Sports

AMMAN — The National football team plays its first friendly against Kuwait on Friday in the final phase of preparations for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. The team will face Kuwait again on October 13 as the two matches are expected to give head coach Ray Wilkins a better idea of the line-up named and amend any gaps in the run up to the Asian Cup. While Wilkins has recalled players who had been out of the last line-up under Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan, goalie Amer Shafie was again removed after being recalled most likely for disciplinary admin issues. Wilkins added two other goalies to his squad this week underlining the move “was aimed at having a good choice of players for the team’s future and giving promising players a chance to gain more competitive experience”. The coach’s choice and players’ preparedness will now be under scrutiny as Jordan plays two matches against the guest team and also faces the U-23 team on Saturday. The U-23 team has just returned from the Asian Games after an impressive run. In preparation for the two friendlies, Wilkins was quoted by the local media as saying: “Players are expected to give their utmost, and head into the upcoming matches with a competitive spirit and taking on the challenge to win.”

SUZUKA, Japan — French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi suffered a traumatic brain injury in his Japanese Grand Prix crash and remains in a critical but stable condition, his family said.

In a statement issued through his Marussia team on Tuesday, they expressed appreciation for messages of support from around the world and said the 25-year-old’s crash at Suzuka on Sunday had left him with a “diffuse axonal injury”.

Two eminent neurosurgeons — FIA medical commission president Gerard Saillant and Italian professor Alessandro Frati — were also at the Mie General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi after flying from Europe at Ferrari’s request.

“The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care, and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident,” the family said.

“The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules, and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate.”

Bianchi aquaplaned off the wet track at speed with his car hitting the rear of a recovery tractor that had been deployed to remove Adrian Sutil’s crashed Sauber.

A Suzuka track spokesman said the crash was down to bad luck rather than poor judgement by race officials.

“Officials raised ‘double yellow flags’ after the accident by Sutil, which means drivers had to slow down to the speed that they can immediately stop, but unfortunately Bianchi’s car aquaplaned right at the time and ran into the accident site, which was bad luck,” said circuit spokesman Masamichi Miyazaki.

“Admittedly, rain was coming and the road was wet, but not heavy enough to halt the race, and I believe the race officials made the same judgement.”

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said president Jean Todt had asked race director Charlie Whiting to carry out a detailed report into the precise circumstances of the accident.

The crash brought a premature end to the race, with winner Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the paddock praying for the likeable Frenchman, who is also a Ferrari test driver. 

Safety procedures 

Former Formula One driver Martin Brundle, now a commentator in Britain, was one of many people involved in the sport who questioned the safety procedures used.

He recalled his own near miss with a crane when racing 20 years ago and queried the need for them to be so close to the track.

“I nearly lost my life against one of them, I just missed it and hit a marshal. I closed my eyes and I thought that was the end,” he was quoted as saying by British media.

“The tractors are just too high and you are sitting down low. I’ve been saying this for a long time.

“You are going into the barrier if you go off there. There’s no way of recovering, you are going too fast.”

Bianchi’s accident was the most serious involving a driver at a grand prix weekend since Brazilian Felipe Massa suffered near-fatal head injuries in Hungary in 2009 after being hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring shed from a car in front.

Massa made a full recovery and was racing for Williams on Sunday.

Despite that, Formula One remains proud of its improved safety record and constantly strives to make cars safer, but acknowledges the sport will always be dangerous.

“We have done so much for safety,” Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying by British newspaper The Times.

“These days, you see an accident on the track and the driver undoes his safety belt, flips off his steering wheel and jumps out unharmed.

“I’ve always said that if I was going to have an accident, it would be in a Formula One car because they are the safest in the world.

“But things happen and we have to find out the cause. It’s difficult for me to say what happened and it will be for an inquiry to find out exactly what did go on.

“This happened to a young man who is very close to us all and that has caused a terrible shock for everyone. Our thoughts are with him and his family.”

The first “Week of Football” in qualifying for the 2016 European Championship could be a feast of goals for the continent’s major powers.

The second and third rounds of games in each of the nine groups will be spread from Thursday to Tuesday, with UEFA keen on “shining the spotlight on more teams” on the road to France.

For the less-heralded nations, it could simply expose their deficiencies to a wider audience.

Spain, Italy and England all started their qualifying campaigns with wins, and easy-looking upcoming fixtures should ensure they stay on 100 per cent records. Netherlands should also rack up the goals at home against Kazakhstan as it looks to bounce back from an opening-round loss to the Czech Republic.

