THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015 SPORTS FIFA officials plead not guilty in soccer corruption probe NEW YORK: A sprawling US bribery mer FIFA vice president Juan Angel of the South American confederation Eduardo Li, former head of the Costa officials known as the “Group of Six” that prosecution that has scandalized soc- Napout on $20 million bond with various from Paraguay, had consented to extradi- Rican football federation - would be would receive annual bribes in exchange cer’s governing body took another step restrictions, including electronic monitor- tion from Switzerland, where he was extradited to the United States. A for supporting FIFA contracts with anoth- forward on Tuesday, with the former ing and home detention. arrested on Dec. 3. Paraguay appeals court approved Leoz’s er marketing firm. president of Honduras and a former FIFA Both men are facing racketeering con- The two were among 16 new defen- extradition, while Li withdrew his appeal In a year-end letter to 209 FIFA mem- vice president pleading not guilty at spiracy and wire fraud charges for their dants, most from Central and South and agreed to depart Switzerland and be ber federations, suspended FIFA their first court appearance and authori- alleged roles in a bribery scheme involv- America, named in a revised indictment turned over to US authorities. President Sepp Blatter has written he is ties announcing that two other defen- ing lucrative broadcasting and hosting that was unsealed earlier this month. U.S. The indictment alleges that in 2012 a “bewildered” by allegations he faces and dants would be extradited to face rights for the World Cup and soccer’s oth- prosecutors charged 14 others, including marketing firm wired $500,000 to a will go before the FIFA ethics committee charges as well. er biggest events. Their lawyers left the seven top FIFA officials arrested at Baur au Panama bank account so it could be paid on Thursday with “a strong belief in jus- Former president Rafael Callejas, a cur- courtroom on Tuesday without speaking Lac hotel in Zurich, in May. as bribes to Callejas and another soccer tice.” He wrote that “although I have rent member of FIFA’s television and mar- to reporters. Callejas’ appearance came On Tuesday, authorities announced official in exchange for broadcasting been suspended I am not isolated and keting committee, was ordered held with- after Honduras officials say he decided to that two of the original 14 - Nicolas Leoz, rights to qualifier matches for the 2022 will certainly not be silenced.” Callejas out bail at a hearing in federal court in travel to the United States on the advice another former head of the South World Cup. The indictment identified served as president of Honduras from Brooklyn. A judge agreed to release for- of his lawyers. Napout, a former president American football confederation and Napout as a member of a bloc of soccer 1990 to 1994. — AP Betis knock Gijon out of King’s Cup BARCELONA: Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored the visitors took advantage with a Van twice in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Sporting Wolfswinkel header and an effort from Gijon on Tuesday as Real Betis booked a Alvaro Cejudo. place in the last 16 of the King’s Cup with a Juan Dominguez headed Deportivo La 5-3 aggregate victory. Coruna in front against second-tier It was a spirited performance in the Llagostera but he was also guilty of con- return match from Gijon, who had lost the ceding a penalty, scored by Jordi Lopez, in first leg 2-0, especially in the second half a 1-1 draw that took the top-flight side with substitute Alen Halilovic grabbing a through 3-2 on aggregate. Burgui and double, including a penalty. Felipe Caicedo netted as Espanyol came Bernardo Espinosa nodded Gijon in from behind after a Verza opener to beat front with a free header from a corner after Levante 2-1 and win 3-2 overall. 14 minutes but Van Wolfswinkel finished Ciro Immobile and Jose Antonio Reyes clinically four minutes later at the other gave Sevilla a comfortable 2-0 win over end after a good team move. Barca youth Logrones, 5-0 on aggregate. Holders product Halilovic came on at halftime and Barcelona are already through after beating slotted home almost immediately. Villanovense, the tie having been brought He was then on target again, sending forward due to their participation in the keeper Daniel Gimenez the wrong way Club World Cup. Real Madrid have been with a penalty following a handling offence thrown out after fielding the ineligible by Alfred N’Diaye after 72 minutes. Denis Cheryshev in their first leg against Gijon, though, left gaps at the back and Cadiz. — Reuters