SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2016 SPORTS Blatter, Platini now free to appeal bans: FIFA GENEVA: FIFA’s ethics tribunal said yes- In December, the ethics tribunal 2011. The tribunal did not provide fur- angrily vowed to fight the bans, which cating myself to my defence.” FIFA has terday it had provided Sepp Blatter and banned the FIFA president and vice pres- ther details Saturday of the reasoning started immediately. The tribunal deci- since last May be rocked to its core by a Michel Platini with the reasons for its ident from football for eight years, say- behind its decision. Instead it stressed it sion promises to end 79-year-old cascade of corruption charges and decision to ban them from football for ing they had abused their positions over had now “fulfilled its commitment to Blatter’s four decades with FIFA in dis- arrests that culminated with the implica- eight years, clearing the way for them to a $2 million payment made to Platini in provide the grounds for the respective grace. It also dealt a devastating blow to tion of the two long considered world appeal against the decision. 2011 for work carried out between 1999 decisions to Mr Blatter and Mr Platini 60-year-old Platini’s hopes of taking over football’s most powerful men. “The adjudicatory chamber of the and 2002. within the first half of January 2016.” as head of FIFA in an election on The US justice department has independent Ethics Committee ... has Blatter, who has headed FIFA since “After receiving the grounds for the February 26. The UEFA president pulled charged 39 individuals and two compa- notified Mr Joseph S. Blatter and Mr 1998, was also fined 50,000 Swiss francs decisions, both officials may lodge an out of the race earlier this week, saying nies over graft within world football Michel Platini of the grounds for the ($50,000/46,300 euros) while Platini, the appeal with the FIFA Appeal Committee,” the ban has made it impossible for him going back decades, in a sweeping pros- decisions passed in December 2015,” the head of UEFA, Europe’s governing body, the statement said. If that appeal is to put together a campaign to take on ecution that has sparked an unprece- body said in a statement. was fined 80,000 Swiss francs. At the rejected, the two men can appeal fur- the sport’s most powerful job. dented crisis at FIFA. Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales said time of the verdict, which heightened ther to the Court of Arbitration for Sport He told French sports newspaper A total of nine FIFA officials were the UEFA president had indeed received further the crisis rocking football’s scan- (CAS), the highest tribunal in sports. L’Equipe that he no longer had “the time arrested during two raids at the five-star the reasons behind the ban. “We’ll read dal-plagued world body, the court insist- nor the means to go to the voters, to Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, on May 27 them, analyse them and launch an ed there was “no legal basis” for the pay- VOWED TO FIGHT meet people, to fight against the other and December 3, by Swiss police acting appeal on Monday,” D’Ales said. ment that Blatter authorised for Platini in At the time of the verdict, both men candidates. “In withdrawing, I am dedi- on US warrants.— AFP Liverpool survive Exeter scare to spare Bogdan’s blushes EXETER: Liverpool were forced to come from before the half-time whistle, an excellent behind twice to draw 2-2 at fourth tier Exeter cross from Holmes was met by full-back City in the FA Cup third round after an horren- Ribeiro who should have done better than dous error by goalkeeper Adam Bogdan send a bouncing header wide from the penal- almost gifted the minnows a shock victory on ty spot. A goal down on the restart, it took Friday. Tom Nichols opened the scoring for Liverpool just five minutes to finally provide Exeter, seeking a place in the fourth round for service to Benteke, and it almost brought an the first time in 35 years, and after Jerome equaliser as Cameron Brannagan’s left-wing Sinclair’s equaliser, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp centre picked out the Belgian international, saw Bogdan’s blunder allow Lee Holmes’ cor- whose close-range header looked destined ner to go straight into the net. for the back of the net until Olejnik produced Australia international Brad Smith eventu- a stunning reflex block to keep it out. ally ensured Exeter had to settle for the con- After 56 minutes, neat footwork from Alex solation of a lucrative replay at Anfield when Nicholls and Reid almost set up Nichols for he equalised for Liverpool in the closing another shooting chance, while Ribeiro was stages. “It’s obvious what we have to learn in wide with another header, again following an the future. We have to be more robust,” Klopp excellent cross from Holmes. Nichols threat- said. “It was a difficult pitch. Exeter did really ened with a couple more shots and substi- well. Maybe they know which part of the tute Arron Davies just missed the target from pitch you can play football. 