Thu, Aug 07, 2014 page18

• SOCCER SHORTS

  • Agencies
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  LA LIGA

  ‘Phantom’ match denounced

  The Professional Football League (LFP) association that governs Spanish soccer’s first and second divisions has identified a suspected betting fraud involving a “phantom” match between second-tier side SD Ponferradina and Portuguese third-tier club Sport Clube Freamunde which never took place. The friendly was supposed to have been played on Monday at 10am, despite Freamunde having played a Portuguese League Cup match the previous evening, the LFP said. Anomalies were detected by Federbet, a non-profit organization tracking illegal practices in sports betting, and brought to the association’s attention. “The LFP’s integrity unit contacted Ponferradina officials who confirmed that the supposed match never took place and that, therefore, it was a fraudulent manipulation of those who placed bets and the sports betting firms,” it said. The association, which has sought to show it is taking a tough stance against match-fixing, will be informing soccer’s European and world governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA respectively, and the police of the apparent fraud. “This is not a case of ‘match-fixing’ as such, but is one of financial fraud and the LFP’s commitment to legal betting and the protection of clubs makes it obligatory to denounce this case publicly,” it said.

  ASIAN CUP

  Bahrain pick new coach

  Former Iraq and Jordan coach Adnan Hamad is to lead Bahrain to next year’s Asian Cup in Australia after being named as the replacement for Englishman Anthony Hudson. Hudson’s abrupt resignation last week to take over New Zealand threw Bahrain’s preparations for January’s continental championship into disarray. The Bahrain Football Association initially said they would pursue Hudson in the courts for leaving a few months into a two-year contract, but ultimately decided to focus their efforts on securing a replacement. Hamad, Asia’s coach of the year in 2004 in one of several spells in charge of his native Iraq, led Jordan to the 2011 Asian Cup quarter-finals in Qatar. He also oversaw an impressive qualifying campaign for the FIFA World Cup, in which Jordan beat Australia and Asian champions Japan, but turned down a contract extension before they bowed out to Uruguay in a playoff. The 53-year-old Hamad, who most recently coached Emirati club Baniyas, signed a two-year deal on Tuesday. Bahrain, whose best result at an Asian Cup was a semi-final appearance in 2004, face Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in Group C.

  BUNDESLIGA

  Bayern to acquire Reina

  Bayern Munich are poised to sign Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina from English Premier League club Liverpool, the Bundesliga champions said on Tuesday. “The player is due to come to Munich in the next few days for a medical and to sign his contract,” Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on the team Web site. An agreement has been struck with both Liverpool and Reina. The 31-year-old goalie, who has made 33 appearances for Spain and joined Liverpool from Villarreal in 2005, spent last season on loan at Serie A side SSC Napoli. A product of the Barcelona academy, he would join up with former Barca coach Pep Guardiola at Bayern and provide cover for first-choice ’keeper and Germany international Manuel Neuer. The Spaniard lost his place at Liverpool after manager Brendan Rodgers signed Simon Mignolet last year.
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