Things may be tougher, however, for world champion Germany, which visits neighbour Poland, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, which is seeking a win in Denmark to make amends for a surprise opening loss to Albania.

Here are some things to know about the upcoming qualifiers for Euro 2016:

Changing Spain

Spain heads to Slovakia and Luxembourg aiming to hone a more direct style of play more suited to dynamic striker Diego Costa.

Coach Vicente del Bosque wanted to base an attacking game around Costa during the World Cup, but the striker was not fit when he arrived in Brazil after struggling with niggling injuries at Atletico Madrid since April.

The Brazil-born player has been a revelation this season at new club Chelsea, scoring nine goals in his first seven games in the English Premier League.

“Diego Costa wants to vindicate himself and score goals,” Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez said. “He is eager to help the squad and is conscious that things haven’t so far worked out as intended.”

Spain, the two-time defending European champion, opened Group C by beating Macedonia 5-1.

Maestro returns

Midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo could return to Italy’s team for the first time since reversing his decision to retire from international football, ahead of matches against Azerbaijan away and Malta at home.

Pirlo said before the World Cup he would quit the national side but changed his mind when former Juventus coach Antonio Conte was confirmed as Italy’s new coach.

“Pirlo was very convinced about his decision,” Juventus and Italy teammate Leonardo Bonucci said. “Thankfully he went back on it. That’s a credit to the coach, too. Conte convinced him with an exciting project, which is what he instilled during his time at Juventus.”

Pirlo, a technically gifted holding midfielder, was called up on Monday to replace the injured Giacomo Bonaventura despite having returned from injury only last weekend for his first match of the season.

Conte has won both of his opening matches in charge 2-0, one of which was against Norway in Group H.

Tests for Germany

Germany coach Joachim Loew considers the matches against Poland and Ireland as “key games” against the only two opponents that have a realistic chance of challenging the world champion for first place in Group D.

Loew’s squad includes 15 World Cup winners and one newcomer, Karim Bellarabi, an attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen. Bellarabi was on loan last season to Eintracht Braunschweig and could not even secure a regular place in the starting 11 on the team that was demoted. But he impressed enough in only seven Bundesliga matches this season that he was picked by Loew and could get his first cap.

Bellarabi got the call partly because Loew is missing regulars through injury, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira and Marco Reus.

Hiddink hope 

New Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink is still searching for his first win after two matches of his second spell in charge, when his team takes on Kazakhstan at home and Iceland away.

Midfielder Wesley Sneijder believes complacency after its third-place finish at the World Cup may have cost the Netherlands dearly in losing a friendly to Italy and its first Euro 2016 qualifier against the Czechs.

“Maybe subconsciously after the World Cup, we thought it would all just happen for us,” Sneijder told Dutch website Nu.nl. “We played a great World Cup and that led to great transfers for some players. But now we all start at zero again.”

The Netherlands will be without right back Daryl Janmaat (hamstring) but the forward line is strengthened by the return from injury of in-form Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben.

Elsewhere

England won what is likely to be its toughest match in Group E, away to Switzerland, last month to ease some of the pressure that had been growing on coach Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson should be able to relax when he sends his team out against San Marino and Estonia, with Wayne Rooney available amid a domestic suspension for kicking an opponent.

World Cup quarter-finalist Belgium begins its campaign with games against Andorra and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Portugal plays France in a friendly before travelling to Denmark, with coach Fernando Santos starting an eight-game international touchline ban for misconduct at the World Cup when in charge of Greece.

The top two teams in each group qualify automatically, as does the best third-place finisher. All other teams finishing third go into the play-offs.

AMMAN — A strong finish to Team Jordan’s Asian Games campaign ensured the delegation returned to Amman with two silver and two bronze medals, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee. And it was the boxing team that stole the show with no less than three medals, including a silver for Odai Al Hindawi in the hugely competitive middleweight category. Team captain and former Olympian Ihab Al Matbouli finished with a bronze medal in the heavyweight section, while young up and comer Obada Al Kasbeh claimed bronze in the lightweight division. Joining the boxers on the medal trail was karate’s Abdulrahman Al Masatfah, who won a silver in the -60kg category. Jordan attended the games in Incheon, South Korea, with a record delegation of 156 athletes, officials and coaches who competed across 12 sports. The conduct of the delegation was widely praised by officials from both the host city and the Olympic Council of Asia.

