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عقد مرتضي منصور رئيس نادي الزمالك، جلسة مع قائد الفريق الكروي محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، اليوم الثلاثاء، بعد عودته إلى منصبه رئيساً للقلعة البيضاء من جديد.

وكانت وزارة الشباب والرياضة قد أعلنت عودة مرتضى منصور لرئاسة الزمالك من جديد، وذلك تنفيذًا لحكم محكمة القضاء الإداري بمجلس الدولة بإيقاف قرار استبعاد مجلس الزمالك في نوفمبر الماضي.

وقال منصور خلال فيديو مذاع عبر صفحته على “يوتيوب”: “أرحب بـ شيكابالا، وسبب الجلسة هو الحديث عن أمور كثيرة بشأن الفترة الماضية والقادمة، وسأجتمع مع كارتيرون عندما يعود من إجازته”.

وأضاف: “نلتمس الاكتفاء بعقوبة الإيقاف وغياب 6 مباريات لشيكابالا، أتمنى أن يحدث عفو عن اللاعب، بصرف النظر عن حكم مركز التسوية والتحكيم، سنحترم لوائح الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم ولا توجد لدينا مشكلة”.

وتابع: “أنا لدي مشكلة في المخالفات القادمة، أهم مخالفة هي أنني أعطي اللاعبين أمولا أكثر مما يستحقون، وأنا كنت أتساءل هل كنت أعطي اللاعبين أكثر مما يستحقون أم لم أكن أعطيهم أمولا من الأساس؟، الحمد لله كنت أعطيهم أكثر من مستحقاتهم، لأنهم لاعبون رجال وفي الظروف الصعبة التي مر بها النادي الموسم الماضي”.

وأكمل: “الإعلامي أحمد موسى كان منزعجًا اليوم ويقول كيف يظل الأهلي سنة كاملة دون نائب، وأنا أقول له وكيف ظل الزمالك سنة كاملة بدون مجلس، مع احترامي للنادي الأهلي”.

وواصل: “أنا هنأته ونبدأ صفحة جديدة مع الجميع، وقلت إنني أمد يدي لمجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي لنبذ التعصب لأن بلدنا لا تحتاج أي توتر أو انقسام، وما قلته نفذته”.

وأردف: “أما عن بعض الصفحات التي تدعي أنها زملكاوية ينزعجون من هذا الأمر، فماذا كنتم تريدون؟، هل كنتم تريدون فور أني أعود (أقول هاتولي الخطيب وأضرب فيه!)، هم مجلس جديد ونحن عدنا بعد سنة (عندما يكون في مناسبة للخناقة هنتخانق) وعندما تكون هناك مناسبة للتهنئة سنهنئ، ولم يطلب مني أي جهاز سيادي في الدولة أن أهنئ الأهلي، فعلت ذلك بمفردي، نريد أن ننبذ الفتنة والتعصب، (عايزين تتخانقوا اتخانقوا على الفيس بوك) وأنا ضد هذا وضد (التحفيل)”.

وتابع: “نحن لن نصفي حسابات مع أحد، نحن صنعنا لجنة لست فيها، وأي قرار صدر بمجاملة أي أحد على حساب أحد سيتم إلغاؤه، ليس ذنب البعض أنهم كانوا يحبون مرتضى فيتم معاقباتهم”.

واستمر: ليس لدينا مشكلة مع كارتيرون نهائيًا، وأمير جلس معه وأخبره بذلك، وقال له نحن خلفك وندعمك ولكن ابتعد عن من يثير الفتنة وكيلك حازم فتوح الذي يقول إن مرتضى لو عاد كارتيرون سيرحل، ابتعد انت، كارتيرون في الأول هو من رحل بنفسه ولم نقيله نحن”.

