Page 47 - Football

Indian women's football has better chance of progressing globally: AIFF

All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey feels the women's game in the country has a "better chance" to progress in international football and backs the senior team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with some more effort. Chaubey, a former India player, completed one year as president of the AIFF and since he took charge, the federation has been making an effort to improve the standard of women's football. "I want to make sure that women's football gets all the facilities that men's football enjoys in India and truly believe we have a better chance of progressing internationally in women's football," Chaubey told the AIFF website. "Our women's football team is ahead of our men's team in terms of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup because the women's team is ranked 11th in Asia. If we do just a little bit better we can qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup. "People who have been following Indian Football for decades will say we performed very well internationall

Europa League: Ajax, Marseille in same group with Brighton and AEK Athens

Former European champions Ajax and Marseille were drawn Friday to play Premier League club Brighton and AEK Athens in one of the toughest Europa League groups. Brighton will be playing in the competition for the first time. Ajax won the UEFA Cup, the Europa League's predecessor, in 1992 to become the first club to win the three major European trophies of the time. Liverpool, a three-time winner of the second-tier European competition, was drawn to face Union Saint-Gilloise, Toulouse and LASK of Austria, while Europa Conference League champion West Ham will play Olympiakos, Freiburg and TSC of Serbia. Roma, coached by Jose Mourinho, will be trying to reach its third straight European final in a group with Slavia Prague, Sheriff and Servette, while 2021 Europa League champion Villarreal landed in a group with Rennes, Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos. The other groups are: Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde and Hacken; Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Sturm Graz and Rakow Czestochowa; and ...

Premier League: Manchester City signs Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton

Manchester City completed the signing of midfielder Matheus Nunes on Friday after agreeing to pay Wolverhampton a reported transfer fee of 53 million pounds ($67 million). The Portugal international had been refusing to train with Wolves in an effort to force a move to City, which had a lower bid rejected last week. He signed a five-year contract, City said. City manager Pep Guardiola was looking for help in the midfield. The injured Kevin De Bruyne could be out until the new year. City also lost Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona after his contract expired, and signed central midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a replacement. However, that's not a like-for-like replacement, with Kovacic operating in deeper areas than Gundogan, who often played as an attacking midfielder just off Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old Nunes typically plays further forward than Kovacic so would offer something different to Guardiola. Nunes is the fourth signing for City, following Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and wi

Spain's men's coach asks for forgiveness for applauding Luis Rubiales

The coach of Spain's men's national soccer team asked for forgiveness Friday for applauding the claim by Luis Rubiales that he was the victim of a smear campaign from "false feminists" following an uproar after he kissed a player on the lips at the Women's World Cup. "I don't think I have to resign, I think I have to ask for forgiveness," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said in Madrid in his first public appearance since Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on August 20 after the final in Sydney, Australia. "I made a human error. It was inexcusable." De la Fuente was speaking one week after he clapped several times during an emergency general assembly of the Spanish soccer federation when Rubiales, the organisation's president, refused to step down as was expected. Rubiales' speech included claims that Hermoso had consented to his kiss during the awards ceremony a claim she has denied and against what he called the "scourge" of feminism in Spain. "I have received harsh criticism, and it i

Belgium coach counts on Lukaku to assume leadership in De Bruyne's absence

For Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, calling up Romelu Lukaku for a couple of European Championship qualifiers was a no brainer. Even though the striker's season-long loan deal to Roma was only completed on Thursday ending uncertainty over his future and a standoff with Chelsea and Lukaku having not played so far this campaign. Tedesco said he closely followed the developments that led to Lukaku's move at Roma, and that he knew how seriously the striker trained despite the offseason Chelsea row. "I know that he was training. He was training with Chelsea too, of course, but also individually," Tedesco said after including Belgium's record scorer in the 24-man squad. "For us it was not a question to invite him or not, because I think you saw in the last games how important he is. Not just as a player, also for the changing room. He is a leader. He is a top striker, and a top human," Tedesco added. Belgium, which is second in Group F three points behind Austria but with a match in h

