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BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — Ted Ligety does not have a headline grabbing relationship like Lindsey Vonn nor does he court controversy like showman Bode Miller.

But he does have more alpine world championship medals than any American skier after a breath-taking giant slalom win on Friday.

Overshadowed by his more flamboyant team mates off the piste, Ligety again proved he takes a backseat to no one on the mountain by coming to the rescue in electrifying but familiar fashion to end a US gold medal drought at the posh Colorado resort.

The world championships had not unfolded as planned for the US on home snow as Vonn, the headliner at Beaver Creek and most successful women’s skier of all time, exited with a bronze and Miller crashed out early in his opening race.

Heading into the final weekend the only hardware American ski fans had to celebrate were a silver from Travis Ganong in the downhill and a pair of third-place finishes from Ligety and Vonn, who was cheered on by her golfer boyfriend, Tiger Woods.

But Ligety got the weekend party started early up and down the Vail Valley with a jaw-dropping second-leg charge down the plunging Birds of Prey track that carried him to the top of the podium ahead of first leg leader and three-time overall World Cup winner Marcel Hirscher of Austria.

Ligety has long believed there is no such thing as a perfect run but, for the thousands of American ski fans who packed the finish area grandstands on a sun-kissed afternoon, the 30-year-old American’s second leg was about as good as it gets.

“One of the cool things about ski racing is there is never a perfect run so it’s hard to be satisfied in that sense, you can always go that extra step,” Ligety told Reuters at the end of an autograph session for one of his sponsors, GoPro.

“I don’t think any of us have the realistic goal of having the perfect run. Ski racing is the most variable sport out there, conditions change run-to-run, we only get one chance at it and the margin for error is tiny.

“This is a tough sport because there are so many factors. It is really hard to have those factors converge and have that perfect run.”

Ligety a target

Ligety arrived in Beaver Creek with a target on his back, having recorded a gold medal hat-trick at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming by taking top spot in the Super-G, super combined and giant slalom.

Humbled on their home snow two years ago, the Austrians had already gained a good measure of revenge at Beaver Creek with Hannes Reichelt taking Ligety’s Super-G crown and Hirscher the combined title.

Known as ‘Mr. GS’ for his domination of the discipline, Ligety had seen his reign challenged this season with Hirscher stepping into the American’s territory by winning four-of-five World Cup giant slaloms.

Ligety, who has owned the giant slalom crown since the 2011 worlds, has 39 World Cup GS podiums and 23 wins.

This season he had reached the top of the podium just once, but that one win came at Beaver Creek on the same Birds of Prey course he ruled on Friday.

With his victory, Ligety put his name in the US skiing record books, his career total of seven world championship podiums (five golds) the most by any American alpine skier.

“I don’t know if I feel any extra pressure, it’s just really nice to race in the US. It’s so rare we get a race in the US,” said Ligety, who has posted five consecutive giant slalom wins at Beaver Creek.

“The World Cup in general is the central European Cup so we are living out of our duffle bags on a regular basis. It’s a nice advantage for us being on home snow, having those guys not being a couple of hours away from home and deal with the travel.

“I’ve always had a good track record racing in the United States. I don’t see it as a burden, I see it as more than advantage.”

There has been a “clear bias” against Qatar in the wake of Michael Garcia’s FIFA report into the bidding process for the next two World Cups, the Gulf state’s 2022 Committee chief Hassan Al Thawadi said on Friday.

FIFA’s Ethics Judge Hans-Joachim Eckert issued a 42-page summary of Garcia’s report in November, which identified cases of “inappropriate conduct” in a number of the bids but said there was not enough evidence to justify reopening the process.

Garcia immediately appealed against Eckert’s statement, saying it contained misrepresentations and resigned in protest, prompting speculation that evidence of wrongdoing may have been suppressed or diluted.

A lot of the media focus was on Qatar, whose World Cup organisers have been fending off allegations of corruption ever since the tiny Gulf state was awarded the 2022 tournament.

“I can’t say if there is a prejudice against Qatar but what I can say is there is a clear bias”, Thawadi, the Secretary General of the World Cup 2022 Committee told Al Jazeera.

