TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 SPORTS FIFA’s President Blatter Photo of the day to stand for re-election Blatter optimistic about Russia 2018, Qatar 2022

MANCHESTER: The prospect of Sepp eral, took over. Before the World Cup independent of UEFA’s backing and Blatter continuing as FIFA president started in Brazil in June, five of FIFA’s might well be cancelled now Blatter into his early 80s came a step nearer six confederations - the exception has declared his interest. yesterday when he confirmed he was being UEFA - gave Blatter their sup- standing for a fifth term of office next port to continue as president and it is Improve football year. Blatter, who will be 79 when the almost inconceivable that he will not Blatter said that if he were re-elect- votes are cast next June and who was be re-elected when voting takes place ed he would like to give coaches the first elected 16 years ago, confirmed at the FIFA Congress in Zurich next right to challenge refereeing decisions. his candidature for another term as June. He first mooted the idea at the FIFA president in a recorded interview Last month Michel Platini ended Congress in June, but expanded on it transmitted to delegates at the speculation about his bid for the presi- at Soccerex. “I will propose it to the Soccerex Global Convention. dency when he said he would not International Board (the game’s law- “You see a mission is never finished stand for election - instead he will seek making body),” he said. “They (coach- and my mission is not finished,” he said another term as the president of es) should have the right maybe once in the 42-minute interview, adding European soccer’s ruling body, UEFA. or twice in a half, the means to chal- that he would officially tell members Blatter said he knew of Platini’s plans lenge a refereeing decision, but only of FIFA’s executive committee of his in advance of the Frenchman’s when the game is stopped.” Blatter candidature in Zurich at the end of this announcement in Monte Carlo on also said he was confident that the month. “I got (from) the last (FIFA) con- August 28. “I was not surprised 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 gress in Sao Paulo not only the impres- because in private conversations I World Cup in Qatar would both go sion but the support of the majority, a have had with Michel Platini before ahead as scheduled and that calls huge majority of national associations during and after the World Cup he has from some European bureaucrats to boycott the World Cup in Russia or remove it from the country because of Mohammad Alattar performs with Mujahid Habib at the Red Bull Parkour Project 2014 in Rampur. the crisis in Ukraine were misguided. —www.redbull.com “We are monitoring that situation but not interfering,” he said. “For the time being we are strong to maintain the organization of the World Cup in Russia and in Qatar in 2022. Kolarov blast helps “Concerning the one in 2018, in Russia. There are already some voices coming out about 2018 talking about a boy- cott - a boycott in sport never has had Serbia hold France any benefit. “Let us wait and see the geo-political situation and FIFA shall not intervene with politics. But for the BELGRADE: A makeshift France side his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation at Portugal, where the Gibraltar fans time being we are working with were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia in a times looked unconvincing at the that made the trip were in full voice Russia. I have been there three weeks friendly after Aleksandar Kolarov back and lacked spark in midfield. for their national anthem and did ago and I have had the report on the drilled in a ferocious free kick for the “Everything can be better but bear- their best to rally the players. There stadium work they are doing and they home side to cancel out a Paul Pogba ing in mind it was our first game since was a positive mood from the are on a route.” opener on Sunday. Having beaten I took over (in July), I think it was a sol- Gibraltar camp ahead of the game, Concerning Qatar, he re-iterated FIFA President Sepp Blatter Spain 1-0 in Paris on Thursday, France id performance and a good result,” he encouraged by their first victory over the World Cup would not be played in dominated long spells of the match said. “We are still lacking a bit of cohe- Malta in June and they did not ever the summer heat of 2022 but empha- on a warm evening after their coach sion and bite so we will have to pon- give up. asking ‘Please go on, be our president confirmed he would not be a candi- sized that no new date had yet been Didier Deschamps fielded seven fresh der in the next few weeks whether to also in future.’ “Now I would make an date, but that there would be a con- fixed. Regarding the allegations of starters. A dour opening came to life start with a more creative midfield or Germany see off official declaration definitely in tender.” corruption surrounding the 2022 when versatile midfielder Pogba fired stick with the present battling outfit in spirited Scotland September (to stand). “I will inform the “And I think he is a reliable man World Cup decision taken in the French ahead in the 13th minute, the centre of the pitch.” The Serbs Meanwhile, World champions executive committee. It’s a question of when he is not only speaking col- December 2010, he said: “We still tapping in at the far post Yohan open their 2016 European champi- Germany got their Euro 2016 qualify- respect also to say then to the football league to colleague but friend to await the report of FIFA’s ethics com- Cabaye’s low corner which bobbled onship qualifiers away to Armenia and ing campaign off to a shaky start with family, ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a friend even if we are not always at the mittee who have made an in-depth past a static Serbian defense. at home to Albania in October, with a nervy 2-1 win over Scotland in candidate.’” same idea in football by saying he investigation and we are awaiting the The home team’s keeper Vladimir Advocaat praising the latter after their Dortmund on Sunday. Germany lost The news comes as little surprise as would not stand.” Platini, a former results of this, this month or next Stojkovic then kept out a stinging shock 1-0 win at Portugal. “The result 4-2 against Argentina in a friendly on Blatter had dropped strong hints he long-time supporter of Blatter, said in month. “In the rotation of the World effort by Remy Cabella, one of says enough how strong Albania can Wednesday but a goal in each half would stand again and if he sees out June he no longer backed him as FIFA Cup it was obvious that one day we Deschamps’s most impressive replace- be and it just confirms that there will from Bayern Munich attacker Thomas his potential four-year term he will be president and but UEFA has so far not should give the World Cup to the ments, having also parried a Pogba be no easy games in our group.” Mueller ensured they won their first 83 by the time of the next planned put forward a candidate to stand Arabic world. It was a decision taken shot with France looking sharper early competitive fixture since the World election in 2019. In the last 40 years against him. The only other declared by a democratic vote now we have to in the second half. But the visitors Poland crush Gibraltar 7-0 Cup. Scotland delivered a spirited FIFA has had just two presidents. Joao candidate is the former FIFA deputy make the best of it in order to show a fizzed out in the last 30 minutes and Robert Lewandowski hit four goals performance though and they were Havelange ruled from 1974 until 1998 secretary general Frenchman Jerome small country can also host the World their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was in the second half as Poland swept rewarded for a positive second-half when Blatter, his former secretary gen- Champagne, although his campaign is Cup-but it is a challenge.” —Reuters powerless when Manchester City left aside Gibraltar in their first ever com- approach when winger Ikechi Anya back Kolarov unleashed a scorcher petitive game 7-0 in Euro 2016 quali- raced clear to equalise on 66 minutes. from 30 metres into the bottom left fying Group D on Sunday. There was But the visitors failed to clear a corner with 10 minutes left. to be no fairytale for the newcomers corner four minutes later and Mueller River Plate breathe new Serbia missed an injury time sitter in a tough group also including world capitalized to thump home his 24th to turn the match on its head when champions Germany, Ireland, international goal. Mueller’s winner Lloris palmed away a ricochet from a Scotland and Georgia. Kamil Grosicki, denied Gordon Strachan’s side what life into Argentine game goalmouth scramble. “We should have who opened the scoring on 11 min- would have been a precious point in been 2-0 up and having missed two utes, coolly took his second at the a group that also includes the BUENOS AIRES: River Plate are reaping the rewards of Argentina, whose national team is nearly all European- good chances, we struggled in the start of the second half and the flood- Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia putting their faith in coach Marcelo Gallardo, who as a based, in the last two decades has led to an impover- closing stages,” Deschamps told a gates opened. Lewandowski, Poland’s and Gibraltar. “At 1-1, I genuinely player was steeped in the club’s attacking ethos, after a ishment of the domestic game. “Not only have we suf- news conference. “Kolarov scored a captain, quickly hit two and Lukasz believe we can win the game at that run of five consecutive wins. With Boca Juniors recover- fered the exodus of players, but ideas too. Argentine beautiful goal but we could have Szukala headed in the fifth. In the point,” Strachan said. “I’ve seen play- ing from a poor start to the Argentine championship football - passes, associations, dribbling, risk, daring - is done better. We played well defen- final stages the unforgiving Bayern ers at that point playing with no fear after a change of coach, there is the prospect of a revival not played here,” he had written previously. Gallardo sively and some of the players who Munich striker slotted in two more. of the game. “The longer the game of all that is best in the Big Two’s great rivalry. River’s 2-0 won league titles with River and Monaco and was the stood in for starters this evening may Gibraltar’s rocky enclave