LONDON: The decision to award Russia and Qatar the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has been lambasted as “the biggest corruption decision in the history of sport” at a conference in London on integrity in football.
The Foundation for Sports Integrity was launched on Thursday in reaction to corruption allegations that have plagued FIFA, centering on the 2010 vote. FBI indictments, arrests and the banning of disgraced former president Sepp Blatter in 2015 have added to FIFA’s woes.
Despite serious questions regarding its suitability to host a global tournament on such a scale, Qatar was unexpectedly voted by 14 members of FIFA’s now-defunct executive committee to host the 2022 showpiece, with Russia winning the 2018 bid.
Speaking on a panel discussing the controversial 2010 bidding process, German investigative journalist Jens Weinreich said: “It was the biggest corruption decision ever in the history of sport.
“The sheer level of money involved, what Qatar and Russia paid for different deals, was of a new scale. It shocked even people who were involved in other corrupt decisions in the years before.”
A report commissioned by the foundation, set to be published shortly, will detail how one executive committee member who voted for Qatar, Julio Grondona, allegedy received a mystery $4.8 million payment in the lead-up to the infamous vote. Grondona has since died. The foundation also alleges that Qatar used substantial commercial deals via Qatar Airways and redeemed a $66 million debt held by the Argentine FA to help win over various members of the committee.
British MP Damian Collins, chairman of the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee, has been an outspoken critic of FIFA. “If there is evidence of corruption, (the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar) should be taken away and the tournament should be held along the lines of the 2020 European Championships with a number of different hosts,” he said.
It is far from the first time accusations have been levelled at the transparency and validity of Qatar’s bid.
The publication of the Garcia report in 2017, after its full contents had initially been suppressed by FIFA, detailed a $2.6 million payment to the daughter of Brazilian FA president Ricardo Texeira and how three senior figures were flown to a meeting in Rio on a Qatari-owned jet.
With just over four years before kick-off, Qatar’s suitability remains a major point of contention with the tournament now set to take place in November and December to avoid the health risks of playing in soaring summer temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.
Considerable work remains to be done on creating infrastructure for fans and players, and while building and renovation of the proposed eight stadiums has accelerated, questions have been raised about the treatment of migrant construction labor.
Former FIFA official Harold Mayne-Nicholls detailed his involvement in assessing the technical merits of the 11 countries who were bidding for 2018 and 2022 and how his team produced 30 glossy booklets which were sent to members of the FIFA committee ahead of the vote.
Qatar was deemed “high risk” due to the lack of transport and football infrastructure in the Gulf state, while the searing temperatures that players and fans would face in summer were a major concern.
But Mayne-Nicholls and his team’s report largely went ignored.
“I talked to a lot of committee members,” he said, “and I don’t think they even opened it. They had reached their conclusions before
I sent the report. They had taken their vote already.”
“The whole process is designed (to cover up) corruption and it is still there. The technical aspects do not decide,” said Weinreich. “You can easily design a transparent process to focus on the technical aspects. It’s easy. There are so many experts all over the world who can do that.”
Of the 22 committee members who voted on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, 11 have either been fined, suspended or banned for life over various corruption offenses.
Simon Johnson, who led England’s unsuccessful bid for 2018, said: “The only bid that was indicated as high risk was Qatar. Therefore, within the limited power that they have, there was a flashing amber light pointing at the Qatar bid saying, ‘do not vote for this bid.’
“The fundamental problem with the whole process was the fact it was at the complete discretion of the committee members to decide on the basis of whatever criteria were important to them,” he said.
Qatar World Cup decision labelled ‘most corrupt in sporting history’
Qatar World Cup decision labelled ‘most corrupt in sporting history’
- FBI indictments, arrests and the banning of disgraced former president Sepp Blatter in 2015 have added to FIFA’s woes
- Qatar used substantial commercial deals via Qatar Airways and redeemed a $66 million debt held by the Argentine FA to help win over various members
Barca fight back against Inter in sensational semifinal draw
BARCELONA: Barcelona and Inter Milan shared a compelling 3-3 draw in a high-octane Champions League semifinal first leg clash on Wednesday.