“All the reporting on Michael Garcia, the description was, the focus was on us, on Qatar, and that was inaccurate.

“The simple fact was the investigation was on all bidding nations, 2018 along with 2022. We were very open and accepted an investigator coming from another nation that was a competitor to us for 2022.

“We never raised an issue because we were confident of our position, we embraced the process because it was an end to unfounded accusations and allegations.

“And yet nevertheless, somehow, the focus still seems to be on us and I think that, if nothing else, clearly shows there is a bias.”

Summer heat

The timing of the 2022 World Cup has been a contentious issue since the tournament was awarded to Qatar in 2010.

During the traditional hosting dates of June and July, the intense summer heat in the Gulf can soar as high as 50 Celsius.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has ruled out the summer option, even though Qatar was awarded the tournament on the understanding that new technology would be used to cool the stadiums to an ideal temperature for football.

Thawadi said Qatar’s plans are proceeding on the basis that it will be held in the summer, although he said they could stage the event at any time.

“Since the first days of the bid we’ve always said a summer World Cup is feasible in Qatar, but whatever the football community decides we will fulfil it,” he said.

“If the decision is to change it to the winter our commitment to the cooling technology and the legacy it leaves is still strong.

“Currently our plans are moving forward with the assumption the World Cup will be taking place in the summer.

“Once the decision is made when the World Cup will be held we will be able to change and tinker with our plans to ensure we fulfil our requirements.”

Plans to implement the cooling technology remain on track, he added.

“The cooling technology was developed years before 2010. It was on the ground, it was something tangible. The evolution of that technology is being developed as we’re moving along now and the delivery of it is coming along,” he said.

AMMAN — Jordan dropped four spots to 97th in the latest FIFA World Rankings issued on Thursday.

Jordan trails Iran (41), South Korea (54), Japan (55), Australia (63), the UAE (66), Uzbekistan (71), China (82), Oman (91) and Iraq (94) among Asian teams. 

The latest drop came following Jordan’s elimination from the first round of the 16th Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Australia. The hosts shot up 37 places to 63rd after winning the title, runners-up South Korea went up 15 spots, third place finishers UAE went up 14 places and fourth place finishers Iraq 20 spots. Quarter-finalists Iran went up 10 places to take top Asian spot, while China went up 14 places.

The top 10 are Germany, Argentina, Columbia, Belgium, Netherlands, Brazil, Portugal, France, Uruguay and Spain.

Led by head coach Ray Wilkins, Jordan failed to repeat its quarter-final qualification in 2004 and 2011. Jordan lost 2-0 to defending champions Japan, 1-0 to Iraq and only saved face when substitute striker Hamza Dardour ended an 11-match unbeaten run and scored four goals in its 5-1 win over Palestine.

Since first taking part in the Asian Cup qualifiers in 1971, it was Jordan’s third time at the Asian Cup finals. The best performance was at the 13th Asian Cup in 2004, where it lost to Japan in the quarter-finals and jumped to the best ever FIFA rank of 37th. Jordan did not play in the 2007 finals and reached the quarters again in 2011.

Jordan’s FIFA monthly rank

AMMAN — Former champs Orthodoxi play Ittihad on Friday as the competition heats up in the final play-offs for the title of the Premier Basketball League.

Orthodoxi lead Ittihad 2-1 and need two more wins to seal the title. They beat them once in Round 2 and again in the first play-off match 79-69.

Titleholders Applied Science University (ASU) have withdrawn from the competition despite efforts to keep them in the play-offs as they were to play Riyadi for third place. 

ASU were in a three-way fight for the title with former champs Orthodoxi leading the standings in Round 2 with one defeat to Ittihad 86-73. However, ASU withdrew from their match against Orthodoxi in the final minutes when they disputed the referee’s call with Orthodoxi leading 73-69. Head coach Murad Barakat’s unsportsmanlike gesture after the call prompted the referees to call for a technical foul which led the team to withdraw from the match.

ASU later announced they would suspend the basketball team and release all players, a move that has drawn criticism from observers as well as the governing body — the Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF). 

ASU Board Chairman Haitham Abu Khadijeh noted that his club was withdrawing citing “the JBF’s inability to develop the game, coaches and referees which has a negative effect on the game locally and on the Arab and regional scene.” He added: “We should have taken this decision earlier.”