واستطرد: “ندعم كل اللاعبين، وكل لاعب تمت إعارته أو بيعه في فترة اللجنة سيعود، لأن اللجنة ليس لها أي صلاحيات بيع أو إعارة، وبكل أدب مع رؤساء الأندية سنعيد اللاعبين، وإلا سنذهب إلى الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، ولو ذهبنا هناك فلن يعترفوا باللجان، لا أعرف لماذا كان يوقع حسين السمري وحسين السيد لا أعرف ما هي صفتهما، وكل الطيور المهاجرة ستعود”.

طالع | محمود الخطيب يشكر مرتضى منصور.. ويرسل وفدًا لحضور عزاء جلال إبراهيم

وواصل: “أقول للجماهير أنا لا أملك عصا سحرية، اتركوني أعمل وبعض الصفحات التي كانت تهاجمني قبل ذلك لأنني أتشاجر كثيرا، هي نفس الصفحات عندما ابتعدت كانت تدعمني وتقول نحن نحبك”.

وتابع مرتضى: “سأذهب إلى النادي يوم الخميس الساعة 5 لمقابلة الأعضاء، وسأقابل كل الصفحات يوم الجمعة، وسنتناقش وكل شخص يقول رأيه، والزملك سيظل كما هو في نظري، أحسن ناد في العالم”.

وأتم: “أقول لـ شيكابالا وكباتن الفريق لا بد من عودة الانضباط مرة أخرى، ولا يحدث بعد ذلك أن لاعب يحصل على بطاقة صفراء متعمدا، أو (يشوح للمدرب)”.

وهنأ شيكابالا رئيس الزمالك، بعودته إلى منصبه، وطالبه بمكافأة الدوري عن الموسم الماضي، ليرد مرتضي: “عندما أعود إن شاء الله”.

وتابع: “شيكابالا (ضاحكا): “بجملة المخالفات، اعطينا المكافأة وضمها على المخالفات”.

واختتم شيكابالا: “نشكرك، وإن شاء الله الانضباط يعود للفريق مرة أخرى، وننافس مرة أخرى ونعدك بحصد الدوري مرة أخرى”.

West Brom are reportedly interested in bringing Demarai Gray to the Hawthorns, according to reports this week…

What’s the word?

The Daily Mirror (05/01, page 47) claim the 24-year-old winger, who has featured just once in the Premier League this term, is a target for Sam Allardyce amongst others.

Top-flight rivals Leeds United are thought to be leading the race with Southampton and Sheffield United also mentioned in the report.

It is thought that the Foxes ace feels he has no long-term future at the club as he enters the final six months of his current contract, which also means he’s free to join any foreign outfit with Ligue 1 side Marseille also linked.

Worse than Phillips

Albion are on the verge of securing Robert Snodgrass on a free transfer from West Ham, so a move for Gray doesn’t seem worthwhile.

He has failed to live up to expectations at the King Power Stadium, indeed it is a surprise to see that the wide man has made 133 appearances in the Premier League since Leicester activated his £3.7m release clause in January 2016.

In those matches, Gray has only been able to muster up ten goals and 11 assists, and evidently, current Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is no longer a fan considering he’s played 459 minutes all season.

A stark contrast to September 2019 when Rodgers lauded the winger a “big talent”  and June 2020, emphasising this point, calling him a “wonderful talent” who “can do everything” even claiming he had been “exceptional” – though his lack of action on the pitch clearly tells another story.

Last season in the top-flight, Gray failed to average over 1.1 shots, 0.8 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

Which is far worse than what Matty Phillips conjured up despite being in and out of the side on the Baggies’ way to promotion.

Even though the former QPR man has been found out at this level, managing just 0.5 shots and 0.4 dribbles per game, the last thing Big Sam will want is another disastrous winger on his hands.

The Baggies must steer clear of the £55k-per-week flop this transfer window.

