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Home , Alex Song, Dimitri Payet, Michail Antonio, Victor Moses

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 SPORTS English giants impose Martial law on Europe

LONDON: In betting the house on 19-year-old for the period 2016 to 2019, English clubs have spent Sheffield Hallam University, told AFP. the rewards of slick commercial operations. United’s Monaco forward , Manchester United more lavishly than ever before. “What they’re finding is the players that they might new kit deal with German sportswear firm Adidas is have emphasised the English ’s stand- And with a new global TV rights package set to be have gone for, these ‘marquee’ signings, the values for worth £750 million, on top of several commercial con- ing as the financial ogre of European football. announced early in 2016, experts expect total rights- those are so wildly inflated that they’re beginning to tracts including a £330 million sponsorship agreement United’s decision to gamble a reported £36 million related income to exceed £8 billion. look elsewhere.” with American car giant Chevrolet. “We’ve seen in ($55.1 million, 49 million euros) on a player with only “Today it’s the English clubs, and no-one else, who He added: “The headlines make it sound like a recent years tremendous commercial growth from the 52 league games to his name has sparked incredulity make the market,” says French football agent huge, huge deal, but in the context of Manchester largest clubs and that’s helping fuel some of this trans- on both sides of the Channel. Christophe Mongai, whose client joined United it’s not wildly outside what they might normal- fer spending,” Alex Thorpe from Deloitte’s Sports British tabloid The Sun rechristened the 20-time Aston Villa from Nice last month. ly expect to play for emerging talent. Business Group told AFP. European governing body English champions “MADchester United”, while The “No-one can compete, except for the top five or six “Go back to : 10 years ago now, they UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules have clipped Times said the deal-a world-record for a teenage play- clubs in Europe.” Including the arrival of Martial, Louis paid around £27 million. Comparably, Wayne Rooney English clubs’ wings in recent years, with City’s spend- er-was “the latest sign of panic buying at ”. van Gaal has now overseen a quarter of a billion cost much more than Martial will cost, because it was ing in 2014 having notably been restricted. In France the focus has centred on reports that the pounds in transfer spending since succeeding David 10 years ago and we have price inflation and you have But with UEFA indicating that it will soften its eventual fee could rise to a staggering 80 million Moyes as United manager last year. a much smaller TV deal and much smaller revenues at stance regarding FFP and with revenues in English euros, which would make Martial, in the words of Manchester City, meanwhile, have spent around all these clubs.” football continuing to soar, the Premier League looks L’Equipe’s front-page headline, “More expensive than £140 million in the current window alone, including While big-money arrivals at United, City and set to boss the transfer market for years to come. Zidane”. According to financial consultants Deloitte, eye-watering deals for Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Chelsea have long been the norm, it is the sight of “As it stands, it’s likely that this is a trend that will the deal took the gross spending of England’s top- Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi. in Crystal Palace’s colours or Xherdan continue,” adds Thorpe. “The objective (of FFP) is to flight clubs beyond the record for a single transfer win- “What we’re seeing with the likes of Manchester Shaqiri lining up for Stoke City that hammer home balance revenues with costs and if the revenues in the dow of £835 million, which was set last year. United, and to a lesser extent Chelsea, is they’re buy- England’s financial might. The structure of the Premier Premier League continue to increase as they are, that Buoyed by the announcement earlier this year of a ing talent with a view to maximising its potential in League’s TV deals means that money is shared evenly is going to give clubs greater scope to invest in their new domestic television rights deal worth £5.14 billion the future,” Rob Wilson, a football finance expert from across the division and English clubs are also reaping playing squads.” — AFP Iceland and Wales close to a place in Euro 2016

LONDON: Iceland could qualify for their first There is no comparable excitement about major finals and be joined in next year’s Euro the Euros across the border in England, 2016 championship by Wales, England, Italy, although Roy Hodgson’s team are all but Sweden and Austria, among others, if results assured of a place among the 24 after winning go to form in qualifiers over the next week. their opening six Group E matches. When the Iceland have never made it to either the qualifying-round draw was made early last World Cup or the European championship, but year, it was considered a foregone conclusion if they beat the Netherlands in Amsterdam that England would qualify after being tomorrow and Kazakhstan in Reykjavik on grouped with Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Sunday, their long wait will be over. The expan- Lithuania and San Marino and results have sion of the tournament from 16 to 24 teams borne out that optimism. has opened the door to many of Europe’s mid- The main talking point about England’s vis- dle-ranking teams who have responded to the it to San Marino on Thursday is that it gives opportunity to qualify for the tournament in skipper Wayne Rooney the ideal opportunity France with improved performances and some to overtake Bobby