Qatars winning World Cup bid to payments received

ZURICH - FIFA President Sepp Blatter has refused to comment on allegations linking Qatars winning World Cup bid to payments received by voters. Blatter said at a news conference on Friday "I have not even the right" to discuss claims published this week by the Daily Telegraph. The British newspaper said it had evidence that a Qatari company controlled by former FIFA board member Mohamed bin Hammam paid almost $2 million to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warners family after the December 2010 vote. Blatter referred questions to a statement on behalf of its ethics investigation panel, which was "aware of the material identified in the published article." The claims were aired as Blatter and other FIFA executive committee members were being interviewed in Zurich as part of an investigation by ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests, won by Russia and Qatar. Pressed further on the subject, Blatter insisted he will not comment "until they have finished their work." Garcia is expected to deliver a report this year to the judging panel of FIFAs ethics court. "As with any allegations of misconduct by football officials the ethics committee will take whatever action it feels is appropriate," the statement on behalf of Garcia said. Still, he has limited jurisdiction at best. Bin Hammam is already banned from football for life, and Warner resigned in June 2011 to avoid a previous FIFA investigation into a cash-for-votes scandal linked to the Qataris failed presidential bid. As future World Cup hosts continue to trouble FIFA, Blatter said he would make another visit to Qatar before the June kickoff in Brazil to press for progress in the gas-rich emirates treatment of migrant labourers. Blatters board colleague, Theo Zwanziger, said FIFA has asked Qatari authorities for "honest reports" on the situation. Labour unions and rights groups have campaigned to highlight unsafe conditions, unpaid salaries and contracts tying workers to their employer. Blatter dismissed suggestions that aggressive actions by 2018 World Cup host Russia toward neighbouring Ukraine in the breakaway Crimea region could affect the tournament. "The World Cup has been given and voted to Russia and we are going forward with our work," said Blatter, who counts Russias sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, among his board colleagues. FIFA and UEFA have also endorsed an agreement that Crimea region clubs Tavriya Simferopol and FC Sevastopol should complete the season in the Ukraine Premier League. Both clubs expressed interest in switching to the Russian league next season. Issues affecting FIFAs next three major tournament hosts have not damaged the governing bodys finances. Buoyed by record income of $1.386 billion last year, FIFA reported that its reserves grew to $1.432 billion after making a $72 million profit. FIFAs financial results typically peak in a World Cup year, which will be reported next March, and are set to grow with more valuable TV rights and sponsorship deals starting next year. "We will make more money for Russia and we will make more money for Qatar," secretary general Jerome Valcke said. "And if it is as it is, we will make more money for the World Cup 26." In other decisions: — There was no agreement on a proposal for age and term limits in FIFA office. An option for three four-year terms was considered. The issue will go to the FIFA Congress on June 11 in Sao Paulo. — The congress will be asked to extend mandates through 2015 for two co-opted woman board members: Moya Dodd of Australia and Sonia Bien-Aime of Turks and Caicos Islands. — Rabat and Marrakech were confirmed as host cities for the Club World Cup in Morocco in December, subject to Rabat stadium works being completed before September. Kirby Puckett Twins Jersey . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. Martin Perez Jersey . Not bad for a defenceman. The goal, that is. Although the shuffling dance steps werent bad, either. Barrie scored 55 seconds into overtime, Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots, and the Avalanche moved a step closer to their first playoff berth in four years with a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-harmon-killebrew-jersey/ .S. President Barack Obama saluted the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks at the White House on Monday -- a rare moment for a president hungry to see more victorious teams from his hometown. Jonathan Schoop Twins Jersey . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. Paul Molitor Twins Jersey . The club was unable to retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who is bound for Atlanta. Seitzer replaces Greg Walker, who was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished 79-83. DETROIT -- Chris Herrmann thought he had missed his chance to give the Minnesota Twins a much-needed win in a road series. But his second RBI double of the game broke an eighth-inning tie and helped the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 7-6 on Thursday. With two outs, the Twins catcher lined a ball into the right-centre field gap. Center fielder Austin Jackson got a bad break on the ball, and just missed while attempting a shoestring catch. Doug Bernier scored from second to give the Twins the lead. "I thought I hit it right at him, and it isnt like hes going to drop the ball," Herrmann said. "I still have no idea why it started hooking right, but Ill take it." Jackson took a couple of indecisive steps toward right-centre and then realized he was in trouble. He got close, but his style of not diving for balls cost him. He tried to grab the ball off the top of the grass, and couldnt hang on. "It looked like the ball fooled Jackson, but thats one of those crazy plays that you need to beat the Tigers," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Herrmann did a great job to hit that ball off (Drew) Smyly. That guy is really tough against lefties." Jackson said the seemingly routine liner somehow turned into a nasty slider. "I started running for it, and then all of a sudden the ball turned the other way and broke down hard," he said. "I tried to make a play, but I didnt want to dive, because if I miss it, the batter ends up on third. Thats the last thing you want to do in that situation." Jared Burton pitched a scoreless eighth, and Glen Perkins got through the middle of the Tigers order in the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances. Casey Fien (3-2) earned the win. Bruce Rondon (1-2) took the loss. Detroit had trailed 6-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, but rallied to tie it on Jacksons three-run homer. That allowed Justin Verlander to extend his unbeaten streak against the Twins to 11 starts, despite allowing six runs and 10 hits in seven innings. "Today was tough," he said. "Id say frustrating was a good word for it." In his last 20 starts, Verlander is 8-7 with a 4.45 ERA. He has talked about finding mechanical flaws, and he had allowed only eight runs in his previous four starts, but things fell apart again on Thursday. "It has been a real grind for me all season," Verlander said. "Its been a real battle. When you look at my numbers and then look at my record (12-9), you realize it could be a lot worse.dddddddddddd" Twins starter Andrew Albers escaped several jams with his assortment of slow and slower pitches, but ran out of gas in the sixth. Throwing a fastball in the mid-80s, a changeup in the 70s, and a slow curve, Albers gave up five runs, nine hits and a walk in 5 2-3 innings. The Twins needed only eight pitches to take the lead. Brian Dozier just missed a homer on Verlanders second pitch -- the ball hooking just outside of the foul pole -- and then singled. Herrmann followed with an RBI double, but Verlander escaped without further trouble. "It was huge to get that first run," Herrmann said. "But you know that one run isnt going to beat the Tigers." Detroit killed its own rally in the second inning on a baserunning mistake by Prince Fielder. After lining a ball into the left-centre field gap, Fielder tried to stretch the hit into a double, even though Clete Thomas had cut the ball off easily. Thomas threw to second, and Brian Dozier spun to make a quick tag, only to realize that Fielder was still 20 feet away. Bryan Holaday tied it in the third with his first career homer, a long drive over the bullpens in left. It also marked Holadays first career RBI in his 16th game. Fielder made it 2-1 with an RBI single later in the inning, barely rounding first base before retreating to the bag. Former Tigers player Wilkin Ramirez got the Twins even in the fourth with a check-swing RBI bloop single, and Ryan Doumit hit a three-run homer over the right-centre field video board to give Minnesota a 5-2 lead in the fifth. It was Doumits second straight hit against Verlander after an 0-for-12 stretch to start his career. Holaday beat out an infield single for his second career RBI in the sixth, chasing Albers. Jackson tied the game with a shot off Josh Roenickes second pitch. NOTES: Verlander hadnt allowed six earned runs to the Twins since June 29, 2007 -- a span of 19 starts. He hasnt lost to them since April 27, 2010. ... The Twins said they will recall pitcher Liam Hendriks on Saturday to start in Cleveland. Hendriks has spent most of the season with Triple-A Rochester, but has gone 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts for the Twins. ... C Alex Avila will begin a rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday as he continues to recover from a concussion. ... C Joe Mauer, on the 7-day concussion list, was cleared by a Tigers team doctor to fly back to Minnesota on Thursday night. ' ' '