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Chaos erupted at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday as spectators, who had paid hefty amounts for tickets to see Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, protested after being unable to catch a clear glimpse of the soccer player. Messi arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am along with long-time strike partner Luis Surez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, and was the first to take the ground. He briefly moved around and waved at the crowd. However, he remained surrounded by VIPs, organisers and security personnel throughout his round, effectively cutting off the spectators' view from the galleries. Fans claimed that they could not see Messi properly, either directly or on the stadium's giant screens, despite waiting since morning. Frustration mounted as chants of We want Messi echoed across the stands. Tempers flared when the Argentine star was escorted out of the stadium within minutes, well before several invited dignitaries arrived. Disappointed
Thousands braved the December chill and waited past midnight to give a rousing welcome to Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi as he arrived in Kolkata for his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025. The Barcelona legend's 2.26 am touchdown in the early hours of Saturday sent the city into an frenzy. Gate 4 of the international arrivals turned into a roaring sea of chants, flags and flashing phones, with fans sprinting between gates for even a fleeting glimpse of their favourite sports star. Children perched on shoulders and drums rolled as Messi was whisked out through the VIP gate under massive security. A heavy convoy then escorted him to his hotel, where another huge crowd was waiting deep into the night. Barricades, police deployment, and non-stop cheering completed a citywide eruption of "Messi mania." Messi arrived with long-time strike partner Luis Surez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. Over the next 72 hours, he will zip across Kolkata, Hyderab
The winners of the 134th edition of the Durand Cup will walk away with a prize money of Rs 1.21 crore, the highest champion's purse in the 137-year history of Asia's oldest football tournament. The Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC) announced it on the eve the grand finale on Saturday, when defending champions NorthEast United FC clash with debutants Diamond Harbour FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK). Earlier this year, the DCOC had announced a 250 percent increase in prize money raising the pool from Rs 1.2 crore in the previous edition to a tournament-record Rs 3 crore this season. The tournament kicked off on July 23 with 24 teams across six groups playing in five cities Jamshedpur, Imphal, Kokrajhar, Shillong and Kolkata. Eight teams progressed to the knockouts. Prize purse: Champions - RS 1.21 crore Runners-up - Rs 60 lakh Losing semi-finalists - Rs 25 lakh each Losing quarter-finalists - Rs 15 lakh each Individual Awards: Golden Ball (Best player
Marseille's season is already in turmoil after France midfielder Adrien Rabiot and England Under-21 forward Jonathan Rowe were put on the transfer list Tuesday and told to leave the club for unacceptable behavior. The pair reportedly argued and fought in the locker room after Friday's 1-0 loss to Rennes, which prevailed with a stoppage-time goal despite being down to 10 players in their Ligue 1 season opener. Marseille's move puts doubt into team-building plans for coach Roberto De Zerbi just one week before the 1993 Champions League winner takes part in the draw for this season's competition. This decision was taken due to unacceptable behavior in the dressing room after the match against Rennes, Marseille said in a statement. Rabiot and Rowe have been exiled in agreement with the technical staff and in accordance with the club's internal code of conduct, said the club whose majority owner is American businessman Frank McCourt, the former Los Angeles Dodgers owner. Marseille ...
