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Dubai group agree Liverpool deal

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Dubai International Capital agreed late on Friday to become a minority partner in Liverpool and is locked in negotiations to purchase a 49 percent stake in the Premier League club.

After initially rebuffing the concept, the UAE consortium said it would cede to Tom Hicks’ condition that his Anfield partner George Gillett Jr. would be limited to selling 98 percent of his stock.

Earlier this week Hicks rebuffed DIC’s 500 $993 million bid for the whole club. That would have included paying off the refinancing package Americans Hicks and Gillett negotiated in January for the loan used to purchase the Reds.

Subject to renegotiation of a partnership agreement and subject to the stringent minority shareholder protection rights we would be prepared to accept a 49 percent shareholding in Liverpool FC, DIC’s lead negotiator Amanda Staveley said in a statement.

We have decided that this arrangement provides the best possible solution to the situation and would be in the best interests of the club and their loyal fans.

Both Hicks and Gillett were in telephone contact with Staveley on Friday, but no deal has yet been signed.

Hicks has a team of lawyers on the ground in Dubai ready to meet with DIC’s legal representatives early next week.

But as DIC announced the breakthrough, Hicks’ camp was insisting that no deal had been reached with the investment arm of the Dubai government and that it faces stiff competition to even acquire a minority interest in Liverpool, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

He was speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

DIC is one of several groups Hicks is considering as minority partners, the person told the AP.

He added that because of the pre-emption agreement, Hicks controlled the situation.

Hicks on Saturday said that he was upset with Staveley, claiming she has been leaking private correspondence between the pair to the British media.

If she thinks that is an appropriate way to acquire a stake in Liverpool FC, she had better think again, Hicks said.

Liverpool fans have mounted a stream of protests against the turmoil in the Anfield boardroom, with the Kop backing the DIC bid to remove the American owners in chants at half time in Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over West Ham.

Fans are upset that the duo have saddled the club with debt, failed to start building a new stadium and sought to replace popular manager Rafa Benitez.

But this compromise deal could only add to the uncertainty which has blighted Liverpool’s season. DIC is determined not to take a backseat in the running of the club — and still is still focused on gaining control of the club — despite Hicks being on the verge of acquiring a majority interest by buying 2 percent of Gillett’s stock.

Gillett had been offered up to $158 million, including a share of future profits, to sell his full stake and end his turbulent year in English soccer. It is unclear what he will be offered for 98 percent of his stake.

Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool for $431 million in March 2007, and each own 50 percent of the club.
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FIFA rules out goal-line technology

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) — Soccer’s lawmakers agreed Saturday to halt all experiments with video camera replays, putting faith in extra manpower instead.

FIFA’s International Board approved a plan to experiment with the addition of two more referees’ assistants, rather than use cameras to rule on disputed goals.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said there were fears the advance of goal-line technology would lead to its extensive use.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and the Welsh Football Association opposed the use of camera replays.

It’s a game played by human beings, a game with a human face, WFA secretary general David Collins said. There is a feeling it would hinder the flow of the game.

The decision was a disappointment to company officials of Hawk-Eye technology, which is used to determine line calls in professional tennis. Last month, tests were done at Reading’s Madejski Stadium.

I’m livid, it is completely out of the blue, Hawk-Eye managing director Paul Hawkins said. A year ago they (the IFAB) set four criteria that had to be met, so they obviously wanted it then. We have invested an awful lot of money and now we have no return on that investment.

The English FA was also disappointed with FIFA’s decision.

I think it’s dead in the water, FA chief executive Brian Barwick said.

The two additional assistant referees will be behind the goals and used at a UEFA or FIFA tournament before the board meeting next year.
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Hedblom takes charge in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Defending champion Peter Hedblom will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Malaysian Open after carding a flawless seven-under-par 65 on Saturday.

The Swede produced a superb performance on the back-nine on a sweltering day at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club to total 17-under-par 199 after three rounds.

Argentinian Daniel Vancsik, who charged into contention with a masterful 64, is his nearest challenger.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa stayed in touch with a battling 70 to lie three back in joint third place alongside England’s Simon Dyson, who fired a bogey-free 67, and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark, who returned a 69 in the $2 million event co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke continued his welcome return to form as he blazed to the turn in 29 but he slipped up coming home to card a 67.