Gilt transfer

The Saudis have pulled off the biggest sportswashing coup possible, redefining the European football landscape

Champions League 2023-24 full schedule, teams, live streaming in India

Arsenal and Manchester United make their Champions League comebacks as the group stage draws were announced on Thursday, August 31, 2023

Durand Cup final: It's Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal on 'Super Sunday'

Albanian Armando Sadiku shrugged off his poor form to inspire Mohun Bagan to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over FC Goa in the Durand Cup semifinal here on Thursday. The win paved the way for a fairytale Durand Cup finale on 'Super Sunday' as it set up Mohun Bagan's derby showdown against arch-rivals East Bengal in a repeat of 2004 final. A compact and defence-heavy FC Goa drew the first blood with their Moroccan midfielder Noah Sadaoui's 23rd minute strike. Mohun Bagan took the penalty route to restore parity with Jason Cumming scoring from the spot in the 42nd minute in what appeared to be a contentious call by referee Ashwin. Four minutes after he replaced Hugo Boumous, Armenian substitute Sadiku overcame criticism to score the most-important goal of his career at the Mariners. He capitalised on a Sandesh Jhingan howler to strike home the lead -- and eventual winner -- in the 61st minute. Ferrando bolstered his defence in the final minutes, bringing in Brendan Hamill and Liston Col

No Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema in Champions League: Uefa chief quashes rumours

Rumours circulating that Saudi Pro League teams could participate in the Champions League were quashed by Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin

EPL: Sauna, nose taping, special glasses part of Haaland's sleeping routine

Erling Haaland, the leading goal scorer in the Premier League 2022-23 season has a unique sleeping routine to get a good night's sleep and make his body function in the best way

Premier League: Liverpool's Van Dijk in trouble, may face longer suspension

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk could be handed a longer suspension after being charged by the Football Association on Tuesday for his reaction to being shown a red card against Newcastle in the Premier League over the weekend. The Netherlands center back was sent off for a foul on Alexander Isak in the first half of Liverpool's 2-1 victory at St. James' Park on Sunday. Van Dijk initially refused to leave the field and then remonstrated with referee John Brooks. The sending-off will earn him an automatic one-match ban, to be served against Aston Villa this weekend, but the suspension could be increased. It's alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official," the FA said. Van Dijk has until Friday to respond to the charge.

Vinicius out of Brazil''s World Cup qualifying matches, Raphinha drafted in

Vinicius Jnior will miss Brazil's first two World Cup qualifying matches next month because of a right hamstring injury. Brazil's soccer federation confirmed the absence Tuesday after media reported that Real Madrid had estimated that the 23-year-old Vinicius, injured in the team's 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo in the Spanish league, could be sidelined for about a month. Raphinha was drafted into the Brazil squad for games against Bolivia on Sept. 8 and Peru four days later. He last played for Brazil's national team during the World Cup in Qatar. The 26-year-old winger has five goals in 16 appearances for the national team. The matches will be Fernando Diniz's first as head coach of Brazil.

Mother of Spanish football chief starts hunger strike to defend him

The mother of the Spanish soccer federation president has started a hunger strike in a church in southern Spain in defense of her son, who is under fire for kissing a player during the recent Women's World Cup awards ceremony. ngeles Bjar, mother of suspended federation president Luis Rubiales, told the state news agency EFE she would remain on hunger strike "night and day" until a solution is found to "the bloody and inhumane hounding" of her son. Speaking outside the church in the southern town of Motril, Rubiales' cousin, Vanessa Ruiz, joined his mother in calling on the player, Jenni Hermoso, to "tell the truth." She said the family was suffering greatly and she described Rubiales as "a beautiful person." Rubiales came in for a storm of criticism following the kiss which was interpreted by many as a form of sexual abuse. The incident happened during the medal ceremony after the final last Sunday in Sydney, Australia. Earlier during the celebrations, Rubiales also grabbed his .

