Sports

SEOUL, South Korea — FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag has visited South Korea’s football leaders seeking support for his challenge to Sepp Blatter.

With the election taking place on May 29 in Zurich, van Praag is stepping up his campaign and, in an interview with The Korea Times newspaper, was critical of the way the sport’s international governing body was being run.

“I’m very annoyed about the way that FIFA is operating,” Van Praag was quoted as saying. “In my part of the world, and also many other parts of the world, people started to dislike FIFA ... That is what we need to change. And if Mr Blatter stays for another four years, we will continue the exactly the same way.”

Van Praag, who promised immediate transparency if he is elected president, also questioned the decision to spend $27 million on a movie about FIFA, starring Hollywood star Tim Roth as Blatter.

“That is the money that belongs to the Korean, Chinese and Dutch football federation and everybody in the world,” he said. “I’m talking about if you divide $27 million by 209 member countries, that means every country contributes $129,000. That is the money that can be used for football development.”

Van Praag’s visit to Seoul comes days after tension was exposed at Asian Football Confederation meetings in Bahrain between the continental leadership, which supports Blatter, and Korea FA president Chung Mong-gyu, who was not allowed to address the congress before a vote to change election statutes.

“A big scandal,” said Van Praag, who attended the event. “A congress is there to be democratic and give everyone opportunities to speak about something. Of course if a member wishes to speak, you got to get him on the floor. So it was very, very unpleasant and humiliating experience that ([Chung] doesn’t deserve... and it was very impolite.”

Blatter is widely expected to extend his 17-year tenure as FIFA president by winning the May 29 election. He currently has three opponents: Van Praag of the Netherlands, HRH Prince Ali and former Portugal playmaker Luis Figo.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports, Argentina’s World Cup winning captain Diego Maradona launched a blistering attack on FIFA President Sepp Blatter, on Monday during the Soccerex Asian Forum, saying that world football’s governing body had descended into anarchy with the 79-year-old Swiss in charge.

With the FIFA presidential election less than a month away, Maradona, one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and the inspiration behind Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory, said the time was long overdue for Blatter to go.

He said he would do all he could to help Prince Ali win the election.

“As the football world knows, inside FIFA there is total anarchy, where there is only one man who decides everything.

“But he knows absolutely nothing. Therefore it is time for a change. And it is so because even his colleagues should actually advise him to leave,” he said.

Maradona, 54, who was voted along with Pele the joint-best player of the 20th century by FIFA in 2000, said he believed that the continued presence of Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term as president, would continue to harm football.

“He has done a lot of damage to football since he has been there. It’s time for him to step aside and let us, who are full of strength, renovate football.”

BARCELONA — Lionel Messi’s exquisite Champions League double for Barcelona against Bayern Munich was a case of history repeating itself with an added magnificent assist for Neymar to seal an emphatic 3-0 semifinal, first leg win.

With the European heavyweights locked at 0-0 in Wednesday’s absorbing clash at the Camp Nou, the Argentina forward picked up a 77th-minute pass and lashed a shot into the corner past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to put Barca 1-0 up.

Three minutes later, Messi left Bayern’s Germany defender Jerome Boateng on the seat of his pants and beat Neuer with a delicate chip that sent his adoring fans packed into the giant arena into delirium.

The parallels with Barca’s last-four, first leg win at Real Madrid in 2011, when Messi netted two late goals including a breathtaking second, were obvious but this time around there was more to come from the South American genius.

The match had already ticked into stoppage time when Messi sent a pass into space for Neymar and the Brazil forward raced away to make it 3-0 and virtually assure Barca of a place in June’s final in Berlin.

Messi’s second goal, in particular, drew effusive praise from all sides, with headlines in Thursday’s sports papers dubbing him everything from a god to an extra-terrestrial.

The 27-year-old recaptured the record for Champions League goals from Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo and now has 77, including a competition-best 10 in the latest edition.

“It was over in a second, it just happened like that,” Messi, with typical self-effacement, told reporters when asked about his second strike.

“I imagined that Boateng would expect me to switch to my stronger [left] foot so I cut back the other way,” he added.

With Messi on this kind of form, it is hard to imagine Bayern mounting a comeback in Tuesday’s second leg in Munich and Barca are looking good to repeat 2009’s treble of Champions League and Spanish league and Cup titles won under former coach and current Bayern boss Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola, who was making his first competitive return to the Camp Nou since taking over at the German champions, had predicted that his former protege Messi would be unstoppable and so it proved.

