Unopposed Infantino to stay FIFA president
ZURICH: FIFA president Gianni Infantino will not face a challenger in June’s elections to the head of world football’s governing body, the organisation said on Wednesday.
“Following the call for election issued by the FIFA Council on 10 June 2018, FIFA’S member associations have proposed, in due time and form, the following candidate for the presidential election to take place at the 69th FIFA Congress in Paris on 5 June 2019: Mr Gianni Infantino,” it said in a statement.
Infantino’s plans for a new expanded Club World Cup and a global Nations League have put him at loggerheads with European confederation UEFA and club organisations.
However, no candidate from Europe emerged to challenge Infantino, the former UEFA General Secretary, who was elected in February, 2016, replacing the banned Sepp Blatter.
DORTMUND LOSE
BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of the German Cup 4-2 on penalties by visitors Werder Bremen in the last-16 on Tuesday after a thrilling 3-3 draw with the Bundesliga leaders twice throwing away the lead in extra time. Max Kruse netted the decisive spot kick for Bremen whose goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka had saved penalties from Dortmund’s Paco Alcacer and Maximilian Philipp.
SEARCH FOR SALA
LONDON: Authorities say they are trying to recover the body spotted in the seabed wreckage of the plane that was carrying Argentine football player Emiliano Sala and his pilot. Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch says “we are attempting to (recover) the body. If we are successful, we will consider the feasibility of recovering the aircraft wreckage.” The wreckage was discovered on Sunday.