Arsenal signed Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres on Saturday, bringing an end to the Premier League club's years-long search for a prolific goalscorer. Gyokeres completed a move from Sporting Lisbon worth a reported 63 million pounds ($85 million) and signed a five-year contract. Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision, said Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta. The 27-year-old striker joins Arsenal after establishing himself as one of the deadliest finishers in world soccer after two outstanding seasons in Portugal where he fired Lisbon to back-to-back league titles. He scored 82 goals in 85 games, including 48 last term, outscoring the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. A top class striker has long-been considered the missing element for Arsenal, which came runner up in
Crystal Palace has taken its fight with UEFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by lodging an appeal against its demotion to the third-tier Conference League next season. The Switzerland-based CAS confirmed Tuesday that the Premier League club had filed an appeal against European soccer's governing body. An expedited process will produce a decision no later than Aug. 11, the court said. Palace secured qualification to the second-tier Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season its first major trophy in 120 years of existence. But UEFA demoted Palace after finding it in breach of multi-club ownership regulations because of its ties to French club Lyon through American businessman John Textor. Textor had a 43% stake in Palace and owns Lyon outright. UEFA rules state that clubs can be barred from its competitions if owners have decisive influence over two teams that have qualified. While Textor only had limited decision-making at Palace, UEFA deemed his involvement with Lyon
Tears, distress and disbelief. Italy captain Cristiana Girelli and defender Lucia Di Guglielmo cried as they walked around the field after an emotional semifinal loss 2-1 after extra time to England on Tuesday each with one arm around the other's waist. They waved goodbye to fans and their shared Women's European Championship title hopes inside Stade de Genve, which had been a joyous second home for them in Switzerland. Less than hour earlier, Italy had been little more than one minute away from advancing to a final few had imagined. "I feel that something has ended that we didn't want to end, because I still don't believe it's over," the 35-year-old Girelli said, in tears again in the player interview area. "Probably fate has been a little cruel to us." Goalkeeper's grief =========== Goalkeeper Laura Guilani had been alone with her emotions after fulltime, face down on the turf in midfield. It would have been Italy's first trip to the Women's Euros title match since 1997. No
Cole Palmer was jumping up and down behind Reece James as the Chelsea captain received the trophy for the Club World Cup, U.S. President Donald Trump to his left, standing between the midfielder and goalkeeper Robert Snchez. "I knew he was going to be here, but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused," Palmer said. Palmer received the Golden Ball as top player of the tournament after scoring the first two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 smothering of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. Trump appeared to leave the award stand with a medal of his own, handed to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino right after the medallion presented to James. At 23, Palmer was selected player of the match for Chelsea's second straight final. A rising English star, he assisted twice in a 4-1 win over Real Betis on May 28 that won the Europa Conference League. He also scored the Blues' first goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal Club World Cup win over Palmeiras
Another rampant England performance saw the defending champion demolish Wales 6-1 on Sunday and book its spot in the quarterfinals of the Women's European Championship. England had bounced back from losing to France in its opener by routing the Netherlands 4-0 and it raced into a 4-0 halftime lead against Wales following goals from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo. Substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones added more in the second half either side of Hannah Cain's stylish consolation for Wales. We're just happy that we continued the standards that we'd set against the Netherlands, Stanway said. It was super important that we continue where we'd left off and we could build momentum post that. The result saw Sarina Wiegman's team advance as runner-up in Group D, ensuring England a potentially easier path to the final, after France beat the Netherlands 5-2 to win the group. Wales and the Netherlands are eliminated. England will play Sweden in the ...
Bayer Leverkusen has moved to replace Florian Wirtz by signing United States international Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven for a club-record fee. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder signed a contract through June 2030, the Bundesliga club said Saturday. Kicker magazine reported Leverkusen was paying PSV a fixed sum of 35 million euros ($41 million) for the player, making him the club's most expensive incoming transfer. We've gained another strong and very dangerous attacking player, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said He can play in both the number 10 and the number 8 positions in midfield. Malik is an absolute top signing for us. Tillman, who was born in Nuremberg, Germany to a German mother and American father, played through Bayern Munich's youth teams after switching from Bavarian rival Greuther Frth in 2015. He was unable to establish himself in the senior team and made just seven appearances for Bayern before joining Glasgow Rangers on loan in 2022-23. He joined
FIFA cut standard ticket prices for the semifinal between Chelsea and Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday to USD 13.40 from USD 473.90 earlier in the past week. FIFA has used dynamic pricing for the 63-game tournament. Standard ticket prices for Wednesday's semifinal between European champion Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in New Jersey start at USD 199.60. FIFA had dropped ticket prices to $11.15 for a quarterfinal in Orlando, Florida, between Fluminense and Al Hilal. and in Philadelphia between Chelsea and Palmeiras. The dramatic drop in prices was first reported by The Athletic. Many matches during the tournament have had sparse crowds. Real Madrid has been an exception, drawing at least 60,000 for all five of its matches, including 76,611 for its quarterfinal win Saturday over Borussia Dortmund in New Jersey.