AND in other news, West Brom can find next Claudio Yacob in £13.5m powerhouse…

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians conquistou seus primeiros três pontos na Copa Libertadores. No último minuto, em jogo que teve até apagão no primeiro tempo. Apagadas foram também as atuações do Timão. Confira as notas do LANCE!:

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansÉ Libertadores! Timão sofre no Chile, mas marca no fim e vence na estreiaCorinthians18/02/2016

CORINTHIANS

6,0
Cássio
Praticamente não teve trabalho durante a partida. Após uma pancada, ficou caído desacordado, mas continuou no jogo.

5,5
Fagner
Sofreu no início do jogo para marcar Benítez, mas depois conseguiu se recuperar. Errou muitos lançamentos e passes.

6,0
Felipe
Com pouco trabalho, teve uma atuação segura. Antecipou alguns lances e não se comprometeu para sair jogando.

6,0
Yago
Também teve uma atuação correta. Ainda fez um corte providencial de cabeça após cruzamento da esquerda.

5,5
Uendel
Cobresal pouco atacou pelo seu setor. Subiu ao ataque para ser opção pelo lado esquerdo, mas foi discreto.

5,5
Bruno Henrique
Poderia ter sido expulso aos três minutos de jogo. Errou domínio e chegou atrasado. Foi bem nas saídas de bola.

5,5
Romero
Tentou jogadas em velocidade pela esquerda, mas não conseguiu ser eficiente e nem voltou para o segundo tempo.

6,0
Elias
Recuou para buscar o jogo e tentar organizar o time e não conseguiu criar perigo. Também não resolveu.

5,5
Rodriguinho
Outro apagado na linha de quatro jogadores do meio. Parou os adversários com faltas.

6,5
Lucca
Quase marcou em cobrança de falta no primeiro tempo. Cruzou da direita e o adversário marcou gol contra.

5,0
Danilo
Apareceu pouco no jogo e perdeu muitas bolas. Tentou voltar na esquerda para ajudar na criação, sem sucesso.

5,5
Giovanni Augusto
Entrou no lugar de Romero após o intervalo e não conseguiu mudar a postura da equipe. Mais um que não brilhou.

5,5
André
Irrelevante, porque também sofreu com a falta de criação do time. Não conseguiu abrir espaços para os companheiros.

6,0
Willians
No lance do gol, pegou o rebote e abriu na direita para Lucca cruzar. Praticamente a única participação no jogo.

5,5
Téc: Tite
Fazia tempo que o Corinthians não jogava tão mal. Substituições burocráticas não surtiram efeito.

COBRESAL (CHI)

6,0
Cuerdo
Não teve trabalho.

6,0
Jerez
Desarmou os adversários.

6,0
Salazar
Mostrou segurança atrás. Tentou muito lançamento, a maioria errado.

4,5
Escalona
Vinha fazendo uma partida correta, mas marcou contra no fim.

6,0
Alejandro Lopez
Desarmou e não teve muito trabalho no meio de campo.

6,0
Ureña
Correto nas saídas de bola.

5,0
Sarabia
Apareceu pouco no jogo e perdeu bolas na transição ao ataque.

6,0
Fuentes
Foi o mais participativo do meio, mas errou chutes e lançamentos.

6,0
Sepúlveda
Levou a melhor nos desarmes. Chegou à frente e errou três das quatrofinalizações que tentou.

6,5
Benítez
Criou pela esquerda e foi o mais perigoso do time. Quebrou o braço.

5,0
Ever Cantero
Perdeu algumas bolas e saiu ainda no primeiro tempo.

5,5
Javier Grbec
Entrou no segundo tempo e praticamente não pegou na bola.

5,5
Oyaneder
Outro que entrou e não teve muito sucesso nas jogadas.

6,0
González
Entrou no fim e quase marcou um gol “sem querer” aos 43.

6,0
Téc: Dalcio Giovagnoli
Time mostrou organização, mas jogadores tentaram a finalização de muitolonge. Castigo no fim.

continua após a publicidade

MatériaMais Notícias

Rebaixado para a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, a Chapecoense atravessa um momento delicado na questão financeira. Sem dinheiro para investir na montagem do elenco, a diretoria quebra a cabeça para ajudar Hemerson Maria.

