AAO KHELEIN

Manchester [UK], Oct 1 (ANI): Manchester United and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw in the ongoing Premier League here at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. The opening 40 minutes of the match did not provide much action as both sides struggled to get the momentum going their way, but United sprung into action as Scott McTominay registered a goal for the team in the 45th minute to give themselves a 1-0 lead. Arsenal also got two chances in the first half, but United's goalkeeper David de Gea was up to the task and he did not let the Gunners score a goal. United went into the half time with a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Arsenal finally got the equaliser in the 58th minute as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the goal for the team, bringing the scoreline to 1-1. This was Aubameyang seventh goal in the ongoing Premier League in as many matches. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came to Arsenal's rescue as originally the goal was disallowed owing to offside, but VAR showed th...

Leeds [UK], Sept 30 (ANI): Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he is not worried about Eden Hazard's performance as he is certain that the 28-year-old will succeed in the club. "I'm not going to give him some advice on how to play. He knows we want more from him and we know the player he is, we have to be calm. I'm not worried at all, I know he will succeed here. We have to be calm with the players who have just arrived," Goal.com quoted Zidane as saying. Hazard has not yet delivered an amazing performance for Real Madrid since joining the club from Chelsea back in June this year. However, to back Hazard, Zidane even cited his own example. "The same thing happened to me, yes, but that's why I'm very calm. I knew it would work with time. It was worse when I arrived in Italy because it took me three months [to settle] there," he said. "The same with Hazard, I know he is going to succeed here and he is going to get settled. It has no...

According to a BBC report, the 34-year old suffered the injury while taking a goal-kick during West Ham's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday and was substituted in the 34th minute. Fabianski was replaced by Roberto Jimenez during the game. West Ham are currently placed fourth in the points table. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nVNmaM

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Liverpool [UK], Sept 30 (ANI): Despite winning all the games of Premier League so far, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk said 'there's still plenty of room for improvement'. "It's the media who love statistics. The reality is we have nothing at the moment. We want to continue to do well and there's still plenty of room for improvement," the club's official website quoted Van Dijk as saying. Liverpool registered a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday which took their winning streak in this season of Premier League to seven. The club tops the Premier League's points table with 21 points but Van Dijk said it is 'too early' to look at the table. "It's far too early [to look at the table]. We're almost in October and the busy period will come. There are still so many games left and the only thing we focus on is the game ahead of us," he said. "We don't want to look at the others because there's no point do...

Milan [Italy], Sept 30 (ANI): As AC Milan lost their match against Fiorentina in the Serie A, the team scripted their worst start in the competition in the past 81 years. AC Milan lost 1-3 against Fiorentina on Sunday (local time) and with this, the team has now lost four matches in six Serie A games this season. The last time AC Milan lost four of their first six games of a Serie A season was in 1938-39, and the only previous occasion it occurred was in 1930-31. Milan started the season with a 0-1 defeat against Udinese, but the side recovered in their next two matches as they scripted victories against Brescia and Hellas Verona by the same margin. However, the side once again lost momentum as they were defeated in their last three games, with defeats to city rivals Inter and Torino before Sunday's 3-1 loss against Fiorentina. AC Milan is currently placed at the 16th place in the Serie A standings with six points from six matches. Inter Milan is at the top of the table with...

Close to 500 budding footballers thronged the stadium to witness the kick-off, backed by the league's sponsors ONGC and Power Finance Corporation. After a successful inaugural edition last year, the league, aimed at providing a platform to boys and girls between the age group of 5 and 11, is all set to get bigger and better with the inclusion of a unique data system -- FD Connect. Speaking at the launch, Shivendra Dutt Shukla, General Manager (HR) and Head Corporate Sports, ONGC, said, "It is the first federation in Delhi which promotes grassroots level games. This will help the children not only with sports or personality, but also with their studies." Last year, the Golden League saw 176 teams playing a total of 751 matches. This time, more than 200 teams are expected to register for the second edition of the league. A total of 1,200 matches across 15 venues will be played this season. The league will have matches on 12 consecutive Sundays with 100-150 matches each d...

