Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

Infantino defends 40-team World Cup plan

LOS ANGELES: FIFA President Gianni to be confirmed. However he indicated Infantino defended his controversial plan Africa would be the biggest beneficiary, to expand the World Cup to 40 teams on with two extra places, while Asia and Wednesday, rejecting criticism the move would also get an extra place and a playoff would dilute the quality of football’s show- spot. “There would be of course more piece event. In an interview with Fox spots for everyone,” Infantino said. “For Sports 1, the chief of world football’s gov- example, two more Africans, one and a erning body pointed to the expansion of half in CONCACAF, half in South America, teams at Euro 2016 as evidence that the half in Oceania, one and a half in Asia, we 32-team World Cup could successfully arrive at 39. accommodate more sides. “And the last spot should be played on “(UEFA) were criticized at the time by the pitch somehow let’s see how by the people saying ‘That’s almost half of the one who will deserve it in the best possible teams, the qualifiers will be as boring as way.” Infantino meanwhile refused to be ever, no-one will be interested,’” Infantino drawn on the increasingly acrimonious dis- told interviewer Alexi Lalas. “And the exact pute between the USA’s World Cup-win- opposite came true-which is that it was ning women’s team and American soccer great from a sporting point of view chiefs. Five members of the US team have because many more teams have a chance filed a lawsuit against the US Soccer to qualify, which means many, many more Federation alleging wage discrimination. teams have the dream to qualify. “It was Asked to confirm whether he believed great and it will be great for the World Cup women players should be paid the same as in terms of popularity. Because you will FIFA President Gianni Infantino men, Infantino replied: “I think it is linked have more nations involved in the World the so-called minnows at the 2014 World This is football,” he said. Infantino said with many different elements that need to Cup. There is enough quality-we see it in Cup. “Look at the last World Cup-England exactly how the eight extra spots would be be discussed. There is not a straightfor- Europe,” said Infantino, citing the results of and Italy were kicked out by Costa Rica. distributed throughout the world had yet ward answer to this.”— AFP

