Clean 1.1 » - The Brooklyn Nets try to secure the fifth spot

DOHA, Qatar - FIFA anti-racism adviser Tokyo Sexwale believes black players could boycott the 2018 World Cup and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to demand tougher action against racism in football.Sexwale, who was an anti-apartheid campaigner and former political prisoner on Robben Island, is against a boycott but expressed concern in an interview with The Associated Press about the growing number of racist incidents in the Russian league.There is a threat black players will say they are not going to Russia (for the World Cup) — we cant have that, Sexwale said Tuesday on the sidelines of the Doha Goals conference. I am talking as a FIFA person and a citizen of the world — it cant go that far. ... Once these things start and you dont act as leaders, these things snowball.Although UEFA has punished Russian clubs for racism at Champions League matches in recent years, the national federation has appeared less willing to tackle abuse.Sexwale is urging his personal friend Putin to intervene.Show that leadership, be the Putin the world knows, be tough, said Sexwale, a former South African government minister who is an adviser to FIFAs anti-racism task force. Failure to do so, we could be talking something different about the 2018 World Cup ... you will have people saying they will not go to Russia.The Russian Football Union has been criticized for taking no action against FC Rostov coach Igor Gamula for saying last week he wouldnt sign a defender from Cameroon because the club has enough dark-skinned players, weve got six of the things. Gamula apologized after the agent of Rostov defender Siyanda Xulu, a South Africa international, said that five African players on the team threatened to sit out Mondays training.Sexwale said an apology alone wasnt enough, pointing to how the NBA forced Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers and banned him for life over racism.South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan wrote to FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday expressing concerns, according to Sexwale.For the Russian federation to be seen to be serious we need them to take stern action. The world took stern action against South Africa (over apartheid), it was expelled from FIFA, Sexwale said, stopping short of calling for Russia to face the same sanction.CSKA Moscow has been forced to play Champions League games without fans this season because of fan abuse toward black players, although Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko maintained last month that Russia has no major racism problem, saying: I dont know what there is to be frightened.But Sexwale said of Moscow: There are certain parts if you are my colour its unsafe ... people are scared of going to Moscow.Sexwale wrote to South Africas ambassador to Moscow on Monday to caution that this is very dangerous.If these ultra-ring elements have their way they are threatening the World Cup, Sexwale said. The authorities have got to come down on the perpetrators, otherwise the authority is now going to be boycotted by the victim because people will lose confidence in the Russian federation.Claudio Sulser, the head of FIFAs disciplinary committee, said in Doha that the organization would deal with any racism at the World Cup.Its very critical, Sulser said. This is a problem of the society.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris Kelley OHara Jersey . Hoffman, the former star closer, will evaluate and help co-ordinate all pitchers at Double-A, Triple-A and the big league team. Byrnes says Hoffman "will be a key part of finishing the development of our younger pitchers. Mallory Pugh Jersey . Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. http://www.socceruswntshop.com/christen-press-usa-jersey/ . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. Julie Ertz Jersey . Only it wasnt the extended right pad of his old teammate Jonathan Bernier early in the final frame, it was James Reimer, who stole a night that was supposed to belong to the former King. Crystal Dunn Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Brooklyn Nets try to secure the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings and close a three-game homestand on a positive note when they host the rival New York Knicks Tuesday. You can catch all the action live on TSN2 at 8pm et/5pm pt. The Nets are 1 1/2 games ahead of Washington for the No. 5 spot with two games remaining, while the Wizards have just one game left. The Wizards hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 3-0 mark against the Nets this season. After having a franchise-record 15-game home winning streak come to an end versus Atlanta on Friday, the Nets responded with Sundays 97-88 victory over Orlando at Barclays Center. Mirza Teletovic came off the bench and scored a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds, while Joe Johnson and Mason Plumlee netted 17 apiece. Plumlee also grabbed 11 rebounds for the Nets, winners in four of six games and owners of a 34-15 record since the start of January. "Weve got to try to fine-tune and keep this chemistry that we have going into the postseason," Johnson said. Deron Williams tallied 16 points in the win to help Brooklyn to a 28-12 record as the host. The Nets are 23-3 in their last 26 home games and 35-11 when holding teams under 100 points. In injury news for the Nets, guard Shaun Livingston (toe) is questionable Tuesday. Nets veteran forward Paul Pierce, the newest member of the 25,000-point club, had 10 points versus the Magic and is three shy of reaching 1,000 for a 15th straight season. He would become the only active player in the NBA and just thee sixth player in league history to score 1,000 points in 15 or more consecutive seasons.dddddddddddd The others were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, John Havlicek, Elvin Hayes and Robert Parish. Brooklyn will close the regular season at Cleveland on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Knicks were hoping to reach the playoffs for a fourth straight season, but missed out on that chance. The Atlanta Hawks were able to sew up the eighth and final postseason spot in the East. New York has won two straight and five of seven games, and pulled off a 100-89 victory Sunday versus the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points and both Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith netted 17 in a losing cause. "We didnt get it done and being the coach, I just apologize to the fans because they paid their hard-earned money to come see us play and we didnt come into this season expecting this," Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. The Knicks will try to improve their 17-23 road record Tuesday and have won eight of the last 11 games as the visitor. New York will close the season Wednesday at home versus Toronto and recently defeated Brooklyn 110-81 on April 2 at MSG. Smith buried 6-of-12 3-pointers for 24 points and Anthony added 23 and 10 rebounds to lead the Knicks, who are 2-1 in the season series and have won 10 of the past 14 meetings with the Nets. The winner in this seasons series has scored 100-plus points, while the loser has failed to post more than 83. New York has won six of eight and nine of its last 12 at the Nets. 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