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Uma das soluções encontradas pela gerência é a utilização da base. O Verdão olha com carinho para os jovens e observou com muito cuidado a participação do time na Copa São Paulo.

Mesmo sem chegar longe, alguns jogadores chamaram a atenção e o atacante Foguinho, o grande destaque do time na copinha, acabou promovido pela comissão técnica.

A ideia é projetar a entrada dos jovens com a possibilidade de negociá-los no futuro e girar o caixa da Chapecoense.

Além da questão financeira, a parte técnica para fortalecer o time de Hemerson Maria é fundamental. O grande exemplo é o goleiro Tiepo, que foi titular da equipe na campanha do último Brasileirão.

Crystal Palace crushed West Bromwich Albion in a comfortable 5-1 victory at the Hawthorns as the Eagles took advantage of Matheus Pereira’s dismissal to claim their first points in their last three games.

Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha were restored to the starting line-up and they marked their respective returns to action with two goals apiece as Roy Hodgson’s side hammered the Baggies to score five goals away from Selhurst Park for the first time in the Premier League.

Whilst Zaha has matured into the talisman that Palace hope to have for some time, having bagged a brace against West Brom after recoving from coronavirus which kept him out of action for two weeks, you can’t help but feel like there is a new young buck waiting in the wings to steal his spotlight.

It’s fair to say that Palace have unearthed some unblemished gems over the years – the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Moses immediately spring to mind – and Eberechi Eze could find himself in the same esteemed company before too long.

The England U21 international – who has earned two caps for the national team development squad – has made 11 appearances for Palace in all competitions so far this season, whilst he has scored one goal and supplied two assists, via Transfermarkt.

But how did he end up at Selhurst Park?

Well, after an impressive season with Queens Park Rangers in which he bagged 14 times in the Championship, Hodgson and Palace chairman Steve Parish moved to bring him to the south London club in the summer.

Parish parted ways with £16m up front which could rise to £20m with performance-related bonuses, and Eze became a Palace player – and it’s safe to say that it has turned out to be a very good move for all parties involved, as he currently earns wages worth £30,000-per-week.

Zaha has heaped praise on his young teammate, as he described him as a “quality” player after he helped him bag a brace against West Brom. Speaking after the game, the Ivory Coast international couldn’t contain his excitement, as he believes they have both started to form a promising partnership, which suggests that he has been a pretty good value for money.

“[Eze] is a quality player, he literally glides through people,” he told the club website.

“It’s nice [having] someone on your wavelength, that’s a tricky player as well because I know half of the stuff he’s going to do, so I just position myself to get the ball. It’s been a joy.”

In 11 games in the Premier League, the 22-year-old has bagged once and provided two assists so far this season, whilst he is averaging 1 shot and 1.9 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, whilst he has also been fouled 2.6 times on average – second only to Zaha, who is fouled at least three times on average per game.

Therefore, it’s fair to say that Hodgson and Parish can consider the signing of Eze as a shrewd bit of business, as his market value will surely skyrocket if he can maintain his current run of form.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha was Roy Hodgson’s hero vs West Brom…

Leeds United very rarely spend in the January transfer window and after last season’s debacle, why would they?

Victor Orta agreed a deal to bring French forward Jean-Kevin Augustin to the club on loan from RB Leipzig. An agreement was reached that if Leeds went up, they’d have an obligation to buy the striker.

Lo and behold, the Whites were promoted and then didn’t cough up the money that was agreed. Leipzig and Leeds are now locked in a legal battle all while Augustin plays his football for Nantes in France.

Orta is no stranger to tying up deals like this and there is a similar one in place for Jack Harrison. Now embarking on his third loan spell at Elland Road, Leeds will have to pay around the £10m mark to Manchester City in order to make it permanent.

Harrison, however, has been rather inconsistent since playing in the Premier League, something that rather sums up his entire Leeds career. In some moments, he looks like an attacking genius but in others, he is left wanting. That being said, he still has four assists this season.

