SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015 SPORTS Platini gets South American support after FIFA ban ZURICH: UEFA chief Michel Platini was up its investigation into fraud and cor- Friday following pressure from influen- Thursday can be renewed for another 45 public. But ethics committee given powerful support from South ruption at the heart of the organisation. tial regional and national federations. days when they run out in January, spokesman Andreas Bantel said Blatter America yesterday as he fought back The 60-year-old Platini, a frontrunner The fate of the election to replace which would take the exclusion until just had been given the chance to put his against a 90-day ban imposed on him by to succeed Blatter as chief of football’s Blatter-slated for February 26 — could before the FIFA election. case on October 1. Platini also “had the FIFA as part of its corruption investiga- scandal-tainted world governing body, depend on the summit, with some sen- Should either Blatter or Platini see very same rights” at an interview on the tion. denies any wrongdoing in taking a $2 ior FIFA figures suggested the commit- their appeal rejected, they would still same day, Bantel said. The backing came from the South million (1.8 million euros) payment from tee could debate postponing the vote. have the right to take their cases before The former Juventus star had pre- Amerian confederation CONMEBOL FIFA in 2011. The former France skipper Interim FIFA president Issa Hayatou, the final-instance Court of Arbritation for sented himself as the man to clean up which said that the 60-year-old has slammed the ban as “farcical”, insist- who Friday insisted ongoing health Sport (CAS), based in Lausanne. FIFA but a cloud now hangs over his can- Frenchman was innocent until proven ing the payment was legitimate, and on problems would not stop him doing the Adding to the controversy, Thursday’s didacy, though he insists he will press on guilty of any wrongdoing and that the Saturday a close associate said an official high-pressure job, is rushing from his purge by the ethics committee also with his bid for Blatter’s hotseat. ban was “untimely and disproportion- appeal had been lodged at FIFA’s Zurich native Cameroon to take the reins at felled South Korean tycoon Chung He was named in a Swiss probe into ate”. Platini’s lawyers had earlier headquarters. The statement of support FIFA HQ and is expected in Zurich on Mong-Joon-like Platini a candidate to Blatter for criminal mismanagement launched an official appeal against the from CONMEBOL said that the South Tuesday. replace Blatter-who was banned from over the $2 million payment which suspension at FIFA headquarters in Americans did not agree with the FIFA The dramatic suspension of Blatter football activities for six years. Furious Platini says was payment for consulting Zurich. ethics commission decision and that and Platini along with FIFA general sec- Chung has vowed to sue FIFA and take work he undertook years earlier. The latest developments in the FIFA “the presumption of innocence is a fun- retary Jerome Valcke was the latest blow his case to CAS. But his candidacy still needs to come crisis came a day after FIFA president damental right that has to be consid- to an organisation reeling from months There was further drama on Friday as under the microscope of FIFA’s elections Sepp Blatter also appealed against a ered.” of scandal. the ethics committee rejected Blatter’s commission who will examine his suit- simliar 90-day ban from all football-relat- CONMEBOL added that it fully The crisis has been building since claims he was not allowed to give evi- ability. ed activities over a Swiss criminal believed in Platini’s capacity “to lead FIFA May, when US authorities announced dence before he was banned, saying he Blatter, who decided to quit in inquiry. and the football world towards a charges against 14 officials and sports was given “all his rights”. June just days after being reelected, The bans on Blatter and Platini-the brighter future”. marketing executives over bribery alle- There were reports the 79-year-old has so far resisted calls from major two most powerful men in world foot- Much now hangs on a crunch gations amounting to more than $150 Blatter, head of FIFA since 1998, had sponsors including Coca-Cola, ball-were announced by FIFA on October 20 meeting of FIFA’s ruling exec- million. complained that he only found out McDonald’s and Visa for him to step Thursday as its ethics watchdog geared utive committee-announced late on The suspensions handed out on about his suspension after it was made down immediately.