THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016 SPORTS Germany’s Mueller surprised by San Marino row BERLIN: Thomas Mueller admits having white socks with sandals and accused headline and then makes an impression, en out of context. “My statement in the Mueller says he will not shy from been surprised by accusations of arro- the Germans of thinking they could win which I had once again underestimated.” interview after the match on Friday speaking his mind. “I will continue to gance and disrespect for saying by “bullying” San Marino. Last Friday’s 8-0 drubbing in heavy related to the question of the sporting express my opinion in the future, even if Germany’s 8-0 rout of minnows San Having captained Germany in rain kept Germany top of their 2018 value of the game in San Marino in rela- I run the risk of getting a few flies Marino had “nothing to do with profes- Tuesday’s goalless draw with Italy in World Cup qualifying group with a per- tion to the risk of injury,” Mueller wrote buzzing around my ears,” added the 27- sional sport”. Milan, Mueller said he had meant no dis- fect record of four wins while San on his Facebook page on Tuesday. year-old. The matter could be put to bed On Sunday, Alan Gasperoni, the San respect. Marino, ranked 199 places below the “It was taken out of context by some over a beer. Marino National Olympic Commitee’s “I was a bit surprised, because I Germans by FIFA, remain bottom. media, which seems to have given some Gasperoni has apologised for poking press officer, posted an open letter to hadn’t meant that at all,” Mueller told When asked about the value of such people the wrong impression, influ- fun at Germans in his rant and wants to Mueller on Facebook, listing 10 reasons German broadcaster ARD. international miss-matches, Mueller enced by a sometimes humorous social meet Mueller when San Marino play the Germany’s trip to the minnows for a “I had been asked a few questions, admitted the question was “hard to media post by a former official of the return qualifier in Nuremberg next June. 2018 World Cup qualifier was useful. which I had answered honestly and seri- answer”, adding “romantics say such San Marino Football Association. “I am sure everything will be settled with Mueller said he was taken aback by ously, and had tried to look at both games have their place”. “I want to clarify here that I replied in a hand shake and when we are in Gasperoni’s angry rant, which poked fun sides. Mueller says his “nothing to do with the answer respectfully to illuminate Germany, we could go for a beer togeth- at the cliched German habit of wearing “The reader often reads only the professional football” comment was tak- both sides of the topic.” er,” added Gasperoni. — AFP Barca seals big deal with Japan’s Rakuten BARCELONA: Spanish giants FC Barcelona new partner. Rakuten, seeking to boost its sealed a massive shirt sponsorship deal global image, is Japan’s biggest e-com- yesterday with Japanese online retailer merce company with more than 13,000 Rakuten worth at least 55 million euros employees in Japan and turnover of more ($59 million) a year. One of world football’s than two trillion yen (18.2 billion dollars) in most lucrative shirt sponsorship deals sees the first three quarters of the year. The Japan’s leading e-commerce company company is already involved in domestic replace Qatar Airways, Barcelona’s shirt sport in Japan, owning J-League club Vissel sponsor since 2013, confirming Asia’s Kobe and pro baseball outfit Tohoku appetite for major investment in European Rakuten Golden Eagles. Barcelona took its football. first step towards ending its tradition of With the pulling power of top stars like shunning sponsors on its shirts in 2006 Lionel Messi and Neymar, Barcelona’s suc- when it agreed to bear the logo of Unicef. cess on the pitch ensures the club exerts a In 2011 Qatar Foundation replaced the huge draw on advertisers. charity on the club’s shirts under a new “The base contract is 55 million euros deal. per year, with a bonus of 1.5 million euros per year if the club wins the La Liga and Second shirt sponsorship deal five million euros if it wins the Champions Qatar Airways signed its first sponsor- League,” Barcelona’s head of marketing, ship deal with the club in 2013. But many Manel Arroyo, told a news conference at of Barcelona’s members had expressed the club’s Camp Nou stadium. Qatar their opposition to the club’s relationship Airways were reported to have paid 35 mil- with the Gulf state. lion euros for the final year of their deal tak- Former club president Joan Laporta has ing them up to the