Liverpool [UK], Sept 29 (ANI): Despite securing a victory over Sheffield United, Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum said that it was not his club's best game. "Sometimes you need luck. I was lucky today and the goalkeeper was unlucky. Sometimes you need those kinds of moments," the club's official website quoted Wijnaldum as saying after the match. "They play with a lot of passion. Their fighting spirit was really good and when they had space they played football, but we were also not at our best. We didn't speed the tempo up when we needed to do that and we didn't counter-press the ball. It wasn't our best game," he added. Although Sheffield United gave Liverpool a tough competition throughout the match, the latter registered a 1-0 win after Wijnaldum netted a goal in the 70th minute on Saturday. With this victory, Liverpool took their winning streak in this season of Premier League to seven. Liverpool sit on the top position of the Premi...

India took the lead in the second minute when Vikram Partap Singh sped past his marker and took a shot which found the back of the net. The match-winner came in late in injury time when the nippy Ravi Bahadur Rana scored off a screamer from about 30 yards. In between, Yeasin Arafat reduced the margin for Bangladesh in the 40th minute. "I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi finished if off with a wonderful strike," India's head coach Floyd Pinto said after the match. India's Ninthoinganba Meetei was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The victory comes on the back of India winning the U-15 SAFF championship, beating Bangladesh in the final in August. While the U-16 national team went on to qualify for the AFC U-16 tourney, the U-19 Team will play the AFC qualifiers in November in their quest to qualify for the AFC finals. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mEXULw

A dangerous late header by Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema was spectacularly saved by Atletico's Czech goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who dove at full stretch and stopped the seemingly unstoppable with a sturdy left hand, thus preventing the clearest scoring chance in a match that otherwise saw few opportunities to enliven the static scoreboard on Saturday night. The result, which surely disappointed fans from both sides, allowed Madrid to remain on top of the Spanish league standings with 15 points as it continued its unbeaten domestic start (four wins and three draws), while its neighbour and arch-enemy now trails by one point in third place, right behind a surprising Granada, reports Efe news. The big beneficiary of the goalless duel was FC Barcelona, which was able to bridge the gap with both teams from the capital following its 0-2 away victory against Getafe, leaving it in fourth place with 13 points. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2olaDTZ

New Delhi [India], Sept 29 (ANI): After India U-18 lifted the SAFF U-18 Championship 2019 for the first time on Sunday, head coach Floyd Pinto said his team was not only the best 'footballing team' in the tournament but also the most 'effective team'. Vikram Pratap Singh scored the opening goal of the match when the game was in the second minute but Bangladesh scored an equaliser before the end of the first half. Both the teams were stuck on 1-1 until Ravi Bahadur Rana scored an impeccable goal in the 90+1' minute of the match, handing India U-18 a 2-1 win. "I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi finished it off with a wonderful strike," All India Football Federation's (AIFF) website quoted Pinto as saying. "We were not just the best footballing team in the tournament, but also the most effective team. I am really happy for the boys. They earned it. The sacrifices a...

Leeds [UK], Sept 29 (ANI): I have to thank life for not letting me win the Champions League, said Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon while adding that it gives him a reason to keep playing football. "For me it's a huge stimulus and I have to thank life for not letting me win [the Champions League] yet, otherwise I would ask myself why I still play," Goal.com quoted Buffon as saying. "It is great to be still in the running and try again, but there is no agreement on playing at least one game in Europe in the season, we are at Juventus and not in an amateur club, I play when I am called in by the coach," he added. The 41-year-old has won nine Serie A titles with Juventus. Juventus secured a 2-0 win over SPAL during their Serie A clash on Saturday. The club is sitting on the second position of the Serie A points table with 16 points, only behind Inter Milan who have 18 points. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2m1VTbK

Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept 29 (ANI): India U-18 defeated Bangladesh by 2-1 in the final of SAFF U-18 Championship 2019 to lift the title here on Sunday. From the beginning, India played aggressively and Vikram Pratap Singh did not take much time to hand India a 1-0 lead. Singh scored in the second minute of the game. Before the conclusion of the first half, Bangladesh's Yeasin managed to score an equaliser which brought the scoreline to 1-1. In the second half, both the teams gave each other tough competition and restricted each other from scoring a goal. However, it was India's Ravi Bahadur Rana (90+1') who broke the deadlock by scoring a goal which sealed his team's victory in the match. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2ofHw4k