That record amounts to nothing compared to one of their latest targets, though. Reporting earlier this week, 90min revealed that Leeds were one of a few sides interested in securing the signature of Celtic winger Ryan Christie.

Now, if they do indeed swoop for the Scot they can forget all about Harrison. Christie is one of the most dangerous players in Scottish football and has racked up some phenomenal numbers at Parkhead, most recently scoring a wonderful curling effort from 29 yards out in the Scottish Cup final.

He cut inside and unleashed a splendid shot that typified the type of player he is. Cutting inside is his forte and the 25-year-old has made a living from it in the SPFL.

Christie’s numbers are extraordinary and over the past two campaigns, he’s produced a combined haul of 50 goals and assists. Last season, the Scotland international found the net 20 times and assisted a further 16 strikes. This term, meanwhile, he’s got ten assists and four goals to his name.

Of course, the Premier League is a class above but Christie has shown what he’s capable of on the international stage too. Possessing what Chris Sutton described as a “ferocious work rate,” the attacker has scored against the likes of Czech Republic and Serbia.

Sutton added: “We all know he can produce moments of magic. Christie is a manager’s dream.”

A player who can combine quality in the final third with an impressive work rate would surely thrive under Bielsa. After all, it’s two of the biggest qualities he looks for in a player. Harrison knows that too well.

AND in other news, Exclusive: £75k-p/w PL man signing for Leeds in January has been RULED out…

MatériaMais Notícias

E se na adolescência você jogasse ao lado de futuras estrelas como Neymar e Philippe Coutinho? Atuasse no Santos, um dos maiores clubes do Brasil? Conseguisse realizar treinamentos no Arsenal-ING? O meia Geovane Loubo pôde apreciar tudo isso, mas não conseguiu ter sucesso no futebol.

Aos 28 anos, Loubo acertou com o Democrata-MG, time que disputará a segunda divisão do Campeonato Mineiro. Será o oitavo time da sua carreira.

– Estou de volta ao meu estado, onde conheço a forma de jogo e sei da dificuldade que é levar um clube à divisão principal do estado. Além deste desafio, quero muito retomar minha carreira e voltar a ter uma sequencia de jogos. Aos 28 anos, confio que ainda posso contribuir ao futebol com meu talento e é exatamente isso que busco. Agradeço ao Democrata por me dar essa oportunidade e não faltará esforço da minha parte, para que alcancemos essa promoção ao final da competição – declarou Loubo.

No Arsenal-ING, o atleta pôde conviver ao lado de estrelas consagradas no cenário europeu e evoluir taticamente com Arsène Wenger, treinador francês que ficou sob comando do clube inglês por mais de 25 anos.

-Foi um período incrível, em que pude aprender muito e tive uma grande valorização do meu nome à época. Treinei junto e conheci jogadores que fizeram história no futebol como o Gilberto Silva, Fábregas, Wilshere e Denílson, que se tornou um grande amigo que fiz no futebol. Foi uma experiência única na minha vida e que carrego até hoje grandes aprendizados de tudo que vivenciei lá na Inglaterra – contou o meia.

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O período em que Geovane mais impressionou as pessoas foi nas categorias de base do Santos ao lado de Neymar, em 2008. As boas atuações o colocaram em evidência na Seleção Brasileira sub-15 e 17.

Porém, um ano depois, o jogador caiu de nível, perdeu espaço e foi dispensado pelo Santos. Ele acredita que sua mudança de comportamento foi primordial para não conseguir chegar ao profissional do Peixe.

