SCANDAL IN BELGIUM OVER CUP ANTHEM

BRUSSELS: The Belgian football federation says it will not change its mind about choosing a rapper known for lacing his songs with misogynistic lyrics to produce its official World Cup song. The federation said in a statement on Thursday — International Women’s Day — that it did not want to be taken “hostage” by pro-women groups, who say it is unacceptable that an artist using degrading lyrics could be picked to produce what should be a unifying song for the country. The rapper, Damso, has said that his songs are more complicated that the denigrating terms imply. Belgian State Secretary for equal opportunities Zuhal Demir said the federation’s choice was incomprehensible. “As a federation, how can you defend this in front of your sponsors, and especially families and women? Even men,” Demir wrote, before adding some of Damso’s most criticised lyrics on her Facebook page. The Women’s Forum, a coalition of women’s groups, has vowed that it will take further action.

Emre Can to decide on Liverpool future later

LONDON : Liverpool midfielder Emre Can remains focused on playing for the Premier League club this campaign, saying that his agent had blocked all negotiations regarding his future until the end of the season. Can, who has made 164 appearances since joining the club in 2014, is out of contract at Liverpool in June and is yet to sign a new deal, with media reports regularly linking the 24-year-old with a move to Italian champions Juventus. “I have to think about my future,” Can was quoted as saying. “I haven’t signed for any other club, I’m focused on this season. We want to finish in second place in the Premier League, we’re in the Champions League quarter-finals and we want to progress. I’m thinking only of football.” The German international impressed in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Porto in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Anfield as Liverpool advanced with a 5-0 aggregate win.