THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 SPORTS China probes Hulk incident with Lavezzi off the hook

SHANGHAI: China’s football authority said regulations. But Li Bing, who remains yesterday it is investigating Brazilian star Guizhou’s general manager, said on his Hulk’s alleged altercation with a rival club’s official Weibo microblog account that he staffer, but it saw “no malicious intent” in a would keep pursuing the charges even separate racially-charged row involving though his club said both sides “has Argentina’s Ezequiel Lavezzi. Both South reached agreement” in how to handle the American players, who are among the incident. growing crop of highly paid foreign stars in Days after the Hulk incident, the Super China’s cash-rich Super League, have been League faced another controversy when embroiled in race-related incidents in promotional photos emerged of Lavezzi recent weeks. smiling and pulling the corners of his eyes The Chinese Football Association said back. Lavezzi’s club, Hebei China Fortune, its disciplinary committee held a hearing issued a statement on Sunday saying that last Friday with Hulk, who plays for the 32-year-old had apologised and insist- Shanghai SIPG, and the assistant coach of ed he meant no racial offence. “We believe Guizhou Zhicheng. The hearing came after the footballer and the photographer did Guizhou Zhicheng’s then head coach Li not have any malicious intent when they Bing accused the muscular Brazilian of were shooting. (We) hope media don’t read punching his assistant, Yu Ming, at half- too much into this,” the CFA said yesterday. time during SIPG’s 3-0 victory earlier this “Due to the differences of national con- month. ditions and cultures, different hand ges- Li had suggested Hulk had a racial tures or expressions have different mean- motive for the alleged attack, saying that ings.” But the CFA urged Lavezzi “to regu- the Brazilian star “cannot be here and late his words and actions more” as a pub- despise Chinese people,” though he later lic figure. Lavezzi’s slant-eyed pose has appeared to back off those comments. caused outrage on Chinese social media. Hulk and the Shanghai club have rejected Hebei China Fortune said some photos in the accusations. CFA spokeswoman Huang the Lavezzi promotional shoot were meant Shiwei said in a statement that the associa- to be in a “light-hearted” and “wacky” vein. tion “has zero tolerance towards any But the team nonetheless conceded it had behaviour that is not (in line with) sport not been vigilant enough in the matter ethics in the pitch, no matter who that per- and would “draw lessons” from it, vowing son is. There is no exception.” to prevent anything similar occurring News of the investigation comes a week again. The episode illustrates the potential after a CFA official, Li Peng, said there was culture clashes that can arise as Chinese MADRID: Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema (R) vies with Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender Diego Godin (C) and Atletico “no evidence” that Hulk had violated any teams spend big on foreign players. —AFP Madrid’s Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Real Madrid CF at the Vicente Calderon stadium. — AFP ’s Loew to take 7 Valbuena accuses ‘impotent’ debutants to Confed Cup BERLIN: Germany’s head coach Joachim exhausting, not just physically.” Benzema over sex-tape saga Loew yesterday named seven uncapped There is no place for veteran striker players for next month’s Confederations Mario Gomez, who has scored 30 goals in Cup in Russia as the injury-hit world cham- 70 internationals, as he battles German PARIS: Lyon Mathieu Valbuena yes- through the dirt and sullied my family name,” he saying in a book last year that Benzema was not pions unveiled an experimental squad. league relegation with Wolfsburg. Loew terday launched an emotional attack on Karim said. “He’s got to stop this nonsense.”He’s really an example of morality. Benzema said he is not Injury and illness had already sidelined has left injury-prone Dortmund winger Benzema over the sex-tape saga, accusing the got to stop making things up. His continued expecting Macron to intervene in his favor, but World Cup-winners Mario Goetze, captain out to work on his fitness with Real Madrid star of “slander”. “Slander is the lying is driving me mad. It all came from him this hopes the new president won’t pillory him. and Benedikt Hoewedes for one eye on the 2018 World Cup. “I talked to weapon of the impotent, it is distressing !!! sex-tape business. All he had to say was the “Maybe he’ll speak about me in better words,” the June 17-July 2 competition. him in detail, I would have liked to have Justice will restore the truth,” Valbuena posted truth about what really happened.” Benzema said. “When your name is quoted by Midfielder , 21, of Borussia