TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016 SPORTS Qatar World Cup a ‘done deal’ ,organiser claims DOHA: Holding the 2022 World Cup in and Muslim country,” said Al-Thawadi. “It “I am totally confident our file is going far enough with reforms. decision on the number of venues had Qatar is a “done deal”, a confident head is a done deal.” He added that World Cup clean,” he said. Qatar also faces contin- The issue of worker-safety is also been pushed back until next year at the of the Gulf state’s tournament organising organisers in the Gulf had a “generally ued criticism from human rights groups ongoing. Last month Qatar announced earliest. Qatar’s successful bid for the committee said yesterday, shrugging off positive” relationship with FIFA, football’s over the treatment of its labour force its first “work-related” death in regard to tournament allowed for up to 12 stadi- ongoing corruption and human rights governing body. helping to build World Cup venues and the World Cup, when a labourer died at ums to be used in 2022. concerns. Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary- Qatar is the subject of an ongoing related infrastructure. That issue is likely the Al-Wakrah Stadium. “What concerns “We are confident that we will not be general of the Supreme Committee for corruption investigation being carried to come into focus again next month us now is that this accident is not to be asked to implement twelve stadiums,” he Delivery and Legacy, told the local out by Switzerland’s Attorney General when Qatar is expected to announce the repeated. There is a comprehensive said. “We feel that eight stadiums is Arabic daily Al-Sharq newspaper that office. Launched in May 2015, the Swiss end of its much-criticised “kafala” labour investigation at the moment and we are enough for Qatar.” So far, Qatar has said football’s biggest tournament will go legal team is investigating the bidding system, the source of much criticism. going to finish it soon,” said Al-Thawadi. it will spend up to $10 billion (9 billion ahead in the Middle East despite calls process amid allegations of corruption “Kafala”, which places restrictions on He also tackled the thorny issue of euros) on stadium construction. If eight elsewhere for Qatar to be stripped of for the 2022 World Cup-and the 2018 workers’ ability to change jobs and trav- venue numbers and said organisers stadiums are eventually used it will hosting rights. tournament in Russia. el, is to be replaced by a contract system. would like to see eight stadiums used mean the 2022 finals will have the small- “The 2022 World Cup will be held in But Al-Thawadi told Al-Sharq that However, this is unlikely to placate during the 2022 World Cup. est number of venues at any tournament Qatar, the first in a Middle Eastern, Arab Qatar had nothing to fear. critics, who have accused Doha of not FIFA told AFP last week that a final since Argentina in 1978. —AFP Aubameyang, Kalou and Salah wreak havoc PARIS: African Footballer of the Year hosts, but Keita levelled less than two min- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put a mini- utes later after pouncing on a Marco Parolo suspension behind him to strike four blunder in the area to beat Pepe Reina from Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund at close range. the weekend. The Gabon striker was banned by his GERMANY coach for one match last week after he flew PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG to Italy with friends ahead of a Champions (Borussia Dortmund) League fixture. Other African goal poachers The Gabon striker netted four goals as in top form included Egyptian Mohamed Borussia routed bottom side Hamburg 5-2 Salah in Italy and Ivorian Salomon Kalou in away to make amends for his midweek Germany, who scored hat-tricks. Milan indiscretion.Aubameyang had been suspended by coach Thomas Tuchel for ENGLAND Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at SADIO MANE (Liverpool) home to Sporting Lisbon after he flew to The Senegalese international continues Milan in a private jet with friends on to shine for the rampant Reds, breaking the Monday. But ‘Auba’ needed just 27 minutes deadlock with a stunning header. He to score his first three goals and hit his stooped low at an angle to beat Watford fourth after the break, and celebrated his ‘keeper Heurelho Gomes with some force. first with Tuchel on the sidelines. His quar- Sane added a second, a simple tap-in, in tet of goals leave him joint top scorer, the second half for his fifth goal in five alongside Cologne’s Anthony Modeste, in Premier League home appearances for the Germany’s top flight with 