Liverpool [UK], Sept 29 : After securing a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, Liverpool's Andy Robertson said his club cannot register a 4-0 or 5-0 win every single week. "Look, you can't win 4-0, 5-0 every single week by playing beautiful football and everyone claps you off the park because they've been given a show," the club's official website quoted Robertson as saying. Sheffield United gave a tough fight to Liverpool during their Premier League clash on Saturday. However, Liverpool managed to extend their winning streak in Premier League to seven after Georginio Wijnaldum netted an impeccable goal in the 70th minute. Robertson praised his opponent as he termed Sheffield United a 'very good' team. "That's a different show out there - we had to get down, we had to get dirty and we had to match their battles. They're a very honest team and they showed that today. They're a very good team at it and they know their strengths, I th...

Georginio Wijnaldum scored for league leaders Liverpool as they extended their perfect start to the season. It was not too easy for Man City though as they took the lead riding a Kevin De Bruyne goal. But Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised before halftime for Everton. It then took a brilliant free kick from Mahrez into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to hand Man City back the lead before Sterling made sure of the points with the team's third goal. The result helped Man City stay five points behind leaders Liverpool. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mMAQdz

<br>Bangladesh, ranked 187 in the world, lost 0-1 to Afghanistan in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in their World Cup qualifying opener on September 10, the same day India held reigning Asian champions Qatar to a famous 0-0 draw in Doha. "It will be a very tough challenge as India are ranked 83 place above us, and a long way ahead of us with domestic football and facilities available," Day told IANS from Dhaka. Bangladesh take on Qatar at home on October 10 before locking horns with neighbours India five days later. They are at the foot of the five-team Group E at present. India find themselves in fourth position with one point from two matches. They lost 1-2 to Oman at home. The eight group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the third round of Asian qualifying for Qatar 2022. "We are preparing now with the players and have started our camp last week," said the 40-year old Brit, who played for Arsenal briefly. Asked about the Indian players they are w...

Leeds [UK], Sept 29 (ANI): After having to settle with 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid in the La Liga, Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane said that the team lacked in creativity, but the side is happy with what they did on the field. "It is not just intensity, but what is important is our strength. We saw a strong Madrid because we didn't concede a chance. We lacked in creativity but we are happy with what we did," Goal.com quoted Zidane as saying. "We deserved much more, but what I have to do is congratulate the players since we have been supportive again and we kept a clean sheet," he added. Belgian Eden Hazard failed to score once more for the side, and in the match, he failed to register a single shot and he was finally replaced by James Rodriguez in the 77th minute. Zidane said that Hazard lacks little things as of now, but the team needs to stick with him. "He lacks little things. We have to stick with him. He has done a good job, but we h...

Ronaldo headed in the second goal for Juventus after Miralem Pjanic had put them in front on the stroke of halftime. This was Ronaldo's third goal of the campaign. He missed Tuesday's win over Brescia with a minor injury. After the win, Juventus are in second spot in the points table with 16 points, two behind leaders Inter Milan after their 3-1 victory at Sampdoria on Saturday. Juventus and Inter will take on each other at San Siro on October 6. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nC4uCi

Getafe [Spain], Sept 28 (ANI): Barcelona secured a 2-0 win over Getafe CF during their La Liga clash at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium here on Saturday. Despite Lionel Messi's absence, Barcelona managed to clinch a victory as Luis Suarez and Junior Firpo scored one goal each in the match to overpower Getafe CF. Before taking a 1-0 lead, Barcelona missed quite a few chances to score a goal in the initial stages of the match. However, in the 41st minute of the game, Suarez managed to hand Barcelona a one-goal lead. Firpo did not take much time to consolidate Barcelona's position in the match as he scored a stunning goal in the 49th minute. Getafe CF failed to open their account and faced a 2-0 defeat. With four victories from seven matches in La Liga, Barcelona sit on the third position on the points table with 13 points. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nrO0wO

