FOOTBALL

LEGENDS

FOOTBALL LEGENDS

RIVALDO

VAN BASTEN
RIVALDO

POSTER INSIDE
TOMORROW
N 53

POSTER
INSIDE

FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2014

Paulista (Brazil
April 19, 1972 )
ATTACKING MIDFIE
LDER

CAREER

1994-96
1996-97
1997-02
2002-04
2004-07
2007-08
2008-10
2011
2012
2013

509 games

Palmeiras
Deportivo Corua
Barcelona
Milan
Olympiakos
AEK Athens
Bunyodko
Sao Paulo (loan)r
Kabuscor
Sao Caetanop

/ 254 goals

Brazil Nation
al Team

74 games

/ 34 goals

FFollow
Foll
ollow
lllow u
us
s on

BARCELONA STAR LAUDED BY WORLDS PRESS AFTER STUNNING SHOW

MESSI BACK TO MAGICAL BEST

We are the team we want to be and the one fans expect us to be says Leo

ONE

AIM

ELIMINATION LEAVES CITY ONLY FIGHTING FOR DOMESTIC TITLE

Man City must win the

Premier League to make
this a successful season
Pellegrinis side sent
crashing out of Europe
and the FA Cup once more
HOENESS FACES 3.5 YEARS IN JAIL FOR TAX FRAUD

THE FIRST RACE TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY IN AUSTRALIA

BAYERN CHIEF PUNISHED

F1 REVOLUTION STARTS

Football

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

After being knocked out of the Champions League...

City must win the title r

Manchester City only have
the Premier League left
to fight for this season
and the clubs owners will
be demanding success

Analysis

Rik Sharma

fter lifting the League

Cup, Manchester City
believed they could go
on to win the quadruple.
Thats what Manuel Pellegrini and Samir Nasri said after
the game. Although they were in
a tricky spot after the Champions
League first leg defeat against
Barcelona, the club seemed confident again. But they came crashing
down to earth the following week,
against Wigan in the FA Cup. Pellegrinis team looked out of ideas,
bereft of inspiration, as they took
on their conquerors from the previous years final. At their home stadium, City were shown up by the
Championship side.
On Wednesday night in Barcelona, they didnt play too badly.
They had chances, through Nasri,
and an Edin Dzeko header which
was superbly tipped over by Victor
Valds. But they didnt do enough
and were dumped out of Europe
before the quarter-final stage yet
again. It means the only competi-

Man City

tion they have left to fight for is the

Premier League.
Samir Nasri believes City will
emerge a stronger team from
their Nou Camp defeat, which finished 2-1 on the night and 4-1 to
Barcelona on aggregate. French
midfielder Nasri said: I think we
played a good game. I think we did
everything we could. We can have
regrets about the first leg - it is in
the first leg we lost it - but here we
did everything. I think this defeat
is going to be good for us in the
future. This is where you get experience and get much stronger as a
team and a group. Next year our
target is to be up there with the
best. We dont have a choice. Now
our target is to win the league.
But theres only so far that enthusiasm and desire takes you.
Given the vast amounts of money
that has been poured into the club
- over 1.2billion - since the takeover in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group, a return of one Premier
League and one FA Cup is simply
not good enough. Sheikh Mansour
is entitled to question whether hes
getting value for money. City could
make it two Premier Leagues by
the end of the season, if City can
beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to the title.
You would imagine that Pellegrinis job is safe, even if City
dont win - so long as they come
within inches of success. The Chilean manager is liked by supporters
and players; he has united a squad

Manchester City only have the Premier League to play for // AFP

Status Check

LEAGUE CUP

Triumph over Sunderland

earned them some respite
Manchester City beat Sunderland at Wembley to take home English footballs first
- and least prestigious - trophy of the season. On the way to the final they only had
to get past West Ham, Leicester City, Newcastle and Wigan, certainly not the most
formidable of opposition.

FA CUP

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

PREMIER LEAGUE

Game on! Chelsea, Liverpool

Wigan give City dj vu with Barcelona showed too
much class for City to match and Arsenal are in their way
another FA Cup knock-out
In the 2013 FA Cup final, Wigan stunned
the world by beating Manchester City at
Wembley. Nobody believed it would happen
again, this time at the Etihad in the quarterfinals, but it did. The Latics went two goals
up and although Samir Nasri struck, City
couldnt force a replay.

This was Citys best Champions League

campaign yet, but it still ended in disappointment. Lionel Messi and Dani Alves
struck in both legs of the tie, with Citys only
goal coming through Vincent Kompany late
on at the Nou Camp. They still have a long
way to go to beat the best in Europe.

This is the most intriguingly balanced title

race in years. Liverpool are in the best form
but have some points to make up. Chelsea
are going strong but have European distractions. Arsenal and City are wobbling but
both have the ability to win it. The weeks
ahead will be thrilling.

Football

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014

Pellegrini has been

race

which Roberto Mancini wore down.

Nasri is one player who has flourished this season, after Pellegrini
unshackled him.
The club will need to reinforce
the centre of defence in the summer, which has been badly ex-

set a target of five

trophies to win in the
next five seasons

Winning the league

is essential to give the

club a return on the
1.2bn spent already

best of the defensive talent when

the transfer window opens. They
will be regretting not buying a centre-back last summer, instead of
lavishing 26m.
Complaints about the officials
from Pablo Zabaleta, who was sent
off, did little to disguise the fact
that City are not operating at the
level they need to be. The strikers,
Sergio Agero, Alvaro Negredo
and Edin Dzeko, who couldnt stop
scoring earlier this season, now
have a combined 907-minute goal
drought between them. They will
need to break that sooner rather
than later, if they are to fight for the
one remaining title open to them
this season. They may be without
Agero for a while, because he
was substituted at half time because of a hamstring injury. It is
very early, so we cannot say how
long he is going to be out, Rubn
Cousillas, Pellegrinis assistant,
said. Hopefully, it is nothing serious, but he felt some pain. It is
more a precaution, but we are doing some tests to assess it. The
forward said: I felt a twinge in the
leg early on after a challenge with
Messi. I carried on with it for the
rest of the half but at half-time we
decided not to risk it.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano, formerly of Barcelona, set
Pellegrini a target at the start of
the season, saying he wanted the
club to win five trophies in the next
five years. He said: If we look at
the next five years, I would say I
want to win five trophies. That
may mean we win no trophies one
year and two in another, but on average I want one trophy or title a
year. If next year we dont win, but
progress our football and get to
the semi-finals of the Champions

Samir Nasri: I think we did everything

we could. We dont have a choice,
now our target is to win the league.
posed in the Champions League
ties against Barcelona. Martin
Demichelis was found out in the
first leg, sent off as he conceded a
penalty. Joleon Lescott was made
a mockery of by Lionel Messi on
Wednesday night. Matija Nastisic
has spent a long time injured and
is only 20-years-old. Only Vincent
Kompany fits the bill, and they will
be vying with Barcelona for the

League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup
final again, that will be fine.
Having won the League Cup,
Pellegrini and City are on course
to hit Sorianos target. But some
titles are worth more than others.
The manager will demand his side
gets back to winning ways against
Hull on Saturday, when focus turns
back to the Premier League. O

