Page 48 - Football

AIFF sacks its secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran due to trust deficit

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sacked its secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran due to "trust deficit", a top official said on Wednesday. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey served the termination letter on Tuesday to Prabhakaran, who got the high-profile job on September 3 in 2022. "The AIFF president has issued the termination letter to Prabhakaran. He is no longer the AIFF Secretary General," AIFF vice-president NA Haris told PTI. "Deputy secretary general Satyanarayan M will discharge his duties as acting secretary general," he added. Haris said there has been a "trust deficit" between Chaubey and Prabhakaran and even the AIFF executive committee members are not happy with the way the sacked secretary general worked. Prabhakaran was appointed at the first executive Committee meeting of the new dispensation which took charge after the elections on September 2. He was earlier serving as Football Delhi president. He resigned from that post and took charge as AIFF secretary

Messi's trip to China for a pair of Inter Miami exhibition games called off

Lionel Messi evidently won't be playing in China this month after all. Inter Miami announced Wednesday that its planned trip to China for a pair of exhibition matches has been called off. The team announced the trip last month, with a pair of games originally scheduled for Nov. 5 and Nov. 8. It would have been at least the eighth time that Messi the World Cup champion for Argentina and now an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, after receiving the annual award yet again earlier this week played in China, and the total attendance for the two planned matches could have exceeded 100,000. Inter Miami said the reason was unforeseen circumstances. The tour promoter, NSN, said the decision to cancel was out of respect to Chinese officials following the death last week of the country's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang. He was China's top economic official for a decade. TyC Sports, a network in Argentina, reported Monday that the trip was called off. The team did not confirm that decis

Football legend Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or award for record eighth time

Aitana Bonmati, the Spanish footballer representing Barcelona and the winner of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup got the Women's Ballon d'Or award, which was presented by Serbian tennis legend Djokovic

Indian women football team's Olympic dreams over after loss against Vietnam

Having lost their second consecutive match in a row, India is now out of contention for the Olympics despite having a match in hand

Lionel Messi earns $20.4 million under contract with MLS' Inter Miami

Lionel Messi's annualized compensation from his Major League Soccer contract with Inter Miami is just over $20.4 million, the MLS Players Association said. Messi earns more than the entire payroll of all but three other MLS teams and twice as much as every player combined on Orlando City. The 36-year-old star has a $12 million base salary and total guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667, the players association said in its 2023 salary update. Those figures cover what Messi receives from his MLS deal, which runs through the 2025 season, including any marketing bonus and agent's fees. They do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses. He has the highest total compensation in MLS, followed by Toronto's Lorenzo Insigne at $15.4 million, Chicago's Xherdan Shaqiri at $8,153,000, the LA Galaxy's Javier Hernndez at $7,443,750, Toronto's Federico Bernardeschi at $6,295,381 and Austin's Sebastin Driussi at $6,022,500. Miami top

Ronaldinho ignites Durga Puja festivities, casts spell on WB football fans

Wearing his infectious goofy grin, 'Samba Magician' Ronaldinho cast a spell on the football-crazy denizens of Kolkata as his arrival for a two-day visit here ushered in an early onset of the Durga Puja festival. The Durga Puja, the grandest festival in the region, traditionally commences on the sixth day (Shasthi) following Mahalaya, but it got rolling on the second day itself with the 'Gaucho' inaugurating a series of pandals. On a day Union Home Minister Amit Shah also came to inaugurate a Durga Puja pandal, it was the Brazil legend who took all the limelight. Wherever he went, chants of 'Ronaldinho, Ronaldinho' and 'Brazil, Brazil' echoed through the crowd, as hundreds of fans eagerly gathered to catch a glimpse of the former Barcelona and AC Milan star. Ronaldinho got himself dressed up in casual shorts, a loosely-fitted navy blue T-shirt, and topping it with his signature snapback cap. "Muchas gracias. Mucho carino (many thanks, much affection)," the 'King of Jogo Bonito' ...

Ronaldo lays down objective with Portugal, hopeful to feature in Euro 2024

Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet following a brace in Portugal's 3-2 victory over Slovakia in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers on Friday

World Cup: A limited field

Cricket's parochialism stands in stark contrasts to the global reach and fandom of football, highlighting the need for a reimagined future for the sport

Saudi Arabia steps up sports drive, bids for FIFA World Cup in 2034

The kingdom "intends to deliver a world-class tournament and will draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia's ongoing social and economic transformation," according to state media

Ronaldinho confirms his 'maiden visit' to West Bengal in mid October

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has confirmed his visit to the city ahead of the Durga Puja festival. For the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, this will be the maiden visit to the football-crazy city that has hosted many legends of the world sport, including Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. "Hello Everybody, I will be doing my maiden trip to Kolkata this mid-October," the 43-year-old posted on his official Facebook page. "I know Kolkata has a huge number of Brazil fans and I am very excited to meet them," he added. He would also meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and "gift her a jersey". He further stated that he would like to "learn cricket" for city's icon Sourav Ganguly. "I know cricket is very popular and this time I want to learn cricket from Bengal's 'Dada'. "I would also interact with sponsors and many felicitation programs and promote the beautiful game. Let the Samba Magic begin this Durga Puja... Ami tomader bhalo bhashi (I love you all)," he ...