Saudi Arabia signals interest in the Champions League football entry

UEFA members include a few non-European countries, including Kazakhstan, whose clubs can participate in the Champions League

Luis Rubiales: From sullying Women's World Cup to a Spanish soccer outcast

One week after the president of the Spanish soccer federation kissed a player during the Women's World Cup awards ceremony, his reputation is in tatters and he's out of his job. Luis Rubiales, whose leadership of Spanish soccer had already been marked by successes tinged with scandal, wrecked his career by offending millions worldwide with his conduct at the final in Sydney, Australia, when he also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. A day after he was provisionally suspended by FIFA for 90 days, Spain awoke on Sunday to headlines like the one in El Pais: Spain no longer tolerates men like Rubiales. FIFA moved against Rubiales after he refused to step down and defiantly told an emergency assembly of his federation on Friday that he was the victim of a witch hunt by false feminists. On a day that will go down as one of the ugliest in Spanish soccer, Rubiales said that forward Jenni Hermoso had consented to the mutual kiss. Hermoso replied in two statements to say that was false

Durand Cup: Team effort helps FC Goa beat Chennaiyin FC 4-1 to enter semis

Former champions FC Goa marched into the 132nd Durand Cup football tournament semifinals, defeating Chennaiyin FC 4-1, here on Saturday. Carl Mchugh (30th), Carlos Martinez (37th), Noah Sadoui (90+1st) and Victor Rodriguez (90+3d) were the goalscorers for the Goan side. Bikash Yumnam opened the scoring for Chennaiyin in the fifth minute when he found the net from a corner. The Gaurs responded with fervour, with Martinez hitting the bar and Udanta missing an opportunity. They equalised after 30 minutes when Udanta's cross was headed back by Noah and converted by new signing Mchugh. Goa's Noah and Carlos both came close to scoring, but Chennaiyin's Samik denied them. Spaniard Martinez then executed an exceptional chip, securing the Gaurs' comeback with his third goal of the tournament. Chennaiyin substituted to counter Noah's threat and began the second half more assertively. Dheeraj made crucial saves to thwart Chennaiyin's Ayush Sangwan's efforts. In the added time, Noah broug

Spain's Luis Rubiales-Jenni Hermoso case: Everything you need to know

Fifa banned Luis Rubiales on Aug 26, 2023, for his conduct at the Women's World Cup final, wherein he kissed a player on the lips without her consent among other things

Long injury list won't push Chelsea to reintegrate Romelu Lukaku into squad

Romelu Lukaku's relationship with Chelsea remains broken despite a lengthening list of injured attackers that is proving a frustration for manager Mauricio Pochettino early in his tenure at the English club. Lukaku has not been given a squad number by Chelsea this season and has made clear his desire to leave Stamford Bridge. The Belgium striker joined Chelsea for a then-club-record fee of $135 million in August 2021 but spent last season on loan at Inter Milan. Chelsea has been unwilling to consider another loan move and would rather sell Lukaku. If ever there was a time for Lukaku to be reintegrated into the senior squad, it is now. On Thursday, winger Mykhailo Mudryk joined an injury list that already contains striker Christopher Nkunku and attacking midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka. Armando Broja, another striker, is not yet ready to play as he recovers from an ACL injury that has kept him out since December. It leaves Pochettino with only one recognized striker for the visit of

Trouble for Karim Benzema: Not fitting into tactics says Al-Ittihad manager

Benzema moved to Al-Ittihad after spending 11 years at Spanish club Real Madrid

Mumbai City to play AFC Champions League home games in Pune

Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC will play its AFC Champions League home games at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. The change in the venue is due to the present infrastructural set up at the Mumbai Football Arena, which makes it ineligible to host AFC Champions League games. Mumbai City FC will set up its base in Pune for their three home games in the Group Stage of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League. Mumbai City FC will find out their opponents at the group stage draw, scheduled to be held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24.