailing American CoCo Vandeweghe 4-1. kinds of decisions.” The lawyers spoke on ply doubted if FIFA had the will for a fight The Serb, suffering a back injury, joined 10 condition of anonymity because they could like that. —AP other seeds in failing to make the last 16. They Matosevic upsets Kyrgios included Romanian world number two Simona Halep, who was beaten by an aggressive display KUALA LUMPUR: Austrlian Marinko move into the second round where he will Afridi among 12 fined from Garbine Muguruza to kick-off a second day Matosevic produced the first upset in the face Japan’s Go Soeda. Matosevic, whose last of upsets in China. Malaysian Open yesterday when he downed match was against Roger Federer in the US The Spanish 20-year-old smashed 34 winners eighth-seeded compatriot Nick Kyrgios 7-6 Open, was a relieved figure after notching a for being out of shape as she knocked out the second seed 2-6 6-2 6-3 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) in just over 90 minutes. morale-boosting win against the home and set up a third-round meeting with Ukrainian Matosevic, 29, who had never played Kyrgios crowd favorite. “This is my first match in over LAHORE: Pakistan authorities yes- including Test and one-day Elina Svitolina, who battled back from a 5-0 first before, found his 19-year-old rival’s hard-hit- a month since I last played Federer. I am cer- terday fined 12 players, including star all- Misbah-ul Haq. set deficit to edge Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 7- ting serve difficult to deal with in the first set, tainly pleased with my performance, espe- rounder Shahid Afridi and batsman Umar “Misbah, Ahmed Shahzad and Bilawal 6(3) 6-3. Italian 11th seed Sara Errani was ousted conceding five break points to trail 6-5. cially my serve. I knew it always going to be Akmal, for failing to meet fitness standards. Bhatti will get ten percent bonus while by American Alison Riske 6-4 6-4, while Swiss But he countered with some solid ground- tough to beat Kyrgios who was seeded, but it The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set Shan Masood and Umar Amin will get 17 qualifier Timea Bacsinszky defeated 13th seed strokes to force the set into a tie-break which worked out well and I’m happy with the win,” tough new fitness guidelines in June, warn- percent bonus of their monthly salaries,” and U.S. Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova he eventually clinched 7-4. Kyrgios, cheered he said. Kyrgios, who had made headlines by ing that failure to stay in shape would lead the spokesman said. of Russia 6-4 6-1. on by the 200-odd crowd because of his becoming the first male debutant in a to players having their salaries docked. The new screening protocol has been Danish eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki, who Malaysian roots, powered back in the second decade to reach the last eight at Wimbledon, A PCB spokesman said the players were divided into five levels, with players facing lost to Williams in the Flushing Meadows final in set to take a 4-2 lead, but Matosevic acknowledged his opponent’s prowess. assessed against the guidelines earlier in 17 different tests to undergo assessment. New York, narrowly avoided joining the exodus remained calm and played the experience “Marinko has certainly improved a lot. I September, and the 12 who failed would “Those who maintained fitness levels are after battling back from a break down in the card by forcing Kyrgios into numerous didn’t play well today and I know that. lose 25 percent of one month’s salary. , Umar Gul, Ehsan Adil, Junaid third set to edge Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 unforced errors. Perhaps I will take some rest after this tourna- “An assessment of 29 players’ fitness was Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, , Adnan 3-6 7-6(4). Wozniacki returned to the centre Matosevic’s powerful and accurate fore- ment,” he said. Seventh seed Pablo Andujar carried out between September 6 and 8, Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Fawad court later in the day to present twice grand hand drives to the baseline caught Kyrgios was also on form as he disposed of and 12 players did not meet the fitness Alam and Anwar Ali,” said the spokesman. slam winner Li with flowers as the Wuhan resi- out on many occasions, enabling him to Frenchman Gregoire Burquier 6-2, 6-4 in a 74- standards,” said the spokesman. Three players-Nasir Jamshed, dent received warm applause from the crowd. recover and level the match at 5-5. minute