JBF Vice Chairman Amer Abu Rashed noted ASU should not have pulled out but instead lodged a complaint in case they had any issues regarding officiating or otherwise.

“We treat all clubs on an equal footing. ASU have put in a lot of effort to develop the game and have many players in the national team.”

Established in 2007, ASU were crowned First Division champ in 2007 and were promoted to the Premier Basketball League in the 2008/09 season finishing runner-up. The team won the League four times. ASU finished fourth at the 21st Asian Champions Cup and were 3rd at the 22nd Arab Clubs Basketball Championship in 2009 when Zain conceded their Arab title. Last year, ASU finished third in the West Asian Clubs competition and were set to represent Jordan in the 8th edition of the event in March. The national team won the West Asian Championship in May and many ASU players are in the line-up.

ASU had led the preliminary stage followed by Orthodoxi, Riyadi and Ittihad. According to JBF regulations, the team’s continued absence would mean the competition rules would be applied, which includes fines and relegation to Division 1. 

On the other hand, Jalil took the top position in the bottom four who played a separate round to decide the two teams to be relegated. Jalil beat Ghazzet Hashem 100-93 (81-81) in overtime and settled for 5th place while Ghazzet Hashem finished 6th leaving Nashama and Awdeh to be relegated. Nashama will be back in the League if ASU are relegated.

ASU won the season’s first basketball competition when they beat Ittihad for the Jordan Cup title. The knockout competition saw Ittihad oust Riyadi 78-77 in the semis as ASU ousted Orthodoxi 92-65.

Last season, ASU beat Ittihad to win the League for the second consecutive time, while Riyadi won 3rd place after beating Kulieh. Orthodoxi finished 5th.

Orthodoxi last won the title in 2011 ending a 10-year drought to take home their record 22nd League title when they beat titleholders ASU. 

The Premier Basketball League which started in 1952 has had 58 editions with eight teams crowned champion. It was cancelled in three seasons and discontinued once. Orthodoxi have won 22 times, Ahli 21, Zain-Fastlink six times, ASU four times, Jazira-Aramex twice, Urdun, Watany and the Electricity Co. once each.

Scoring a first English Premier League goal for your club to win a crucial match against one of your big rivals would arouse outward feelings of relief and elation in most players.

Not Mario Balotelli.

With Anfield rocking and his teammates jumping all over him, the enigmatic Italian looked to the ground and remained stony-faced after scoring a late winner for Liverpool in their 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Tuesday. At the final whistle, as Liverpool’s players celebrated in front of their fans, Balotelli walked quickly down the tunnel.

Balotelli never celebrates his goals — “I’m doing my job. When the postman delivers your letter, does he celebrate?” he said in 2012 — yet after seven months and 13 league game without scoring, he must have been tempted to break out into a smile.

It was the simplest of goals, a close-range finish from Adam Lallana’s low cross, but a crucial one for Liverpool’s hopes of returning to the Champions League next season — and maybe for Balotelli’s chances of staying at the club beyond this summer.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has openly acknowledged that Balotelli’s languid style and lack of movement doesn’t fit into the Liverpool way. Balotelli hasn’t started a match since November 8, and hasn’t even made the bench sometimes. Liverpool’s pursuit of Burnley striker Danny Ings during the winter transfer window raised even more doubts about Balotelli’s future.

His goal against Spurs, however, might make Rodgers think again about Balotelli’s usefulness until the end of the season. And a few more goals will start getting the Anfield crowd back on Balotelli’s side.

“He needs to keep working hard, because when he works hard, and comes on like that, the fans warm to him, and people react to him,” Lallana said of Balotelli. “He can score goals.”

“He needs to keep working hard, and I’m sure the goals will keep coming.”

Hours after the game, Balotelli tweeted a picture of himself smiling, with the message: “This smile is ONLY for those that always [believe] and support me.”

Liverpool fans had basically given up on the striker, disillusioned with his work rate and preferring the more harrying style of fellow forwards Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling. Balotelli raised the ire of many supporters by swapping jerseys with Real Madrid defender Pepe as they walked off for halftime in a Champions League game at Anfield.