The Italian side raced into a two-goal lead with superb strikes from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, before the unstoppable Lamine Yamal pulled Barca back into it with a sublime solo effort.
Ferran Torres levelled for the five-time champions and although Inter nosed ahead through Dumfries again, a Yann Sommer own goal left the tie on a knife-edge at the halfway stage.
Inter were desperately hoping Thuram would be fit to play after a thigh injury and he showed precisely why, scoring the fastest ever Champions League semifinal goal after 30 seconds.
Barcelona’s Copa del Rey final winning goalscorer Jules Kounde hacked a poor clearance to the edge of the box, and Inter capitalized.
Dutch wide man Dumfries aimed a low cross toward Thuram and Inigo Martinez slipped at just the wrong time, allowing the France striker room to finish with an impudent back-heel flick.
Quadruple-chasing Barcelona seized control and pushed forward, roared on by a nervous 50,000 strong Olympic stadium crowd.
Yamal, on his 100th Barcelona appearance, appealed for a penalty after he was shoved by Alessandro Bastoni and then set up Torres, who fired wide.
The Spaniard, standing in for Barca’s injured top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, lashed a volley narrowly off target.
Against the run of play Inter, whose treble hopes crumbled after three consecutive domestic defeats prior, scored their second, with another fine finish.
Francesco Acerbi nodded on a corner and Dumfries reached the dropping ball first to score with a stunning acrobatic effort.
Barcelona teams over the past few years may have crumbled but Hansi Flick’s youthful side are not burdened by the series of European failures since they last won the competition in 2015.
Least of all teenage wizard Yamal, who pulled Barcelona back into the game just three minutes later with a wonderful individual goal that made him the youngest player ever to score in the semis.
On the eve of the game the Spaniard rejected comparisons to all-time Barca great Lionel Messi, but his goal was straight from the Argentine’s playbook.
Yamal shook off Thuram, floated inside from the right flank and past Henrikh Mkhitaryan into the box, drawing defenders toward him but before they could stop him, stroked an inch-perfect shot in off the left post.
Minutes later Yamal nearly repeated the trick. This time he darted outside, pausing to let Federico Dimarco lunge past him and off the pitch.
From a tight angle the youngster flashed a shot that Sommer tipped onto the crossbar.
High on confidence Yamal set up further chances for Torres and Dani Olmo that went begging, before Barca pulled level.
Pedri hooked a ball into the area for Raphinha to head across goal and Torres to convert from close range after 38 breathless minutes.
Kounde limped off before half-time in a blow for Barca, who also replaced the inexperienced Gerard Martin with Ronald Araujo at the break.
Dimarco hammered over early in the second half before Simone Inzaghi hooked him, after a torrid night up against the relentless Yamal.
Inter took the sting out of the game early in the second half and then sucker-punched Barca, scoring from another corner, with Dumfries’ header bouncing in off Olmo.
Barcelona equalized within two minutes, with Yamal stepping over a corner on the edge of the box, allowing it to run to Raphinha.
The Brazilian’s rasping effort smashed against the crossbar and then in, off the back of the unfortunate diving Sommer’s head.
Pau Cubarsi made a vital recovery tackle to stop Thuram after he got in behind Barcelona’s high line, and Mkhitaryan had a goal ruled out for an extremely tight offside.
Yamal looped a second strike onto the crossbar late on but the sides could not be separated.
The second leg takes place in Milan next Tuesday, with the winner to face Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal on May 31 in the Munich final.
Sabalenka eases past Kostyuk into Madrid Open semis
MADRID: Last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka survived a gritty Marta Kostyuk and an untimely rain interruption to complete a 7-6(7/4), 7-6(9/7) win over the Ukrainian and reach the Madrid Open semifinals for a fourth time on Wednesday.
The top-seeded Sabalenka needed 84 minutes to take the opening set before securing the win in cold, breezy conditions.
Kostyuk saved a match point and broke to take the second set into a tiebreak. At 5-4 in the breaker, it started to rain and play was halted briefly to close the roof of the Manolo Santana stadium.
