MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017 SPORTS English Premier League stars tackle weak pound LONDON: The Premier League’s star and above Arsenal’s improved offer said “Clubs often enter into contracts with are now using China to try and broker a permanent, to come close to matching, imports are demanding huge pay rises to be in the region of £200,000. international companies in foreign cur- better deal,” he added. let alone supplanting the Premier as clubs’ TV revenues rocket, Chinese “While fans tend to associate player rencies, such as sponsorship deals and China has shot into the world’s top League, at least with regards to revenue,” teams entice them with mega wages- costs with transfer fees, it’s important to service contracts,” he added. five buyers of international football tal- he said. Despite Manchester United’s rel- and the pound slumps ahead of Brexit. note that transfer fees only account for Since Britain last year voted to exit ent, a FIFA report said Friday, while ative failure on the pitch last season, the Some players have secured bumper around one-third of overall player costs,” the European Union, sterling has British media is frequently linking club has topped Deloitte’s Football increases before Tuesday’s transfer win- said Jake Cohen, a sports lawyer at Mills plunged by around 18 percent against Premier League players with potential Money League in terms of overall rev- dow deadline. Liverpool’s Brazilian play- & Reeve. the dollar and some 14 percent versus moves to the country. enue for the first time in more than a maker Philippe Coutinho has signed a “The majority of player costs go to the euro. “The weaker pound is rapidly decade. United-who were last on top in five-year contract worth between wages,” he said in an interview with AFP, chipping away at players’ already stag- POWER OF TV the 2003/04 campaign-earned record £150,000 ($189,000, 176,000 euros) and adding that some players from abroad gering wages and... agents are clearly Cohen meanwhile pointed out that total revenue of 689 million euros ($737 £200,000 per week. do in fact sign deals to be paid in curren- seeking to capitalise on this new oppor- the falling pound would do little to help million) — and dislodged Champions But Arsenal have yet to meet the cies other than the pound. tunity to draw more out of the clubs,” bridge a widening gap between TV League holders Real Madrid who have demands of Mesut Ozil and Alexis To help offset the impact of currency said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst incomes earned by England’s top 20 ruled the roost for 11 years. Sanchez. Reports suggest World Cup fluctuations, Premier League clubs have at Oanda trading group. clubs and the broadcasting revenues The Premier League’s clubs are cur- winner Ozil and Sanchez, twice winner sponsorship and other deals with for- “They will also be very aware of the made by Europe’s other top leagues, rently enjoying the proceeds of a £5.14- of the Copa America, each want around eign exchange trading groups that offer fact that (Premier League) clubs can including in Spain. billion UK television rights deal for three £250,000 per week as they also factor in them preferential rates. afford to meet the higher terms due to “The falling pound may aid La Liga in years up to 2019 — up a staggering 70 the cost of converting pounds into their “Any company engaging in multina- the new TV deals,” Erlam told AFP. principle, but it will take a lot more than percent on the previous agreement. native currencies. tional transactions should be consider- “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a 10 or 15 percent improvement in the Including overseas rights, the present This is significantly higher than their ing forex options, and football clubs are some footballers who clearly came to value of the euro compared to the Premier League broadcasting deal is current weekly wages of about £135,000 particularly exposed,” said Cohen. England to chase the television money pound, and which may or may not be worth £8.3 billion. —AFP Suarez saves Barca in Betis draw, Sevilla beaten MADRID: Barcelona’s La Liga title chal- struck the post with Ter Stegen beaten at lenge suffered a huge blow as the Spanish his near post. champions were controversially held 1-1 at Real Betis despite Luis Suarez’s last minute Sevilla beaten equaliser yesterday. The German goalkeeper had a moment to A point is enough to move Barca above forget for the opening goal as he failed to Sevilla into second on goal difference after get a good connection on an attempted Sevilla also missed the chance to go top of punch under pressure from two