NNBABA | Page 4 OOLYMPICSLYMPICS | Page 6 Leonard will It’s very tough: have ‘no limits’ the agonising at league restart, concern around says Rivers Olympics Wednesday, July 15, 2020 TENNIS Dhul-Qa’da 24, 1441 AH Federer almost the GULF TIMES perfect player on and off court: Edberg SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL FOCUS AFC nominates Guardiola ‘happy’, Qatar’s Sanchez among greatest but rivals call City Asian Cup coaches let-off a ‘disgrace’ ‘We should be apologised to because if we did something wrong we would accept’ AFP any case the decision is a disas- London, United Kingdom ter,” said Mourinho. Today, Tottenham face New- castle, a club which could ben- ep Guardiola said yes- efi t from any relaxation of FFP terday a weight had rules should a Saudi-backed Pbeen lifted from Man- takeover be approved by the chester City after their Premier League. European ban was overturned And Mourinho believes that by the Court of Arbitration for in light of the City decision, any Sport (CAS), but rival managers prospective new owners will not In this February 1, 2019, picture, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp feel the need to comply with the celebrates winning the AFC Asian Cup with his players after the criticised the ruling. regulations. win over Japan in the final in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters) The court on Monday lifted “I truly believe FFP is gone,” a two-year ban imposed earlier he added. “New owners will QNA United Arab Emirates. this year on the Premier League have this feeling the circus Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia In the fi rst-ever 24-team club by European football’s gov- opened the door so let’s go and AFC Asian Cup, the Qataris erning body UEFA over Finan- enjoy it.” were untouchable — winning cial Fair Play (FFP) breaches. Klopp is hopeful City’s par- he Asian Football all seven of their matches, “I am incredibly happy for the ticipation in next season’s Confederation (AFC) scoring 19 goals and conced- decision. It shows all the people Champions League will help his Tnominated the coach ing just one as Almoez Ali and said about the club wasn’t true,” side’s chances of retaining the of the Qatar national Akram Afi f dazzled the conti- said Guardiola. Premier League. football team, Felix Sanchez, nent with a series of brilliant “People cannot understand But the German believes any to be among the list of great- performances. how diffi cult it was for everyone demise of FFP, which has helped est coaches in the history of With Asian glory achieved, as a club being under suspicion. bring down debt across the Eu- the Asian Cup after the team’s Snchez is now tasked with Now we have proven it at the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures at his players during the English Premier League ropean game, would be bad for 2019 victory, as part of the vot- leading Qatar at their fi rst FIFA court, we go again on the pitch.” match against Brighton and Hove Albion at the The American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, football. ing launched by the body on its World Cup, which the country Tottenham manager Mour- United Kingdom, on Saturday. (Reuters) “From a personal point of offi cial website. will host in 2022. inho said the court’s decision view, I’m happy Manchester In the 64-year history of The list also included Kha- was a “disaster” and showed Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea or which is also owned by City related only to City’s failure to City can play in next season’s the tournament, only 16 men lil al-Zayani of Saudi Arabia FFP, which limits club’s spend- Wolves to defend us but we have owner Sheikh Mansour, to avoid co-operate with UEFA’s investi- Champions League, because if have won the AFC Asian Cup (winner of 1984 edition), Mo- ing in line with their revenue, is the right to defend ourselves falling foul of FFP rules between gation rather than FFP breaches. they have 12 games less, I don’t as a head coach, with count- hamed Ranjbar of Iran (winner now dead, while Liverpool boss when we believe what we have 2012 and 2016. Mourinho said if they were see any chance for any other less other talented tacticians in 1972), Heshmat Mohajerani Klopp said City’s reprieve was a done is correct and three inde- guilty, City should be banned — teams in the Premier League,” trying, and failing, to get their of Iran (winner in 1976), Carlos bad day for football. pendent judges said this.” ‘BAD DECISION FOR but if they were innocent, they said Klopp. hands on Asian football’s Alberto Parreira of Brazil (win- However, Guardiola feels it is City were punished by UEFA FOOTBALL’ should not have to pay a penny. “I don’t wish anything bad greatest prize. ner in 1980 and 1988), Ange City who are owed an apology. in February over “serious UEFA recognised in a statement “It’s a disgraceful decision, on anyone but I don’t think it Few observers penciled Postecoglou of Australia (win- “We should be apologised breaches” of FFP regulations that many of the allegations fell because if Man City is not guilty was a good day for football. Qatar in as pre-tournament ner in 2015), Zico of Brazil (win- to because if we did something but immediately contested the outside the fi ve-year time limit then to be punished with some Financial Fair Play is a good favourites for the 2019 AFC ner in 2004), Philippe Troussier wrong we would accept the de- ban. in its own regulations. millions is a disgrace. If you are idea and it was there to protect Asian Cup, but the Sanchez- of France (winner in 2000), Jor- cision from UEFA, because we The club were accused of de- An initial fi ne of 30mn euros not guilty, you are not punished. teams and the competition, led side produced a superb van Vieira of Brazil (winner in did something wrong,” he said liberately infl ating the value of ($34mn, £27mn) imposed by By the other way if you are guilty and clubs have to make sure month of football to claim a 2007), and Alberto Zaccheroni at a press conference yesterday. income from sponsors with links UEFA was reduced to 10mn eu- you should be banned so it is the money they want to spend dominant maiden title in the of Italy (winner in 2011). “We don’t expect Liverpool, to the Abu Dhabi United Group, ros by CAS. However, the fi ne also a disgraceful decision. In is from the right sources.” QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Arabi and Al Sailiya: Fight to get into the top-four l Arabi and Al Sailiya are knocking on the doors Aof the top-four in the 2019-20 QNB Stars League season, which will kick off on July 24. With fourth-placed Al Ghara- fa fourth in the standings with 28 points behind Al Duhail, Al Rayyan and Al Sadd (in that or- der), Al Arabi are four points adrift in fi fth place and Sailiya fi ve points in sixth. With a top-four spot comes a berth in the Qatar Cup and the opportunity to play in the AFC Champions League. Coached by Heimir Hall- Al Arabi have 24 points from six wins, as many draws and five defeats. Al Sailiya have recorded seven wins, two draws and eight defeats for their 23 points. grimsson, Al Arabi will resume the season in a Week 18 match against the top-four group. developed by the QSL in co-ordi- Trabelsi’s team beat Al Saad al-Badri (three seasons), Spaniard Marc Muniesa are also Yousef, Mohamed Muddather, Al Gharafa on July 24 at the Al On the other hand, Sami nation with club authorities and Markhiya 3-0 in a friendly. Jasser Yahya (two seasons), Ab- continuing with the side. Mostafa Abdelhafi z and Ghanem Janoub Stadium, with the kick-off Trabelsi’s Sailiya have recorded approved by the Ministry of Pub- Hallgrimsson has full squad dullah al-Sulaiti (until 2024), Al Sailiya too succeeded in ex- al-Qahtani. at 4:45pm. The Dream Team have seven wins, two draws and eight lic Health, squad members from at his disposal with the return Khalifa al-Maliki (three years), tending the contracts with their While Al Sailiya and Al Arabi six wins, as many draws and fi ve defeats, conceding 22 goals, and both the clubs entered their re- of Qatar internationals Musab Fahd Shnain (two seasons), Fahd overseas professionals with the will play each other in Week 21 of defeats to their name, and a posi- scoring 19. The Peregrines will be spective team hotels and engaged Khader, Ahmed Fathy, Jassem Khalfan (two seasons), Ahmed exception of Moroccan Mubarak the competition, the former’s oth- tive goal diff erence of 3 (27 goals for keen to brush off the 1-2 defeat to in training. Jaber and Yousef Abdulrazzaq Fathy (until 2022) and Mohamed Boussoufa and the squad is com- er remaining matches are against and 24 against). table toppers Al Duhail on March Besides intense training amid after the conclusion of national Salah El Neel (until 2024). plete with the recovery of injured Al Shahania (Week 19), Al Rayyan Al Arabi had beaten Al Khor 7, when they take on Al Wakrah at repeated Covid-19 tests, Al Arabi team camp. Overseas professionals, such players. (Week 20) and Umm Salal (Week 1-0 in Week 17 on March 6 be- the Al Janoub Stadium on July 26 are readying for the resumption The team has great stability, as Iranian Morteza Pouraliganji, The team relies mainly on Al- 22).