14 Tuesday, July 23, 2019 Sports FIFA bans former Botswana official in match-fixing Al Sadd draw against Palamos in ’s first match

Reuters ulate international matches for was banned from soccer-related Tribune News Network as goalkeeper, Khaled Bader, Zurich betting purposes by Mr Wilson activities last March for accept- Doha Wong Yong, , Raj Perumal, a known match- ing bribes to manipulate an in- Yasser Abubakar in defense, World soccer body FIFA has fixer,” said FIFA The proceed- ternational friendly. Seven cur- Xavi Hernandez took Gabi, Ahmad Badr Sayyar, handed a life ban to former ings were initiated in Septem- rent and former players were charge of his first game as Abdul Aziz al Ansari in the Botswana Football Associa- ber 2018, the statement added. banned for life in April. Al Sadd coach as the Wolves middle, Hashim Ali, Akram tion general secretary Mooketsi The ban on Kgotlele cov- FIFA named them at the fought back to secure a 1-1 Afif and Hamza Sanhaji in Kgotlele for accepting bribes in ers all football-related activities time as Karlon Murray and draw against Spanish side the attack. relation to the manipulation of (administrative, sports or any Keyeno Thomas from Trinidad, Palamos CF in their pre- In the second half, Al international matches. other) at national and interna- Ibrahim Kargbo (Sierra Leone), season friendly match in Gi- Sadd made several changes FIFA said in a statement tional level and came into force Hellings Mwakasungula (Ma- rona. by giving a run to Meshaal on Monday that the adjudica- on Monday. The long-running lawi), Seidath Tchomogo (Be- The Spanish club took Barshm, Baha al Leithi, tory chamber of the Independ- investigation into convicted nin), Leonel Duarte (Cuba) and the lead in the 75th minute. Hussein Behzad, Abdul Ka- ent Ethics Committee had also Singapore-based match fixer Mohammad Salim Israfeel Ko- However, new signing Nam rim Hassan, Hamed Ismail, fined the former official 50,000 Perumal’s activities has already histani (Afghanistan). Tae-Hee equalised for the Salem al Hajri, Ali Asad and Swiss francs. produced life bans for players Kenyan player George Ow- Wolves in the 85th minute Hassan al Haydos. “The formal ethics proceed- and former officials. ino Audi was given a 10-year after a pass from midfielder Al Sadd dominated most ings against Mr Kgotlele... stem Togolese Football Associa- ban and Zimbabwean players’ Salem al Hajri. of the first half and played from an extensive investigation tion official Kokou Hougnimon agent Kudzanai Shaba was Al Sadd started the match Al Sadd players celebrate after scoring against Palamos CF during a balanced game after the into various attempts to manip- Fagla, who was also a referee, banned for life. by including Saad al Dosari thier friendly match in Spain on Sunday. break.

Alaphilippe says Tour yellow Nam makes return, looks forward to jersey ‘hanging by a thread’ new season after “We knew well that in com- The 27-year-old is ing here with three leaders (sprinter Elia Viviani, climber looking to become Enric Mas and Alaphilippe), injury nightmare the first Frenchman we couldn’t have five riders around each one.” Tribune News Network to win the Tour since Team owner Patrick Lefe- Doha Bernard Hinault vere also poured cold water on suggestions that Alaphilippe Returning from a long injury can be a long and tedious in 1985 might yet prevail. road for a football player especially one who is a ball domi- AFP “To take the ultimate victo- nant midfileder. South Korean midfielder Nam Tae-hee Nîmes, France ry, we need climbers and today suffered such during an international friendly while play- that is something we are lack- ing for his national team in November last year. Tour de France leader Ju- ing so we mustn’t dream about The 28-year-old having won five QNB Star League and lian Alaphilippe admitted on it,” he said. was part of the dominant Al Duhail treble-winning team Monday his yellow jersey was Alaphilippe’s concern of the 2017/18 season moved to league rivals Al Sadd on a “hanging by a thread” as the about the final week is in con- three-year deal, while still injured in February. toughest, oldest race in the trast to the positive vibes com- Speaking to Al Sadd website http://al-saddclub.com on world heads into its final week. ing out of Team Ineos. his expectations for the season, the former League The 27-year-old Deceun- “If (Alaphilippe) pulls it Player of the Year said the team’s goal is to keep fighting for inck-Quick Step rider, looking off he’s on another level to