Colombian Castro FRENCH LEAGUE PREVIEW keeps Sundowns Clash of Champions League on title track hopefuls; Lyon, Nice face off JOHANNESBURG: Clinical Colombian Leonardo Castro scored twice as Mamelodi Sundowns retained a four- PARIS: Lyon host Nice today in a their Parc will be against Monptellier, have also found point South African Premiership lead by winning 3-1 at clash between two in-form decisive. “We know that Nice have an their stride. Monaco will be hoping to lowly Polokwane City Wednesday. Keagan Dolly was the sides fighting for an automatic experienced team, unfortunately for take advantage of the crisis in Marseille other scorer for the Pretoria club against opponents Champions League qualifying spot them they are coming to Lyon,” said who are sitting 14th, just six points reduced to 10 men with 16 minutes left when Edgar next season. Lyon, second behind Jallet who extended his contract mid- above the relegation zone. Manaka got a straight red card for a studs-up challenge. Paris Saint-Germain whose midweek week until 2018. But the coach is above To add to the disarray Marseille Second-place Wits kept the pressure on the record six- defeat to Manchester City ended all able to count on a full squad com- owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus time champions with a lucky 1-0 win at relegation threat- French interest in the Champions pared to his predecessor, which has announced on Wednesday that the ened Jomo Cosmos courtesy of a goal from Namibian League, are level on 55 points with allowed him to even relegate French club was now officially up for sale. PSG, Henrico Botes. Monaco who host struggling southern international midfielder Mathieu meanwhile, return to domestic duty Cosmos dominated possession and a first-half thun- rivals Marseille on Sunday. Valbuena to the bench. Forward following their inglorious exit from derbolt from Zimbabwean Charlton Mashumba came But Nice are just two points behind has returned to Europe bidding to finish their season back off the crossbar in university town Potchefstroom. The winless league run of title-holders Kaizer Chiefs with five matches left to play. full form demonstrating the efficiency with dignity starting with Saturday’s stretched to four matches as they conceded a stoppage- Monaco’s grip on an automatic qualify- which escaped him in the first half of game at home to midtable Caen. time goal to draw 2-2 at Mpumalanga Black Aces. Fourth- ing berth loosened as the principality the season, bringing his total to 16 Laurent Blanc, who made tactical place Chiefs led twice in Nelspruit only to be robbed of side were swept aside 4-1 at Lille last Ligue 1 goals - 10 since the winter errors against Man City, will need to maximum points when Eddie Ngalo scored for often out- Sunday, before Hatem Ben Arfa’s hat- break. Players like Rachid Ghezzal and avoid further disappointing the clubs played Aces, who are fifth in the 16-club standings. trick saw Nice past Rennes 3-0. As Maxwell Cornet, who scored both goals Qatari owners. —AFP Platinum Stars stayed third by coming from behind to Monaco wobble Nice are now on form daw 1-1 at Ajax Cape Town with the equalizer coming with their star striker Ben Arfa in inspi- from Ndumiso Mabena. rational mood. Lyon meanwhile have French Ligue 1 table Sundowns have 55 points, Wits 51, Platinum 44, netted 14 goals in their past five Chiefs 40 and Aces 38 with six rounds left in a league matches to move above Monaco on PARIS: French Ligue 1 table ahead of this weekend’s matches (played, won, offering a $690,000 (610,000 euro) first prize. Castro goal difference and into second spot drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): struck in each half with a close-range shot and a tap-in, and automatic qualification with a 2-0 Thobani Mncwango halved the deficit and Dolly beat win at Montpellier last week. Zimbabwean goalkeeper George Chigova just past the Paris SG 33 26 5 2 83 18 83 - champions hour. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane hailed the victory It was Lyon’s eighth win from their Lyon 33 16 7 10 54 34 55 three days after his team lost a CAF Champions League last 10 games, a run that has catapult- Monaco 33 14 13 6 48 40 55 first-leg qualifier 1-0 to V Club in the Democratic ed them back into contention for Nice 33 15 8 10 50 37 53 Republic of Congo. The three points could come at a Europe’s top club competition. Lyon, Rennes 33 13 12 8 50 42 51 heavy price, though, as Uganda goalkeeper Denis who had dropped to ninth place nine Saint-Etienne 33 15 6 12 39 34 51 Onyango was stretchered off 10 minutes from time after points behind Monaco, have been Lille 33 12 13 8 33 25 49 collapsing in his goalmouth. boosted by the return of injured play- Angers 33 12 10 11 35 32 46 “Tonight was about grinding out a victory-not beauti- ers. Coach Bruno Genesio, appointed Caen 33 14 4 15 35 44 46 ful football. We are playing a lot of matches but there is last December in place of Hubert Nantes 33 11 11 11 30 35 44 no tiredness, only a desire to be successful,” he said. Fournier, has managed to win over the Bastia 33 12 7 14 31 37 43 Botes struck from point-blank range midway through the sceptics with the way he has forged Bordeaux 33 10 13 10 41 50 43 Lorient 33 10 12 11 45 51 42 opening half after Cosmos goalkeeper Sherwyn Naicker team spirit. And the 50-year-old admit- spilled a Daine Klate free-kick. “They (Cosmos) murdered Marseille 33 8 16 9 43 38 40 ted that the club’s 2-1 win over PSG in Guingamp 33 10 9 14 39 49 39 us tonight and we stole the points,” admitted Wits coach January acted “like a real trigger”. Gavin Hunt, who won three consecutive Premiership Montpellier 33 10 7 16 38 42 37 titles as coach of SuperSport United. Cosmos coach and “That made us aware of our qualities,” Reims 33 9 9 15 37 48 36 owner Jomo Sono agreed with Hunt: “There was only said Genesio. GazÈlec-Ajaccio 33 7 13 13 31 45 34 one team on the park tonight-mine. We came away emp- Lyon are unbeaten in their last sev- Toulouse 33 7 11 15 38 49 32 ty handed, but I am proud of my boys.” — AFP en games at home and defender Troyes 33 2 8 23 22 72 14 - relegated Christophe Jallet believes playing at