“Germany is a very tough place to play,” Messi said. “We got a very good result but we still have to go there and we can’t take anything for granted.”

AMMAN — The first exhibition for Karting opened its doors at the Jordan Speed Centre racetrack for enthusiasts of this sports all year around.

The exhibition, organised by Jordan Motorsports, displays everything a professional or amateur driver needs for Karting whether for indoor or outdoor racing, and as a professional or recreational hobby.

Musa Qandah, 13, said the idea of an exhibition for karting is an excellent one.

“I have the passion for this sports and I believe the more we know about it the more we become professionals to move to other auto sports such as rallying which I am really interested in, although I am young,” he said.

“I have the support of my father who was really interested in karting and auto sports in general. I hope things will move faster in the karting championship,” the young driver added.

Barken Shadian, a veteran driver who started as a karting driver and moved to Speed Test events, said that the popularity of karting exceeds expectations.

“It is a smaller version of the Formula 1 and there is absolutely nothing compared to driving a kart at the racetrack and enjoy several laps. The spread of various centres that offer karting contributed in spreading this sport,” he said.

“Everyone knows that you need to learn everything as a karting driver to move to rallying or speed test or even drifting and this is the chance for all those who want to become drivers to join the karting revolution,” he added.

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO, told The Jordan Times that the exhibition is a unique idea.

“Karting is the mother of all auto events as everyone starts with karting and moves to rallying, speed events or any other auto sports. We have always found that Jordan has this special relation with karting and this exhibition will complement this passion with all you want to know about karting,” he said.

“The exhibition open all year around and will display equipment like racing suits, helmets and tools in addition to information about karting,” he added.

Jordan Motorsports has recently formed a karting committee to supervise, plan and promote the sports to everyone.

“The committee, which consists of Barkev Shadian, Zaid Abu Zaid and myself, will work together in developing this sports and promote it to all in a very strategic way,” he said.

The 2015 karting season’s first round is on June 23.

“We will have five rounds two in June, two in July and one in August. This season the winner of the Jordan Karting Championship will reserve a seat in the Rotax MAX Challenge,” Naseef said.

The Rotax MAX Challenge is a motor sport race for karts, and is approved by and complies with the Commission Internationale de Karting/Federation Internationale de l’Automobile.

The Jordan Karting Championship will include several categories: Micro Max (7-10 years), Mini Max (10-13 years), Junior Max (13-16 years), Senior Max (15 years and older), DD2 (15 years and older) and Masters Max (32 years and older).

Last year, Amir Najjar won the Mini Max category, Royd Hanoush the Junior Max and Hesham Najjar the Senior Max.

USA Today (TNS)

Home-court advantage? More like home court disadvantage early in the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference play-off semifinals.

Three road teams — Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers — took Game 1 on the road in their conference semifinals series.

Wizards have taken the road warrior mentality a step further, winning their first three road play-off games this season — taking the first two in Toronto and Game 1 in Atlanta.

As boggling as it is impressive, Wizards were 8-1 on the road in the past two seasons prior to Game 2 against Hawks.

“You try to get two on the road, but most importantly try to get the first game,” Wizards guard John Wall said.

Wall also said it requires fighting through adversity — the noise, the scoring runs made by the home team — and sticking to the game plan.

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, who had 20 points, six assists and five rebounds in Chicago’s Game 1 victory in Cleveland, was straightforward: “It’s important to win as many games as possible on the road.”

Cleveland’s LeBron James is no stranger to 1-0 series deficits. His Miami Heat team dropped the series opener at home to Chicago Bulls in 2013 but won the series in five games.

“Home-court doesn’t guarantee you an extra game on your floor. The only time it would guarantee you is if you get to a Game 7,” James said. “You have to go out and play and if you’re fortunate enough to have a Game 7 then so be it. You play every game, try to win every game and give your game plan, go out and try to execute and see what happens.”

Or as ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said, “All I know is if you get to Game 7, everyone would rather play at home.”

There is the postseason axiom that a play-off series doesn’t begin until the road team wins a game, and while that’s not the whole truth, the marrow of the statement is valid. At some point along the way to a championship, a team needs to win games on the road.

In the previous five postseasons, the road team has averaged four series wins each season, and this year, the road team has two series wins and could get more in the conference semifinals. Historically, the home team has won 66 per cent of playoff games, but last season it was just 56.2 per cent and 57.7 per cent prior to Tuesday’s games,

Home court still matters, but the road team is pushing the home team harder than ever.