Upon resumption of play, Sabalenka saved three set points and eked out the win, her third over her rival in as many meetings.
“Honestly, that was a battle and conditions were incredibly tough. It wasn’t about tennis, it was about the way you handled your emotions,” said the Belarusian world number one, who hit 48 unforced errors.
“I think I did really well and I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.”
Sabalenka next takes on another Ukrainian in the form of Elina Svitolina, who extended her winning streak to 11 consecutive matches with a swift 6-2, 6-1 rout of Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in just 52 minutes.
A champion in Rouen last week, Svitolina is undefeated on clay this season and is the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals in Madrid.
The 30-year-old has won her last 22 consecutive sets on the red dirt.
Svitolina has a three-year-old daughter, is running a foundation that has taken over the responsibilities of the Ukrainian national tennis team both financially and from a managerial side, and is on an incredible run that will see her re-enter the top 15 in the rankings.
“I have a lot on my plate, but I draw energy and motivation from my people,” said the former world number three.
“When I go back to Ukraine, I just get so much energy from all the people that are right now over there having a tough time. I’m just trying to keep it up and bring some wins for Ukraine.”
Earlier in the day, Iga Swiatek kept her Madrid Open title defense alive, as she avenged her Australian Open defeat to Madison Keys with a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against the American in the quarter-finals.
The second seed will next square off with Coco Gauff, who beat 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva for the third time in as many meetings, 7-5, 6-1.
Searching for her first title of the season, the second-seeded Swiatek recovered from a poor opening set to improve her clean record on clay against Keys to 4-0 and reach a third consecutive Madrid semifinal.
Keys knocked out the Pole on her way to a maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne three months ago and seemed to have cracked the Swiatek code when she handed her a bagel in the first set on Wednesday.
But Swiatek, who was contesting a 17th consecutive quarter-final on clay, cut down on her errors and struck back to book a last-four clash with Gauff.
On court in the Arantxa Sanchez stadium, Gauff saved two set points while receiving at 4-5 before seizing a one-set lead after 63 minutes of play against Andreeva.
Gauff cruised in the second set to dismiss the seventh-seeded Russian and reach her first semifinal of the year — outside of the mixed team United Cup event.
The fourth-seeded American gave herself a 9/10 grade for her performance, adding: “I think I played really well and stayed composed, even when facing those set points.”
In ATP action, Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Matteo Arnaldi earned multiple top-20 wins in one event for the first time by knocking out 16th-seeded Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 to move into the Madrid quarter-finals.
The Italian world number 44 will take on Jack Draper, who reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final on clay with a 6-2, 6-2 result against world number 12 Tommy Paul.
Lucky loser Gabriel Diallo saved three match points to claim the biggest win of his career over world number 16 Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 7-6(9/7), 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals.
Amorim says not even Europa League glory can save Man Utd’s season
- United are currently a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, having accrued just 39 points
- “Everybody knows that it’s really important for our season,” United manager Amorim said during a pre-match press conference
BILBAO, Spain: Ruben Amorim on Wednesday admitted that even winning the Europa League would not salvage Manchester United’s miserable season.
The fallen English giants face Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals, with the first leg in Spain on Thursday.
But whatever the result at the San Mames, also the venue for May’s final, it will not disguise the fact that this has been United’s worst campaign of the Premier League era and one where bitter rivals Liverpool have equalled their record of 20 top-flight English titles.
United are currently a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, having accrued just 39 points with four matches remaining, meaning they will have to win the Europa League in order to qualify for the Champions League.
“Everybody knows that it’s really important for our season,” United manager Amorim said during a pre-match press conference.
“We know that nothing is going to save our season but this can be huge.
“Winning a trophy and also to get in the Champions League to have European games next year could change a lot of things in our club, even in the summer.”
United are bidding to win the competition for the second time after their success under Jose Mourinho in 2016/17.
“As the head coach said, this is not going to save the season,” said midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
“But the history of United is written with titles, so that’s why we’re focused very much on tomorrow and to be able to play in the Champions League next season, so it’s very important and altogether we’re going to try and win.”