City rage: Zabaleta hits out at

ref and Tour blasts Mourinho
Zabaleta claimed the
referee wronged City
three times and Tour
thinks Chelseas boss
needs to talk less

ablo Zabaleta blasted

referee Stephane Lannoy for three shocking decisions made
during their Champions League last 16 second leg
tie with Barcelona. Zabaleta
claimed there was a foul in the
build up to Lionel Messis opening goal, that City should have
been awarded a penalty, and that
he should not have been shown
the red card.
Zabaleta said: It was very
clear - Piqu came from behind
and made the tackle on Edin Dzeko, and the referee was only two
metres away. He saw that very
clearly. It was also a foul against
Dzeko just before Barcelonas
first goal.
He held the Zabaleta:
b a l l a n d The ref
turned, and
Piqu had made me
hold of his angry with
shir t, and
the ref gave his shocking
a free-kick decisions
Complaints: Zabaleta was left fuming after the game // AFP
to Barcelona. Sometimes in the game you are nerv- to Marca about Mourinhos propen- erally its a huge positive to have
ous because you are trying to get sity to offer his opinion about other two clubs of that stature for Manthe result, and sometimes shock- teams and players in the press. chester. You cant really think about
ing decisions by the ref make you I think he talks more than be- Manchester without thinking about
a bit angry. I dont know why I fore, perhaps because the English football and the importance of it.
got a red card because I went to press likes it, Tour said. He is a Asked who would win this years
Premier League, Neville
him to talk in a good way. I was coach and he must give
replied: I said City cera little bit angry to him because respect a little bit. He is Yaya Tour:
he didnt give the penalty but I always talking about eve- Mourinho is tainly up to two months
ago but if you asked me
was always respectful to him. I ryone and that is not the
am very frustrated at the deci- correct way. That is why talking about now Id say Chelsea.
Manchester United
sion because it was a shocking Barcelona always beat everyone and
are currently nine points
decision. I am disappointed but Madrid when Mourinho
that is not
behind City, although
also very proud of the team be- was here.
Manuel Pellegrinis
cause I think we played a fantascorrect
NEVILLE KNOWS
team have two games in
tic game.
Manchester United
hand on them. Neville
What Zabaleta didnt mention
was that Lannoy also missed legend Gary Neville has admitted has been working with Ryan Giggs
Joleon Lescotts foul on Messi that arch-rivals City are better than since he retired from the game,
in the area, which should have his former side, but does not think opening a football cafe and hes
been given as a penalty to Barce- they will win the Premier League currently constructing Hotel Footlona. Jordi Alba was also wrongly this season. For about 20 years ball, next to Old Trafford. Ive not
of my life they [Man City] played football since Paul Scholes
adjudged to be offside
were irrelevant, he said. testimonial and it was such an emand when he crossed Gary Neville:
for Neymar to score, Two months Then they became a barrassing experience, he said. It
bit annoying. Now was painful. And I thought Im not
it was unfairly ruled
ago I thought little
they are actually better. playing again. I dont play football.
out.
Its a bit of a worry. My Ive no interest in it at all. If you
Yaya Tour was City, but
uncle is a City fan. We said to me tomorrow would you
also on the warpath,
all know City fans, we all kick about, I wouldnt want it. Id
hitting out at Chelsea now Id say
know United fans. And rather be in a suit, either watching
manager Jose Mourin- Chelsea
I have to say, that gen- the game or having meetings. O
ho. The Ivorian spoke

Football

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

Messi show silences d

BARCELONA Argentine produced dominant performance just when questions were being asked

The forward had the

worlds press eating
out of his hands after
blitzing City and sending
Bara into the quarters

Report

Richard Martin

Just in case it was needed, Lionel Messi reminded the world

once again who he was, and just
exactly how good he is. It was the
Argentines 66th minute goal that
saw off Manchester City once and
for all and banished any fears Bara
might have had of being the victim
of a late comeback from the Premier League side, but even before
he spun the ball past Joe Hart with
the outside of his mythical left foot
to open the scoring, he had won
over the crowd with a scintillating
performance. Aside from earning
and scoring the penalty which had
put Bara on their way to victory at
the Etihad stadium which also
lead to Martin Demichelis being
sent off Messi had not exactly
conquered Manchester in the first
leg. But on Wednesday, on his trusted home turf, the four-time Ballon
dOr winner honed in on his victims,
toyed with his prey and then moved
in for the kill. City felt the fear the
moment they set eyes on their predator, with the woefully mismatched
Joleon Lescott grabbing onto Messi
in the fourth minute in an attempt

Messi struck
fear into the
Manchester
City defence
every time
he picked
up the ball

Messi believes Bara were back to their best against City

Manchester City may have created a series of clear goalscoring chances at the Camp Nou,
but Messi was never concerned
that the Prermier League side
were going to stage an upset.
It was the Argentinian He told
Canal Plus: We knew that we
only had to score one goal to
finish off the tie and calm our
nerves down a bit, because we
knew what City were capable of
and the quality they possess.
But even before we scored, the
tie was never in danger. We
were always in control and we
created chances throughout the
game which we werent able to
convert but weve qualified for
the next round, which is what
we were looking to do.

Messi acknowledged that the

team had disappointed fans
with the recent defeats at Real
Sociedad and Valladolid, but
believes they produced the
right response against City. Of
course we had two big slip ups
in the league, and above all
we played very badly in those
two games. But today we were
the same old Bara again, the
team we want to be and what
the fans expect us to be, and
we did that while playing against
a really good team. However,
the striker did not appear too
bothered by what the media
had been saying about Barcelona after those defeats. We
were more critical of ourselves
than anyone else, because we

Today we were the

same old Bara again,
the team we want to
be and the team the
fans expect us to be
didnt play as well as we should
have done and we missed an
important chance to win and
keep fighting at the top of the
league, he said. We always
try and distance ourselves from
criticism. We have to listen to
each other and try and turn
things around. ourselves. O

Football

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014

doubters
key points

1
2
3

Messi ran City ragged from minute

one, creating numerous chances
for himself and his team-mates
His 66th minute goal nished off
any hope City had of launching
a late comeback in the tie
He overtook Ral as the player with
the most Champions League goals
for a single team (67 and counting)

to halt a bursting run through the

middle. Lescott simply could not
cope with the forward during the
90 minutes, and was fortunate
not to concede a penalty when he
brought him down in the area a few
moments later. He then skipped
past Yaya Toure, Lescott and Aleksandr Kolarov but could not prevent the ball going out of play. While
he was on a mission to add to his
goal tally, Messi was also keen to
tee up his team-mates delivering an
acute pass for Xavi, who could only
shoot at Hart, and then releasing
Neymar, whose shot was headed
off the line by Fernandinho.

reaffirmed his pre-eminence in the

starkest terms, while The Guardian noted: With each touch he had,
each run he made, space opened.
It was easy to forget the talk in the
Spanish media before the game
about Messis star fading, following Barcelonas 1-0 defeat at Valladolid the previous weekend. In
the press conference before the
City game, Javier Mascherano and
Bara coach Gerardo Martino had
to take questions about whether
Messi still had the hunger and the
talent that lead him to winning the
Ballon dOr four times in a row.
Some suggested he was burned

Joleon Lescott was woefully

mismatched against Messi and had a
torrid time trying to keep up with him
He was just as rampant in the
second half, striking the far post after humiliating Lescott again. The
Bara fans responded by chanting
their heros name, and the next
time Messi went for goal, he found
it. Inevitably it was Lescott who
gifted him the chance, failing to
clear a through ball from Cesc Fbregas, and Messi took one touch
to bring the ball under control with
his left foot, before flicking the outside of his boot to send the ball
into the opposite corner. This time
the Camp Nou was able to give
Messi a proper ovation, and so too
did the press tapping away at their
keyboards high above the pitch.
The Daily Telegraph spoke of the
guile and wizardry of Messi, who

out, still not fully recovered from

suffering three hamstring injuries
in the space of eight months.The
debate was quickly forgotten after
his exhibition at the Camp Nou.
As The Independent put it: Messi
made a whole heap of nonsense
last night out of all the talk of his
diminishing influence. Now the
press are eating out of his hand.
The Daily Mirror wrote: Messi
shone. He shone brightly. He dominated the game. And though City
gave everything, he taught them a
harsh lesson. Spanish newspaper
AS joined in: Messi was stupendous and once again showed hes
still the best in the world. He is like
the 7th Cavalry; he always arrives
just in time. O