LONDON — Formula One fans are used to seeing drivers walk away from terrifying accidents but sometimes, in a sport that will always be dangerous however much is done to try and reduce the risks, a hole appears in the safety net.

The crash that left French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi in a critical condition with severe head injures was down to bad luck rather than poor judgement by Japanese Grand Prix race officials, a track spokesman said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Marussia driver suffered the life-threatening injury on Sunday when he aquaplaned off a wet track and slammed into the back of a recovery tractor that had been deployed to remove Adrian Sutil’s crashed Sauber.

“Officials raised ‘double yellow flags’ after the accident by Sutil, which means drivers had to slow down to the speed that they can immediately stop, but unfortunately Bianchi’s car aquaplaned right at the time and ran into the accident site, which was bad luck,” Suzuka Circuit spokesman Masamichi Miyazaki said.

“Admittedly, rain was coming and the road was wet, but not heavy enough to halt the race, and I believe the race officials made the same judgement.”

The sport’s governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said that president Jean Todt has asked FIA race director Charlie Whiting to carry out a detailed report into the precise circumstances of the accident.

The crash brought a premature end to Sunday’s race, with winner Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the paddock turning their attention to the likeable Frenchman, a graduate of Ferrari’s young driver academy.

The Marussia team acknowledged a “huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the team at this very difficult time” on Monday and on Tuesday the FIA said he was in a “critical but stable condition” at the Mie Prefectural General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi.

Others have wondered whether the sport can continue as an open cockpit formula, leaving drivers’ heads so exposed to danger.

The use of lumbering recovery vehicles, of the kind that Bianchi crashed into, in exposed runoff areas may also have to be reviewed.

The sport is praying that Bianchi pulls through, as Brazilian Felipe Massa did in Hungary in 2009 when he was hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring shed from another car, and that remains the prime concern.

But when things go wrong there are issues that have to be addressed and the answers may not be easy.

Despite constant efforts to limit dangers, with Formula One now having gone 20 years since the last driver fatality during a race, the possibility of a freak accident or tragic combination of circumstances is ever-present.

Max Mosley, the former International Automobile Federation (FIA) president who was instrumental in pushing through safety improvements following the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, felt what happened at Suzuka fell into that “freak” category.

“I can’t really fault any of the people involved. The marshals or the race director or any of those people. I think everything was done as it should have been,” he told Sky Sports News television.

“For anybody to get hurt in modern Formula One, several things have to go wrong at once — a little bit like the aviation industry,” he added.

Tractor danger

The FIA said in a statement on Sunday night at Suzuka that the marshals had displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner where Bianchi went off to warn drivers of an earlier incident involving Sauber’s Adrian Sutil.

Double waved yellows are a signal to a driver to slow right down and be prepared to stop.

Whether Bianchi saw those flags in the rain and poor visibility remains an open question, but the facts are that he lost control with the car crossing the runoff area and hitting the rear of the recovery vehicle as it was lifting the Sauber.

No television footage was shown of the impact, but photographs indicated the roll bar had been ripped off.

“After Senna and [Austrian Roland] Ratzenberger were killed in 1994 in one weekend, several other life-threatening incidents and another a fortnight later with [Austrian Karl] Wendlinger, we started a programme of systematic research on all aspects [of safety],” Mosley added.

“Crash helmets, driver protection in the car, rollover bars, fire precautions and so on. That is an ongoing thing.

“In this particular case, I don’t think any of those precautions would have helped because as I understand it, he went in under the tractor. And that’s what caused the danger.”

There has long been concern in Formula One about the use of such tractors and cranes while the race is still going on.

Automatic procedure

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, now coping with his own head injury after a skiing accident last year, was lucky to escape serious injury in 2003 when a recovery crane was deployed during a rain-hit Brazilian Grand Prix.

The German’s Ferrari skidded off at the same spot and almost crashed into it, fortunately hitting a tyre wall instead.

In Canada last year, a marshal died after being run over by a mobile crane while hurrying to remove Esteban Gutierrez’s crashed Sauber towards the end of the race in Montreal.”

The alternative to deploying such a vehicle would be to leave a crashed car in a potentially dangerous position, with accompanying risks, or bring out a safety car before the tractor is given the go-ahead.

“There’s pretty much an automatic procedure that as soon as a car goes off, that car becomes a danger to other cars. If another car going off at the same place hits it, the effects are unpredictable. So you want to remove the car as quickly as possible,” said Mosley.