battle. Along with Afridi and Akmal, those fac- and Saeed Ajmal-have not been tested for Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard was This prompted a frustrated Kyrgios to Meanwhile, 2014 US Open junior singles ing fines include Khurram Manzoor, Sarfraz “personal reasons”. another seed pushed all the way in Tuesday’s smash his racquet on the ground which led and doubles champion Omar Jasika was Ahmed, Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail, All Pakistan players get monthly salaries evening session. The Canadian set up a third to a penalty foul. Sensing his opponent’s agi- tamed by USA’s Rajeev Ram 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Irfan, ranging from 425,000 rupees ($4,250 dol- round clash with Riske after edging Germany’s tation, Matosevic, the world number 78, Ram’s reward will be a second round match- Sharjeel Khan, Mohmmad Talha, Raza lars) to 100,000 rupees ($1,000 dollars) Mona Barthel 4-6 6-3 6-4 in her first match of the forced a tie-break before sealing victory to up against Japan’s Kei Nishikori today. —AFP Hassan and Zulfiqar Babar. under central contract categories A, B C and But five others were rewarded with per- D. Afridi is in the A category while Akmal cent bonuses for improving their fitness, gets a B-group salary. — AFP Cook to discover one-day fate

LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook is set to 50-over cricket.Former England off-spinner Graeme find out if he will be skippering the side at next Swann, a friend of Cook’s, was damning in his year’s World Cup when the selectors announce assessment last month. “If he (Cook) truly believes today their squad to play seven one-day interna- England can win this World Cup...I am the greatest tionals in Sri Lanka. If, as seems likely, Cook is con- patriot there is but we do not have a cat in hell’s firmed as skipper for the tour of Sri Lanka, which chance,” Swann said. “I love Cooky totally, but I do takes place in November and December, it is hard not think he should be bothering playing one-day to see how, barring injury, he won’t also lead cricket any more.” England at the one-day World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February and March. SRI LANKA DILEMMA Much of the speculation in the build-up to the But while England have found a more aggres- squad announcement has focused on whether sive first- partner for Cook in Alex Hales, Cook is the right man to lead England as they go in there is no obvious replacement for the skipper as search of their first World Cup title. an opener, although middle-order batsmen Joe The left-handed opening batsman faced ques- Root and Eoin Morgan have both been suggested tions throughout all of England’s recent home cam- as alternative captains. Alastair Cook paign but answered his Test critics by leading the The England team which managed a consola- Sri Lanka are set to be very different to those they side to a 3-1 series win over India following a tion win over India at Headingley this month is like- encounter in Australia and New Zealand. defeat by Sri Lanka. However, doubts remain about ly to be retained en bloc but the intriguing ques- But they will also be mindful that the last thing his suitability for white-ball cricket following a 3-1 tion surrounds the identity of the other four play- England need before a World Cup is another crush- one-day international series loss to world champi- ers who are set to comprise the rest of a likely 15- ing one-day series reverse-they’ve already lost ons India that included several thumping defeats. man squad. their last five ODI campaigns under Cook. The major criticism of left-handed opener Cook, In the injury-enforced absence of Stuart Broad, All-rounder Ravi Bopara, surprisingly omitted an orthodox Test batsman, as a one-day cricketer is who is nevertheless set to recover in time for the against India, could be included in the Sri Lanka that he scores too slowly at the top of of the order World Cup, the 15 will be competing for the 14 squad could Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid who, in terms of what is now required in modern limited squad places teams are restricted to at the global unlike England’s current specialist slow bowlers, overs internationals. His critics point to an strike tournament. But England’s task will be complicated primarily turns the ball away rather than towards a Shahid Afridi rate of under 80 as proof of Cook’s unsuitability for by the fact conditions in traditionally spin-friendly right-handed batsman. —AFP