Alves calls on Bara faithful

to keep the volume up
The Brazilian ran
towards supporters
after scoring but insists
he was not pointing
the finger at anyone

ani Alves has never

been a man of subtleties and celebrated
his late goal against
City with an exuberant dance by the corner flag,
followed by a series of facial
expressions towards the home
fans. The full-back has been criticial of the clubs supporters in
recent weeks, remarking after
the January defeat to Valencia
at the Camp Nou: At times it felt
like we were playing away from
home. He was also outspoken
after the defeat at Valladolid,
declaring: Anyone who doesnt
believe in this team should get
off the ship. His fiery celebration after scoring against City

Alves ran towards the home fans after scoring the final goal of the game// AFP

looked to be another
message to the Bara
faithful, but Alves insisted he had been
misunderstood, and
thought the fans had
suppor ted the team
throughout the game.
He said: All I wanted
was for the fans to get

If the fans
and team
are united
well be
much harder
to beat

behind us. Im a transparent guy and people need

to know that if the fans
and the team are united
we will be much harder to
beat. Today I have nothing
to complain about. He
added: Well always defend this club with dignity
and honour. O

Busquets tells people to be realistic

If Barcelona want to find an
explanation for why they have
been hounded by the press for
the crime of losing a couple of
matches, they could listen to a
song by the popular Manchester
band James and in particular the
line If I hadnt seen such riches,
I could live with being poor.
It was a theme Sergio Busquets
touched on in an interview with
Bara TV after the City game. The
midfielder pointed out that the
teams fans have been spoiled
in recent years, feasting on one

jawdropping victory after another,

a title win followed by a European
triumph, that they do not know how
to react when the team falls short
from time to time. Maybe people
are just too used to us winning
everything, said Busquets. Wed
all love to win every game 5-0 and
not have to suffer, but thats just
impossible. The midfielder called
for a sense of perspective, reminding fans that despite losing three
games in 2014, Bara still have
everything to play for. We are four
points behind the league leaders

and I dont think that means its the

end of an era, he said. Next up for
Bara is a home game with Osasuna, followed by one of their biggest
league games of the season, the
Clsico with
Real Madrid Maybe
at the Bernab u . B u s - people have
quets added: got too used
We will keep
fighting for all to us winning
the titles until everything
the end of the
season. O

Bartra agrees new contract until 2017

Barcelona have renewed their of limited first team opportunilongstanding commitment to ties, and the 25million buy-out
homegrown players by offering clause that has been inserted into
academy graduate Marc Bar- the contract to warn off interested
tra a new contract.
clubs also reflects how
The 23-year-old has The contract
much Barecelona value
agreed a fresh deal contains a
him. Although Bartra is
with the club that
still behind Gerard Piqu
will keep him tied to 25m buyand Javier Mascherano
Barcelona until June out clause
in the pecking order, in
2017. The contract
defence, he can expect
is a reward for the pa- to warn off
more first team opportutience the youngster other clubs
nities next season, with
has shown in spite
veteran Carles Puyol

announcing he will leave the club

in the summer. Bartra joined Barcelonas world famous academy
La Masia in 2002 when he was
just 11 years old, Pep Guardiola
handing him his first team debut
eight years later in a league game
against Atltico Madrid. Bartra
then returned to the clubs B team
but was made a fully fledged member of the first team squad at the
start of the 2012-13 season and
has grown in stature this season,
starting 10 games in La Liga. O

Football

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

REAL MADRID Bale happy in Spanish capital and reckons this years Champions League is wide open ahead of quarters

La Liga

Bale loving life in La Liga

Fixtures
Getafe-Granada
Friday 14, 23:00h.

Levante-Celta Vigo
Saturday 15, 18:00h.

Rayo Vallecano-Almera
Saturday 15, 20:00h.

Mlaga-Real Madrid

Gareth Bale has overcome

his initial injury problems
to find his best form at
Real Madrid but thinks
he can still improve

Saturday 15, 22:00h.

Atltico Madrid-Espanyol
Sunday 16, 00:00h.

Elche-Real Betis
Sunday 16, 14:00h.

Barcelona-Osasuna
Sunday 16, 19:00h.

Sevilla-Valladolid
Sunday 16, 21:00h.

Real Sociedad-Valencia

News

Sunday 16, 23.00h.

Villarreal-Athletic Bilbao
Tuesday. 18, 00:00h.

Table

Team
Real Madrid
Atltico
Barcelona
Athletic
Villarreal
Real Sociedad
Sevilla
Espanyol
Levante
Valencia
Celta Vigo
Granada
Osasuna
Elche
Getafe
Malaga
Valladolid
Almeria
Rayo
Real Betis

PLD
27
27
27
26
27
26
27
27
27
26
27
27
26
27
27
26
27
27
26
27

Joseph Sexton

W
21
20
20
15
13
12
11
10
9
10
8
9
8
7
7
6
5
7
7
4

D
4
4
3
5
5
7
8
6
9
5
6
3
5
8
6
8
11
5
2
6

L
2
3
4
6
9
7
8
11
9
11
13
15
13
12
14
12
11
15
17
17

GF
76
63
74
49
47
46
47
32
26
38
32
24
24
24
23
24
29
26
26
23

GA
26
21
22
30
33
36
42
33
34
37
39
36
39
40
42
35
44
49
59
56

Pts
67
64
63
50
44
43
41
36
36
35
30
30
29
29
27
26
26
26
23
18

O
Champions League O
Europa League O
Relegation

We fear nobody, says

Atltico Madrids Koke
The Atltico Madrid midfielder
Koke stated that in no way
would his side fear any team
they find themselves drawn
against in the next round of
the Champions League after
Atleti hammered Milan to
progress to the quarter-finals.
Its an exciting game and
in no way will we have any
fear because weve already
beaten some great teams,
Koke said. He also said that
its important for Atltico to
contribute more players to the
Spanish national team, such
as Diego Costa, who made
his debut recently, Juanfran,
and Mario Surez.

Real Madrid
winger Gareth Bale has paid tribute to the
high technical standard of La Liga
after spending six months with the
Spanish giants. Bale joined Real
for a reported fee of 91million
from Tottenham Hotspur in a protracted transfer deal in September
after being crowned the Premier
Leagues best player by football
writers and his fellow players, after a series of staggering performances last season.
Bale says he is enjoying the
changes to a less physically demanding style of play and has been
impressed by the determination of
even the leagues lesser sides to
try and play a passing game. The
big difference is the tactical play
and the way all teams play a lot of
good football, he said on Thursday.
That is the biggest thing about
Spain, it is all passing and movement. It has been a new experience which I am obviously learning
from and enjoying. All the teams,
no matter if they are at the top or
the bottom, try to play football. It is
exciting , it is a great league and it
is great to be playing here.
A succession of injuries disrupted Bales start to the season,
but his return to form and full fitness has helped Real embark on a
29 game unbeaten run which now
stretches back to October. Barcelonas shock 1-0 defeat at Valladolid
at the weekend allowed Real to
open up a four-point gap on their
bitter rivals at the top of the table.
But Bale is taking nothing for
granted as he and his side target
trophies in his first season in Madrid. Obviously we are in a very
good position at the moment, but
theres still 11 games left to go,
the Welshman said. We need to
take every game as it comes and
concentrate on our own performances. Hopefully we can keep playing well and achieve our goals.
Real will face Barcelona twice
next month in La Liga and the Copa
del Rey final and they could even
meet four times in 25 days if they