The Briton also defended organisers from those who questioned why Bianchi was taken to hospital by road ambulance rather than in the medical helicopter.

“That’s a medical decision... when you have a head injury, sometimes it’s very dangerous to take somebody up in the air where the pressure drops and things then get worse,” he said.

“We always think that [American Mark] Donohue in 1975 died because he was taken to hospital in a helicopter and had a brain haemorrhage. The doctors will decide whether it is safe or not to take the driver in a helicopter,” he said.

AMMAN — Jordan could be going home with a gold medal after a dramatic day of action at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday. Middleweight boxer Odai Al Hindawi beat Wilfredo Lopez of the Philippines by two rounds to one. He will now be fighting Kazakhstan’s 2013 world champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly for the gold medal on Friday. Two more boxing bronze medals were confirmed on Thursday. Obada Al Kasbeh lost 2-1 to Charly Suarez of the Philippines in the lightweight division and team captain Ihab Darweesh lost to Ali Mazaheri (Iran) 2-1. In karate, Mohammad Al Rifi (75kg) beat Nepal’s Diwas Shrestha 8-0 for a place in the semifinal against Hong Kong’s Ka Lee, where he lost 10-3. In his bronze medal match against Thailand’s Songvut Muntaen, Rifi lost 5-3. Bashar Al Najjar lost to Kazakhstan’s Rinat Sagandykov 1-0 in the 67kg division, but he returned through the repechage rule to beat Qatar’s Qassim Ali and Nepal’s Mukundra Maharjan to meet Abdulaziz Ali in the bronze medal contest, but lost 4-1. In taekwondo, Julyana Al Sadeq won her first match against Asia Batool of Pakistan 24-4, before losing her quarter-final to Korea’s Hein Lee 2-0. Nancy Abu Saleh lost against Vietnam’s Hein Pham, 2-0, in the 62kg weight, and Raad Thabet lost to Vietnam’s Chau Le Huynh 5-4 in the 64kg competition.

AMMAN — The 63rd Jordan Professional League will now head into a two-week break as the national team regroups for two friendlies against Kuwait after the Eid holiday.

Wihdat remained atop the standings as Ramtha and Faisali remained closely behind after winning their matches while Ahli dropped down to last.

Titleholders Wihdat came from 4-0 down to beat Ittihad Ramtha 4-3, Ramtha beat Ahli 2-0 to remain second, Faisali beat Manshieh 1-0 to stay third. Shabab Urdun held Baqaa 0-0, That Ras held Sarih 1-1 and Hussein held Jazira 1-1.

The Jordan Cup quarters are now set for October 26 — Ahli vs. Ramtha, That Ras vs. Jazira, Wihdat vs. Sarih and Faisali vs. Manshieh. Baqaa, Shabab Urdun and Hussein were eliminated. Only Professional League teams are competing this year. 

Wihdat won the first major competition of the 2014/15 season after they beat Baqaa 2-0 in the 32nd Super Cup.

Last season, Wihdat won the league for the 13th time and the Jordan Cup, while Shabab Urdun won the Super Cup. The Jordan Football Association Shield was not held.

AMMAN — The national football team regrouped on Thursday to prepare for two friendlies against Kuwait on October 10 and 13 as they start the countdown to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

New head coach Ray Wilkins announced the national team squad which included stars likes Amer Shafie, Amer Theeb among others, while others were off the list including 2013 best player Raed Nawatir and teammates on the injury list such as Adnan Adous, Mohammad Shatanawi and other players abroad — Hasan Abdul Fattah and Mohammad Mustafa. 

Wilkins was quoted in the local media as saying that options are open for the final line-up and that he expected players to “give their utmost, and head into the upcoming matches with a competitive spirit and taking on the challenge to win”.

The coach said the upcoming local training camp which started Thursday “will be important as we lay the foundations for our mutual work as one team” .

Jordan dropped 13 spots to 69 in the latest FIFA rankings. They last held China 1-1, lost to Uzbekistan 2-0 and Columbia 3-0 as the squad kicked off a series of high level friendlies as the Jordan Football Association aims to give the line-up optimum competitive experience against leading teams ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in January.

The Kingdom, qualified to the AFC Asian Cup after finishing second in Group A qualifiers behind leaders Oman. Jordan will play in Group D with 2011 titleholders Japan, Iraq and Palestine.

