LONDON - FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb condemned "deep rooted racism" in Italy on Wednesday after Mario Balotelli was racially abused while training with the national team.
Andre Iguodala Jersey . A year after spearheading the strengthening of FIFAs discrimination sanctions, Webb is frustrated that some countries including Italy and Spain are not showing the commitment required to the fight against racism. "National associations obviously really have to not just talk about zero tolerance — they have to put action behind it," Webb told The Associated Press in an interview in London. "If you look at some of the decisions that have been taken in Spain and Italy definitely thats cause for concern." Balotelli, who is black, faced racist chants again on Wednesday morning in Italy — this time at the national teams World Cup training base in Florence. "Unfortunately, it just shows the deep rooted racism and prejudice that exists obviously in the Italian community and society at large," said Webb, who heads FIFAs task force against discrimination. "It is a fight, it is a challenge." And a challenge to ensure every country adopts the penalties adopted by FIFA last May, including minimum five-game bans for racist abuse by players, and point deductions or relegation for serious incidents in the stands. In Spain, Villarreals only sanction last month was a 12,000 euro ($16,000) fine from the league after a fan threw a banana at Barcelona defender Dani Alves, rather than any partial stadium closure for the next game. "We have seen national associations taking decisions and they have not implemented what FIFA has adopted or what UEFA has adopted (including a minimum 10-game ban for racism)," said Webb, who is also CONCACAF president. "In those cases now we have got to make sure that those regulations go down to the national associations — and the national associations hold the clubs accountable." To Webb, Spanish football remains in a state of denial about the extent of racism and the need to show a commitment to eradicating the scourge on the game in the home of the world and European champions. "Its obviously very much deep-rooted," he said of the situation in Spain, adding later: "In many countries its not high on the agenda." ___ Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris
Mitch Richmond Warriors Jersey . The former Detroit Red Wings captain was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada on Wednesday along with former womens national team captain France St-Louis and legendary university coach Clare Drake.
Tim Hardaway Warriors Jersey .The animated reliever finalized a $15 million, two-year contract with the Giants on Monday, keeping a key member of the bullpen who has been part of three championship runs.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Texas Rangers took an 8-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in their first road game of the season Friday night, and it was an especially bad night for first baseman Prince Fielder and pitcher Joe Saunders. "It was just one of those days," said Fielder, who had one of the Rangers three errors and a base-running mistake that took Texas out of a possible big inning. "Everyone played hard, we made mistakes here and there. It just didnt go our way. Its nothing that you cant really see. Weve just got to come back tomorrow and fix it." Saunders (0-1) left in the fourth inning with a bruised left ankle after getting hit by Evan Longorias liner. Saunders gave up five runs and six hits, including a three-run home run to Sean Rodriguez, in 3 2-3 innings. "I think I was trying to be too fine early in the game," Saunders said. "The pitch to Rodriguez was a decent pitch; he just put a good swing on it. Probably the wrong pitch at the wrong time." Rodriguez tied a career-high with four RBIs and Jake Odorizzi got his first major league win for the Rays (3-2). Rodriguez was back in the lineup after missing Thursday nights 7-2 win over Toronto for the birth of his son. Odorizzi (1-0) allowed three hits in six innings in his seventh big league start and 10th game overall. Ryan Hanigan hit a three-run homer during the fifth for the Rays. Fielder got his first RBI since Sept. 22, a drought of 20 regular and post-season games, with a run-scoring single in the eighth. But the Rangers (2-2) wasted a great scoring opportunity in the fourth, when they were down 4-0. With runners on first and second and one out, Mitch Moreland singled into the right-fieeld corner, but Fielder got tagged out in a rundown between third and home.
Authentic Latrell Sprewell Jersey. "Prince just blew it. He just messed up. Thats all you can say about it," said manager Ron Washington. "I just didnt get a good jump," Fielder said. "It was my fault." The inning ended when Donnie Murphy struck out. Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre committed the other Rangers errors. "It was obvious during training that every time we made a mistake it cost us," Washington said. "We certainly have to tighten down our defence. We dont have a pitching staff that strikes people out right now and we certainly cant have them getting four outs an inning. So that certainly has to get better, and it will." Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon won his first replay reversal in the seventh after it was first ruled that right fielder Wil Myers didnt make the catch while sliding forward on J.P. Arencibias two-out flare. After a 1-minute, 43-second delay, the umpires changed the call to an out. Notes: Texas RHP Nick Martinez will make his major league debut in Saturday nights game against the Rays. "Go out there and relax, and use his pitches," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Get us as many outs as you can. Be out there as long as you can. Believing in himself, believing in the stuff he has, and using it." ... LHP David Price will start Saturday for the Rays. ... Rangers LHP Matt Harrison (back) will make his next minor league start Tuesday. He went two innings in a rain-shortened outing Thursday for Double-A Frisco. ... Tampa Bay sent RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo (elbow ligament replacement surgery) to Triple-A Durham on a rehab assignment.
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