Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/939870
54 maltatoday SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2018 Sports FOOTBALL MOTORSPORTS FORMULA 1 CAS said yesterday that it had found "mit- igating factors" to reduce the ban, which it said had been imposed for "improper lobbying", and also annul a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($53,197.15). Although CAS said that Chung was guilty of ethics violations, it said it was to "a far lesser degree than found by the FIFA in- stances". Chung, a billionaire scion of South Ko- rea's Hyundai industrial conglomerate who served as FIFA vice president from 1994 to 2011, has denied all wrongdoing. His ban in October 2015 came amid the worst graft scandal in FIFA's history when dozens of soccer officials were indicted in the United States. FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Euro- pean soccer chief Michel Platini were also embroiled when they were banned by the global soccer body's own ethics committee. Both denied wrongdoing. Chung was initially banned for six years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs, torpedoing his plans to stand for the FIFA presidential election in February 2016. FIFA's Appeals Committee subsequently reduced the ban to five years and cut the fine in half and the CAS decision means he is free to return to football immediately. CAS said that Chung's "misconduct relat- ed to his lobbying activities was not minor considering his high and influential posi- tions at FIFA". It said he was both honorary president of a federation bidding to stage the World Cup and a member of the FIFA executive com- mittee which was responsible for choosing the hosts. However, CAS said that it was "common for FIFA Executive Committee members to promote the bids presented by their nation- al football associations". It also took into account Chung's "lack of any prior record of unethical behaviour, his public stance against corruption within FIFA, and the meritorious services he pro- vided to FIFA and football over the years". Russia was awarded the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament in a single, secret vote in Zurich in 2010 amid persis- tent allegations of illegitimate attempts to influence the 22 voting FIFA executive committee members. A report by FIFA's ethics committee made public last year made no suggestion that Russia or Qatar should lose the right to stage the tournaments, despite detailing numerous attempts to influence voting of- ficials. THE event moved to Deeside in 2013 and has comprised stages in mid- and north Wales since. Last week the Welsh Govern- ment sanctioned the devolu- tion of power to suspend the road traffic act to British mo- torsport's governing body, the Motor Sports Association, and the local authority in the area. That will allow Rally GB or- ganisers to make adjustments to a route that has been criti- cised in recent years. The primary change for the October 4-7 event will be an expanded itinerary in north Wales and a return to Deeside for a lunchtime service on ei- ther Friday or Saturday. Event managing director Ben Taylor and route co-ordinator Andrew Kellitt were on the stages and planning changes last week. "It gives us the chance for a complete re-fresh of the route," said Taylor. "It doesn't change the stages we have on offer, but it defi- nitely does change the way we can use them. "Looking at the stages last week, it's really exciting to see what's possible. "We've always said we're not advocating the use of mile up- on mile of closed public road, that's not the nature of this rally. What we're looking at for this year is the chance to close small sections of public road." Changes will most likely be made in north Wales in the Clocaenog/Brenig/Alwen com- plex and in Penmachno and Gwydir (pictured above). "The Penmachno forest has traditionally offered two six kil- ometre (3.72 miles) stages with North and South split by a pub- lic road," said Taylor. "Including those stages wasn't the most efficient use of our superb marshalling force, but closing 10 feet of pubic road means we link them together into a 12-kilometre stage which we can use twice. That makes a lot of sense." A full day in the north will mean compacting last year's Friday and Saturday mid-Wales action into one day. Two full days of competition in mid- and north Wales are also likely to compromise the Cholmondeley Castle RallyFest stage. The Cheshire stately home's inclusion has been contentious in recent years; two years ago, organisers were criticised for an early finish on Saturday when the crews started the last forest stage at 1:18pm, followed that with a run around Cholmonde- ley and then headed to service. Last year, manufacturers com- plained the cars were only in service briefly after Cholmon- deley - having spotlights fitted - before heading into two dark stages. The distance to the mid-Wales stages rules out a return for midday service on that day. Taylor said: "I understand the concerns of the teams and this is why I'm determined to get the cars back for a proper lunchtime service this time." Other RallyFest options that make geographical sense in- clude Kinmel Park, which was used in 2013 and '14 and is con- siderably closer to Deeside. Night stages also look set to be ruled out this year. THE sport's owners said in a state- ment that the new arrangement, in partnership with the governing FIA, would "make the pre-race ceremony more relevant and interesting for fans, especially the younger ones." It said the youngsters would be selected by their motorsport clubs on merit, or by lottery, from among those already competing in karting or junior series events. Last week's decision to abandon the former traditional practice of us- ing walk-on female models to parade and hold up drivers' numbers on the starting grid has put the sport on the front pages of newspapers and di- vided fans. "Formula One is the pinnacle of motor sport and the dream of every young racer competing in the junior series that make up the FIA's single- seater pyramid, from karting all the way to F1," FIA president Jean Todt said. "We are therefore delighted to bring that dream a little closer by giving the future champions of our sport the opportunity to stand alongside their heroes on the grid in the build- up to the race start." Formula One's commercial man- aging director Sean Bratches said it would be "an unforgettable experi- ence" for youngsters and their fami- lies. "An inspiration to keep driving, training and learning so that they can dream of one day being there themselves. What better way to in- spire the next generation of Formula One heroes," he added. The FIA-sanctioned all-electric Formula E series already uses "Grid Kids", having also phased out walk- on models, and a spokesman said last week that the concept was working well. Last month marked the completion of Liberty Media's first year in charge after buying Formula One and oust- ing octogenarian former supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has been critical of some of the changes made. Liberty are keen to make the sport more fan-friendly and appeal to a younger demographic, seeing huge potential for growth in regions such as China and the United States. Formula One said last week that the use of female models was "at odds with modern day societal norms" and was no longer appropriate or relevant to the sport and its fans. The 2018 Formula 1 season starts in Australia on March 25. Former FIFA vice-president Chung's ban cut to 15 months Rally GB shake-up to include closed roads Formula 1 grid girls: Female models to be replaced by 'grid kids' in new initiative Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon's five-year ban from soccer, over ethics violations in connection with South Korea's unsuccessful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, has been cut to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This year's Rally GB route is set for its biggest overhaul since the World Rally Championship round moved from Cardiff, with closed roads featuring for the first time Formula One announced a "grid kids" programme on Monday to replace the female models who have previously featured before the start of every grand prix Chung Mong-joon