Their European form has been the one saving grace for United in a difficult season where Amorim has struggled to make his presence felt domestically since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.
“Europa League will not change anything in our problems — it’s going to help us to have Champions League next year, more money to spend — but the problems are still there,” said Amorim.
“We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment, good academy. This is what we need to change to take this club back to the top.
“This is more of a shortcut to go to European games. Nothing more.”
Two-time runners-up Bilbao have the added incentive of trying to reach a European final at their home ground.
“They are really strong as a team, really intense, really aggressive — even for a Spanish team they are aggressive in every duel,” Amorim said.
“They have great players one v one. Nico Williams is a special player. They are the best defense in Spain in the league. We are not scoring too many goals, so it’s going to be a tough match for us.”
United will have Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, out since February and the start of April respectively, available.
“To start, no,” Amorim said. “But they can be in the squad for the game.”
AFC Champions League semifinal heartache for Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr
- Victory for the Riyadh side would have set up an all-Saudi final against Al-Ahli but they lose 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in Jeddah
- Jhon Duran has chance to make it 3-3 from close range in the closing minutes but fails to make contact
JEDDAH: Despite the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates, Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Wednesday, denying them the chance to take on Al-Ahli in an all-Saudi final on Saturday.
The Japanese side took the lead after just 10 minutes in spectacular fashion after Marcinho gained possession on the left side of the area and scooped a cross into the six-yard box. The ball was headed clear by Mohammed Simakan but only as far as Tatsuya Ito, who volleyed a delicious shot into the top corner of the net.
The goal came against run of play but Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing, and they were rewarded just two minutes before the half-hour mark. Sadio Mane cut in from the left side of the area and the shot from the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star took a deflection as it bounced into the back of the net.
Al-Nassr continued to attack. Ronaldo headed against the woodwork and then, after 40 minutes, Jhon Duran’s fierce shot flew just wide of the post from a good position.
The Colombian was left to rue the miss when, four minutes before the break, Kawasaki restored their lead. A shot by Ito was saved by Bento but the ball bounced into the path of Yuto Ozeki, who fired home from just inside the area.
Kawasaki did not sit back in the second half and should have extended their lead but Brazilian forward Erison somehow failed to get on the end of a low cross with the goal at his mercy.
In the 76th minute he redeemed himself, however, as he skipped past Aymeric Laporte on the byline and squared the ball to Akihiro Ienaga, who tapped home from the closest of ranges to make it 3-1.
It seemed as if that would be that but with three minutes remaining Al-Nassr pulled a goal back when Ayman Yahya fired a shot into the top corner from outside the area.
Soon after, Duran had a chance to make it 3-3 from close range but failed to make contact at the crucial moment. There was still time after that for a Ronaldo free-kick to be saved by the legs of Louis Yamaguchi before the referee blew for full time.
Kawasaki will now face Al-Ahli in the final on Saturday, again at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Jabal Tuwaiq lift trophy at Jazan region’s 1st Junior Hockey Championship
- The tournament, organized by the Saudi Hockey Federation, featured four teams who scored a total of 23 goals in six matches
- The Eagles of Abu Arish took 2nd place, and Al-Majd 3rd; Al-Majd’s Haitham Musalami was named player of the tournament
JAZAN: Jabal Tuwaiq were crowned champions of the first Junior Boys’ Hockey Championship held in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region, which concluded on Wednesday at Saad bin Muadh School.
The tournament, organized by the Saudi Hockey Federation, featured four teams who scored a total of 23 goals in six matches. The Eagles of Abu Arish took second place, with Al-Majd finishing third.
In the individual honors, Al-Majd’s Haitham Musalami was named player of the tournament, the top scorer award went to Eagles player Abdullah Azeek, and Jabal Tuwaiq’s Suleiman Al-Muaydi was named best goalkeeper.
The hockey federation said the tournament represented a foundational step in efforts to foster and develop competitive youth hockey across the region, in line with the organization’s strategic vision to expand the sport nationwide and lay the groundwork for national Junior Hockey League.
