Page 9 - Football

Fifa world cup: Saudi Arabia drops al-Mowallad from squad over doping test

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard has dropped Fahd al-Mowallad from his 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar as a precaution due to the winger's failed doping test in February. Al-Mowallad had been included in Renard's squad for the tournament despite testing positive for furosemide, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned drug list due to concerns it can mask other drugs. But the team said Sunday that it was dropping Al-Mowallad, who plays for Saudi team Al-Shabab, as a precaution as there is still a case against him, and that Renard had called up Al-Shabab teammate Nawaf Al-Abed in his place. Saudi Arabia faces a tough task is Group C, where it opens its campaign on Nov. 22 against Argentina, four days before it plays Poland, before its final group game against Mexico on Nov. 30.

If we win tomorrow, it could inspire English football team in WC: Buttler

England's Jos Buttler would be a proud skipper if his men can win the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan on Sunday and inspire their footballing counterparts to pull off an encore in Doha next month. Buttler, a champion batter, has lead his team to the summit clash in his maiden global meet as England skipper. Asked if the football team can take a leaf out of the cricket team, the soft spoken skipper said: "Yeah, I certainly hope so." "Sport is such a huge part of English culture, and getting behind teams in World Cups is certainly something I know happens a lot in England. "Even though we're on the other side of the world, you can certainly feel that support," Buttler said on eve of the final against Pakistan. England are clubbed with Iran, Wales and USA in group B of the FIFA World Cup. "The images you see of the Euros, obviously, nothing will compete with football in our country. Of course the game is going to be on free-to-air television, which is fantastic, will bring new

Brand ambassadors: An illusory fascination

Byju's appointment of Messi is a good example of the illusory fascination that companies harbour for celebrity endorsements

Football: FIFA has named 3 women to referee World Cup matches in Qatar

Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita knows that being one of three women picked to officiate matches at the World Cup the first time a woman will be in charge on the game's biggest stage is not simply about soccer. Stephanie Frappart of France and Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda must be of the same mind. They are in a pool of 36 referees listed for Qatar the rest are all men. FIFA has also named three female assistant referees in a pool of 69: Neuza Back of Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States. Yamashita is aware that her selection put the focus on Japan's low ranking on most measures of equal pay for women, and in global studies of gender equality. I would be very happy if women could play an active role in sports in this way, and if sports and especially soccer could lead this, Yamashita said in an interview with The Associated Press. "In Japan, there is still a long way to go in the world of soccer (regarding participation of women), so it wo

UEFA gathers European team to oppose Super League project at meeting

Organizers of European soccer's Super League project got the meeting they asked for Tuesday with UEFA's president. They found many more opponents also waiting there to criticize them. The meeting was held amid secrecy at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, four months after the parties were on opposite sides of a European Court of Justice hearing in an ongoing case that resulted from a group of storied clubs' failed launch of their own breakaway competition in April 2021. Super League promoter A22 Sports Management wanted a first formal meeting with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin after last month appointing its own chief executive. On Tuesday, instead of facing just Ceferin, the three-man A22 delegation led by CEO Bernd Reichart was met with a room full of European soccer leaders ready to denounce the Super League. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain were among the clubs teaming with leagues, player union leaders and fan representatives to help send UEFA's message. UEFA s

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Demand for private jets from India soars

The FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18

Europe pushes FIFA for answers to migrant worker's issues ahead of WC

European nations, including England, are pushing FIFA for concrete answers on issues relating to migrant workers ahead of the World Cup. The 10 nations speaking Sunday include eight with World Cup-bound teams that have committed to captains wearing One Love armbands in breach of FIFA-written rules. UEFA Working Group on Human and Labour Rights is pressing for a definitive response regarding a compensation fund for workers and the concept of a migrant workers center in Doha. In a joint statement it welcomed assurances from the Qatari Government and FIFA regarding the safety of fans at the World Cup, including LGBTQ+ supporters. But it underlined its ongoing commitment to migrant workers ahead of the tournament. FIFA has repeatedly committed to deliver concrete answers on these issues the compensation fund for migrant workers, and the concept of a migrant workers centre to be created in Doha and we will continue to press for these to be delivered, read the statement. "We believe

Saudi Arabian football fan walks 1,600 km to reach Qatar to inspire team

An extreme Saudi hiker walked across the desert in Saudi Arabia for 55 days to reach Qatar to inspire his national team, which will play at the FIFA World Cup 2022 starting later this month

