Blatter congratulates Bagan
New Delhi: Outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter has congratulated Mohun Bagan on winning the I-league, saying that the Kolkata giants had achieved their success through “exceptional performance”. “A national team victory is a wonderful occasion and an opportunity to draw satisfaction from a job well done. Please pass on my own personal congratulations, along with those of the whole football family, Mohun Bagan on their exceptional performance,” Blatter said in a letter sent to All India Football Federation President Praful Patel.
India up 6 places in FIFA rankings
New Delhi: India on Thursday rose six places to occupy the 141st position in the latest world football rankings issued by the game’s governing body FIFA. India, who were placed 147th previously, are lying at the 22nd spot among the Asian countries. Iran (41) are the top-ranked Asian team in the latest FIFA rankings, followed by Japan (52) and South Korea (58). World champions Germany has managed to hold on to the top spot while, at No 2, Belgium reached their highest position since the launch of FIFA rankings. World Cup runners-up Argentina are placed third, while five-time world champions Brazil are fifth, a spot below Colombia. Brazil are followed by the Netherlands (6), Portugal (7), Uruguay (8), France (9) and 2010 World Cup champions Spain (10).
‘F1 difficult without govt help’
New Delhi: As the future of privately-backed Indian GP stands in a limbo, Nissan India President Guillaume Sicard has said that it is very difficult to organise a F1 race without government support. Sicard’s comments will be music to the ears of race promoters Jaypee Group, who have longed for Indian government’s support ever since the high-profile event was taken off the calendar in 2014 owing to tax and bureaucratic hurdles. “In the case of Formula 1, there is always government support required. If you don’t have the support, it is very difficult (to organise the race). I am not judging anyone here but saying out of my personal experience,” Sicard said on the launch of Nissan GT Academy season 2. The Frenchman added: “I say this simply because the race in my home country (France) doesn’t take place anymore, I have worked in Turkey too and the Grand Prix was cancelled there. Motorsport is an expensive sport. There is a lot of money involved. Having said that, every government is free to decide (whether it wants Formula 1 or not).”
liverpool sign Milner for free
liverpool: liverpool moved quickly to fill the void created by Steven Gerrard’s departure by agreeing to sign James Milner on Thursday, after the midfielder rejected the offer of a new deal at Manchester City. The 29-year-old Milner has agreed personal terms and will move to Anfield on a free transfer on July 1, once his contract at City has expired. Burnley striker Danny Ings is also close to moving to Anfield, according to reports in the British media.
Milan fire Inzaghi
Milan: Sinisa Mihajlovic is near to being announced as the new coach of struggling AC Milan, after Filippo Inzaghi was fired in a widely expected move. Mihajlovic met with Milan president Silvio Berlusconi late Wednesday and an announcement on his appointment could come by the end of the week. Milan said that with “great displeasure” it informed Inzaghi of his ouster Thursday. In his first season in charge, Inzaghi led Milan to a dismal 10th-place finish. Still, having been a standout player for Milan, Inzaghi commands respect within the club. Mihajlovic announced on Monday that he was stepping down at Sampdoria after guiding the Genoa club to seventh.
U20 WC: Fiji shock Honduras
Wellington: Fiji pulled off a major upset at the Under-20 World Cup by beating Honduras 3-0 Thursday, boosting its chances of making it to the knockout round. Playing at its first World Cup and after losing to Germany 8-1 in its opening game, 196th-ranked Fiji produced a turnaround performance that placed the Pacific island nation ahead of some of the sport’s powers in the race for the round of 16. Fiji may be the Oceania champion but its players are amateurs and a win over a team playing at its fifth U20 World Cup was a surprise.