Mourinho could face toxic dressing room LONDON: Jose Mourinho could be fighting players of “betraying his work” after the to save his job amid a toxic atmosphere in defeat by Leicester on Monday, and the dressing room after he accused his Cascarino believes he is now on dangerous Chelsea players of betrayal this week, ground. according to the club’s former striker Tony “There is a fine line, how far you take it, Cascarino. A 2-1 defeat at Leicester City on how much criticism you can give to your Monday, the ninth loss in 16 Premier team?” he said. “Behind closed doors you MUNICH: Darmstadt’s goalkeeper Christian Mathenia, top, saves the ball besides Bayern’s Thomas Mueller during the German soccer cup (DFB League games for the champions, has can say a lot more but when you go public Pokal) match between FC Bayern Munich and SV Darmstadt 98 at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday. — AP fuelled speculation that owner Roman and talk of betrayal you are taking it to a Abramovich is poised to part company level that a lot of players in that dressing with the Portuguese coach who has won room won’t like. “They’ll start looking at Alonso thunderbolt puts three league titles for the club. Jose and thinking, forget about us, what The club’s hierarchy were reportedly dis- about you? They will start looking at him, cussing Mourinho’s position on Wednesday, and it could make a toxic atmosphere in although not at an “emergency” meeting as the dressing room.” Cascarino said Eden Bayern in cup quarters some media had described. Hazard’s hasty exit from the pitch after With the reigning champions just one picking up a knock early on at Leicester was point above the bottom three, however, a worrying sign. “You have to question the Cascarino believes failure to beat fellow desire of some players to want to play for Bayern stars wait on Guardiola’s decision strugglers Sunderland this weekend at Jose,” he said. “Take Eden Hazard on Stamford Bridge could signal the end for Monday night, the way he went off, he may BERLIN: A thunderbolt of a volley from Spain Unterhaching. The minnows had dispatched paper, Guardiola believes both he and the club Mourinho. “We must be surprised (that he have been injured but he didn’t make international Xabi Alonso booked Bayern top-tier side Ingolstadt and second division RB would benefit from a change of scenery due to has not been sacked)” Cascarino, who spent much of an effort to stay on the pitch. Munich’s place in the German Cup quarter-finals Leipzig en route to the last 16 and stunned his intense work ethic that can wear players two years at the club from 1992-94, told “It’s a very strange atmosphere at the on Tuesday after a 1-0 win over Darmstadt. The Leverkusen by taking an early lead. down. Last month, Barcelona daily Sport claimed Sky Sports News. club. You can’t have top players not work- 34-year-old midfielder launched a long-range But Leverkusen hit back with goals by Guardiola had already given his word to former “History shows us, we’ve seen (Luiz ing. There must be issues in that dressing strike from outside the area with 40 minutes Hernandez and Germany striker Stefan Kiessling Barca colleagues Ferran Soriano and Txiki Felipe) Scolari, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto room. Every player apart from the keeper gone at Munich’s Allianz Arena which hit the top before Unterhaching had Ulrich Taffertshofer Begiristain, now Manchester City’s chief execu- Di Matteo all make very quick exits. “The has been dropped at some stage this sea- left-hand corner and gave Darmstadt goalkeep- sent off for a dangerous tackle. Germany winger tive and director of football respectively, that he only people I feel are still behind him are son.” “He has tried everything. I think it’s a er Christian Mathenia no chance. Karim Bellarabi added Leverkusen’s third to put will join them at the Etihad next season. the fans, they still sing his name because last throw of the dice, they have Having knocked out holders Wolfsburg in the them in the quarter-finals. Bayern laboured to a 1-0 German Cup win they have so much affection for him but Sunderland at home and Watford at home previous round, Pep Guardiola’s remain the team Second-division side Heidenheim also went over Darmstadt on Tuesday, thanks to a spectac- they are losing football match after football and anything less than six points I can’t see to beat in the cup. Bayern could have made it 2- through after they enjoyed a 2-0 win at third- ular Xabi Alonso volley, to book their place in the match.” Mourinho accused some of his him surviving.” — Reuters 0 when Robert Lewandowski headed against the division Erzgebirge Aue.