Balotelli’s long-term future at Liverpool remains unsure, but at least he’ll be happy to have shown he hasn’t lost the knack of scoring goals.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat ended their run in the preliminary round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League when they went down 1-0 to titleholders Kuwait’s Qadissieh.

Qadissieh scored their winning goal in the 70th minute as Wihdat lost a real chance to equalise and exited the competition. Qadissieh advanced to play Saudi Arabia’s Ahli on February 17 and the winner will move to the group stages.

As League champs, Wihdat were Jordan’s representative in the premier Asian competition. Last year, Shabab Urdun were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

Wihdat now return to play alongside Jazira in the second-tier Asian competition — the AFC Cup. After two-time titleholders and League runner-up Faisali declined, third-placed Jazira were nominated to take part for the first time. Had Wihdat advanced in the Champions League, they were to be replaced by the League’s 4th-placed team, That Ras, in the AFC Cup alongside Jazira.

The 12th AFC Cup will have 41 clubs from across the continent competing in eight groups with the top two from each group going on to the Round of 16.

Last year, first-time AFC Cup competitor and Jordan Cup champ, That Ras, exited in the Round of 16 while former AFC Cup champ Shabab Urdun lost in Round 1. 

The AFC Cup was won by Syria’s Jeish in its inaugural edition in 2004. Jordan’s Faisali won in 2005 and 2006 and Shabab Urdun won their first Asian title in 2007.

AMMAN — There were major changes on the standings ahead of Week 14 of the 63rd Jordan Professional League and teams will try to make up for points lost in the upcoming matches.

Wihdat’s lead was slashed to two points after they lost their first match 1-0 to Ahli. The leaders and reigning League champs are just back after playing in their AFC Champions League match and will have a chance to make-up points when they play bottom-placed Ittihad Ramtha, who are yet to win and last lost to Ramtha.

Ahli, who moved up a spot, next play Ramtha who remained 2nd after a 2-0 win over Sarih who next take on That Ras.

Former Jordan Cup champs That Ras are up two spots after a 1-0 win over Shabab Urdun, who are 9th and next play Baqaa. The latter are now 10th after a 0-0 draw with Manshieh.

Faisali play Manshieh, who are 11th, while Jazira, who are up to 3rd after a 1-0 win over Ittihad Ramtha, go up against Hussein Irbid, who held Faisali 1-1 last week.

Winning teams in the past two seasons have been inconsistent this season. Former winners Faisali and Shabab Urdun are down in the standings at 8th and 9th while former Jordan Cup champs That Ras are 4th. 

In Leg 1, Wihdat beat traditional rivals Faisali 2-0 but that was only the start of the former champs troubles as the club suffers an administrative crisis that has left the team trailing at the lower end of the standings for the first time ever since the League kicked off in 1944. 

The Jordan Cup semis will see Faisali play Wihdat and Ramtha face That Ras. Wihdat won the first major competition of the 2014/15 football season after they beat Baqaa 2-0 in the 32nd Super Cup.

Last season, Wihdat won the League for the 13th time and beat Baqaa to win the Jordan Cup while Shabab Urdun beat That Ras in the 31st Super Cup. The Federation Shield was not held.

BARCELONA, Spain — Goals are guaranteed when a resurgent Barcelona host a fearless Villarreal in the opening leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi has exploded for 10 goals in a nine-game winning streak for Barcelona, and will face a talented and attack-minded Villarreal side that twice led Barcelona before falling 3-2 at Camp Nou two weeks ago.

Crosstown rival Espanyol will visit Athletic Bilbao in the other semifinal.

Here are some things to know about the Copa del Rey’s final four: 

Majestic Messi

Messi is playing at his very best: Torturing defences with his on-ball speed, scoring with both legs and continually improving his passing to get all his team involved in Barcelona’s overpowering attack.

He has 33 goals in 31 games this season. He scored one goal and took part in four more on Sunday in a 5-2 thrashing of Bilbao to ensure Barcelona pulled to within one point of Real Madrid in the Spanish league.

Barcelona’s win streak has silenced talk of a team crisis and rumours that coach Luis Enrique’s job was in danger.