20 yards with his first touch before Liverpool “The first goal was unlucky for us, it was equalised for the second time, against the their first attack. I won’t say anything about run of play, after 73 minutes. Substitute the second goal. “It was really difficult for us. Sheyi Oji probed down the left touchline and On one-on-one situations they were more his cross was cleared, poorly, by Jordan robust than our guys.” Moore-Taylor, directly to Smith who drilled The fact that the opening effort came the ball into the back of the net from a dozen from the League Two hosts was not particu- yards. —AFP larly surprising given the starting line-up selected by Klopp, a consequence of his team’s current lengthy injury list and his desire to rest players for forthcoming Premier Matches on TV League and League Cup fixtures. It took just (Local Timings) nine minutes for Exeter to delight the roman- tics keen for a memorable Cup upset as Jamie Spanish League NORWICH: Norwich City’s English defender Andre Wisdom (R) challenges Manchester City’s Serbian defender Aleksandar Kolarov during the FA Reid sped down the right and crossed for Levante v Rayo Vallecano 0:05 Cup third-round football match between Norwich City and Manchester City at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England yesterday. Manchester Nichols to sprint ahead of veteran defender beIN SPORTS 7 HD City won the match 3-0. — AFP Jose Enrique and slide home the opening Villarreal v Gijon 14:00 goal. But, despite that poor defensive effort, beIN SPORTS Klopp’s incredibly inexperienced line-up, fea- Real Sociedad v Valencia 18:00 turing three debutants and just two players- beIN SPORTS Enrique and Christian Benteke-with more Las Palmas v Malaga 20:15 Aguero shines as slick than four appearances for the club, had start- beIN SPORTS SD Eibar v RCD Espanyol 20:15 ed relatively confidently and required just beIN SPORTS three minutes to equalise. The goal owed Celta de Vigo v Atletico 22:30 much to poor Exeter defending, notably by beIN SPORTS City dispatch Norwich Jordan Tillson, which failed to deal with Ryan Kent’s pass into the feet of Benteke in the Italian Calcio League NORWICH: Sergio Aguero kept Manchester City ing just twice. Instead, this was Norwich’s fourth defending. Centre-back Ryan Bennett handed home area and, after the loose ball broke Inter v Sassuolo Calcio 14:30 firmly in the hunt for silverware on four fronts third round exit in the last six seasons and they Aguero far too much room from a long ball on kindly for Sinclair, the 19-year-old made no beIN SPORTS Atalanta v Genoa 17:00 with a sparkling strike in their 3-0 victory over could have few complaints. 31 minutes, and the forward coasted to the edge mistake from 10 yards. beIN SPORTS Norwich in the FA Cup third round yesterday. Neil had little to cheer about in the FA Cup of the box before teeing up Iheanacho, who slot- Bologna v Chievo Verona 17:00 Aguero waltzed through the Canaries’ during his modest career as a player in English ted past Ruddy. INEXPLICABLY beIN SPORTS defence to open the scoring at Carrow Road and football, and his first game as a manager in the Those goals appeared to kill the game as a However, in first half stoppage-time, those Torino v Empoli 17:00 then set up City’s second for Kelechi Iheanacho. competition offered little better. Norwich made contest, as well as nullifying Norwich’s five-man errors were forgotten by the home support- beIN SPORTS Kevin de Bruyne added City’s third in the clos- the brighter start but the visitors always looked defensive line-a system that had gone close to ers as Hungarian goalkeeper Bogdan inexpli- Hellas Verona v Citta 17:00 ing stages as Manuel Pellegrini’s side moved into the greater threat. earning a point at Eastlands in the Premier cably allowed Holmes’ right-wing corner kick beIN SPORTS the fourth round draw and maintained their bid Iheanacho forced John Ruddy into the game’s League earlier in the season. to soar over his head and directly into the Frosinone v SSC Napoli 17:00 beIN SPORTS to win a quadruple of the Premier League, first meaningful save following a sloppy error Norwich chased the game sporadically after roof of the goal.