London [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Chelsea thrashed Brighton by 2-0 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge here on Saturday. The first half saw a tough fight between the two teams and no one managed to score a goal. In the second half, Brighton's Adam Webster was awarded Yellow card by the referee for bringing down Mason Mount in the 49th minute of the game. Chelsea was awarded a penalty kick. Jorginho did not miss out on the opportunity and netted a goal, giving his club a 1-0 lead over Brighton. The final goal of the game came from Willian in the 76th minute. No more goals were scored afterwards as Chelsea sealed off the game by 2-0. Chelsea will now take on Southampton on October 6. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mrnxiN

Turin [Italy], Sept 28 (ANI): Juventus defeated SPAL by 2-0 during their Serie A clash here on Saturday. This was Juventus' fifth victory from five matches in Serie A as the club holds the top position in the points table with 16 points. From the beginning, Juventus played aggressively and created a lot of chances for themselves but failed to convert them. However, they finally managed to open their goal tally after Miralem Pjanic scored a brilliant goal in the 45th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo then scored in the 78th minute, handing Juventus a 2-0 lead over SPAL and the match concluded on the same scoreline. Juventus will now compete against Inter Milan in Serie A on October 7. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lUntI1

Leeds [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): English club Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley believes that young players have done well for the club as well as for England in youth teams. "The young lads have done really well for England and Chelsea youth teams over the years, winning trophies. They have got the winning mentality this club needs," Goal.com quoted Barkley as saying. "For them to come into the side at such a young age and do so well, it's great times for the club, the fans, and the future as well," he added. Chelsea had seven different scorers in the game with Barkley himself getting the first, while there was also a goalscoring comeback for Callum Hudson-Odoi. "I'm not surprised at how they've done, because you can see the quality they have got. Some were out on loan and proved to the manager and his assistant, Jody Morris who has worked with the younger lads, what they're capable of. It's the perfect timing for the young lads to show what t...

Sheffield [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Liverpool continued their winning streak in the Premier League as they defeated Sheffield United by 1-0 at Bramall Lane here on Saturday. This was Liverpool's seventh consecutive victory in this season of Premier League. The club sits on the top position of the points table with 21 points. In the first half, both the teams gave each other tough competition and managed to restrict each other from scoring a goal. The second half also started on the same note. However, Georginio Wijnaldum scored the first and the only goal of the match in the 70th minute. Sheffield United failed to score an equaliser and hence, lost the match by 0-1. Liverpool will now compete against Leicester City on October 5 in Premier League. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lYoJde

Turin [Italy], Sept 28 (ANI): Italian club Juventus on Saturday announced a 20-man squad for the match Serie A fixture against SPAL. Juventus have played five games so far in the tournament and only lost one match. With 13 points, they are placed number two at the points table. Meanwhile, SPAL played five matches and only managed to win one. They have three points and are at the second last position of the standings. Juventus squad: Szczesny, De Ligt, Pjanic, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ramsey, Dybala, Matuidi, Cuadrado, Bonucci, Higuain, Emre Can, Rugani, Rabiot, Demiral, Bentancur, Pinsoglio, Bernardeschi, Beruatto, and Buffon. The match between Juventus and SPAL will be played at Juventus Stadium at 6:30 PM (IST). (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mr9I3W

Leeds [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the club is in talks with James Milner over a new contract as his contract is expiring after the end of the season. "Nobody is nervous. We are in talks constantly. It is really early and we have time to do things with all the players. The relationship is very trustful. We don't hide information from them. They know always about the situation," Goal.com quoted Klopp as saying. The 33-year-old Milner joined the club in 2015 from Manchester City and since then he has been a vital member of the side both on the field and off. In the last season, Milner made 45 appearances for Liverpool across all tournaments, helping the club to the Champions League title and a second-place finish in Premier League. "He just loves what he is doing. He has gone through it all. He did it the hard way with all his clubs, Newcastle, Aston Villa and so on and then with Manchester City he was not a regular starte...