Bales enjoyed his time in Spain and the Real Madrid galctico hopes to keep on improving

ON LA LIGA

In Spain its all about

passing and movement.
All the teams try to play
a passing game
ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Its full of great teams,

every team left in the
competition can win it.
Its wide open

are drawn together in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Bara sealed their passage to the
quarters on Wednesday with a 4-1
aggregate victory over Manchester
City
Real, for their part, are all but
in the last eight already given that
they lead Schalke 6-1 from the first
leg of their encounter in Germany
but Bale is certain that they will
face a tougher test in the next
round. The Champions League is
full of great teams. he asserted.
Every team left in the competition
can potentially win it.
For me, everybody left in the
competition can consider themselves a favourite and whoever we
draw next it is going to be a diffi-

cult game. The tournament is really

wide open and it just depends on
who takes their chances.
Bales enjoyed a productive first
season in Madrid, chipping in with
14 goals and 11 assists in just 25
performances in La Liga and the
Champions League to date, but
he reckons there is more to come
having overcome the initial difficulties of the change of lifestyle when
moving countries.
Naturally its taken me a bit of
time to get used, but I am really
enjoying the football and especially
the weather, he laughed. Ive enjoyed my six months in Spain so
far. It took me a bit of time to get
up to speed but I think my performances have come on as well. O

MADRID STARS INJURY BLOW

Arbeloa suffers knee injury and his

World Cup place is now in jeopardy
Real Madrid full-back lvaro
Arbeloa has suffered a knee
injury that places his World Cup
hopes in jeopardy. The injury is
a fracture to his right kneecap
and the Spain international
will have to spend at least two
months on the sidelines. At first
the injury wasnt feared to be
serious, although it was certain
that he was going to miss this

weekends clash with Levante

as well as the upcoming clsico
against Barcelona on March 23.
Now its feared that the injury
could be a lot more serious
and there are questions as to
whether hell be ready when
Vicente del Bosque names his
World Cup squad on May 25. He
was not part of the latest squad
which faced Italy in a friendly.

Football

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014
HOENESS Club stands by disgraced president

Bundesliga
Fixtures
Augsburg-Schalke 04
Friday 14, 22:30h.

Borussia Dortmund-Borussia MGladbach

Saturday 15, 17:30h.

Braunschweig-Wolfsburg
Saturday 15, 17:30h.

Hertha Berlin-Hanover 96
Saturday 15, 17:30h.

Hoffenheim-Mainz 05
Saturday 15, 17:30h.

Werder Bremen- Vfb Stuttgart

Saturday 15, 17:30h.

Bayern Munich-Bayer Leverkusen

Saturday 15, 20:30h.

Hamburg-Nurnberg
Sunday 16, 17:30h.
Sunday 16, 19:30h.

Team
Bayern Munich
B. Dortmund
B. Leverkusen
Schalke 04
Wolfsburg
Mainz 05
B. MGladbach
Hertha
Augsburg
Hoffenheim
Hannover
Eintracht
Werder Bremen
Nuremberg
Stuttgart
Hamburg
Freiburg
E. Braunschweig

P W
24 21
24 15
24 14
24 13
24 12
24 11
24 11
24 10
24 10
24 7
24 7
24 7
24 6
24 4
24 5
24 5
24 4
24 4

D L
2 0
3 6
2 8
5 6
3 9
5 8
4 8
6 8
5 8
8 9
7 10
5 12
8 10
11 9
5 14
5 14
7 12
5 15

Bayern chief
guilty of
tax evasion

In a case which has grabbed the publics

attention Uli Hoeness has been found guilty
and sentenced to prison following trial

Eintracht Frankfurt-Freiburg

Table

GF
72
55
40
46
41
33
41
35
34
52
28
31
27
27
38
39
22
19

GA
11
27
27
35
38
36
35
28
27
52
46
43
40
42
51
53
45
44

Pts
68
48
44
44
39
38
37
36
35
29
28
26
26
23
20
20
19
17

O
Champions League O
Europa League O
Promocin O
Relegation

Booming Bundesliga
most attended league
The Bundesliga remains the
most attended league in the
world, the figures for the first
half of the season tell us, and
the trend remains upward.
Each top division game was
attended by an average of
43,125, an increase of 1.81
percent on last season,
where the average figure
was 41,377. In total, the
league has drawn some 6.4
million fans between August
and December which was
also an increase of 1.14
percent. There was also an
increase in attdences in the
German second division, the
Bundesliga 2 in that time.

News

Joseph Sexton

A German court on
Thursday sentenced
the president of Bayen Munich, Uli Hoeness, to three and a
half years in prison on tax evasion
charges.
In the name of the people, Mr
Ulrich Hoeness is sentenced for
seven serious counts of tax evasion to a prison term of three years
and six months, judge Rupert
Heindel told the Munich court.
This verdict, with one year for
each count of tax cheating, likely
spells the end of the career of the
former football player, whose trial
has captivated the football-mad
country. Hoeness had admitted
to dodging some 27.2 million
in taxes by hiding his wealth in
Swiss accounts while gambling
on stocks and currencies over a
period of years, the court heard.
He was allowed to walk out of
the court for now because he has
one week to lodge an appeal. His
defence team stated that he will do
so. The butchers son rose to fame
as the clubs powerful football boss
only to end his career with an own

Butcher's son

Hoeness found guilty

of seven counts of tax
evasion in Munich

Hoeness had hoped

to avoid jail under
proposed amnesty
but deal struck down

goal. When he entered the dock on

Monday he confessed to a large
scale tax fraud of 18.5 million,
almost five times more than the
prosecutors believed. His vow of
full disclosure was contradicted
the next day by a tax officer who
testified that Hoeness had evaded
27.2 million.
Hoeness first turned himself in
and paid 10 million in back taxes
on January 17 last year, with the
tax investigators already pursuing
his case. In March the police raided
his villa and he was arrested briefly
before being released on bail of
five millions euros, facts which
were only reported in the media
weeks later.
Hoeness said he had been hop-

Fall from grace: Bayerns Uli Hoeness could be set for spell in prison // AFP

ing to benefit from a tax deal Germany was negotiating with Switzerland which would have guaranteed
immunity to tax cheats who came
clean. But the amnesty deal was
scuppered by Germanys centre-left
opposition of the time, who argued
that wealthy criminals should not
be treated so leniently.
In a comment thats since come
back to bite Hoeness he told the
newspaper Bild in 2005 that I
know its stupid but I pay all my
taxes. Unbeknownst to the public, Hoeness was obsessively gam-

bling millions of euros on stocks

and currencies through the funds
in his Swiss bank accounts.
Hoeness twice narrowly evaded
death, first from a serious car accident in 1975 and then a plane
crash in 1982 which killed three
friends. A dazed and hurt Hoeness
was found wandering through the
woods telling his rescuer I am
cold, I am freezing.
Alongside Franz Beckenbauer
and Gerd Mueller, Hoeness was
a star of the team that won three
European Cups in the 1970s. O

BUNDESLIGA Leverkusen showing signs of life ahead of big Bayern test

Leverkusen face daunting Bayern task

Leverkusen are up next for Bayern

Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich host Bayer

Leverkusen on Saturday while second placed Borussia Dortmund,
who have 20 less points, play
Borussia Moenchengladbach at
home. The weekend programstarts
today with a game between the surprise package of the season Augsburg and Schalke ahead of their
Champions League trip to Madrid.
The clash between Bayern and
Leverkusen pits off two teams in
completely different situations.