Fenway Sports Group sells minority stake in Liverpool FC to Dynasty Equity

Dynasty Equity's investment will be used to pay down bank debt incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic and capital expenses made to enhance Anfield and build the AXA Training Centre

Asian Games football: India holds training session ahead of Saudi clash

Stimac earlier appreciated the Blue Tigers for qualifying to the round of 16 of the tournament even after completing their recovery sessions at a park in China

Obtained primary goal: Stimac on reaching football round 16 in Asian Games

Stimac took to X and mentioned that the players slept in airports and then completed recovery sessions at a park in China before taking part in the event

Asiad 2023: India football teams' full schedule, squads, match timings

Indian men's and women's football teams have been drawn in groups where chances of them moving ahead to the knockout stage at the Asian Games are bright

Sancho's future depends on him: Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag

Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has asserted that Jadon Sancho's future at the club "depends on him"ahead of their Sunday clash against Burnley. Sancho has been an outcast for the past two weeks following his fallout with Ten Hag. Sancho was left out of Manchester United's squad against Arsenal on September 3.After their 3-1 loss against the Gunners, Ten Hag was quizzed about the absence of Sancho to which he replied, "Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him. You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game, he was not selected."Sancho took out his frustrations with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that he was training well and that he has "been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair."Ahead of their match against Burnley on Sunday, Ten Hag was quizzed about Sancho's situation to which he replied as quoted from Sky Sports, "It depends on him. For the rest, we are ...

Ten Hag questioned about Man United player unrest and transfer dealings

Erik ten Hag's second season at Manchester United is not going to plan. Three defeats in the Premier League already have left his team a long way off the pace at the top of the standings, while United's return to the Champions League ended in a 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley, Ten Hag has had to deal with reports of unrest among some players and on Friday faced questions about the influence of agent Kees Vos in terms of the club's transfer dealings. Vos is Ten Hag's agent, and his Sports Entertainment Group also represents Rasmus Hojlund, who was an $82 million signing from Atalanta in the offseason, and negotiated Sofyan Amrabat's deadline day loan move from Fiorentina. Reports this week claimed there were concerns from some United staff about Vos' involvement in deals, but Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that there could be a conflict of interest. For player decisions, transfers, it's always 50-50, we both have a veto the club, represen

Premier League: Manchester City star Jack Grealish nears return from injury

Jack Grealish is close to returning from injury and could be involved in Manchester City's game against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, Pep Guardiola said. The England international has been sidelined with a knee injury that has seen him miss City's last three games. But he is back in training and in contention to make the squad for the home game against Forest. Jack is coming back. He has trained well and maybe he will be ready for some minutes, City manager Guardiola said Friday. Mateo Kovacic is also nearing recovery from muscular injury, but Bernardo Silva is out after being withdrawn in the first half of City's Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. (Silva) has a little injury. It is nothing much. The clinical development is good but it could be one week, 10 days, two weeks that he will be out, Guardiola said. Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones are also out for City.

Asiad 2023: India beat Bangladesh, keep alive knockout hopes in football

Sunil Chhetri scored from the penalty spot to keep alive India's hopes of a knockout entry in the Asian Games football competition football

Sevilla held by Lens 1-1 at home in group stage of Champions League

Sevilla couldn't manage more than a 1-1 draw with Lens in their opening match of Group B in the Champions League. Lucas Ocampos put the hosts ahead with a header in the ninth minute on Wednesday. Angelo Fulgini equalized for the French club with a powerful free-kick strike in the 24th at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. "We played better than they did," Ocampos said. "But these games are difficult. There's a reason they are in the Champions League, they are a great team." Sevilla was coming off its first win of the season in a match against Las Palmas in the Spanish league on Sunday. Lens was winless in its last five matches, with four losses and a draw. "My goal did us a lot of good because I think if we didn't equalize so soon we would have struggled," Fulgini said. "The goal came at a good time. The free kick came off for me and we can be pleased today." Former Spain and Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos made his 138th Champions League appearance, the first with Sevilla. S

UCL: Stoppage-time drama again as Bayern Munich beats Manchester United 4-3

Mathys Tel's stoppage-time goal proved enough for Bayern Munich to beat Manchester United 4-3 in their Champions League opening game. Tel scored with a spectacular finish in the second minute of injury time on Wednesday, restoring Bayern's two-goal lead just when United threatened to pull off another remarkable comeback after Casemiro scored in the 88th. Casemiro did score again in the fifth minute of stoppages with a header to Bruno Fernandes' free kick, but this time there was no fairy-tale ending for United, which beat Bayern with two late goals to win the 1999 Champions League final. United had forced the initiative early as the old rivals met again in the group stage, but Harry Kane's penalty in the 53rd for 3-1 seemed to be the final blow for an injury-hit team low on confidence after starting the Premier League with three defeats in five games. United was without the injured Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and coach Erik ten Hag w