“In football you can’t live off what you did in the past, nor what will come in the future, there is only the present and now we are focused on Villarreal,” Enrique said. “They have players who can do us damage when we accumulate many of our players in their territory.” 

No pushover

Villarreal have more than enough weapons to challenge for a good result at Camp Nou in teir first appearance in the cup semifinals.

The team were on a club record 18-game winning streak before losing to Barcelona on February 1, and they are still in the fight for a fourth-place finish in the league that will earn a Champions League berth.

Coach Marcelino Garcia has forged one of the most exciting teams in La Liga based on a quick transition from defence to attack. Skilled forwards Luciano Vietto and Denis Cheryshev are having breakout seasons.

“We won’t settle for a draw and are going there with high ambitions,” Cheryshev said. “We have nothing to lose and we are aware that this could be historic for the club. There won’t be any lack of effort from us.”

Espanyol’s answer 

Espanyol have found their stride after growing pains under new coach Sergio Gonzalez.

Despite back-to-back league losses, the Barcelona-based side are playing well with a solid defence supporting their in-form tandem of strikers.

Sergio Garcia, Felipe Caicedo and Christian Stuani have combined for 30 goals in the league and cup so far.

Espanyol, however, will be without first-choice holding midfielder Jose Canas because of a muscle injury in his right leg.

Basque blues

Bilbao are the only one of the four teams that have struggled to reach this stage.

Traditionally strong at home, they have recently proven vulnerable at their new San Mames Stadium.

Barcelona’s rout was Bilbao’s fourth loss in six homes games.

Advancing to the final may be Ernesto Valverde’s only chance to ensure he reaches the end of the season. His team are in 13th place in the league, and just four points above the relegation zone.

AMMAN — The FIFA ad-hoc electoral committee on Tuesday announced its official acceptance of HRH Prince Ali’s candidacy for the international football federation’s top post. Prince Ali is among four candidates who will be running in FIFA’s presidential race in Zurich, slated for May 29, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Prince Ali, the FIFA vice president for Asia and head of the Jordan Football Association, is running against current President Sepp Blatter; Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch football association; and former Portugal player Luis Figo. The prince announced his candidacy in early January, stating that his main goal is to improve FIFA’s governance and make the organisation more transparent. He also mentioned that his reform plan aims to restore FIFA’s credibility, serve football, protect the game and neutralise threats, and develop the game globally.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat is all set to face Kuwait’s Qadissieh on Tuesday in the preliminary round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. 

The winner will advance to play Saudi Arabia’s Ahli on February 17
before advancing to play in the group stages.

As Jordan Professional League champs, Wihdat head to the premier Asian competition with high hopes of advancing in the competition. Coach Abdullah Abu Zameh underscored the importance of winning although they had a tough start playing against reigning champs Qadissieh on their home turf.

“Our squad is ready and we have overcome the latest defeat,” Abu Zameh said referring to the unexpected 1-0 loss to Ahli in the League this week — their first defeat of the season. Wihdat also lost 5-2 to the U-23 squad in a friendly as the rest of the line-up was on national duty at the Asian Cup.

Jordanian teams will also compete in the second-tier Asian competition — the AFC Cup. After two-time titleholders and League runner-up Faisali declined, third-placed Jazira were nominated to take part for the first time. In case Jordan League and Cup champs Wihdat advance in the Champions League they will be replaced by the League’s fourth-placed team, That Ras, in the AFC Cup alongside Jazira.

The 2015 AFC Cup will have 41 clubs from across the continent competing in eight groups with the top two from each group going on to the Round of 16.

Jazira coach Issa Turk said his team was readying to play in
Group 2 alongside Palestine’s Wadi Nays and Iraq’s Shurta in group matces kicking off on February 24. “Injuries continue to plague the team, but one positive side is the return of U-23 players to our squad after national team duty,” Turk said.

Last year, That Ras exited the Round of 16 while former AFC Cup champs Shabab Urdun lost in Round 1. Shabab Urdun were also eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

The AFC Cup was won by Syria’s Jeish in its inaugural edition in 2004. Jordan’s Faisali won in 2005 and 2006, and in 2007 Shabab Urdun won their first Asian title.