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SPORTS Thursday 21 February 2019

Unlike men’s World Cup, no open vote on women’s event host

By ROB HARRIS FIFA World Cup, where letproof” by FIFA President those aspects of the men’s States goalkeeper. Austra-
AP Global Soccer Writer their power lies with the Gianni Infantino, that were showpiece hosting require- lia, Colombia, Japan and
LONDON (AP) — FIFA will Congress,” world football’s required of 2026 World Cup ments. South Africa have already
still decide the host of the governing body said in a contenders. “It’s good to see that, as expressed an interest in
Women’s World Cup in se- bidding for the event in
cret, unlike the new open 2023. Australia and Japan
vote held last year for host both reiterated their inten-
of the 2026 men’s tourna- tions with statements on
ment. Wednesday.
The 2023 Women’s World “Australia is strongly aligned
Cup bidding process was to FIFA’s global vision for
launched Tuesday, and women’s football, and
FIFA adopted many of the committed to growing the
rigorous checks and scru- game across the Asia-Pa-
tiny that prospective men’s cific region,” Football Fed-
hosts now have to go eration Australia chairman
through. Chris Nikou said. “With our
But the final decision is a strong record of success-
very different process. fully hosting major events,
Following corruption in- including the Asian Cup in
vestigations into the vote 2015, we are confident of
for men’s hosts in 2018 submitting a compelling
and 2022, FIFA removed bid for Australia.”
the decision from its ruling The Japan Football Asso-
committee and gave it to ciation had a similar re-
all member associations. sponse.
When it came to decid- “By hosting the FIFA wom-
ing the 2026 men’s hosts en’s World Cup 2023, we
last year, the votes were hope to enhance the at-
made public after the FIFA tractiveness and the value
Congress chose the joint of women’s football from
bid from the United States, Japan,” JFA President Ko-
Mexico and Canada over hzo Tashima said.
Morocco’s entry. FIFA chief women’s foot-
FIFA trumpeted that “not a In this Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 file photo a view of the Women’s World Cup trophy displayed at the ball officer Sarai Bareman
single decision is guarded women’s soccer World Cup France 2019 draw, in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris. said she wants to see “how
away from public scrutiny” Associated Press potential host countries will
in men’s World Cup hosting. aim to promote the ulti-
But in March 2020 it will be statement to The Associ- Those included an assess- with the 2026 FIFA World mate competition in wom-
the FIFA Council, a group ated Press. ment of human rights and Cup bidding process, that en’s football, and create
of 37 people which meets FIFA asked countries to risk reports for the coun- human rights criteria are a sustainable legacy that
in private, deciding where make an expression of in- tries, the publication of bid included, and that the bid will inspire upcoming gen-
the women’s top players terest in bidding by March books, inspections of facili- documents, including the erations of young girls and
will compete in 2023. 15, complete the bidding ties and evaluation reports. human rights strategy, is women to get involved in
“FIFA’s statutes explicitly registration by April 16 and After the AP asked why made available publicly,” the game.”
stipulate that the selection submit bid books by Oct. 4. these criteria and pro- said Centre for Sport and The next edition is this year
of venues for the final com- No mention was made cess were not listed as be- Human Rights chief ex- in France from June 7 to
petitions of all tournaments of bidders having to go ing in place for women’s ecutive Mary Harvey, who July 7, when the United
rests with the FIFA Council through the key proce- World Cup bidding, FIFA won the inaugural World States will be defending its
with the exception of the dures, described as “bul- said it would be emulating Cup in 1991 as a United title.q

Pre-’93 NFL pension benefits group receives $100K donation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two bargaining agreement. for the NFL to become the security of a pension sports, however. A 10-year
leading advocates for The donation follows a what it is today, players of they can survive on.” NFL veteran who retired
retired NFL players have pledge of NFL Players As- Jim Brown’s era have been Addressing the disparity before 1993 receives be-
teamed up in pushing for sociation Executive Direc- left behind with the lowest “would be a paradigm shift tween $24,000 and $43,560
increased pension benefits tor DeMaurice Smith to pri- pension package among of historic proportions for a year before tax at age
for pre-1993 retirees. oritize retiree benefits in the all other major U.S. sports a generation of beloved 55, according to FAIR.
The Pro Football Retired next labor accord in 2021. leagues,” FAIR president players,” Riggins said. In contrast, FAIR said a Ma-
Players Association, a non- Brown called pension dis- Lisa Marie Riggins said. The league and its union in- jor League Baseball player
profit chaired by Hall of parity “the most pressing “These players have never stituted “legacy benefits” in who retired after 1980 fol-
Famer Jim Brown, donated issue facing retirees,” and had league health insur- its last accord in 2011 that lowing a 10-year career
$100,000 to Fairness for Ath- FAIR said it will use the ance and retirement in- supplemented pre-93 retir- receives about $200,000
letes in Retirement, a non- money to continue raising come is often consumed ees’ pensions by between yearly at age 62 and a
profit advocating for pen- awareness about the plight by medical expenses. With $108 and $124 monthly per 10-year NBA veteran who
sion parity in the upcom- of some 4,000 pre-1993 re- everything they have con- credited season. retired after 1965 receives
ing negotiations over the tirees. tributed to the league and Their pensions continue to about $215,000 a year at
league’s next collective “Despite paving the way the game, they deserve lag behind those of other age 62.q