Page 64 - Football

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

Cristiano Ronaldo nets 700th Club goal to guide Man United past Everton

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new milestone in the Premier League when he scored his career's 700th club goal while playing as a substitute for Manchester United to earn a 2-1 victory against Everton

Kerala, West Bengal to clash in National Games men's football final

Kerala and West Bengal will clash in the finals of the mens football competition in the 36th National Games

We are aiming for quarter-finals berth: India U-17 women's coach Dennerby

Clubbed with heavyweights USA, Brazil, hosts India may be one of the lowest rung sides in the upcoming Under-17 Women's World Cup but coach Thomas Dennerby said his team is ready to give the stronger nations a run for its money with the target of last-eight finish. India will begin their campaign against the mighty USA on October 11, followed by Morocco and Brazil on October 14 and October 17 respectively at the Kalinga Stadium here. "Of course, we're up against absolute top teams, but if we have a really good day and the teams have a little bit weaker outing, there's always a chance for the team coming out like underdogs to win that game," the 63-year-old told reporters in a virtual interaction ahead of the big meet. "If we can score an early goal against one of these teams, they may get a little bit nervous, get stressed and so on. There's always a chance and if we get a chance we'll take it." The top two teams from each group will make the cut for the quarters and if their ...