—AFP Club football beckoning for Italian coach Conte MILAN: Italy coach Antonio Conte has given against Azerbaijan and then Norway on a further indication he could return to club Tuesday. But Conte’s position has always management after again brushing off ques- looked a fragile one and reports around Italy tions concerning his future commitment to on Saturday supported pundits claims that the Azzurri. the 46-year-old is desperate to return to the A win away to Group H rivals Azerbaijan cut an thrust of club football. later Saturday will see Italy book their place in According to Rome-based daily Il the Euro 2016 finals and Italian football feder- Messaggero, Conte could take over at Roma if ation (FIGC) bosses are already keen for Conte their current coach Rudi Garcia, whose deal to sign a contract extension until 2018. expires in 2018, does not win the league title But Conte looks increasingly unlikely to be this season. He has also been linked with AC at the Azzurri helm beyond next summer’s Milan, and PSG, according to the report, have showpiece in France amid reports he has his followed Conte closely. eye on taking over at Roma, AC Milan or Paris Conte took over the Italy helm after Cesare Saint Germain. “Right now is not the time to Prandelli resigned in the wake of Italy’s failure talk about my contract,” Conte told reporters to get past the first round at the 2014 World on Friday. Cup in Brazil. “The absolute priority is to qualify. The Having steered Juventus to three ‘scudet- second priority after that is to play well at the to’ titles in a record-setting three years with European championships. “I want to thank the Turin giants, the move into coaching the the (FIGC) president and his staff, who have national team provided a stark contrast for always given me their support and they Conte. He complained about his limited appreciate the passion and commitment access to players, the lack of regular squad LONDON: England’s Harry Kane (second from right) fails to score during the Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match between England and that’s required. meetings and, after just one year into his con- Estonia at Wembley stadium. —AP “There will be a time to talk about every- tract, said: “I feel alone.” thing else later.” FIGC president Carlo An initially tense relationship with the Tavecchio has said he is keen for Conte “to FIGC has since improved, but Conte seems England cruise past Estonia stay after the European championships, but destined to return to club management. In we live in a democracy and everyone is free the meantime, Conte called for Italy to seal to decide what he wants to do. If he wants to qualification ahead of their final qualifier at LONDON: England, who reached Euro up. “People are telling me that this victory stay, he will be welcome.” home to Norway on Tuesday by beating Euro 2016 Qualifying Tables 2016 last month, comfortably beat Estonia tonight will ensure we are seeded for the In terms of results, Conte’s tenure has Azerbaijan. “We have to be intelligent and 2-0 at Wembley on Friday to stay on course tournament in France and that is important Group A to complete a qualifying campaign with a too.” been fruitful. Italy remain unbeaten in 48 take the right approach to this game, because Iceland 8 6 1 1 15 3 19 World Cup or Euro qualification matches-a leaving it until the last game to qualify is dan- - qualified 100 percent record for the first time. Goals England were never under any threat statistic they will be hoping to stretch to 50 gerous,” he said.—AFP Czech Republic 8 6 1 1 16 10 19 from Theo Walcott after 45 minutes and from an Estonia side that have only scored - qualified Raheem Sterling in the 85th gave England four goals in nine matches on a generally Turkey 8 3 3 2 11 9 12 their ninth successive win in a qualifying subdued night at Wembley. One of the Netherlands 8 3 1 4 13 10 10 campaign for the first time. high spots came before kickoff when Swedes scrape past Latvia 8 0 4 4 4 16 4 England lead Group E with 27 points Bobby Charlton presented fellow Kazakhstan 8 0 2 6 5 16 2 from nine games, with Switzerland also Manchester United great Wayne Rooney qualifying after beating San Marino 7-0 to with a golden boot for breaking his 45- Group B climb to 18 points. Estonia have a remote year-old scoring record with his 50th goal Liechtenstein Wales 8 5 3 0 9 2 18 Belgium 8 5 2 1 17 3 17 mathematical chance of finishing third for England last month. Israel 8 4 1 3 14 9 13 after Slovenia where held 1-1 by Lithuania.