So far this calendar year Bayern havent tasted defeat, while

Leverkusen appear to have forgotten how to win. At least in their last
two games Leverkusen have shown
some signs of life. Last Saturday

Leverkusen one

of just two teams

to take points off
Bayern domestically

they picked up their first point since

the winter break against Hanover
and on Wednesay salvaged some
dignity in bowing out of the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat away
to Paris Saint-Germain after losing the first leg 4-0 at home. If we
go with the same attitude there,
we can take something out of the
game, said manager Sami Hyypia.
When the sides met in earlier in the
season the result was a 1-1 draw,
Leverkusen becoming one of only
two teams to draw with Bayern.

FOOTBALL LEGENDS

Palmeiras
Deportivo Corua
Barcelona
Milan
Olympiakos
AEK Athens
Bunyodkor
Sao Paulo (loan)
Kabuscorp
Sao Caetano

74 games / 34 goals

Brazil National Team

509 games / 254 goals

1994-96
1996-97
1997-02
2002-04
2004-07
2007-08
2008-10
2011
2012
2013

CAREER

Paulista (Brazil)
April 19, 1972
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER

RIVALDO

10

Football

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

Serie A
Fixtures
Verona-Inter
Saturday, 1945

Atalanta-Sampdoria
Sunday, 1130

Cagliari-Lazio
Sunday, 1400

Milan-Parma
Sunday, 1400

Livorno-Bologna
Sunday, 1400

Sassuolo-Catania
Sunday, 1400

Fiorentina-Chievo
Sunday, 1945

Genoa-Juventus
Sunday, 1945

Torino-Napoli
Monday, 1800

Roma-Udinese
Monday, 2000

Table
Team

P W D

Juventus
Roma
Npoles
Fiorentina
Inter
Verona
Parma
Torino
Milan
Lazio
Genoa
Udinese
Sampdoria
Atalanta
Cagliari
Chievo
Bolonia
Livorno
Catania
Sassuolo

25
24
25
25
25
25
24
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25

L GF GA Pts

21 3 1
17 6 1
15 6 4
13 6 6
10 10 5
12 3 10
9 10 5
9 9 7
9 8 8
9 8 8
8 8 9
8 4 13
7 7 11
8 4 13
5 10 10
5 6 14
4 9 12
5 5 15
4 7 14
4 5 16

60
49
50
45
43
43
38
39
39
33
28
29
27
25
23
19
22
26
19
25

19 66
11 57
28 51
28 45
29 40
42 39
29 37
32 36
35 35
34 35
32 32
36 28
37 28
37 28
35 25
35 21
41 21
45 20
43 19
54 17

O
Champions League O
Europa League O
Relegation

Balotelli critics come out

Under pressure: Balotelli has received considerable criticism in the wake of Milans defeat to Atleti

The controversial
Milan and Italy striker
has been subjected
to most criticism yet
in his short career

Corriere dello Sport

Report

in defence of Balotelli
and insists he only
thinks positive things

David Cartlidge

Cassano could still

make the World Cup
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli
has said he is open to picking
Parma star Antonio Cassano
for his World Cup squad. The
door has never been closed
for Antonio [Cassano] and to
anyone, The 31-year-old has
not featured in Prandellis
plans with the national team
since the 2012 European
Championships, but is still
in with a chance of making
the summer tournament. He
is a very talented player who
makes the team play well,
but cannot do it all alone, he
would need to be placed in the
context of a perfect team.

AC Milan
striker Mario
Balotelli has
come in for
severe criticism from the Italian media following his series of insipid displays in
the Champions League and Serie
A this season.
Milan exited the Champions
League at the hands of Atletico
Madrid 5-1 on aggregate, with the
Italian outfit being swept aside
in the second leg held in Madrid.
No player has taken more nega-

call Balotelli a disaster

after Champions
League display

Seedorf speaks out

tive reaction than Balotelli for the

failure.
Newspapers singled out the
striker, with Gazzetta dello Sport
claiming the Italy international
failed to make any impact over
both legs. Balotelli remains
switched off, read one headline.
Examining his performances they
said fans have lost patience with
the sub-par displays and antics,
while also claiming the dressing
room was divided over what he

NAPOLI AIMING TO KEEP SPANIARD

Reina happy with life in Napoli

Napoli director Riccardo Bigon has hinted Pepe Reina could stay at
the Italian club after this season, when his loan expires. We are in
a very clear situation. Pepe told us he appreciates this city, the team
and the fans. It means when the time comes to make decisions,
well do so safe in the knowledge he likes being here. Reina himself
suggested this past week that staying in Naples is an option that
attracts him, despite links persisting with Barcelona. O

brings to the club.

Meanwhile, the equally influential Corriere dello Sport referred
to Balotelli as a disaster. On the
front page they showed a picture of
the 22-year-old and next to it a caption saying the Italian national cannot expect to rely upon someone
like this. They went on to say that
Balotelli is untrustworthy too, and
that this isnt a quality you want
in the man leading your line at a
World Cup.
Questions continue to be asked
about Balotellis true level, and if
he can produce at the very top.
With only eight goals in 31 appearances in the Champions League it
is understandable why some are
questioning the player who many
thought would become one of the
worlds best. In Serie A hes fared
slightly better getting 10 goals in
18 appearances. Goals are only
half the story for many though, and
seeing a more desirable attitude
would be as appreciated.
Milan coach Clarence Seedorf

is seen as someone who can get

the best out of Balotelli, and can
offer strong guidance to a player
that is still working his way up the
football ladder. Still, there needs
to be more from Balotelli and he
cant expect everyone to do everything for him.
Seedorf has recently backed
the striker, insisting hell always
be fighting his corner, I only think
positive things towards him. What
position do I like him best in? I like
Balotelli, full stop. He can play on
the right or the left.
There have even been suggestions in recent days that Balotelli
could head back to England, with
Arsenal. Its difficult to see how
such a move could benefit him; he
would be swapping the unforgiving and cutting Italian press for the
English version. The most sensible thing Balotelli can do right now
however is focus on football with
his current team Milan, and head
into the World Cup this summer on
the back of a run of form. O

MILAN DUO TARGET MIDFIELDER

Milan rivals eye Napolis Inler

City rivals Milan and Inter are both interested in securing the signature of Napoli midfielder Gkhan Inler this summer. The 29-year-old
has performed well this season and both Milan based clubs could
look to bolster their squads. Inlers deal expires in 2016 with Napoli,
and right now the club arent entirely against the sale of the player.
The Swiss International has made 24 appearances this season and
in the process scored two goals. O

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014

Ligue1
Upcoming fixtures
Stade Reims-Olympique Marseille
Friday, 2030

Lille-Nantes

Football

11

Blanc: Danger lies ahead

Paris Saint-Germain
boss is aware that his
side wont face any
easy opponents in the
Champions League

Saturday, 1630

Ajaccio-Guingamp
Saturday, 2000

Evian-Valenciennes
Saturday, 2000

Nice-Bastia
Saturday, 2000

Stade Rennais-Toulouse
Saturday, 2000

News

Sochaux-Lorient
Saturday, 2000

Rik Sharma

Montpellier-Bordeaux
Sunday, 1400

Lyon-Monaco
Sunday, 1700

PSG-Saint Etienne
Saturday, 2100

Table
Team

P W D L GF GA Pts

PSG
Mnaco
Lille
Saint-Etienne
Olymp. Marsella
Olympique Lyon
Reims
Girondins
Toulouse
Bastia
Lorient
Niza
Montpellier
Guingamp
Nantes
Rennes
vian TG
Valenciennes
Sochaux
Ajaccio