– O período no Santos foi incrível. Cheguei muito garoto, tive grandes atuações logo no começo e isso impressionou a muitas pessoas. De alguma maneira, isso influenciou negativamente a minha postura e o meu desenvolvimento. Acabei não tendo as melhores companhias e quem pudesse me auxiliar para eu manter o foco no meu crescimento. Os anos se passaram, perdi espaço e oportunidades. Porém, não posso lamentar mais. Fui feliz, aprendi muito, fiz amigos que levo para o resto da vida e tenho a mesma confiança daquele menino que chamou tanta atenção há dez anos. E isso é o que me faz seguir atrás do meu sonho, que é mostrar meu futebol para muita gente ainda – afirmou o atleta.

A estreia do Democrata acontece no dia 08 de fevereiro, fora de casa, diante do Mamoré. Sendo assim, Geovane crê nas voltas que o futebol dá para impressionar outra vez os amantes do esporte.

MatériaMais Notícias

O diretor executivo da Chapecoense, Rui Costa, confirmou, nesta sexta-feira, a sondagem de outro clube pelo goleiro Jandrei. Dias antes, o atleta foi citado, por um jornalista italiano, como alvo daSampdoria-ITA. O dirigente não revelou o nome da equipe interessada no jogador mas afirmou que há chances do atleta deixar o Verdão.

– Existe uma sondagem formal, mas não estou autorizado a dizer que não é jogador da Chapecoense. Ele está participando de todos os processos. Se em 72h a proposta chegar naquilo que o presidente entende que é correto, que o conselho gestor entenda que é correto, e o futebol entenda que é suficiente para perder um atleta importante e substituí-lo, isso pode se confirmar – disse o diretor.

Até o momento, a Chapecoense tem três baixas. O atacante Arthur acertou com o Pyramids, do Egito, o lateral Apodi foi para o Ohod, da Arábia Saudita e o meia Nadson reforçou o Paraná. O Verdão do Oeste não anunciou nenhuma contratação após a saída dos jogadores. Rui Costa comentou a procura do clube por peças de reposição. A negociação com um dos alvos do clube,Gustavo Lorenzetti, não se concretizou.

– Não posso criar uma expectativa no torcedor que não vá se confirmar. Poderia falar de 37 nomes. Lorenzetti, realmente fazia parte do nosso levantamento, esteve perto de vir para a Chapecoense. Não foram questões financeiras. Chegamos nos números que eram possíveis, fizemos o caminho certo, houve consulta dele ao clube. Por questões de foro íntimo, pelo momento vivido pela LaU… se fez a negociação – afirmou o dirigente.

O próximo compromisso da Chape no Brasileirão é no dia 19 de julho, contra o Bahia, em Chapecó. Até lá, a diretoria segue de olho no mercado.

The Supreme Court’s decision to open the BCCI to judicial scrutiny under Article 226 of the Constitution has implications that go beyond the cricket field and into the boardroom, potentially influencing the way the sport will henceforth be run