Regardless of what transpires the rest of the postseason, the road team is winning more often in the regular season. In 2014-15, the road team won 42.5 per cent of games played, up from 39.7 per cent in 2012-13. In 1988-89, the road team won just 32.1 per cent of the time.

“In my experience over the years it has decreased,” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. “That does not mean that it’s not an advantage. I just think over the years it’s become somewhat less significant. But for us to be able to play in front of our home crowd and for us particularly since January, our home performance has been outstanding.

“We definitely gain advantage by playing in Cleveland, playing in front of our fans, and we hope to take better advantage of it.”

Blatt said he has a theory on why home-court advantage is disappearing slowly, but protecting information like a CIA agent during the Cold War, Blatt refused to divulge state secrets.

“I have a very specific theory but I’m not going to talk about it right now. Another time and another place,” Blatt said.

Earlier this season, ESPN studied the trend of increasing road success and concluded the home team has suffered statistical declines in several areas.

OAKLAND, California — Memphis’ Mike Conley returned just eight days after having facial surgery to lead Grizzlies to a rare 97-90 win at Golden State on Tuesday to square their NBA Western Conference semifinal series 1-1.

Atlanta too put its series against Washington on an even keel with a comfortable home-court victory.

Conley, wearing a clear mask to protect his swollen face and red left eye, stole the spotlight from newly minted league MVP Stephen Curry. He made his first four shots to get Grizzlies going, finished with 22 points and Memphis did the rest on defence.

“I didn’t have too many times where I felt like my vision was impaired by looking too fast or the mask getting in the way,” Conley said. “It does get hot. I had to open it up a few times and let the sweat come down and let the steam out a little bit.”

Zach Randolph had 20 points and seven rebounds, and Marc Gasol and Courtney Lee scored 15 points each to help Grizzlies end Golden State’s 21-game home-winning streak. Warriors dropped to 42-3 this season at rowdy Oracle Arena, losing for the first time at home in more than three months.

Game 3 is Saturday in Memphis.

“Tremendous heart,” Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said of Conley’s effort. “He gave us an extra element.”

Memphis scored the final nine points of the first half to take a 50-39 lead. It was only the second time this season Warriors were held under 40 points in the first half.

When Warriors started to rally in the fourth quarter, Conley came through again. He made a 3-pointer to give Grizzlies a 90-80 lead with 2:11 left, silencing the sea of golden yellow shirts for good.

Curry collected 19 points, six assists and five rebounds but had little help from backcourt teammate Klay Thompson, who was smothered by Allen’s aggressive play. Warriors had 20 turnovers and shot just 41.9 per cent, including 23.1 per cent from 3-point range. Grizzlies had 13 steals.

“We lost our poise tonight. We were in such a rush,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

Warriors had won their first five games in these play-offs, including a sweep of New Orleans in the opening round, and were riding the good vibes of Curry’s crown.

Curry received the MVP trophy during an on-court ceremony just before tipoff. He said it was “weird” having that ceremony so close to game time, but did not think it was the reason Warriors lost. Instead, he chalked that up to the team’s 6-for-26 shooting on three pointers.

Atlanta capitalised on the absence of Washington’s John Wall to beat the Wizards 106-90 and level the series 1-1.

Wall, who finished the series opener with an injured left hand, was scratched just before Game 2, shortly after Wizards insisted he would play. Ramon Sessions did an admirable job filling in, leading his team with 21 points, but Washington lost for the first time in these play-offs.

DeMarre Carroll scored 22 points and Kyle Korver bounced back from a miserable first half to lead Hawks to victory.

Korver went 1-for-7 from the 3-point line in the first half but kept firing away. He made three 3s after the break, including one from the corner with less than 3 minutes remaining that gave Hawks a 98-88 lead after Washington had hit consecutive jumpers.

Game 3 is Saturday at Washington.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Ali reaffirmed on Monday that he would continue his bid for the FIFA presidency, taking place at the end of this month, especially after the supportive and positive responses from the football federations he visited in different countries, and the warm welcome his manifesto has received worldwide, according to a statement from his office. “I will continue the race until the end,” Prince Ali said. This comes after some tweets on social media claiming Prince Ali was considering withdrawing from the FIFA elections to back a single challenger against Sepp Blatter. The Prince, the only Arab candidate in the election race, continues to visit football associations and federations to get support for winning the position, and “changing the reputation of FIFA in the world”.

BARCELONA — While there may still be a question mark over treble-chasing Barcelona’s defence, their fearsome attacking trident is firing on all cylinders ahead of Bayern Munich’s visit in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

The South American trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez reached a scorching 108 goals for the season following the La Liga leaders’ 8-0 destruction of Cordoba on Saturday, eight more than the previous club record set by Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry when Barca won the treble in 2009.