28
28
28
28
28
27
28
27
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28

20
17
15
14
12
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
6
8
9
7
7
6
5
2

7 1
8 3
7 6
6 8
7 9
9 7
9 8
7 9
9 9
7 11
6 12
4 14
15 7
8 12
5 14
10 11
9 12
7 15
7 16
9 17

67
46
33
38
38
40
37
34
34
31
36
24
33
26
25
32
28
29
23
24

18
22
18
24
30
31
36
31
38
41
38
33
33
29
32
34
43
47
50
51

67
59
52
48
43
42
42
40
39
37
36
34
33
32
32
31
30
25
22
15

O
Champions League O
Europa League O
Relegation

Montpellier clear out set

to include Cabella

Montpellier Hrault SC
President Louis Nicollin
has said that AC Milanowned striker MBaye
Niang will not have his
loan extended beyond the
current season, after proving
a dissapointment. Also
leaving the club could be
Rmy Cabella, who is highly
rated all across Europe,
with Newcastle remaining
interested. When I give my
word to someone, I respect
it. Cabella was promised that
if it was an ambitious club
who came in for him then we
would let him go.

Laurent Blanc
was not pleased,
despite his sides
win against Bayer
Leverkusen in
the Champions League last 16
on Wednesday night and wants
them to improve. He warned Paris
Saint-Germain players that there
will be no easy opposition in the
next round. They beat the German
side 2-1 at the Parc des Princes
and won the tie 6-1 on aggregate
overall.
Marquinhos and Ezequiel Lavezzi helped them come from behind
after Sidney Sam had opened the
scoring. It means they have at least
matched their performance in the
competition last season, where
they were knocked out on away
goals by Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Now Blanc wants his men
to step up to the mark and push
on further.
Its not a bonus to be in the
quarter-finals, said Blanc. We
need to prepare well, be very professional, but Im not worried about
that. I think the players will respond
to the challenge. We have an end
to the season that could become
very exciting. First of all we are
happy, satisfied, but we have won
nothing. At the end of the season
what counts is trophies. He continued: We prepared well for this
match but were mediocre at the
start. But paradoxically the Bayer
goal woke us up a bit too. PSG
were clearly not brilliant tonight. I
expected more, but the essential
thing is that we are through.
PSG are eight points clear of
Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 and
are through to the French League
Cup final, where they will face Lyon.
Although they are on course to win
the domestic double, winning the
Champions League as well would
be a giant feat. I think first of all
the objective is to go as far as possible. Ok, we have done as well as
last year, but you want to win every
tie, said Blanc.
There are teams who have a legitimacy in the Champions League
in terms of experience that we
dont have, but I think the consideration that our opponents have for
us has increased. They know we
are a club who can go far. We will

Tricky: Laurent Blanc warned his team that they will not have it easy in the quarter-finals

wait for the draw. Hopefully we can

get a bit of luck in the draw, but the
ideal opponent does not exist.
Tenacious defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi was rested by
Blanc, because he was at risk of
picking up a booking which would
rule him out of the next round. Salvatore Sirigu had to save a Simon
Rolfes penalty with the scores at 11 and Blanc showed his displeasure after the game. He was, however, interested in club president
Nasser Al-Khelaifi commenting on

Blanc was pleased

to progress but
not delighted with
PSG's performance
French coach
surprised by
presidents comments
about a new contract

French television after the match

that he would be offered a new contract. Blanc signed a two-year deal
at the club last summer.
I expected more [from the players]. The attitude was not great but
the level in the Champions League
is a lot higher than the French
championship. I am still very happy, said Blanc. I didnt expect
that question, he added about his
contractual situation. I hope the
presidents comments will be verified in the coming weeks. O

QSI GAVE IT A NEW DIMENSION

Makll backing PSG project for

success after memories come back
Paris Saint-Germain assistant
Claude Makll has backed
the club in their quest for success, and says their emergence
sparks memories of the time
he left Real Madrid for Chelsea in 2003. I came [to PSG]
because I was offered a great
project. The club was then in
trouble, but it already had very
high goals, but not the neces-

sary means to fulfill them.

Gradually, the club began to get
results and to dream. QSI [Qatar
Sports Investment] then arrived
and gave it a new dimension.
PSG are currently sitting comfortably at the top of Ligue 1,
while they had no problems in
removing Bayer Leverkusen in
the Champions League with a
commanding aggregate win. O

12

Football

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

ROMARIO

Blatter and Valcke are

two thieves at FIFA who
are well known among
Brazilians
VALKE

Romario is the worst

person in the world.
He is anti-FIFA and also
anti-everything

Romario has been an outspoken presence for a while when it comes to all matters FIFA

Romario calls FIFA duo Blatter and

Valcke thieves in latest outburst
Former-Brazil striker once again opens up with
criticism of FIFA and the preparation by his
home nation for the World Cup this summer

Report

David Cartlidge

ormer-Brazil star Romrio

launched a scathing criticism of FIFA president
Joseph Blatter and Secretar y-general Jrme
Valcke, labelling the pair thieves.
Romario, who played for Barce-

lona among other clubs in a glittering career, has been an outspoken

presence in the build-up to the
World Cup in Brazil, and has hit out
in his fiercest manner yet.
On the subject of Valcke,
Romrio said, He just said that
the World Cup in Brazil can be
one of the worst ever, he comes
here, gives orders, says what he
wants, and everyone just claps
their hands.

Romrios latest attack on

F I FA c o m e s i n
response to comments made by
Valcke, declaring
the former striker
as the worst person in the world,
and anti-FIFA, anti-Jerome Valcke,
anti-everything.
Speaking in an interview with
ESPN Brazil, Romrio, who won
FIFAs World Player of the Year in
1994, went on to say about Valcke: that guy is one of the biggest
blackmailers in the world of sport,
he had been sacked, then he black-

Russia and taken away from England.

Blatter and Valcke are two
thieves at FIFA who are well-known
among Brazilians. There are many
others in both FIFA and Brazils FA,
who are going to become billionaires at our expense and nothing
is being done. Also our government
and president are also becoming
richer.
The stadia has taken a heavy
bout of criticism from all corners
in the build-up too, and Romrio
has also questioned the cost of the
much maligned Arena da Baixada
stadium in Curitaba. He went on
to say, We have spent an absurd
amount of money with the World
Cup already, and from now on it will
become worse.
Many of these works, such as
the Atltico Paranaense stadium,
are now in an emergency stage, the
bidding contests wont be in the
usual bureaucratic system, in order to ensure the
money is available, so something that would
cost 20 will now
costs 60.
When it comes
to Brazils chances on the pitch
though, he said: We have to hope
Brazil will win the title on the pitch
as that would be wonderful for
Brazilian football, we have already
lost outside it and that cant be
changed.
The World Cup is set to start in
June, with hosts Brazil taking on
Croatia in the curtain raiser. O

Romario was FIFA World Player

of the Year in 1994, the same year
Brazil also won the World Cup
mailed the corrupt FIFA president
who is a son of a b.....
The former striker, who is currently a federal deputy in Brazils
senate, also caused controversy
in the past when it came to the
2018 World Cup. The tournament
is scheduled to take place in Russia, and according to Romrio the
awarding of it was sold by FIFA to

Pel labelled traitor and is target of anti-World Cup protest

Around 150 people gathered
Wednesday in Rio to protest
against Brazil hosting the World
Cup, with legendary star Pel
blasted as a traitor for backing the event which takes place
this summer. Pel is an honorary ambassador for the tournament, which kicks off on June
12, but his backing has caused
anger amongst many who feel
the vast sums of money being
spent should be spent elsewhere on things such as public

services. There will be no cup,

Cup. Just yesterday in fact, the
no election, was one of the
first day of ticket sales, saw
chants coming from demonstra207,649 sold for the competitors, while a banner being cartion via the internet throughout
ried read Pel, traitor
the world, The United
Pele was
of the century. More
States were one of the
demonstrations are
targeted with biggest buyers, with
planned as Brazil con20,981 purchased.
a banner
tinues to build-up to
People wanting tickets
the tournament which
claiming he have until as late as
gets underway in Rio.
15th, which is
was traitor of April
Meanwhile, not everyclassed as the final
body is reacting negathe century ticket day in the FIFA
tively about the World
sales calendar. O

Pele has taken heavy criticism over his role as World Cup ambassador

Sports

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014
TENNIS Djokovic and Federer reach quarter-finals

Wawrinka and Murray

toppled at Indian Wells

13

In brief...