Betis play- the table as they were reduced to 10 men ers and the ball fell kindly for Alegria to tap after just two minutes in a 3-1 defeat at home. Conceding appeared to wake Barca Espanyol. Real Madrid lead both by a point from their slumber and they were doubly and have two games in hand on their title denied by Hernandez seconds later as rivals, the first of which comes at home to Neymar went down inside the area and the Real Sociedad later yesterday. ball ricocheted towards the Betis goal off Aleix Alegria gave Betis the lead their Riza Durmisi. dominance deserved 15 minutes from time Replays showed the ball clearly went when he bundled home from close range over the line before Alissa Mandi cleared, after Marc-Andre ter Stegen flapped at a but La Liga’s refusal to implement goal line corner. However, Barca were rightly infuri- technology due to pricing fears cost Barca ated seconds later as the ball clearly dearly as no goal was given. crossed the Betis goalline, but no goal was Betis should have sealed the three given by referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez. points when Castro broke clear on goal Suarez did at least rescue a point in the eight minutes from time, but Ter Stegen dying seconds, though, as he slotted home redeemed himself with a fine save. Lionel Messi’s through ball for his 21st goal And that miss proved crucial as Messi OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, second right, scores during the English FA Cup Fourth Round soccer match between of the season. finally found the space to slip a pass Manchester United and Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, yesterday. —AP “We have to help the referees,” Barca through the Betis defence and Suarez dis- boss Luis Enrique told BeIN Sports Spain. patched the ball into the far corner. “The technology can help them. I say that There was also refereeing controversy at for all situations not just ones that go for Espanyol as Sevilla’s shot at moving top Watford, Hull and Leeds suffer me, but against me too.” lasted barely two minutes when Nico Suarez was less understanding as he Pareja was very harshly sent-off on top of claimed the ball “was a metre over the line.” conceding a penalty for a trip on Pablo Cup upsets, Man Utd through Ultimately Enrique paid the price for again Piatti. Former Sevilla favourite Jose Antonio heavily rotating his side with Wednesday’s Reyes showed no mercy to his former club Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg at Atletico as he converted from the spot, although LONDON: Premier League clubs Watford and too strong. Captain Jamie Collins scored the made too many changes to the regular team. Madrid in mind. “The feeling I have is that Reyes did hold his hands up in apology at Hull City, and Championship side Leeds United only goal from a penalty after 53 minutes and His opposite number, Paul Doswell, said the we have won one point (not lost two),” he the travelling support. paid the penalty for fielding weakened teams Leeds finished with only 10 men when their own result and financial benefits from live television added. Enrique made six changes in all, The 10 men reacted brilliantly, though, when they were all knocked out of the FA Cup in captain, Liam Cooper, was sent off near the end. coverage were a “life-changer” for the 118-year- including three of the back four and Betis and were level when Stefan Jovetic contin- the fourth round yesterday-but holders Leeds manager Garry Monk admitted he had old club. — Reuters took advantage with a bright start. Ter ued his hot streak since joining on-loan Manchester United won comfortably. Stegen was forced into saves from Ruben from Inter Milan to sweep home Samir Like Liverpool, beaten at home by Castro and Dani Ceballos early on. Nasri’s pass after 19 minutes. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, the However, Barca arguably had the best Reyes haunted Sevilla once more as his three beaten sides miscalculated in resting so Ayew brothers take chance of the first-half when Antonio Adan free-kick was headed home by Marc many players ahead of league games in mid- flew off his line to deny Neymar from Navarro in first-half stoppage time. And week and could have no complaints at going out Ghana into semi-finals another scintillating Messi pass. Gerard Moreno sealed the three points for of the competition. Yet United went through, winning 4-0 despite making nine changes at Ceballos saw a dipping long-range Espanyol as this time Navarro was the sup- OYEM: Brothers Jordan and Andre Ayew A suicidal back pass from Ghanaian effort come back off the bar before Castro plier for his headed finish.