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and others likely playing at last World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are among a handful of players hoping for a final hurrah in what is likely to be their last World Cup appearance. Besides those two, there's also Robert Lewandowski, Luis Surez, Luka Modric, Dani Alves, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Mller. Hanging on for the next World Cup in 2026 in North America might just be a step to far for these veterans. CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal) Perhaps ominously for Portugal's Group H rivals, the 37-year-old Ronaldo has endured a frustrating season so far at Manchester United and will be eager to show what he can do in Qatar. Ronaldo is already the all-time top-scorer in men's international soccer with 117 goals and has made a Portuguese record 191 appearances. The five-time five Ballon d'Or winner has scored goals wherever he has played, whether in his first stint at United, in a trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid or in helping Juventus win two Serie A titles before his return to the Premier League. However, his return has n

Want to focus more on India as growing football destination: AFC President

Meeting the new AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Shaikh Salman extended the AFC's full support towards the growth of Indian Football

Women's football is seeing growing revenues globally: FIFA report

Women's soccer is seeing growing revenues globally from sponsorships, broadcast deals and merchandising, while also seeing greater interest from fans, according to a new survey by the game's governing body. FIFA released its second benchmarking report on women's soccer on Friday as the sport gains momentum ahead of next summer's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The organisation surveyed 30 of the top leagues and 294 clubs, building on the first benchmarking report released last year. While COVID-19 impacted club revenue in the prior report, the latest survey found growth across the board from matchday, broadcast, commercial and prize money sources. Clubs reported year-on-year commercial revenue growth of 33 per cent indicating growing interest from sponsors. It found that 77 per cent of leagues had a title sponsor, up from 11 per cent in 2021. Year-on-year broadcast revenue grew 22 per cent. Ten leagues reported broadcast revenue compared to nine in the previous ...

Cuba seeks to qualify for Football World Cup after almost a century

Every recess, Gabriela Alfonso Cabrera would watch the boys play soccer out of the corner of her eye. She was so enthralled by the game that she finally approached her fifth-grade teacher, who frowned and reminded Gabriela she was a girl. I wanted to play, but they wouldn't let me play at school because what if I got hurt and started to cry, she recalled adults telling her. Now 14, Gabriela sometimes is still the only girl playing alongside boys who are bigger and stronger than her, but she is not quitting after waiting four years to share a field with them. She is one of hundreds of players that coaches across Cuba are training as part of a newly launched program to elevate the soccer's profile and status in a country that last qualified for the men's World Cup in 1938, losing to Sweden 8-0 in the quarterfinals. An initial group of 16 coaches were recently trained by international officials from FIFA, the Switzerland-based governing body of the sport, with the aim of building Cub

Ballon d'Or 2022: Karim Benzema, Alexia Putellas clinch top honours

Real Madrid Star Karim Benzema walked away with the Ballon d'Or trophy in a ceremony held at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France

Ballon d'Or 2022: Live streaming, timing, nomination list, and more

Indian football fans can watch the live telecast of Ballon d'Or, which will be available in the early hours of Tuesday

Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 in first El Clasico of the season

Goals from Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo ensured a dominating win for Real Madrid against FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday for the first El Clasico of the season

India lose 2-4 to Iraq in opening AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifying fixture

The Indian football team went down 2-4 against Iraq in its opening fixture of the AFC U-20 Championship Group H qualifiers here. The first goal of the match came as early as in the second minute on Friday, as Iraq scored through Abdulrazzaq Qasim's curling effort with the outside of his boot. India looked to respond immediately, as both Gurkirat Singh and Taison Singh created danger repeatedly for the rival defence within a span of few minutes but were brought down with fouls. The pressure paid off in the 22nd minute eventually as Gurkirat scored with a timely shot, after Vibin Mohanan played in Taison, who laid it on a plate for the forward. Gurkirat turned from scorer to provider in the 33rd minute as he essayed a fine through pass, with Maheson Singh applying the finishing touch with a dink over the goalkeeper. The Indians went into the breather with the lead, with Zahid Bukhari denying efforts from Ashar Ali and Abbood Rabah, and Amandeep stopping Hayder Tofee in his tracks wi

India lose to Morocco by 0-3 in FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup match

The Indian U-17 Women's Team went down to fellow debutants Morocco 0-3 in their second match of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on Friday

An own goal: FIFA World Cup and human rights

The rumblings of discontent from Righteous Europe over Qatar's admittedly appalling human rights record can only be viewed as deeply disingenuous and phoney

Manipur beats Odisha 2-0 to retain women's crown in National Games football

Manipur duly retained their National Games women's football crown by beating Odisha 2-0 in the final at the Eka Arena Transstadia under floodlights here on Monday

India qualify for AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 despite 1-2 loss at Saudi's hands

India secured themselves a spot in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 despite a 1-2 loss at the hands of hosts Saudi Arabia in their final qualification match