Ousted French football official withdraws from FIFA election
PARIS, March 7:Ousted French soccer federation president Noël Le Graët formally withdrew his candidacy for re-election to the FIFA Council, European soccer body UEFA said Monday.Le Graët had stayed in the April 5 election contest for the $250,000-a-year position despite rising criticism in recent weeks of his leadership of French soccer. The 81-year-old Le Graët finally resigned last week after a government audit found he no longer had legitimacy because of his behavior toward women and his management style.UEFA published an updated candidate list noting that Le Graët has “decided to withdraw his candidature from the election” for a FIFA seat he held for four years.Despite his resignation, the French official seems to remain a special delegate for FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the governing body’s satellite office in Paris. Infantino declined to answer a question about Le Graët’s status at a news conference in London on Saturday. UEFA picks eight members of the 37-seat FIFA Council. At 71, Gomes has passed the age limit of 70 set in UEFA rules to stay on as one of its vice presidents, but no such rule applies to European elections for FIFA positions. (AP)
Russian coach who criticized Olympic judges banned
GENEVA, March 7: A top Russian gymnastics coach whose athletes won numerous Olympic gold medals has been suspended following vehement criticism of judges who ended Russia’s winning streak in rhythmic gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics.The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, which handles international disciplinary cases, barred Irina Viner from coaching or officiating at any competitions in international gymnastics for two years, in a decision published late Monday.That followed an investigation into statements made after Russian gymnasts took the silver medal in the individual and team all-around rhythmic competitions in Tokyo in 2021. Those were surprise defeats which ended a streak of gold medals for Russia going back to 2000 in both events.In comments to Russian media, Viner suggested the judges were motivated by anti-Russian prejudice and called the situation a “disgrace.” Viner also allegedly retaliated against an International Gymnastics Federation official from Russia who oversaw the judging at the Olympics by blocking her from running for re-election, and allegedly failed to cooperate with the inquiry. (PTI)