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Jan-2015

The Supreme Court’s decision to open the BCCI to judicial scrutiny under Article 226 of the Constitution has implications that go beyond the cricket field and into the boardroom, potentially influencing the way the sport will henceforth be run. That is the consensus opinion among several lawyers ESPNcricinfo spoke to following the court’s judgement on Thursday.While delivering the order, the bench of Justices TS Thakur and FMI Kalifullah began by answering a key question: whether the BCCI is a ‘state’ and, if it is not, whether it is amenable to the writ jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. A writ jurisdiction is essentially the right to seek a remedy against the state, the route open to a private citizen questioning a state or state body of any wrongdoing.The first instance of the court trying to determine whether the BCCI was a state and was performing public functions came in a case concerning Zee Telefilms Ltd. and Anr. v Union of India and Ors. (2005). The case related to the exclusive television rights for a four-year period; the BCCI, through an order, cancelled the allotment in favour of Zee Telefilms. A petition was filed by Zee Telefilms under Article 32 in the Supreme Court which the BCCI challenged saying such a plea could only be filed against the state.The majority verdict of the court ruled that BCCI was not a state but it did point out that, by picking an Indian team, controlling the activities of players and others like match officials, scorers, administrators, the BCCI was performing public functions. Any violation made it open to litigation under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the court ruled.On Thursday, the court reinforced the same in its order (Pages 32-35) and further qualified its view as to why the BCCI could not anymore hide under the cover of being a private, autonomous body immune to litigation.”The BCCI can’t make changes on its own which are contrary to the law,” Vidushpat Singhania, a Delhi-based sports lawyer and secretary to the Mudgal Committee, said. “Like in the past the way the BCCI changed its constitution or rules and regulations for the benefit of an X person cannot be done anymore. Earlier the BCCI would say since it was an autonomous body only its public functions could be challenged. But no one could challenge if it made any amendments to its rules and regulations. That is no more the case.”Another lawyer, whose clients include eminent sports personalities, felt the biggest change coming out of the ruling is that the court is now willing to go into micromanagement and deep into the governance structure of a sports body. And that was the area where the court had moved forward from the Zee Telefilms case. “The most significant part is how specific the process has been laid out to determine the punishment. They have named the committee. They have given them specific guidelines. They have made the findings a fact. This is the whole exercise of power under Article 226.”So far what the court used to do was more oversight saying that this hasn’t been done, please go back and do it properly. But constituting and naming the committee is actually a big development,” the lawyer, who requested anonymity, said.According to Gopal Sankaranarayanan, an advocate in the Supreme Court, it is one of the first instances in which the functioning of the BCCI has been scrutinized with reference to the actual cricket. “It is not a question of telecast rights. This is more in the nature of a public interest litigation because it is dealing with lack of transparency, conflict of interests, match-fixing. All these are important issues, (for) all of which even a fan can file a petition.”Sankaranarayanan, who was part of the BCCI legal team in the Zee Telelfilms case, said that the Thursday verdict must put a full stop on the full control the board insisted it had in running the game. “It is not really the law but the courts now feel they are empowered to take on more questions about how BCCI functions. There was this very comfortable couch that the BCCI administrators were sitting on which has been once and for all dislodged. Now they have realised they can’t get away with virtually anything. The courts will step in.”Essentially the Supreme Court has taken custody of cricket as a sport, as a result of which its national administrator will not remain unregulated. The willingness of the courts can be seen in the case relating to K Balaji Iyengar v State of Kerala. Iyengar, a former Kerala junior cricketer, had filed a case of corruption and misappropriation against the Kerala Cricket Association under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.The special court said it did not hold jurisdiction to hear the case. Hearing the case in 2011, the Supreme Court determined that the KCA was performing public duties and its officials were classified as public servants.It held that “even if Kerala Cricket Association is not an ‘other authority’ and thereby not an instrumentality of the State for the purpose of Article 12 of the Constitution, if the Secretary and President of the Association, who hold those offices are authorised or required to perform any public duty by virtue of holding their offices, they would be public servants as defined under the POCA.”Thakur was one of the two judges who presided over that case. Along with his colleague Justice VS Sirpurkar, Thakur upheld a Kerala High Court decision that said the officials of KCA were public servants. The court’s decision meant that officials who are part of a private body but perform what can be considered a public function could now be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which applies only to public servants.Going forward, according to Sankaranarayanan, one potential scenario where the BCCI or the state associations could now be pulled up would be with team selections. “If a parent of a player feels he has been left out for whatever reasons, he/she could easily file a writ asking for procedures etc. This need not stop only at team issues. It could also be administrative selections.”There is no doubt such challenges will crop up around the country. Whether the court entertains them is another matter. It cannot now decline a plea, but can say it is not a case for it to interfere in and is better left to the experts. “Now the public of India have a right to seek a writ against the BCCI when it comes to administration and running of the sport,” Sankaranarayanan says.Singhania also reckons the BCCI will be amenable under the Right to Information Act jurisdiction. “The court said that you are exercising public functions and that is only because the State has given its concurrence. You are supposed to beregulated by the State. And hence any citizen of India can ask the BCCI for information.”But Sankaranarayanan said he disagrees with Singhania. “The court dealing with a private society cannot change the nature of the society. What they can do is adjudicate jurisdictional powers with reference to the kind of functions that are discharged. The court answered a question in a very, very limited purpose only dealing with whether Article 226 would lie against the BCCI. I don’t think it is such an easy leap to say just because there is a writ jurisdiction the BCCI is amenable to RTI.”The experts point out that the courts do not want to impose themselves as long as the BCCI and its administrators carry out their functions according to the rules. The lawyer, who did not want to be named, points out the court will still never intervene on matters of policy and selection. “It is not just about setting the standards, but actually now quasi-governance. It is almost like court-enforced governance review. To make sure there are no conflict of interests, to check for the various clauses in rules and regulations. The BCCI will now have to guard against any sort of ambiguity, any sort of arbitrariness, [have] much better paperwork and more open decision-making.”