Court is shown graphic photos of

Pistorius blood-splattered home
TRIAL Graphic photos of Oscar Pistorius blood-splattered home
were presented at his trial with the prosecution arguing that the
nightmare scene showed he and Reeva Steenkamp fought before
she died. The prosecution used police pictures to follow a trail
of blood from the entrance hall where Steenkamps lifeless body
lay covered, up the stairs to the toilet where she was shot. In
the blood-soaked bathroom a pistol lay wrapped in a grey towel
beside an iPhone. The prosecution argues the 27-year-old runner
shot his girlfriend in a fit of rage following an argument.

Fenninger assured of
womens ski title
Murray was beaten by South Africas Kevin Anderson, in three sets // AFP

South Africas Kevin

Anderson defeated
Wawrinka and bigserving Canadian
Raonic finish off Murray

News

evin Anderson handed

Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka his first defeat of
2014 on Wednesday to
reach the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters. South Africas Anderson beat Wawrinka 7-6
(7/1), 4-6, 6-1 to end Wawrinkas
run of 13 straight match wins to
open 2014, which included a title
run in Chennai, before his maiden
Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne.
I knew it was going to happen
some time, Wawrinka said. Im
not going to keep winning every
tournament.
Two-time Grand Slam champion
Andy Murray, of Britain, was another fourth-round casualty, falling 4-6,
7-5, 6-3 to big-serving Canadian
Milos Raonic. But second seed

Anderson will

now meet Federer,

and Djokovic takes
on Benneteau
Novak Djokovic turned round the
challenge of in-form Croatian Marin
Cilic, rallying for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory. It was very tough, said Djokovic, who posted his eighth victory
over Cilic in as many meetings.
Marin was by far the better
player in the first 45 minutes. He
was striking the ball incredibly
well. I just tried to stay calm and
composed and believe that I could
come back.
Djokovic next faces French-

man Julien Benneteau, who beat

Spains Feliciano Lpez 6-3, 7-6
(7/4). Wawrinkas exit ended the
possibility of an all-Swiss quarterfinal between him and Roger Federer. Instead Anderson will face
Federer, a four-time champion in
the California desert who edged
German veteran Tommy Haas 64, 6-4.
RADWANSKA IN SEMI-FINALS

Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells hardcourt
tournament on Wednesday with a
three-set win over Jelena Jankovic.
Radwanska triumphed 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
over the former world number one
from Serbia, who won the title back
in 2010. O

St.Louis named to host US-France tie

France and the United States will meet next month at St. Louis
in the Fed Cup world group play-off, the US Tennis Association
announced Thursday. The match between top womens players
will be staged on April 19-20, on an indoor hardcourt at St. Louis
Universitys Chaifetz Arena. The winners qualify for next years Fed
Cup world group while the losers are relegated to the second tier.

SPORT QATAR
Director: Joan Vehils.
Assistant Directors: Joan M Batlle and Llus Mascar.
Subdirector and General coordinator: Albert Masnou.
Director Gerente: Antonio Pujol.
Director of Production: Mario Moya.

LOQMAN
Managing Director: Jos Daz Villa.
Technical Manager: Carmen lvarez Bermejo.
P.R.& Advertising Director: Samar Abou-Farah.
Regional Manager: Fatima Zohra Hamed Layasi.
Marketing Manager: Tariq Al-Taie.

ALPINE SKIING Austrias Anna

Fenninger took the womens
Alpine skiing overall World Cup
title taking advantage of the
injury suffered by Maria HoeflRiesch. Fenninger was second
in the super-G at Lenzerheide,
won by Switzerlands Lara Gut,
but with just a slalom and giant
slalom left, the Austrian cannot
now be caught.

Fife set for Scotland

debut in Six Nations finale

RUGBY Edinburgh wing

Dougie Fife is set to make
his Scotland debut in their
Six Nations finale against
Wales at Cardiffs Millennium
Stadium on Saturday. Fife, 23,
replaces the injured Tommy
Seymour (ankle) on the right
wing in one of three changes
to the starting XV announced
by coach Scott Johnson.

Pelucchi wins stage, Cav still in Tirreno lead

CYCLING Italian Matteo Pelucchi pipped French spinter Arnaud
Demare to win the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, with
Mark Cavendish retaining the overall lead of the Italian stage
race Thursday. While Cavendish missed the final sprint, Pelucchi
caused a minor upset by beating a host of bigger-name rivals, including Demare and German Andre Greipel, to take his fifth career
win. A late crash before the final sprint took down several riders,
including German stage contender Marcel Kittel.

Betancur takes Paris-Nice

stage, Thomas keeps yellow
CYCLING Carlos Betancur
claimed the 152.5km fifth
stage of the Paris-Nice race
on Thursday but Geraint Thomas did enough to hang on
to the leaders yellow jersey.
Colombian Betancur, of the
AG2R team, was part of a
three-man breakaway that
opened a gap on the peloton
9km from home.
GRUPO ZETA
Founder: ANTONIO ASENSIO PIZARRO
President: Antonio Asensio Mosbah.
President of the Executive Committee: Juan Llopart.
General Director: Conrado Carnal.
Editorial director and Communications: Miguel Angel Liso.

Editorial deparment: newsroom@sportqatar.com.qa Office: Palm Tower, 6 floor, office 606 Doha (Qatar) Advertising: advertising@sportqatar.com.qa Administration: administration@sportqatar.net
Phone: + 974 44729932 Fax: + 974 44726822

14

Motor Sport

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

SPORT QATAR

All changes from 2013 to 2014

Recovery fuel
system
2013
KER S (8 0 HP/6 sec)
2014
ER S (1 6 0 HP/3 0 sec)

Motor
2013
2.4 litres V8
750 HP
2014
1 .6 litres V6 turbo
6 0 0 HP

Fuel capacity
2013
unlimited
2014
limited to 1 0 0 kilos
(1 40 litres aprox.)

NEW S PEC IFIC ATIONS

F1 revolution is h
A new championship
is about to begin
marked by major
changes as a result of
technical regulations

Analysis
S ergi Mejas

return to turbocharged
engines, a limit on fuel
and new energy recovery systems are among
a number of significant
rule changes which look set to
shake up the new Formula One
season. The sport is pushing the
boundaries of hybrid technology in
a move that is likely to benefit road
car design, and means that 2014s
F1 machines will run races on 35
percent less fuel than last season.