has a popu- we went on, the more of a threat we home win over Tigre at the Monumental on Sunday, most attack-minded midfielder in Daniel Passarella’s have a bright future but they will have lation of just under 30,000 and their got. We really should be proud. All with goals from Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Mora, kept Argentina squad at the 1998 World Cup in France. to work hard.” Dutchman Dick Victoria Stadium fails to meet UEFA we have to do is work on the first 20 them top of the table with 16 points out of a possible One of a long line of creative midfielders at River Advocaat drew some positives from standards. The game was therefore minutes. Get that sorted out and we’ll 18. “With each successive match we’re showing the faith that down the years has included the likes of Alfredo di his debut as Serbia’s coach although played at the Algarve stadium in be fine. We’ll be good.” —Agencies the coach puts in us. This present reality is no miracle, Stefano, Omar Sivori, Ermindo Onega, Norberto this is (the fruit of) hard work, we had a good pre-sea- Alonso, Andres D’Alessandro and Pablo Aimar, Gallardo son,” Mora, who was on loan to Universidad de Chile has not been afraid to build his team in that image. when River won the title under Ramon Diaz last season, Boca have won both their matches under Rodolfo told reporters. Arruabarrena, another young coach breathing new life With the league’s six-goal top marksman Teo into the Argentine game who took over from Carlos Gutierrez missing on international duty with Colombia, Bianchi after the record title winner had lost his touch. Mora took on the scoring mantle with goals either side Seven points off River’s pace, Boca will be eagerly of halftime for a championship tally of three. “River’s looking forward to the “superclasico” derby against coach likes the ball, to take the game to the opposition their arch rivals at the Monumental in less than a and play in their half of the field: a daring style,” wrote month’s time as a chance to reel them in. After striker former Boca and Argentina midfielder Diego Latorre Emmanuel Gigliotti had headed Boca’s late winner at recently in his regular column in the sports daily Ole. Olimpo on Sunday, their World Cup midfielder “When you talk to a player about the ball and tell him Fernando Gago said: “There’s time, and mathematically you want to attack, his self-esteem grows because you we can still (catch up with River).” Velez Sarsfield are in are putting your faith in him,” the pundit added. second place with 13 points having dropped five points in their last two matches, a 3-1 defeat at Boca Damaging exodus followed by a 0-0 draw with third-placed Newell’s Old Latorre says that the exodus of talent from Boys. —Reuters Deposed Nigeria football leaders return to work

ABUJA: Ousted Nigeria Football back in the office,” Olajire said. He return from the World Cup in Brazil Federation officials are returning to also said the NFF would send a let- in July and the NFF was being run work, a federation spokesman said, ter to FIFA to inform it that officials then by a sports ministry-appoint- after FIFA threatened to suspend were returning. FIFA said it could ed official, leading FIFA to suspend the country from international soc- not comment while it was “verifying Nigeria for nine days. Maigari was cer for the second time in two the respective information concern- re-instated briefly but was again months if they weren’t re-instated ing the Nigeria Football detained by security forces while by Monday. NFF spokesman Federation.” Giwa and others were elected to Ademola Olajire said general secre- FIFA did not recognize the Aug. replace the NFF leadership, FIFA tary Musa Amadu and others were 26 elections that were overseen by said. FIFA wants Maigari to be “back in the office” at the federation the Nigerian sports ministry and allowed to oversee new elections. headquarters yesterday after they replaced NFF president Aminu Nigeria’s squad arrived in Cape were removed at a government- Maigari with Chris Giwa. FIFA rules Town yesterday to prepare for the endorsed meeting last month. do not allow governments to inter- South Africa game following a 3-2 FIFA’s ultimatum put Nigeria, the fere in football. Olajire said Maigari loss to Republic of Congo over the African champion, at risk of being wasn’t yet back at work but “can weekend to open its African Cup banned and having to forfeit an return at any time.” “The persons qualifying campaign. The federa- African Cup of Nations qualifier claiming to be elected at the con- tion indicated that the game against South Africa on Wednesday, gress on 26 August are not around,” would go ahead, although it said and possibly its place at next year’s Olajire said. coach Stephen Keshi would only continental championship. “What I The Aug. 26 elections removed join the squad on Tuesday as he see and know is that the general Maigari for the second time in two was dealing with “pressing person- BELGRADE: Serbia’s Nemanja Matic (left) challenges with France’s Blaise Matuidi during their interna- secretary and the management are months. He was arrested on his al issues.” —AP tional friendly soccer match in Belgrade on Sunday, Sept 7, 2014. —AP