Argentina captain Messi is on 51 goals in all competitions, Uruguay striker Suarez, whose ban for biting an opponent at last year’s World Cup finals expired at the end of October, has 24, and Brazil forward Neymar 33.

With a defence that has looked shaky at times this season, however, Barca’s hopes of reaching next month’s Champions League final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium may hinge on them scoring more goals than they inevitably concede.

The Catalan giants have most of the same personnel at the back, including the likes of Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Marc Bartra, as when they crashed to a humiliating 7-0 aggregate defeat to Bayern in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition two years ago.

The rampant German champions won the first leg in Munich 4-0 and the return 3-0, the heaviest two-legged European defeat in Barca’s history, and Bayern went on to beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the first all-German final.

“It was a fantastic experience, we played brilliantly and astonished the football world,” forward Thomas Mueller said on Bayern’s website on Sunday.

“We know their strengths and above all they have world-class players up front,” added the Germany international.

“As a defender, to try to stop one of Messi’s dribbles is not the most comfortable experience.”

Both clubs have changed coaches since 2012-13, with Luis Enrique in charge at Barca in place of Tito Vilanova, who succumbed to cancer last year, and former Barca player and coach Pep Guardiola at the Bayern helm.

“We are armed and ready,” Mueller said. “The coach knows this team better than any other. He’ll give us a game plan, but the rest is up to us players.”

Four-time winners Barca are seeking their eighth final appearance and five-times champions Bayern, who host the return leg the following Tuesday, their 11th.

AMMAN — Decisive matches await as the final week of the 63rd Jordan Professional League kicks off Wednesday.

Teams have varying aims this week: Wihdat look forward to their last match against Ramtha on Thursday to celebrate their 14th league title, while Jazira will seek to secure runner-up spot two points behind Ramtha.

The top six are in the battle for advanced positions bearing in mind that the top team gets JD120,000, runner-up JD80,000, third JD35,000, fourth JD15,000, fifth JD12,5000 and sixth JD7,500.

The top two will also represent Jordan in regional events such as the Asian Football Confederation Cup and Asian Champions League.

With that in mind, other battles at the other end of the standings are still also undecided: Ittihad Ramtha have been relegated to Division 1 after failing to score a single win and are likely to be joined either by Shabab Urdun or Manshieh, while results of Faisali and Baqaa as well will decide which teams follow suit.

Thursday’s matches will be a fight for the runner-up spot. Wihdat were held 1-1 by That Ras and this week play Ramtha, while Jazira, who beat Ramtha 2-0 to take second place for now, will take on Sarih at the same time.

On Wednesday, Ahli, who are now fifth and lost to Baqaa 1-0, play Faisali, and Hussein Irbid, who held Manshieh 1-1, play former champs Shabab Urdun. That Ras, who are fourth, play Manshieh, while Baqaa go up against Ittihad Ramtha.

That Ras striker Motaz Salhani is still the top scorer with 11 goals, followed by Ramtha’s Rakan Khalidi, who has nine.

Wihdat have now won two titles in the 2014/15 season after they beat Baqaa to snatch the 32nd Super Cup. The Jordan Cup semis have now been decided to start on May 18 when Faisali play Wihdat and Ramtha face That Ras.

Last season, Wihdat won the league and they beat Baqaa to win the Jordan Cup, while Shabab Urdun defeated That Ras to win the 31st Super Cup. The Jordan Football Association Shield was not held.

Standings 

(Previous week’s rank in parenthesis)

DEAD SEA — The Jordan Football Association (JFA) signed an agreement with Adidas on Sunday whereby national teams will wear its jersey.

Several offers were received from many leading sports companies with Adidas being chosen, the JFA Marketing Manager Mohannad Mahadeen told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Eight national male and female teams will wear the Adidas jersey, which will be sold at the company’s 23 branches in all over the Kingdom, according to Mahadeen. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Soccerex Asian Forum.

AMMAN – The local organising committee of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup unveiled the official emblem for the upcoming tournament, according to the FIFA website.

The logo was designed to reflect the Kingdom’s most iconic symbols. The reveal took place during the 2015 Soccerex Asian Forum at the Dead Sea.

The official emblem was launched by HRH Prince Ali, president of the Jordan Football Association, president of the West Asian Football Federation and vice president of FIFA.

The official emblem resembles the overall shape of the tournaments unique trophy, working as a canvas to showcase the visual aspects of the Jordanian culture and art.