Turbocharged engines are back

for the first time since 1988, with
last years 2.4-litre V8s replaced
by 1.6-litre V6s, and energy recovery systems (ERS) instead of the
previous kinetic energy recovery
systems (KERS).
The new ERS will offer twice the
power of KERS, and consequently
any ERS failure during a race will
have a much bigger impact on performance than it did under KERS.
The driver no longer has to push a
button to activate ERS - the power is simply delivered to the rear
wheels via the throttle pedal with
help from the cars electronics. In
another form of energy harvesting,
cars will also use two separate Motor Generator Units, which convert
mechanical and heat energy to
electrical energy and vice versa.
Perhaps the most significant
rule change in this years F1 is
the introduction of a fuel limit.
Each car will be allowed to use a

maximum of
tional Automobile
Atmospheric
100 kilos (apFederation (FIA)
V8 engines are
proximately
to supply F1 cars
135 litres),
replaced now by more for the next three
representing
years.
efficient turbo V6
around twoFo l l o w i n g a
thirds of the
turbulent 2013
loads carried
The electrical power season, it was
previously. As
announced late
gains importance
a result, drivlast year that
ing styles and
Pirelli would rewith the new ERS
tactics will
main as the sole
system recovery
have to adapt
supplier of tyres
with fuel confor the F1 circuit.
servation parThe announceamount. In a further change for the ment that the agreement will stand
teams, F1 cars will have eight for- for the next three years, further
ward gears for the first time. The underlines the FIAs confidence
gear ratios have been selected that Pirelli can iron out the safety
during pre-season and will have to problems that dogged them last
be used for the whole season.
year.
Each gearbox must now last six
Last season was marred by a
consecutive races instead of the succession of tyre blow-outs, culprevious five. Italian tyre-makers minating at the British Grand Prix
Pirelli have been contracted by the at Silverstone which was almost
sports governing body the Interna- halted mid-race due to the number

of incidents. Among the teams,

Mercedes and McLaren appeared
to have adapted the best to the
new regulations during pre-season
testing while Red Bull and fourtime world champion Sebastian
Vettel struggled.

RED BULL PROBLEMS

Vettel endured a tough final testing session in Bahrain when there

were problems with the new Red
Bull car. On one day, the German
failed to complete a single lap due
to electrical issues and problems
with the cars Renault engine. Renault are powering four teams in
the 2014 F1 championship -- Red
Bull, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Caterham.
Away from the garages, one significant and controversial change
is the decision to award double
points for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on November 23.
F1 revolution is here. O

Motor Sport 15

SPORT QATAR FRIDAY

March 14, 2014

In bo
boxes
oxees
Josep
Viaplana
Aerodynamics
Lowest Nose
and thinnest
spoiler

Time for show

to hit the road

e have been writing and

talking about the upcoming Formula 1 season and
the impact of the new regulations on the sport for some
time, and it finally begins this
Sunday in Australia. It is the
moment of truth. I must admit
that I am looking forward to
Melbourne, seeing who is the
quickest in qualifying and how
many cars finish a race which
is predicted to be chaotic. The
track will, once again, be decisive in who is right and wrong.
Dear reader, we want the show
to begin. Apparently Mercedes
have done their homework better this winter, but no one re-

Moment of truth The

track in the end will
shed the light after a
winter full of doubts

ere
FORMER TEAMMATE

Massa set for

Schumacher tribute
Felipe Massa will display a message
of support for Michael Schumacher
at Sundays Australian Grand Prix,
the first Formula One race since
a skiing accident left the German
legend fighting for his life. The Brazilian driver, a former teammate of
Schumachers with Ferrari, has said
he will drive with the initials MS
emblazoned on his helmet for the
season opener in Melbourne. Seventime world champion Schumacher
remains in a medically induced coma
since hitting his head on a rock while
skiing at the French resort of Meribel on December 29. The 45-yearold is showing small, encouraging
signs of recovery, his family said
on Wednesday, while acknowledging
that he faces a long battle ahead.

ally knows for sure how each

will compete until we are underway as times can be easily masked by fuel load, used
tyres or simply easing the foot
on the pedal. Its the moment
of truth, the moment to see
the impact of the significant
changes, and if Ferrari really is going to be a rival for
Mercedes or if Red Bull will
remain in the mire.

Hamilton rejects completely

Mercedes favourites tag
Its very technical
this year, said the
29-year-old Mercedes
driver. Everybody is
in the same boat

ercedes driver
Lewis Hamilton
has played down
his teams favourites tag ahead of
the season-opening Australian
Formula One Grand Prix Sunday,
saying technical changes make
any predictions worthless. The
Briton and his teammate Nico
Rosberg have enjoyed the fastest times in off-season testing,
leading many to tip Mercedes
as the car to beat going into the
Melbourne race.
But the 2008 champion is
not sure Mercedes warrants all
the hype as
he prepares The Briton
for todays and Nico
opening
p r a c t i c e Rosberg
s e s s i o n s have enjoyed
at the Alb e r t Pa r k the fastest
circuit. All times
the media
are talking
us up. Favourite driver, favourite
team, Hamilton told reporters
on Thursday. I just dont know
whats going to happen this
weekend, he added.
Hamilton said a raft of significant rule changes including a
return to turbocharged engines,
a limit on fuel and new energy re-

Hamilton was cautious about Mercedes options in Australia // AFP

covery systems meant it was hard

to say which car would come out on
top. Its very technical this year.
Everybody is in the same boat,
the 29-year-old said. There are
lots of us trying to find where the
advantages can be. Hamilton, who
finished fourth in last seasons
drivers championship, added that

he was still getting used to the setup of this years Mercedes. Last
years car felt better, it was nicer to
drive and we had a lot more downforce and that was the car that was
in its fourth year of evolution, he
said. Now we are in a new phase
and its something that takes some
time to get used to. O

Little will change, says Alonso

Ferraris Fernando Alonso, whose
views are at variance with those
of many of his rivals, believes
that in reality little will change. I
dont think it will be a big difference compared to the previous
years, especially when Pirelli arrived in F1, he says. We have
been managing the tyres a lot because of high degradation. Now
we will manage the tyres, we will
manage a little bit the batteries
(in the Energy Recovery System
or ERS) and the fuel consumption - but all in the same way. It
will be hard to see on TV for the
spectators when we are saving
two or three tenths of a second,
or even from the grandstand. If

we save three tenths of

over takes, strategy,
a second on one lap, at Things will
driver management, or
one particular grandstand be very, very
tyre saving. Things will
we save half of one tenth
be very, very similar to
- so if someone can rec- similar to last last year when the green
ognise when we are sav- year when
light is on.
ing fuel they are quite
Alonso finished 155
expert! The acceleration the green
points behind Vettel last
and torque delivery from light is on
year in an inferior car, but
the power unit is a little
the 31-year-old Spaniard
bit different, the gear usis widely respected as
age is a little bit different compared the sports finest all-round driver.
to the past and all these tools we Last season, Alonso only won two
have available this year, we need races, in China and Spain, but with
to maximise in a different way and the arrival of fellow former world
need to learn a couple of things. But champion Kimi Raikkonen as his
this is a motorsport competition. new team-mate, he is under interWhen the green light is on nothing nal as well as external pressure to
will change in terms of adrenaline, produce the goods.

16

Shot of the Day

Ronaldo and Messi ready to be burned at the Fallas

FRIDAY
March 14, 2014

Visitors to the Fallas celebration in Valencia inspecting Ninots, figures of Real Madrids Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and
Barcelonas Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, on March 13. The football players will be burned in the streets of Valencia along with
other figures as part of the yearly Fallas in March. It is a tribute to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the Guild of Carpenters.

SPORT QATAR