Charlton’s all-time scoring unexpected results. record of 49 goals for England. Rooney is level In 2013 Iceland came close to reaching the with Gary Lineker on 48 and could well World Cup for the first time before losing to become the first England player to hit 50 inter- Croatia in the playoffs, but they overcame that national goals when he plays against San disappointment and have continued to Marino this week and Switzerland at Wembley improve, rising from 49th to 24th in FIFA’s next week. world rankings in less than two years. At the For once, world champions Germany are end of 2010, they were 112th. not leading the way into the finals and sit sec- Wales are also on the verge of making a ond in Group D, a point behind unbeaten major breakthrough by reaching their first Poland, Euro 2012 co-hosts with Ukraine. finals since their one-and only-World Cup Poland (14 points), Germany (13), Scotland (11) appearance in 1958. If Iceland are the unfamil- and Ireland (nine) are all in contention in a iar pace-setters in Group A, Wales are the tightly bunched group which is likely to be equally unexpected unbeaten leaders in stretched after Germany meet Poland in Group B. Wales has produced some of the Frankfurt on Friday before travelling to game’s great players down the years but since Scotland on Monday. Germany coach Juergen John Charles led the team in Sweden nearly 60 Loew told a media conference on Tuesday: “We years ago, outstanding performers such as Ian are a bit under pressure after a not-so World- Rush, and Ryan Giggs have all Cup quality year. missed out on a major championship. “We know full well that we have to win Now it seems Gareth Bale, the world’s most both games and that we need to invest a lot in expensive player, can lead the current side them. But we have the quality to beat both over the qualifying finish line in either first or teams. We want to end up as group winners.” CHICAGO: This is a Wednesday, July 29, 2015 file photo of Manchester United’s goalkeeper as he warms up before an nternationalI second place to secure an automatic berth in Like England, Slovakia have a 100 percent Champions Cup soccer match. — AP the finals. record after six straight wins and would clinch Wales travel to Cyprus on Thursday and their place in the finals with victories over play at home on Sunday and if Wales are reigning champions Spain and Ukraine. Real pin blame on United seeking omens Israel were the team they beat Austria, top of Group G, are also on the in a playoff to secure their World Cup place in verge of qualifying for the first time, having 1958. Wales coach Chris Coleman spoke of the secured a place automatically in 2008 when wave of excitement sweeping the country they were co-hosts with Switzerland. for De Gea deal collapse when he named his squad last week. Depending on how results go in Group G both “This is the biggest period of my career,” he Austria and Sweden could be through by next said. “But I know what the dangers are. “You Tuesday. Croatia and Italy, runners-up to Spain MADRID: Real Madrid have blamed Manchester Madrid said in a lengthy statement posted on their next year if the transfer doesn’t go through now. can feel it around the country. The belief is in 2012, could also both qualify from Group H, United for the collapse of goalkeeper David de website yesterday. The Spanish press slammed Madrid’s failure to there, the excitement is there but so is the anx- with Italy facing home matches against Malta Gea’s move to the Spanish giants, claiming the “Madrid, facing the possibility of a contentious deliver their prized target in the transfer market this iety. The pressure is massive but this is what and Bulgaria and Croatia travelling to English side sent the documents needed to com- situation in the transfer of the player, decided to summer with the front pages of sports newspapers we have always wanted.” Azerbaijan and Norway. — Reuters plete the deal after the Spanish transfer deadline send the contracts to the Spanish Professional Marca and Sport describing the situation as “ridicu- had passed. League, even knowing the deadline had already lous.” The Spanish international hasn’t featured in Madrid seemed set to conclude the long-run- passed. “In conclusion, Real Madrid did everything any of United’s six games so far this season with ning transfer saga with a deal that would see the necessary in every moment to try to finalise these manager Louis van Gaal claiming the 24-year-old Spanish giants pay a significant transfer fee for De two transfers.” Despite Madrid’s prolonged interest wasn’t focused at the English giants due to Madrid’s Gea and send Costa Rican international goalkeeper in De Gea, they claim negotiations between the two interest. Madrid were in the market for a goalkeeper Keylor Navas to United as part of the deal. clubs for the player didn’t begin until Monday after Spain captain Iker Casillas ended his 25-year However, Spanish league sources confirmed that morning. association with the club by moving to Porto in July. the player hadn’t been registered and Madrid Real Madrid haven’t indicated whether they De Gea joined United from Real’s city rivals admitted they had sent the required documenta- intend to appeal to football’s governing body FIFA Atletico Madrid in 2011 and, despite a shaky start tion to the league after the window closed at mid- in an attempt to force the transfer through. FIFA went on to shine, winning the club’s fans’ and play- night local time (2200GMT) on Monday. refused to comment on the specific details of the ers’ player of the year awards for the past two sea- “Manchester United introduced into the Transfer case when contacted by AFP yesterday, but con- sons. However, he refused to sign a new deal with Matching System (TMS) the details for the transfer firmed that no appeal had been lodged by any of United