end of the 2016-17 sea- pledged to end the sponsorship deal if re- son. elected to the post but he was soundly beaten by Josep Maria Bartomeu in the MESSI, NEYMAR TOP DRAW club’s 2015 election. Barcelona boasts some of the world’s Barcelona’s new sponsorship deal con- most recognisable stars-vital marketing firms the interest in Asian investors in assets for the club’s partners — who have European football and it comes as the club millions of followers on social media, prom- is set to begin work in 2018 on an extensive ising invaluable exposure to sponsors. renovation of their Camp Nou home. The Argentine striker Messi is one of the most refurbishment will see the capacity of SAN JOSE: United States’ Omar Gonzalez, left, clears the ball under pressure by Costa Rica’s Johan Venegas during a 2018 World Cup qualifying popular athletes in the world on social Europe’s biggest stadium extended to soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Tuesday. Costa Rica won the game 4-0. —AP media, with more than 78 million fan fol- 105,000 and an open facade to allow views lowers on Facebook alone. Barcelona’s new across the city. A budget of 420 million sponsorship deal however falls short of the euros has been estimated for the project seven-year deal which Manchester United that will be financed in large part by pro- Costa Rica routs US as signed with Chevrolet which will earn the ceeds from sponsorship. Barcelona in May English club $560 million-about $80 million signed a 10-year kit agreement with Nike, (70 million euros) per year. Barcelona-once which it expects to bring in at least 150 mil- renowned for never having had a sponsor lion euros per season when the arrange- Americans drop to 0-2 on their shirts — had been looking to ment takes effect in the 2018-19 season. replace their Qatar Airways contract which The club is expected to post a record was seen as below market value for a num- turnover of 679 million euros in the 2015- SAN JOSE: The United States put itself in a deep Venagas, and his cross found Bolanos in front, Jermaine Jones are suspended for the next qual- ber of seasons. 16 season and surpass arch-rival Real hole in World Cup qualifying with one of its with Chandler a step late. Ronald Matarrita creat- ifier, at home on March 24 against Honduras, It extended its contract last year with Madrid as the world’s richest club in the worst performances in decades. Taking advan- ed the final two goals by Campbell. On the last because of yellow-card accumulation. Both were the airline for one year while it looked for a annual rankings by Deloit.—AFP tage of defensive mistakes, Costa Rica routed goal, Campbell took the ball over Brooks’ right cautioned by Mexican referee for fouls against the U.S. 4-0 Tuesday night to drop the Americans foot as the American defender stabbed to make Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz, Chandler in the to 0-2 for the first time in the final round of the a play to no avail. He was a step behind all night 11th minute and Jones in the 37th. North and Central American and Caribbean on the slick, chunked-up turf. Costa Rica, a 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist, region. “A very, very bitter moment for us. There’s “I said to the team that it won’t be the last 4- nearly went ahead in the 14th minute when no doubt about it,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann nil defeat in their career,” Klinsmann said. “We’ll Bolanos centered for Ruiz, who chested the ball said. “We didn’t imagine going into the hexago- get here some lessons but definitely it’s a bitter and sent an overhead kick directly into Guzan’s nal with two defeats right at the beginning.” moment because we wanted to do far, far better face. And in the 57th, Venegas beat Chandler to Johan Venegas scored in the 43rd minute, than what we did.” a punt by Navas and had a clear shot on Guzan, Cristian Bolanos doubled the lead in the 69th There was some whistling during “The Star- who made a leg save. and second-half substitute Joel Campbell beat Spangled Banner” from the capacity crowd of While Bolanos repeatedly sliced diagonal beleaguered goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 74th about 35,000 in Estadio Nacional, where the field long balls through the midfield, the U.S. rarely and 77th minutes in the worst margin of defeat is surrounded by an athletics track and crowd threatened. Pulisic took a pass from Jones in the for the US in a qualifier since a 5-1 defeat at noise dissipates - even from a band in the sec- 20th, dribbled to the end line and crossed, but Mexico in November 1980.