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Sports Shorts: Platini criticises Blatter, says he is not serving football anymore

Last updated on: October 17, 2014 20:06 IST

FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks with UEFA President Michel Platini (left)

FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks with UEFA President Michel Platini (left). Photograph: Darren Staples/Files/Reuters

UEFA president Michel Platini hit out at FIFA chief Sepp Blatter on Friday, saying the Swiss has stopped serving the cause of football.

"Sepp is not the president of FIFA anymore. He is FIFA," Frenchman Platini, whose book Let's Talk About Football was released this week, told sports daily L'Equipe.

"Platini, Pele, Blatter, (former FIFA presidet Joao) Havelange must yield to the interests of football.

"One must not use football, but serve football."

Platini, 59, has no regrets for not running against Blatter who is likely to secure a fifth term at next year's elections.

"It was not the time. I do not regret anything. One day maybe. We will see," he said.

The former France great, who led Les Bleus to their Euro 1984 title, was re-elected as UEFA president in 2011.

 

PSG still without injured Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Paris Saint Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action. Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters

Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not fully recovered from a heel injury and has been ruled out of the French champions' Ligue 1 game against RC Lens on Friday, coach Laurent Blanc said.

"It's going in the right direction but he is not ready to train with the squad and play," Blanc told a news conference on Thursday.

Blanc first said that centre back Thiago Silva would return from a thigh injury that has kept him out since mid-August, only for the Brazil international to be left out of the squad unveiled later on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic has not played in almost four weeks since he picked up his injury in a 1-1 draw against Olympique Lyonnais.

Unbeaten PSG are third in the standings with 15 points from nine games, seven adrift of leaders and arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille.

Astana face licence review after third positive test

Astana

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy and Astana Pro Team performs a wheelie. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has officially asked the licence commission to review the Astana team's world Tour (elite) status after the Kazakh outfit was hit by a third positive doping test this year.

"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) will ask the Licence Commission to undertake a full review of the management and anti-doping policies of the Astana Pro Team," the UCI said in a statement on Thursday.

"This follows the serious concerns raised by the fact that two Astana riders, Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy, recently tested positive for EPO and the notification this week that Ilya Davidenok has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for anabolic androgenic steroids in a sample collected at the

Tour de l’Avenir on 28th August 2014."

Astana already have a World Tour (elite) license for 2015.

Taiwan's fast-rising Chan eyes Rio Olympics

Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei plays his tee shot

Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei plays his tee shot. Photograph: Stanley Chou/Getty Images

Being a late starter, Chan Shih-chang had to work hard to rewrite Asian Development Tour (ADT) records and hopes to continue his stellar form to achieve his dream of representing Taiwan at the Rio Olympics.

The 28-year-old has become the first player to claim three titles in a single season in the ADT circuit, which also earned him playing rights on the Asian Tour for the second half of the current season.

"Hopefully I can continue to stay in that position as the leading player from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) so that I qualify for the Olympics in 2016," Chan said in an ADT statement.

"It would be an honour if I can represent Chinese Taipei in the Olympics."

Chan secured his maiden title in Malaysia last year before adding three more trophies to emerge as the player with the most wins on the ADT since its 2010 inauguration.

 "My next aim is to win on the Asian Tour," said Chan, the ADT Order of Merit leader with a record $66,991 income.

"I broke into the world’s top 200 after winning the Taifong Open in July. It is my first time getting into the top 200 and it feels great. I'm still hoping to grab more victories this year to boost my ranking."

Evans released from jail after rape sentence

Ched Evans. Photograph: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Former Sheffield United and Wales striker Ched Evans was released from prison on Friday after serving half of a five-year sentence for rape.

The 25-year-old, who has also played for Manchester City and is a Wales international, was convicted in 2012 of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room.

Evans, who left Wymott Prison near Leyland in north-west England at about 0400 GMT, has promised to make a "very personal and profound" statement on his website next week.

The website also said that on July 15, Evans's new legal team had submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission which is the first step to a second appeal.

"Ched is now adjusting to normal life after serving a sentence for a crime consistently denied," a statement on his website (www.chedevans.com) read.

"Ched would like to thank prior to the video statement, the thousands of people from all walks of life who have supported him and believe in him."

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough has discussed the possibility of Evans making a comeback with the third tier club but more than 145,000 people have signed a petition against his possible return for the Blades.

On Thursday, Britain's deputy prime minister and Sheffield MP Nick Clegg urged the club to "think really long and hard" before deciding whether to allow Evans to play for them again.

Source: REUTERS
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