Eduardo Pedroza rides Topsy Turvy to Al Wajba Cup victory

friday, february 8, 2019

Gayle recalled to Windies squad for England ODIs Cricket t20 India vs New zealand PSG boss Khelaifi elected to UEFA Executive Committee UEFA President Ceferin promises bright future despite ‘complex challenges’ during new term, hopes to build bridges with FIFA

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin delivers a speech during the 43rd Ordinary UEFA Congress in on Thursday. (AFP)

under the previous regime have to do together to make up of Platini and current FIFA for lost time.” president Gianni Infantino, Previously the head of the Ceferin can now hope to really Slovenian Football Federa- make his mark and implement tion, Ceferin’s presidency so his own changes. far has been less charismatic “We are going to have to in his approach than that of think ahead and undertake Platini. some major developments,” The Frenchman is still he added. suspended until October this On top of his agenda for year, when he will complete now is a battle with Infantino, a four-year ban from all foot- who as FIFA president has ball-related activities follow- been promoting a new, ex- ing the corruption scandal that panded Club World Cup and also brought down then-FIFA global Nations League. Ceferin chief Sepp Blatter. is opposed to the projects. “When crisis hits, it is not “We must not allow our re- the time to suddenly forsake cent, short-term successes to everything that has gone be- Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA (left), and Nasser al Khelaifi, President of Saint-Germain, during the 43rd UEFA Congress in Rome, on Thursday.( EPA) hide the much more complex fore. I am not the president of challenges that lie ahead,” a ‘new UEFA’. I am the presi- afp at ECA for trusting me to rep- a UEFA Financial Fair Play that toppled his predecessor Ceferin warned. dent of UEFA, a UEFA that Rome resent them on the UEFA Ex- investigation, and has been Aim is to develop Michel Platini. “The most dangerous thing can be proud of its past and ecutive Committee,” said al criticised by Spanish La Liga football Ceferin told UEFA’s 55- we can do is rest on our laurels confident about the future,” Nasser al Khelaifi, the Qa- Khelaifi in a statement sent to President Javier Tebas. member associations who and bask in our current situa- said Ceferin. tari president of French giants AFP. “His appointment must be “It is a great honour and elected him unopposed that tion.” He also defended his re- Paris Saint-Germain, was on “It is a great honour and rejected because it violates all together with President “with unity restored” he was Ceferin promised to work cord since taking over with Thursday officially appointed together with President An- the rules of good governance,” Andrea Agnelli we will taking over with “fewer doubts closely with world football’s his most notable achievement club representative on UEFA’s drea Agnelli we will continue Tebas said in a written state- continue to work closely with and less scepticism than back governing body, and is also being the introduction of term Executive Committee, at the to work closely with UEFA to ment sent to AFP last week. UEFA to develop then”. hoping to bring the 2030 limits for UEFA presidents, to Congress of European foot- develop professional football “Not only because of the “So, what’s going to hap- World Cup back to Europe. a maximum of three four-year ball’s governing body in Rome. in the interests of all stake- record (of PSG) in terms of professional football in the pen now? That is the ques- “With our unity restored, stints. The 45-year-old had been holders. Financial Fair Play, but also interests of all stakeholders.” tion many people were asking we will be a source of con- “Limited terms of office, elected at the end of January “I am happy to be part of because (Al Khelaifi) is presi- when I was elected two and a structive ideas for FIFA, rath- the publication of salaries, the at a meeting of the Executive this great football family to- dent of beIN Sports, one of Nasser al Khelaifi, PSG chief half years ago,” said Ceferin. er than one of opposition. And creation of a Compensation Committee of the European day.” the main holders of television “At that time, football, at we expect the same attitude Committee and the inclusion Club Association (ECA) which Al Khelaifi takes over from rights of UEFA,” added the lawyer was the only candidate both world and European lev- from FIFA,” he said. of independent members in defends the interests of big Ivan Gazidis, former manag- president of La Liga. going forward for election at els, was being rocked by the Infantino was present in a reinforced Governance and European clubs and is chaired ing director of Arsenal and Meanwhile, UEFA Presi- the UEFA Congress in Rome most serious governance cri- Rome and also extended an Compliance Committee are by Juventus president Andrea now in charge of AC Milan. dent Aleksander Ceferin was and was voted in by acclama- sis in its history and yet you olive branch to his European just a few of the common- Agnelli. The PSG president will handed a new four-year term tion. decided to entrust the keys to counterpart. “We must be in- sense reforms we have intro- But his candidacy had yet represent the ECA on the and promised a bright future His election was in con- the UEFA house to a virtual novative. We must continue to duced,” he said. to be ratified and was done so UEFA Executive Committee despite the “complex chal- trast to the situation when he unknown.” develop. It can only be done “This is only the start. We during the UEFA Congress. along with Italian Agnelli. lenges” ahead for European took over two and a half years Having previously been if we work together, if we dis- will be doing more in this area “I would like to thank His appointment comes football’s governing body. ago, with football in turmoil largely charged with putting cuss, if we debate,” he said. because there remain weak- again my esteemed colleagues as PSG are still undergoing The 51-year-old Slovenian amid a corruption scandal in place measures voted for “Let’s try to find what we nesses in our system.”