championships. to become the first Frenchman everyone,” said Ineos boss “We have one goal; winning championships and we will to win the Tour since Bernard Dave Brailsford. fight for that. I am in good shape after the injury and I will Hinault in 1985, told reporters “If he was to win this race be better before the season starts,” Nam said. on Monday’s rest day that “the he’ll be one of the greatest rid- “I spent seven months in rehab after the injury and now toughest is yet to come”. ers of all time.” I have joined a good team, I need more time to get used to Alaphilippe has worn the But the former boss of the team, but everything is going well and I will be ready. famed yellow jersey for 11 British Olympic cycling in- “I hope to show the best level with the team days and will start Tuesday’s France’s Julian Alaphilippe wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, makes a last effort for the finish line sisted he remained confi- when I have the opportunity to stage 16 with a 1min 35sec of Stage 15 of the 106th edition of the Tour de France on Sunday. (AFP) dent his Ineos charges would participate.” lead over second placed Ge- emerge from high-altitude in The South Korean added raint Thomas, the defending Alaphilippe surprised most with a summit finish over of these stages in the Alps, I tell the Alps with the most glitter- that he is looking forward to champion wearing the colours people by coming out of the 2,000 metres. myself that my jersey is hang- ing prize in cycling. representing Al Sadd. of Team Ineos. Pyrenees on Sunday with his They culminate in Satur- ing by a thread.” “There are four races that “It is a great honour for me “One minute thirty ahead, yellow jersey intact albeit with day’s penultimate stage at Val Alaphilippe was at pains to go over the magical 2000m to join Al Sadd Club and I am that is a lot and very little at the a slightly reduced lead. Thorens which has a total as- play down his chances of hold- mark and that’s where the Nam happy with this move. same time,” said Alaphilippe After two relatively flat cent of 4,450 metres. ing on to the yellow jersey until real difference will be made,” Tae-Hee “We have a good team who is not a front line climber. transition days, however, “The climb up Val Thorens Sunday when the race ends on he said. of players who can win “One weakness on a moun- the race moves back into the will be terrible right up to the the Champs Elysees in Paris. “It’s going to go down to the AFC Champions tain over 15, 20 kilometres and mountains on Thursday with summit,” said Alaphilippe. “We don’t have the team to the wire. But I believe our League, an excellent it is all over.” three stages in the Alps, each “When I look at the profile win the Tour,” he said. consistency will pay off.” team and a great management. It will be a long season, but we have a goal and we will fight to Tokyo 2020 win all the tourna- FIFA’s African football takeover ments,” he said. adds robots to Nam scored the equalising goal for Olympic roster plan set for court challenge The Wolves in their pre-season game AFP against Spanish Tokyo Reuters side Palamos and CAPE TOWN hailed Xavi’s influ- A roster of Olympic robots that ence on the team. will do everything from wel- FIFA’s plan to take over the “Working with coming visitors to transport- running of African football Xavi is good. He teaches ing javelins has been unveiled is set to face a possible road- CAF dilemma us a lot of things. As I as Tokyo works to showcase block with an executive com- said before, I’m happy to Japanese technology at next mittee member of the Con- Hasan Bility, who is from join this group. The play- year’s Summer Games. federation of African Football Liberia and a CAF executive ers are good with me, they Japan hopes the 2020 (CAF) saying he will chal- committee member for last welcomed me and I could Olympics will be a chance to put lenge the decision in court. two years, said he will ask the easily fit in with them. The its tech sector back on the map Hasan Bility, who is from Swiss-based Court of camp is more than wonder- after years in which the coun- Liberia and a CAF executive Arbitration for Sport to declare ful and excellent. try’s reputation as an industry committee member for last invalid the agreement by which “I am very happy to join leader has flagged. two years, said he will ask the FIFA secretary general Fatma Al Sadd and I thank the fans Undoubtedly the most ap- Swiss-based Court of Arbitra- Samoura will be sent on a for their support. We will