Page 56 - Football

Messi and PSG saga: What next? A look at the options if he leaves PSG

When Lionel Messi was jeered by Paris Saint-Germain fans during last Sunday's home defeat to Lyon, their relationship looked like it had reached a breaking point. Messi joined PSG on a two-year deal after leaving Barcelona against his will in 2021, with an option for an extra year if both parties agreed. But talks have reportedly broken down and Messi's departure this summer looks increasingly inevitable. There were high hopes he could lead PSG to an elusive Champions League title, but instead the Qatari-backed club went out in the round of 16 in consecutive seasons. He was among the players jeered last season after PSG was knocked out by Real Madrid, and although Messi's form was outstanding in the first half of this campaign, it dipped significantly after he led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar. PSG coach Christophe Galtier defended Messi by saying it was others who should raise their game. "You can't expect Leo to do everything," Galtier said after the Lyon game. "The

Manchester United 1-0 Brentford in premier league ends losing streak

Manchester United ended their goal drought in the last three matches and defeated Brentford, one of the best teams of the season. Marcus Rashford's match-winning goal was the only goal of the match

Sports sponsorship: Cricket dominates but others are gaining, says report

Football, boxing, badminton, kho kho and kabaddi are finding sponsors too, finds GroupM report

Roman Abramovich secretly bankrolled Vitesse, show leaked papers

The financial information has come to light in the Oligarch files, a cache of leaked data originating from the Cyprus-based offshore service provider MeritServus

India vs Kyrgyzstan: India bags Hero Tri-Nation trophy defeating Kyrgyz

India defeated the Kyrgyz Republic in Hero Tri-Nation friendly trophy and retained the cup, and Sunil Chhetri scored his 85th international goal in this match

2014 World Cup winner German footballer Mesut Ozil retires at 34

Former Germany midfielder Mesut zil, who won the World Cup in 2014, retired from soccer on Wednesday at the age of 34. zil said injuries played a role in his decision. "I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity," zil wrote on social media. "But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it's become more and more clear that it's time to leave the big stage of football." His immediate retirement brings an early end to his season with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir, where he made only seven appearances for the team. zil won the Spanish league title with Real Madrid in 2012 and the FA Cup four times with Arsenal. His international career ended abruptly in 2018 when he quit the Germany squad citing "racism and disrespect." That followed anti-Turkish comments from German politicians and abuse from some fans toward zil, who has Turkish heritage, amid criticism of his decis

FC Madras unveils new FIFA-compliant football facility at Mahabalipuram

Freshworks promoter Girish Mathrubootham is also the founder of the facility

FIFA awards 2022: Winners list, category, and nominees

This was the seventh FIFA football award ceremony since its inception in 2016, check out the full FIFA awards 2022 winners list

UEFA Europa League Fixture Round of 16: When and where to watch

Round of 16 will be played between eight group stage winners and eight knockout round playoff winners. The winning side teams will qualify for the quarterfinals

We want to make Manipur football capital of India: CM Biren Singh

The state government, however, aims to build at least two world-class academies to promote sports like football and boxing

Dortmund targets big-spending Chelsea in first leg of Champions League

Chelsea has one of the most talented and expensive group of players ever assembled in world soccer. Now might be the ideal time to beat them. Borussia Dortmund is targeting an upset of big-spending Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 meeting Wednesday. Chelsea's recent run of three straight draws in the Premier League including 1-1 against West Ham on Saturday should be an encouraging sign for the German team. Against West Ham, Chelsea looked like a group of extremely talented individuals who have just been introduced. That, of course, is exactly what they are. In a starting line-up containing five January signings, Joo Flix, Enzo Fernndez and Mykhailo Mudryk all shone in brief glimpses but didn't form a cohesive unit before West Ham leveled the score and Chelsea gradually faded away in the second half. Given time, though, Chelsea's communication will improve. If the timing of Chelsea's runs had been slightly better, two goals ruled out for offside early on

Qatari investors set to make an offer for Manchester United in coming days

The Qatari consortium is preparing to submit an initial bid for the English Premier League football club by the end of the week, the people said

ISL 2023: Bengaluru FC storm into top 6 with 3-1 win against Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC came out for the second half with three personnel changes, a change in formation, and a lot more intent

First ever white card shown in a football match: What does it mean?

The white card was initiated by Portugal to try and improve ethical value in the sport

English football clubs make up more than half of Europe's top earners

English football clubs cemented their position as the sport's wealth generators, making up more than half of Europe's top earners with Manchester City taking the top spot for a second year running

Australia to host football cup of nations ahead of FIFA Women's World Cup

Australia's national women's football team will play home games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Jamaica ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup

England rugby great David Duckham passes away at age of 76 years

David Duckham, the England rugby great who also starred for the British and Irish Lions, especially in the triumphant 1971 series in New Zealand, has died. He was 76. Duckham's death was announced by his former club Coventry as well as the Lions on Tuesday. David Duckham was not only one of the greatest and most talented of English players," said Nigel Gillingham, president of England's Rugby Football Union, but also a player so greatly admired around the world. Duckham won 36 caps for England from 1969-76, initially as a center before going on to make his mark as a dynamic winger who brought flair to an otherwise conservative team. He retired as the country's second all-time highest tryscorer, behind Cyril Low, with 10. The Lions tour of New Zealand provided a better platform for Duckham to demonstrate his brilliance, playing in three of the four matches in the test series. In a midweek game against West Coast/Buller, he scored six tries and he finished the tour with 11 tries in

Manchester United, Liverpool may be buyout targets for Qatar fund

Manchester United shares have been on a strong run since last July when they were trading at only $10.41. They closed yesterday at $23.11

France captain Hugo Lloris ends int'l career, to focus on Tottenham club

World Cup winner Hugo Lloris retired from playing for France after a record 145 appearances. Lloris won the 2018 World Cup and was captain of the squad that lost to Argentina in the final in Qatar last month. The 36-year-old goalkeeper told L'Equipe newspaper he will focus on his Tottenham club career in the English Premier League. I want to continue to perform, to live this sport as I have always done, and maybe this decision will give me more physical freshness with my club," Lloris said. In the next four or five months, with Tottenham, I want to live strong things, to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League, to do something strong in the Champions League, in the FA Cup too." France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to a great servant of the French team" and a remarkable human being" who decided to retire at the top of his game." He was captain when I became coach in 2012, I kept the armband for him and I have never regretted it," Deschamps said in a statement relayed by th

Welsh footballer Gareth Bale retires from international, club football

Bale started his career in 2006 from Southampton and moved to Tottenham Hotspurs in 2007. In 2013, Real Madrid signed him for 100 million euros