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sports Diamars 1 Februari 2022

Israeli coach Grant faces FIFA case over sexual harassment

(AP) — Avram Grant, the former and abuse in football, we wish to re-
manager of the Chelsea soccer iterate that FIFA takes any allegations
club and one of the most power- reported to it very seriously.”
ful men in Israeli sport, will be
investigated by FIFA after be- The broadcast said that Grant, who
ing accused of sexually harassing is 66, attempted to touch and kiss
multiple women in an investiga- the women against their will, tried to
tive report. coerce them into sex and hinted he
could harm their careers if they did
“Exposure,” a program on Israel’s not cooperate. The women included
Channel 12 TV, broadcast a series of a recently released soldier, a fashion
interviews on Sunday with women model and a female sports broad-
saying that Grant had made unwant- caster who said he sent her numer-
ed advances while offering to help ous harassing text messages. She said
promote their careers. The women’s his behavior was well known in the
voices were altered and their faces sil- industry.
houetted to protect their identities.
The former soldier said she met
Grant’s enduring status in the game Grant shortly after her release from
was recognized in December by the army in the summer of 2020. She said. “After chatting for a few seconds,
world soccer’s governing body, which said he invited her to his Tel Aviv he grabbed me by the neck, like he Grant was not immediately reachable
asked him to coach a FIFA World apartment with an offer to help her was choking me, turned my head to for comment. But in a statement to
Legends team featuring retired stars find a job. him and tried to forcefully kiss me.” Channel 12, he said has always tried
and FIFA President Gianni Infantino to treat anyone he meets with respect.
for a match in Qatar against an Arab Shortly after entering, she said Grant Grant served as manager of Chelsea
Legends side. told her to take off her clothes. She from 2007 to 2008, leading the club “I never meant to act unfairly or to
said she thought he was joking, but into the Champions League finals hurt any woman in any way,” he said.
“Given the nature of the allegations he approached her and tried to hug before losing in a shootout to Man- “Anyone who felt uncomfortable or
being made, FIFA’s ethics commit- her. She said he did not stop. chester United. He has also coached was hurt by me, I’m sorry for that
tee will look into the matter,” FIFA Portsmouth and West Ham, and and apologize from the bottom of my
said in a statement to The Associated “He put his hand on my thigh, I re- coached the national teams of Israel heart.”
Press. “When it comes to misconduct member I immediately moved it,” she and Ghana.

U.S. has little margin for home World Cup qualifying stumble

(AP) - The U.S. has little be in position to clinch a re- U.S. Soccer Federation firing
margin for a stumble at turn to soccer’s showcase if “Our focus right now is fin- At home, the U.S. opened coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
home in World Cup quali- they beat Panama on March ishing off the window with a with a draw against Canada
fying. 27 at Orlando, Florida. win,” U.S. coach Gregg Ber- and followed with victories In the 2018 cycle, the U.S.
halter said after Sunday’s 2-0 over Jamaica, Costa Rica, was done in by an opening
With a victory over Hondu- A defeat or draw in either loss at Canada. “If we can do Mexico and El Salvador. loss to at home against Mexi-
ras on Wednesday night in home game would put the that, we’ll be in good posi- The match against Hondu- co and a defeat to Costa Rica
brutal cold at St. Paul, Min- U.S. in danger of missing its tion, and then it’s about go- ras could be complicated by in the Americans’ next-to-
nesota, the Americans could second straight World Cup. ing to the last window and weather: Accuweather fore- last home game. They gained
getting results, and we’re cast a kickoff temperature three points on the road, with
confident we have a team that of 4 degrees (minus-16 Cel- draws at Panama, Mexico
can do that.” sius), with a drop of 1-to-2 and Honduras, before losing
degrees during the match, infamously Trinidad and To-
Canada leads North and conditions the U.S. Soccer bago on the final night.
Central America and the Federation’s cold-weather
Caribbean with 22 points guidelines label “extreme” This cycle has been margin-
and the U.S is second with and suggest merit a cancella- ally better, but every match
18, ahead of Mexico on goal tion or move indoors due to has been tense until late: The
difference. Panama is fourth potential frostbite. Americans have been tied
with 17, followed by Costa at halftime eight times and
Rica (13), El Salvador (nine), If the Americans sweep their trailed twice, taking a first-
Jamaica (seven) and Hondu- final two home games, they half lead only once.
ras (three). would clinch no worse than
third if Mexico defeats Pan- They been outscored 4-2 in
The top three nations qualify ama on Wednesday night the first half, going scoreless
for this year’s tournament and Costa Rica doesn’t beat eight times, before an 11-3
in Qatar, and fourth place Jamaica on Wednesday and advantage in the second.
advances to a playoff against then Canada and El Salvador
the Oceania champion, likely in its first two March games. “We’ve created enough in the
New Zealand. But failing to get six points first half to score more goals,”
from those home games Berhalter said. “I think we’ve
Winning road games in the would create immense pres- done a good job of wearing
region has been a difficult sure when they play March teams down in the first half
task for the Americans, who 24 at Mexico and six days with both possession and
have lost at Panama and later at Costa Rica. The U.S transition. So we’re doing
Canada, tied at El Salvador has 12 losses and four draws a decent job. I think the last
and Jamaica, and won at last- in qualifiers at Mexico City’s thing is just finishing those
place Honduras. They’ve Estadio Azteca, the likely site attacks. ... I’m happy that the
been blanked three times and of the match, and has lost its team shows enough poise
scored five goals in five road last nine qualifiers at Costa and composure to come out
games, four of the goals at Rica, including a 4-0 wipe- in the second half and still
Honduras. out in 2016 that led to the play strong.”