That left the Ryder Cup star in a share of sixth place on 204 alongside Asian Tour regular Scott Barr of Australia, South African Charl Schwartzel and joint overnight leader Nick Dougherty of England.

Dougherty struggled on the greens as he settled for a 72 to end the day five back while home hope Danny Chia, who was also tied for the overnight lead, stumbled badly with an 80 to slip down the leaderboard.

Hedblom, who won the title at a different venue last season, turned in 34 before romping home in 31, courtesy of three successive birdies from the 11th hole and back-to-back birdies over his closing two holes.

It has been a good defence so far, so hopefully I can continue to play like I did today and putt like I did. Then it will be a really good defence, said the smiling Swede.

Vancsik, who won for the first time last season, set himself up for a second career title with a flying start in his third round. He eagled the first hole and after adding two more birdies against a lone bogey on the outward nine, he charged home in 31.

I played really well today. I made a few putts, which helps the confidence on these greens, said the 30-year-old. I didn’t strike the ball well but putted well on the greens, different to last week (where he finished tied ninth in India). E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ford execs get stock units of $15M

DEARBORN, Michigan (AP) — Ford Motor Co. reported Friday that it granted CEO Alan Mulally and several other top executives 2 million stock units valued at nearly $15 million and more than 6 million stock options.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Dearborn-based automaker said it granted Mulally 715,230 stock units valued at $4 million and an option to buy 3.6 million shares.

The value of the stock units was based on Ford’s closing price on Wednesday, the date the units were granted.

According to a separate SEC filing, Ford also granted Chief Financial Officer Don Leclair 377,358 options and 236,163 stock units valued at $1.44 million. Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, received 377,358 options and 258,877 stock units valued at $1.6 million.

The options for all the executives carry an exercise price of $6.14.

Ford reported in January that it lost $2.7 billion last year, narrower than a loss of $12.6 billion in 2006.

Ford shares closed Friday at $5.78, down 16 cents, or 2.7 percent. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Malaysia polls open amid tensions

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysians voted Saturday in parliamentary elections that could see gains for Malaysia’s opposition amid anger over race and religion among minority Chinese and Indians.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s coalition appeared certain to win the balloting as it has for decades.

However, analysts predicted the opposition would win between 35 and 38 seats in parliament, nearly doubling its 19-seat share of the 289-seat body amid growing disenchantment among ethnic minorities who complain of discrimination.

Abdullah, dressed in a long blue button shirt and accompanied by his wife, was among the first voters to cast ballot in northern Penang state.

We need a change, said R. Munusamy, a 70-year-old ethnic Indian who voted in Kuala Lumpur. We are not happy with what is going on. Watch why the Indian community is angry

A first-time voter, Michael Lim, said corruption remains a problem. They have not taken care of the people. A lot of promises were made, but nothing fulfilled, he said.

Abdullah has been accused of failing to properly manage inflation, crime, corruption and, most importantly, ethnic tensions between the majority Malays and ethnic minorities.

There should be a swing in these seats, said Tricia Yeoh, director of the Center for Public Policy Studies think tank. The Chinese and Indian votes will be the important swing votes.

A reduced majority for the National Front would be seen as a personal rebuke for Abdullah, who has lost much of the goodwill he had when he replaced longtime leader Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.

On Friday, Abdullah met fishermen and visited a mosque in the northern state of Penang, while his deputy, Najib Razak, inaugurated a health clinic and met schoolteachers and senior citizens in eastern Pahang.

Every time you face the election, you get some degree of anxiety because we cannot assume that victory is in our hands, Najib told reporters.

At stake are 222 seats in parliament, along with legislatures in 12 of Malaysia’s 13 states.

Muslim Malays make up 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people and form the bulk of voters for Abdullah’s United Malays National Organization. The party dominates the National Front coalition, which includes Chinese- and Indian-based parties in a power-sharing arrangement that has ensured racial peace in this multiethnic country.

The National Front has won every election since independence in 1957.

Minorities object to a 37-year-old affirmative action program for Malays that continues despite their rising standards of living. The program, instituted after deadly race riots in 1969, gave Malays preference in government jobs, business and education to help them catch up with the wealthier Chinese.

The Chinese and Indians are also angry at a string of court decisions in religious disputes that have gone in favor of Malays, and Indians were infuriated by the demolition of Hindu temples by authorities last year.
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