11 goals club. SALOMON KALOU (Hertha Berlin) VICTOR MOSES (Chelsea) The Ivory Coast striker hit a hat-trick in He has flourished this season under Hertha’s 3-0 win at home to jaded Borussia Antonio Conte’s tutelage after a few sea- Moenchengladbach, who had Germany sons where it looked his undoubted talent international Christoph Kramer sent off in might be frittered away as he was sent out the first-half. The 31-year-old welcomed his on loan. The 25-year-old Nigerian gave a first goals since losing his father in August, sparkling performance in the 5-0 disman- two weeks before his aunt also passed tling of Everton and was unfortunate not to away. “It’s a relief with all the difficult situa- get on the scoresheet with a half-volley tions I’ve had to deal with,” he admitted that struck the post. having netted twice in the first half and wrapped up his treble six minutes from VICTOR ANICHEBE (Sunderland) time. It was his second Bundesliga hat-trick MEMPHIS: Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives between Memphis Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green, left, and center Marc Never the most prolific of scorers, the in three seasons with Hertha. Gasol (33) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, in Memphis, Tenn. — AP Nigerian striker brought a rare smile to beleaguered Sunderland boss David NABIL BENTALEB (Schalke 04) Moyes’s face with a goal to bring them level The Algeria midfielder, on loan from with Bournemouth. Anichebe played under Tottenham Hotspur, scored his fourth goal Trail Blazers down the Scot at Everton in happier times and he in four Bundesliga games in Schalke’s 3-1 was at the centre of the action that led to win at home to Werder Bremen. Austria the winner when he was fouled in the midfielder Alessandro Schoepf opened the penalty area and Jermain Defoe converted scoring for the Royal Blues, but Bentaleb the penalty. “He’s (Moyes) the one who has grabbed the second on 38 minutes. When Grizzlies 100-94 been getting the blame, even though we Brazil defender Naldo forced Bremen goal- are the ones on the pitch,” said Anichebe. keeper Felix Wiedwald into a diving save, Bentaleb was on hand to rifle home the MEMPHIS: CJ McCollum matched his career high ITALY rebound from a tight angle. with 37 points, scoring 16 points in the fourth NBA results/standings MOHAMED SALAH (Roma) quarter to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Salah stole the show at the Stadio FRANCE Memphis Grizzlies 100-94 on Sunday. McCollum Utah 114, NY Knicks 109; Portland 100, Memphis 94; Sacramento 96, Toronto 91; Dallas 86, Milwaukee 75 (OT); Denver Olimpico with a hat-trick in a 3-0 romp over FAMARA DIEDHIOU (Angers) also matched his career best with six 3-pointers. 123, Boston 107; LA Lakers 119, Phoenix 108. Bologna. Salah’s only previous hat-trick The 23-year-old Senegal striker recently Damian Lillard added 19 points and seven assists, Eastern Conference Western Conference came for Egypt in a World Cup qualifier opened his international account in a 2017 and Maurice Harkless finished with 18 points. against Zimbabwe in 2013, but the former Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Atlantic Division Northwest Division Portland has won two straight. Marc Gasol led W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 5 1 .833 - Chelsea midfielder claimed his maiden Namibia. He scored the winner for his new Memphis with 21 points, and Mike Conley added triple in league football, albeit at the discre- club Ligue 1 outfit Angers, his second of Toronto 4 2 .667 - Portland 4 3 .571 1.5 16 points and seven assists, They have lost two Boston 3 3 .500 1 tion of officials after his 13th-minute open- the season, in a 1-0 victory over Lille. Utah 4 3 .571 1.5 straight, both at home. Zach Randolph had 15 NY Knicks 2 4 .333 2 Denver 3 3 .500 2 er took a deflection on the goalline before Angers coach Stephane Moulin described points and seven rebounds, and Vince Carter and Brooklyn 2 4 .333 2 beating Angelo Da Costa. There was no the forward’s lightning counter-attack as Minnesota 1 4 .200 3.5 Tony Allen scored 11 points each. The game was Philadelphia 0 5 0 3.5 Pacific Division doubt over Salah’s second-half strikes, magnificent in both its imagining and its Central Division close with 13 lead changes and 12 ties before LA Clippers 5 1 .833 - which took his goals tally to eight this sea- execution. Cleveland 6 0 1.000 - Portland pulled away late. McCollum had 10 Golden State 4 2 .667 1 son. Detroit 4 2 .667 2 straight Portland points during one stretch to put LA Lakers 4 3 .571 1.5 FRANCOIS KAMANO (Bordeaux) Milwaukee 4 3 .571 2.5 the game away.