pealing are the toddler-sized tion for Sport to declare inva- secondment to overhaul the work hard together to achieve versions of the Tokyo 2020 lid the agreement by which African governing body. positive results and win all ti- Olympic and Paralympic mas- FIFA secretary general Fatma tles and you will see this clear- cots, the futuristic Miraitowa Samoura will be sent on a se- ly on the pitch,” he said. and Someity. condment to overhaul the Af- Blue- or pink-checked, with rican governing body. to Reuters’ requests for com- huge eyes and pointy ears, the Bility said he also wants ment on the specific allega- mascot robots have multiple to ask the court to compel tions against him. joints and arms which can be CAF to start a forensic audit FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks with CAF President Ahmad Bility also claimed FIFA remotely controlled. of its finances, which he said Ahmad (right) ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo, President Gianni Infantino And while the pint-sized the executive committee had recently. (AFP) has seized on the opportunity Quick read pair can’t move or talk, a cam- previously agreed to but CAF to get rid of his secretary gen- era inside their heads helps president Ahmad Ahmad prices for equipment it could the CAF leadership that they eral. Sevilla’s Gnagnon apologises after them interact with spectators then stalled. have got much cheaper di- have been unable to manage “Infantino has thus seized ‘heinous’ tackle on Liverpool youngster and athletes, said Tomohisa CAF is in crisis follow- rectly from the manufactur- their own affairs ought to this opportunity to offer Fat- Moiradaira, an official respon- ing corruption allegations ers. have been followed by quick ma a ‘golden parachute’ into a Sevilla’s Joris Gnagnon has apologised for his “heinous” tackle on sible for Tokyo 2020 robot de- against Ahmad which he has In a statement released to resignation of its top leaders. confederation job to pave the Liverpool youngster Yasser Larouci which led to the Sevilla defender velopment at Toyota. denied. the media on Monday, former “It is clear to me and many way for her eventual replace- being sent off during a pre-season friendly in Boston. “Thanks to the camera, the Ahmad was reported in Liberian Football Association others that the agreement ment at the helm of FIFA,” he Gnagnon launched a wild challenge on the 18-year-old Larouchi, which robots can recognise people’s March to FIFA’s ethics com- president Bility said Ahmad as currently structured has said. launched him into the air and led him to being carried off on a stretch- expressions and respond back,” mittee for alleged corruption must resign and the proposed the sole purpose of shielding FIFA on Monday told Re- er during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Fenway Park on Sunday. he told reporters. and harassment by CAF gen- FIFA takeover be cancelled. and cleansing CAF President uters it had no further com- “I would like to publicly apologise towards Liverpool, the family of eral secretary Amr Fahmy. “In an attempt to sal- Ahmad from the crimes he ment to add to last week’s re- the player and its supporters,” Gnagnon posted on Twitter. “It was a Fahmy was then fired. vage CAF from imminent has committed - financial im- lease of an 11-point road map heinous act on my part. Whatever the reason, it’s not what should be He was detained in June implosion and irreversible propriety, sexual harassment to help African football. seen on a football pitch. All my prayers are with the player and his fam- by French police in Paris reputational damage, FIFA and nepotism.” Infantino claimed last ily.” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp was watching his words in post- where he was questioned over proposed a poorly concep- FIFA has confirmed there week that the unprecedented match interviews, but confirmed Larouci was “lucky” to have avoided a a sportswear deal between tualised and worse executed is an ethics investigation into move to step in and admin- serious injury. “It is much too early in the season to create headlines CAF and a French company agreement,” Bility said. Ahmad, although he was yet ister African football would by saying the things I think about the situation,” the German manager in which the African body is “Logically, and in a sane to be sanctioned. “significantly improve” the told reporters. (Reuters) said to have paid exorbitant world, the acquiescence by Ahmad has not responded sport in the continent.