taken him, but I had to weigh up the risk,” on his Twitter account. Valbuena was responding the prime minister (Valls), then by the French Dortmund, was also ruled out after fractur- explained Loew. to comments made by Benzema in French sports BENZEMA REVEALS MACRON CONNECTION president (Hollande), it gets difficult.” ing his ankle last Saturday. As expected, Reus missed the 2014 World Cup tri- daily L’Equipe’s online edition the day before. Can Emmanuel Macron save Karim Benzema? The 29-year-old Benzema, who will feature in Loew has reacted by naming an inexperi- umph in Brazil after tearing ankle liga- Both men missed Euro 2016 on home soil Banned from the national team since November his third Champions League final next month enced 23-man squad-none of whom are ments in a warm-up game and sat out Euro after an investigation was launched into alleged 2015 because of his suspected involvement in a when Madrid takes on Juventus, added that he over 30 — which he aims to blood a year 2016 with a pelvis injury. “He was a big fig- blackmail in a sex-tape scandal featuring corruption scandal, the Real Madrid striker may met Macron “three or four times” and had dinner before Germany launch their defence of ure in 2014 and it was a set back that he Valbuena which is likely to go to court in France have found an unexpected supporter in the new with him. Benzema has achieved another excel- the World Cup. Only three of the squad - wasn’t there,” added Loew. “He’s deter- later this year. Investigators suspect Benzema of French president. Benzema told L’Equipe news- lent season with Madrid and believes there is no , and mined to be at the 2018 World Cup and acting as an intermediary between the pre- paper yesterday that he met Macron before he obvious sporting reason for his repeated -won the 2014 World Cup everything is geared towards that.” sumed blackmailers, including childhood friend started his political career and that they “stayed absence from France coach Didier Deschamps’ and none of them played in the final. Germany squad for Confederations Cup in Valbuena. On Tuesday Benzema laid the blame a bit in touch via messages.” Benzema, the most lists of players. Benzema, whose last game with Ajax winger , 23, is Russia, June 17-July 2: for the fallout of the sex tape scandal squarely talented striker of his generation, is facing France dates back to October 2015, is not amongst the debutants, along with Goalkeepers: Bern Leno (Bayer on the shoulders of Valbuena, the alleged victim. charges relating to an extortion scam over a sex expected to make the cut when Deschamps Hoffenheim’s striker and Leverkusen), Marc-Andre Ter Stegen He went as far as accusing Valbuena of lying tape featuring France teammate Mathieu announces his players for France’s next three midfielder , 23, plus (Barcelona), (Paris St- just two days ahead of France naming their Valbuena. When the story broke in 2015, games on Thursday. “If the coach tells me Hertha Berlin’s deadball expert, defender Germain/FRA) squad for upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Benzema faced a deluge of criticism and then straight into the eyes that it is because of soccer, , 25. At 29, burly for- Defenders: Matthias Ginter (Borussia “He called me scum, said I’d threatened him, Prime Minister Manuel Valls landed a heavy blow then I will keep working,” said Benzema, who has ward Wagner is the oldest member of the Dortmund), (Cologne), made up all kinds of stuff,” said Benzema, who when he said the former Lyon player had “no 27 international goals in 81 appearances. “If it’s youthful squad. (Bayer Leverkusen), remains in international exile with his last France place” in the national team. Former French for another reason, then he should tell it to my Liverpool’s , 23, and Manchester (Bayern ), appearance in October 2015. “He’s dragged me President Francois Hollande was also quoted as face, and I will be done with him.” — Agencies City’s Leroy Sane, 21, have the chance to Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal/ENG), Marvin add to their handful of caps. Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (AS Roma/ITA) Niklas Suele FIRST PLAYERS RESTING (Hoffenheim) First-choice players like Thomas Mueller, Midfielders: (Bayer Lewandowski eyes 30+ , Jerome Boateng (all Bayern Leverkusen), Emre Can (Liverpool/ENG), Munich), plus Real Madrid’s and Kerem Demirbay (Hoffenheim), Diego Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil are all left out to rest. Demme (RB Leipzig), Julian Draxler (Paris “The aim is to bring a few players up to St-Germain/FRA), (Schalke), goals to break record world-class level, so that they can help us in (Hoffenheim), Leroy Sane crucial games. Then I’d be happy,” explained (Manchester City/ENG), Loew. “I see the strain on players like Mesut (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Amin