With Yorkshire hovering on the brink of relegation, Ryan Sidebottom remained determined that his side would go down fighting on the third day of their County Championship clash with Somerset at Headingley

09-Sep-2011
ScorecardWith Yorkshire hovering on the brink of relegation, Ryan Sidebottom remained determined that his side would go down fighting on the third day of their County Championship clash with Somerset at Headingley.Firstly, the former England paceman played a major part in a ninth-wicket stand of 53 – the highest of the innings – which dragged Yorkshire to 195 all out and left them trailing their opponents by 70. Then, in a furious spell of bowling either side of tea, he grabbed four for 34 in 12 overs as Somerset stumbled to 46 for 5. They closed the day on 124 for 6, with a lead of 194, to leave the game wide open and Yorkshire still in with a shout of recording their only win of the season at headquarters.When stumps were drawn, however, the scoreboard showed that Yorkshire’s over rate stood at minus two and if it should remain in the red then they will be relegated, regardless of what may happen elsewhere next week. If they get back on an even keel, Worcestershire require only one more point to send Yorkshire down.Until Sidebottom began his heroics, Yorkshire looked like ending a depressing campaign on another dismal note as wickets began to fall immediately they resumed their innings, at 20 without loss from nine overs. Joe Root was lbw to Alfonso Thomas’ fifth ball of the morning and captain Joe Sayers was similarly dismissed in the next over from Steve Kirby.A beautiful delivery from Kirby nipped away from Anthony McGrath and found the edge for James Hildreth to take the catch at first slip and only Adam Lyth batted with any authority as both Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance got out to poor shots.Lyth completed his half-century off 76 balls with eight boundaries but Yorkshire went in to lunch on 121 for 6 after Adil Rashid had been bowled by Kirby shouldering arms to the last delivery before the interval.The slide continued early in the afternoon, with Thomas accounting for Lyth and Ajmal Shahzad in consecutive overs to bring in Sidebottom at 133 for eight. Both he and Rich Pyrah jogged along nicely until Sidebottom went for a big hit against Murali Kartik and hit a high ball straight into the air for Hildreth to position himself underneath and take the catch.Thomas had last man Moin Ashraf lbw without scoring to give him figures of 5 for 66 and Somerset’s first-innings lead was sufficient to keep alive their slim title hopes.Alex Barrow and Arul Suppiah safely negotiated the first eight overs from Sidebottom and Shahzad before the former left them in disarray with three wickets for one run in 16 balls, Barrow being caught behind and Chris Jones and Hildreth falling lbw.Somerset were 26 for 3 at tea and with the third ball after the break, Ashraf had Hildreth nudging a fast catch to McGrath at first slip, the fifth wicket then going down at 46 when Peter Trego slapped Sidebottom into the covers to be well caught by Ballance diving to his right.Jos Buttler threatened a recovery until McGrath was brought into the attack and pinned him lbw in his first over but Craig Meschede and Thomas rallied Somerset once Sidebottom was out of the attack, Meschede slamming Rashid over midwicket for six. The seventh-wicket stand was worth 46 at the close, with Meschede on 30 and Thomas 25.