due to his desire to return to Spain with of David de Gea, not those for Keylor Navas, at 00:00 the parties involved. “Up until now, we do not Real. A standoff between the two clubs ensued with Spanish time, sending simultaneously to Real appear to have been contacted by either of the par- United also expressing their interest in Real captain Madrid the signed transfer contracts. Real Madrid ties in this matter,” said a FIFA spokesperson. Sergio Ramos over the summer before he ended received the complete documentation at 00:02 and De Gea has just one year left on his contract at speculation over his future by signing a new five- tried to access the TMS but this was already closed,” Old Trafford meaning he could join Madrid for free year deal with Los Blancos. — AFP West Ham sign Song and Moses SPAIN: Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring in this file photo. — AP LONDON: Former Cameroon international Alex Guam, Hong Kong face Song and Nigeria winger have joined West Ham United on season-long loan deals, the Premier League club announced yester- stern WCup road trips day. Former Arsenal Song, who announced his international retirement earlier HONG KONG: Surprise early Asian pace- The fixture is likely to be a tense affair this year, spent last season on loan at West Ham setters Guam and Hong Kong face daunt- after Hong Kong fans booed the Chinese from Barcelona, making 31 appearances in all ing World Cup qualifying road trips to Iran anthem, adopted by the territory in 1997, competitions. and China on Thursday that will better before they beat Bhutan 7-0 and Maldives “It has just been confirmed. has gauge the progress the two minnows claim 2-0 in June to top the group with FIFA signed a season-long loan deal to join West Ham,” to have made. warning of punishments if there is a repeat. West Ham co-owner David Gold wrote on Twitter. Guam, a tiny US territory in the Pacific The tie has seen Hong Kong fans remi- “Welcome back Alex.” Ocean, travel to Tehran talking of a possible nisce over one of their rare successes Song, 27, told the West Ham website: “I am upset against a side that thrashed them 19- against China when they won a World Cup very happy. When I left, I didn’t know I would 0 in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. qualifier in Beijing 30 years ago, but China come back here. It was not easy, but at the end of Buoyed by their first ever wins at this boss Alain Perrin is not expecting an upset the day, the most important thing is I’m here now level in June — 1-0 over Turkmenistan and nor five days later when they host Maldives. and I’m very happy. “I feel at home, everything 2-1 against India-English coach Gary White “Our target is to collect six points in the feels at home, for my family too, they’re set up believes his side, who top Group D, are two matches and to score as many goals as very well here. My kids are playing for West Ham ready to take on the three-times Asian possible against the weaker teams,” the academy.” Moses, 24, arrives on loan from Premier champions. “We know the size of the chal- Frenchman was quoted as saying by the League champions Chelsea. The powerful wide lenge we are faced with, up against a team South China Morning Post. player joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in that has won several Asian Cups and which They are two of 15 matches taking place August 2012, but has spent the last two seasons has been a regular qualifier for World Cups,” on Thursday in the joint 2019 Asian Cup out on loan at Liverpool and Stoke City. Soon Alex Song he told Pacific Daily News. “(But) that’s the qualifying campaign that has minnows and after announcing the Song and Moses loan national team and he is a great manager and a when I was younger. “I’ve worked my way from position that we want to put ourselves in.” giants clashing but only the eight group swoops, West Ham confirmed the signing of great man,” he told West Ham TV. non-league and finally got to the Premier League The fixture was in doubt at one point winners guaranteed a spot in the second Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic from Championship “I am really happy and delighted to be work- to show what I can do.” Hammers boss Bilic, who after Guam complained that Iran were round of Asian qualifying for 2018. side Hull for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old ing with him and all his staff again.” A busy trans- took over from in the close-season, delaying visa applications, requiring the Four-times Asian champions Japan host agreed a two-year contract with the east fer deadline day at Upton Park also saw has carried out a major overhaul of his squad and Asian Football Confederation to step in and lowly Cambodia, perennial World Cup qual- Londoners and will link up again with his former Nottingham Forest winger , 24, his four deadline day deals took the number of mediate. Some in Hong Kong have also ifiers South Korea welcome Laos, Saudi Croatia manager Slaven Bilic. sign a four-year contract for a fee reported to be new signings since his arrival to 11. His seven ear- been angered ahead of their Group C fix- Arabia, under the guidance of Dutch coach Former Everton star Jelavic returns to the top around £7 million ($10 million). lier recruits were goalkeeper , ture in China, with complaints that tickets Bert van Marwijk for the first time, take on tier after scoring eight goals in Hull’s relegation “I’m buzzing to be at a massive club,” Antonio defenders and for the Shenzhen clash have been made East Timor, while Asian champions Australia from the Premier League last season. told West Ham TV. “I’ve always been around and Pedro Obiang, , unnecessarily difficult to buy. host Bangladesh. — Reuters “I’ve played for Slaven before for the Croatia London and I came to a couple of games here and George Dobson. — AFP