BERLIN: Bayern Munich striker Robert per for claiming midfielder Joshua Kimmich lacks any foundation. Joshua Kimmich has a Ozil, Toni Kroos and Mats Hummels, they Younes (Ajax/NED) Lewandowski aims to better his record of 30 will leave at the end of the season. The contract with FC Bayern until 2020 and will def- play almost every three days in crucial Strikers: Sandro Wagner (Hoffenheim), league goals in a season and beat Pierre-Emerick Stuttgart paper claim the German internation- initely play for the next season for FC Bayern.” weeks. “That is emotionally extremely (RB Leipzig) —AFP Aubameyang to the ’s top-scorer title al, who is under contract until 2020, will leave Kimmich returned from Euro 2016 as on Saturday. His two-goal haul in Bayern’s for either ex-club RB Leipzig or Pep Guardiola’s Germany’s first-choice right-back, but with thrilling 5-4 win over RB Leipzig last Saturday left Manchester City, but Bayern have slammed the Lahm playing that position for Bayern, Lewandowski one ahead of Aubameyang of report. “This is a monstrous fallacy,” fumed Kimmich has started just 15 league games this with one game left. chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “This story season under Carlo Ancelotti. — AFP This season’s haul matches his personal best, set last term when he won the ‘Golden Cannon’ trophy-awarded to the Bundesliga’s top-scorer-for the second time having won the title in 2013/14 with 20 goals for ex-club Dortmund. Lewandowski wants at least one more goal in Saturday’s final home game against Freiburg, while hoping Aubameyang fails to score for Dortmund at home to Bremen. “I’m not thinking about ‘the Cannon’, my goal is to get 30 goals plus ‘x’ when I score one more, then I have beaten my personal record, which is what I want to do,” Lewandowski told FCBayern.de. On Saturday, Bayern will be crowned German league champions for the fifth season running when they bid farewell to , and Xabi Alonso, who both play their final game before retirement. “Our biggest motivation should be to say goodbye to two legends, Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso-best of all with a good game and lots of goals,” added Lewandowski. German magazine Sport Bild report Germany’s captain Manuel Neuer, currently sidelined with a foot fracture, will be club skipper next season to replace Lahm. The 33-year-old Lahm has just announced he will become a father for the sec- : Joachim Loew (L), head coach of the German national football team, ond time. Meanwhile, Bayern say they are taking legal and U21-Coach Stefan Kuntz pose after a press conference at the headquarters of the German Football Federation.— AFP action against the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspa- Chinese take over Premier League-chasing Reading

LONDON: Chinese investors who failed in “cautious” about the Chinese siblings. League-are Sheffield Wednesday or ing, so as to ensure that their perform- ment which will benefit not only the first- their bid to buy Hull City last year have However, the English Football League, Huddersfield Town. ance is consistent with the application team squad, but which will also help to succeeded in taking over Reading, who who oversee the Championship, League “The EFL can confirm that they have we have considered.” improve the club’s training facilities (and) are one win away from the Premier One and League Two, said they would no objections to the change of control The brother-and-sister act unsuccess- continue to support its category-one League. Brother and sister Dai Yongge not block the deal. Reading, managed by application made by Reading Football fully tried to purchase now-relegated academy program”. The siblings are the and Dai Xiuli snapped up 75 percent of former Netherlands and Manchester Club,” a statement said. “Following a Premier League side Hull, with the deal latest Chinese investors to take control of the Championship club with the previous United defender Jaap Stam, on Tuesday full review of the transaction, the EFL falling through amid speculation they a Championship club but the only ones Thai owners retaining a 25 percent stake. saw off Fulham to reach the play-off final. has insisted upon-and the club/new had not met the league’s fit and proper with a chance of gaining immediate The Premier League, who give their opin- They will learn later Wednesday if their owners have agreed to-a number of person’s requirements. Reading chief reward to the Premier League. Aston Villa ion on takeovers of clubs who could gain opponents in the final-the winner of additional reporting requirements executive Nigel Howe said the Chinese and Wolves both failed to even reach the promotion, have been reported to be which is promoted to the Premier including enhanced financial monitor- had ambitious plans, including “invest- play-offs. — AFP