LONDON — Paris Saint-Germain overcame goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar to inflict Barcelona’s first loss of the season on Tuesday.

PSG, who have endured a subdued start to their French title defence, took control of Group F with the 3-2 victory over the Spanish league leaders in the Champions League.

It meant there was nothing for Xavi Hernandez to celebrate as the Barca midfielder overtook Raul Gonzalez by making a record 143rd Champions League appearance.

It was also a record-breaking night for 38-year-old Francesco Totti, who became the oldest scorer in the competition’s 22-year history to give Roma a 1-1 draw at Manchester City. Bayern Munich lead Group E after winning 1-0 at CSKA Moscow, whose stadium was empty as a punishment for racist abuse.

Chelsea also beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 to lead Group G, with Schalke held to a 1-1 draw by Maribor.

FC Porto lead Group H after a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk that was played in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv due to the conflict in the east. BATE climbed to second place by beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

It was a star-studded occasion in the French capital — even in the stands, with celebrity couple Jay-Z and Beyonce watching with former PSG midfielder David Beckham.

And it was the perfect start for the host, with David Luiz becoming the first player to score against Barcelona this season in the 10th minute after connecting with Javier Pastore’s free kick.

But Messi levelled inside two minutes, slotting into the bottom corner of the net for his 402nd career goal and 68th Champions League goal — putting him three behind all-time leading scorer Raul.

Slack defending by Barcelona allowed Verratti — one of the smallest players on the pitch — to drift in unmarked and head in his first PSG goal on his 62nd appearance in the 26th minute. PSG’s lead was extended at the start of the second half when Van der Wiel’s firmly struck cross was met by Blaise Matuidi at the back post.

Although PSG’s defensive vulnerability was exposed by Neymar knocking the ball into the net off the post, the host held on to collect three points.

In the other game in Group F, Lucas Andersen put Ajax in front but Gustavo Manduca scored from the penalty spot to give APOEL Nicosia a 1-1 draw.

That was the same outcome in Manchester where Sergio Aguero put English champion City in front from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after being dragged down by Maicon.

But after a quick Roma break, Radja Nainggolan slipped a pass through a hole in City’s defence and Totti raced onto the ball, clipping a delicate shot over goalkeeper Joe Hart and into the corner. By scoring at 38, Totti broke the record held by Manchester United great Ryan Giggs, who was 37 years and 9 months when he scored in 2011.

City have just one point after being beaten in the last round by Bayern, who earned another 1-0 win at CSKA. Thomas Mueller scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the first half after Mario Goetze was fouled by Mario Fernandes.

In Lisbon, the victory margin belied Chelsea’s dominance but reflected its profligacy, with the only goal coming when Nemanja Matic sent a looping header into the net from Cesc Fabregas’ free kick.

Both Schalke and Maribor drew their opening Group G matches at Chelsea and Sporting respectively, and had to settle for a point again. Damjan Bohar put the Slovenian visitors in front in the first half before Klaas Jan Huntelaar levelled for Schalke after the break.

In Group H, Shakhtar Donetsk threw away a 2-0 lead after goals from Brazilian duo Alex Teixeira and Luiz Adriano. Porto’s Jackson Martinez netted twice late on — the first from the penalty spot in the 89th minute and the second in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

BATE’s win over Athletic Bilbao was secured by goals from Denis Polyakov and Aleksandr Karnitski.

AMMAN — Jordan’s boxing team is preparing for one of the most important days in its history with no less than three fighters in semifinal action at the Asian Games on Thursday. Following some stunning performances, Ihab Darweesh takes on Ali Mazaheri (91kg), Obada Al Kasbeh faces Charly Suarez of the Philippines (60kg) and Odai Al Hindawi meets Wilfredo Lopez of the Philippines (75kg), with places in the gold medal matches up for grabs. The fighters have already guaranteed bronze medals for their efforts but they are all confident of making the finals. Meanwhile, Wednesday was another frustrating day for the taekwondo and the wrestling teams. Eman Al Adaileh (46kg) and Shahd Al Tarman (57kg) lost their opening round contests in the women’s taekwondo competition while Nabil Al Hassan was knocked out early in the men’s 80kg division. There were also defeats for Abdallah Al Shahin (85kg) and Hani Al Marafi (130kg) in the Greco-Roman Wrestling events. Marafi returned to action late Wednesday via the repechage rule, after his opponent reached the final, where he lost to China’s Qiang Meng 3-1.