Weekend sport preview

Despite last weekend's Grand Final festivities, there's still no shortage of fare for sports fans to gorge themselves on this weekend.

Weekend sport previewWeekend sport preview

Weekend sport preview

The A-League starting and tournament qualifying play provide for plenty on the football front, whilst it's also the final weekend of group stage play at the Rugby World Cup.

 

There's piles of action for motorsport fans here and abroad and, as ever in sport these days, there's a lot going on off the field to keep an eye on.

 

We start with football, and between World Cup qualifying, European Championship qualifying, and the start of the A-Leage, there's lots happening in the world game.

 

But perhaps the most important action in football isn't actually happening on the field.

 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Vice President Michael Platini, General Secretary Jerome Valcke, and South Korean presidential candidate Chung Jong Moon have all been handed suspensions of varying lengths by the FIFA Ethics Committee.

 

According to SBS's Les Murray, a former Ethics Committee member, that leaves but one leader in the race to be FIFA's next president.

 

"At the moment the only unblemished candidate, of the serious candidates, is Prince Ali of Jordan. And he's not under suspicion or under investigation of any kind. So he appears to be the frontrunner. I really can't see Chung or Platini making a comeback from this at all. I think their presidential hopes are just about dead now."

 

At the Rugby World Cup, Sunday morning sees the big showdown between Australia and Wales in London to see who will top Group A.

 

The Wallabies are favourites to win the game and thus go undefeated through the group stage.

 

But they'll have to do it without star flanker Michael Hooper, who is suspended for the match after an illegal hit on England fullback Mike Brown in last weekend's match.

 

Hooper says he'll still try and assist the team's efforts, even without taking the field.

 

"Personally, you always want to play in every Test match you can, so for me, straight away, yeah, it's a huge disappointment that I can't be involved and put myself forward for selection. And secondly, to be part of a team in a World Cup and not be there is again, another blow. I'll be doing my best to help out the guys for this weekend."

 

Meanwhile, one of the world's most recognisable athletes has been contemplating his future.

 

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt likely won't continue for long, if at all, beyond next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

 

Bolt says he's been consulting closely with his coach, fellow Jamaican Glen Mills, on the issue.

 

"My plan is just leading up to the Olympics right now, that is my focus. I start training next week so that will be my main focus because it's an Olympic year, I'm just going to go into it, ready to go, and be focused. Me and my coach have been discussing when we're going to retire so after the Olympics he says we shouldn't say no or yes. After the Olympics we should decide whether we continue for one more year or not, so after we come to that."

 

And it's a huge weekend for Australian motorsport fans, with the annual Bathurst 1000.

 

The Holden duo of Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell start favourites for the big race, which consists of 161 laps around the famous Mount Panorama circuit.

 






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