Quick read Man City win at Umm Salal to face Ahli in a friendly today, Rejuvenated Real face Atletico in Everton to move Al Sailiya to play Al Khor on Saturday back atop EPL DOHA: QNB Stars League clubs Umm Salal and Al Ahli will play a derby after Clasico draw friendly match as part of their preparations for the second stanza DPA of the league and other competitions. Both Umm Salal and Al Ahli utilised the long break in the QNB Stars League by working on their dpa areas of improvement. Umm Salal will play Al Gharafa in Week 16 Barcelona Manchester City moved of the QNB Stars League on February 14, while Al Ahli will face Al back to the top of the Premier Kharaitiyat the next day. Meanwhile, Al Sailiya are to play a friendly Santiago Solari leads a reju- League with a 2-0 win at Ever- against Al Khor on Saturday. venated Real Madrid across the ton on Wednesday. Spanish capital on Saturday to Goals from Aymeric face rivals Atletico Madrid at Laporte and Gabriel Jesus late Barcelona president Colombia name Queiroz the Wanda Metropolitano. in each half lifted City above preparing the club as coach with Copa Los Blancos are high on Liverpool, who have a game in for life without Messi America on agenda confidence after a 1-1 draw with hand, on goal difference with Barcelona in the Spanish Cup both on 62 points. LONDON: Barcelona President Bogota: Carlos Queiroz was semi-final first leg on Wednes- It’s the first time since De- Josep Maria Bartomeu says named coach of Colombia on day showed how far they have cember 8 the defending cham- the club’s transfer activity is an Thursday, the country’s football come in little over three months pions have sat on the summit. indication they are preparing for federation (FCF) said. Queiroz’s under the Argentine coach. City made a good start at life after Lionel Messi. Barca appointment had long been Julen Lopetegui was sacked Goodison Park with Laporte last month confirmed the £65m expected but Colombia had to by crisis-hit Madrid after a 5-1 heading wide from point-blank signing of 21-year-old midfielder wait until the end of the recent- defeat at the Camp Nou in Oc- range and Ilkay Guendogan hit- Frenkie de Jong from Ajax. Messi, ly-concluded Asian Cup for the tober, with Solari stepping in to ting the crossbar. 31, has scored 581 goals in 664 Portuguese’s contract with Iran replace him. Everton then dug in and games for Barcelona. “I know one to run out. He has signed a four- In a short space of time the Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (centre) vies for the ball with Real Madrid’s Marcelo (left) and Toni Kroos during looked set to go into the half day Lionel will say he’s retiring,” year contract and his first major former Madrid B-team coach the Spanish Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match in Barcelona on Wednesday.( afp) level but were undone by a Bartomeu told the 5 live Football task will be to lead Colombia at has eased the situation and set-piece in stoppage time as Daily Podcast’s Guillem Balague. the June-July Copa America in Real, third, are eight points be- sions was handing a starting is thriving), I know him, and I mates, who support him and al- Laporte headed home David Messi still has another two years Brazil.He said his aim would be hind leaders Barcelona and just berth to 18-year-old Brazilian know his way of playing foot- low him to play.” Silva’s free-kick. Jesus then left on his current contract and to “look after the proud history two behind second-place Atleti- winger Vinicius Junior, who ball,” said Solari. “It’s amazing With Vinicius adding spark wrapped things up in the sev- Bartomeu said that Messi’s retire- and the reputation Colombia co, whom they can overake with has impressed on the left flank that a boy of 18 years of age is to Madrid’s attack they may be enth added minute by heading ment was “a while away yet”. has today in the world”. a victory. and did so again against Bar- progressing the way he is. Some able to get at the meanest de- in the rebound after Jordan One of Solari’s key deci- celona. “I’m not surprised (he credit also has to go to his team- fence in the top flight. Pickford saved his initial shot.