Manchester [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Manchester City midfielder Laura Coombs will undergo surgery after sustaining a knee injury while training, the club announced on Saturday. Coombs had joined the club on a free transfer from Liverpool this summer. The club also confirmed that Coombs will be out of action for 'around six weeks.' "Laura Coombs has suffered a knee injury in training and is set to undergo surgery. The midfielder, who joined on a free transfer from Liverpool this summer, is expected to be out for around six weeks," the club said in a statement. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mB85k6

Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept 28 (ANI): As India gear up to face Bangladesh in the SAFF U-18 Championship final, team coach Floyd Pinto on Saturday said the Blue Colts can lift the coveted trophy if they play to their full potential. "It's all about us, it's not about any single player. It's not about me as a coach, it's not about Gill as a captain. Rather, it's about us as a team. I think if we play to our potential, we can come out winners in the tournament," AIFF quoted Pinto as saying. India had played against Bangladesh in the tournament opener. The match ended with no team troubling the scoreboard. The Blue Colts defeated Sri Lanka to secure a place in the semi-final. India then thrashed Maldives 4-0 to reach the final of the showpiece event. Lauding team India's excellent run in the tournament, Floyd said, "It has been a wonderful tournament for us. Our penetration has been good, and since the first match, the boys have gone on to score 8 go...

Liverpool [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Ahead of the match against Sheffield United, Liverpool on Saturday announced their 11-man squad for the match. Liverpool have won all their six Premier League clashes so far and sit on the top position of the points table with 18 points. The club will aim to maintain their winning streak in the Premier League when they will compete against Sheffield United today. Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino. Subs: Kelleher, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mzhgS3

<br>Speaking to IANS, committee chairman Amod Kanth said: "We have sent him a communication and he has been reprimanded for the kind of tweets and re-tweets he has done. The language was not proper at all. He appeared before us and he admitted this fact that the language was not proper. It was definitely unparliamentary."<br> <br>Asked if any monetary fine was issued against the I-League club owner, Kanth said: "We have warned him and Bajaj -- who appeared along with his lawyer -- has pledged not to do this again." <br> <br>Kanth said that though there were some other issues too like bringing confidential documents in the public domain, but Bajaj was reprimanded primarily because of the language of the tweets.<br> <br>Bajaj was served the showcause notice by AIFF's Ethics Committee on July 10 and asked to reply within 15 days regarding his actions and its effect on the image of Indian football and the federation. The not...

The documentary, aired by BBC Scotland earlier this year on the journey of former Rangers ace David Robertson at the helm with Real Kashmir FC, has been nominated in two categories. Its director Greg Clark has picked up nod for the 'Director Factual' category, while the show will battle it out in the 'Single Documentary' category. "Feels surreal when a documentary on your club gets nominated under two categories BAFTA Scotland. Good luck Greg and thanks to everyone who watched it," Real Kashmir FC wrote on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday. "If I'd only been here two weeks and had never been here before then I'd be trying to get that first flight home," says Robertson in the hour-long documentary. Real Kashmir FC was promoted to the top division I-League after it became the champions of I-League second division in the 2017-18 season. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2o3XjmR

Buenos Aires [Argentina], Sept 28 (ANI): Argentina has left out strikers Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria for the upcoming friendly matches against Germany and Ecuador in October. Both Aguero and Di Maria have not played for Argentina since the Copa America in Brazil. Emiliano Martinez of Arsenal and Erik Lamela of Tottenham have been included in the side. Skipper Lionel Messi is also missing from the squad due to his three-month suspension from international football due to comments made by him against South America's football body CONMEBOL during the Copa America. Argentina squad for the friendlies is as follows: Goalkeepers: Agustin Marchesin (FC Porto), Juan Musso (Udinese), Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal). Defenders: Juan Foyth (Tottenham), Renzo Saravia (Porto), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Walter Kannemann (Gremio), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Leonardo Balerdi (Borussia Dortmund) Midfielders: Guido Rodr...

Leeds [UK], Sept 28 (ANI): Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted that the side's fortunes in the ongoing Ligue 1 season largely depend on the relationship between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. The coach also confirmed both Mbappe and loanee Mauro Icardi's availability for the next match after their recent injuries. "The relationship between the two is the key for us, they can bring us a lot of possibilities. Mbappe has been hurt for weeks, we have to be patient, and it's impossible for Kylian to play 90 minutes. We have to adapt to the situation and the opponent. We will be able to play Mbappe and Icardi in our next match," Goal.com quoted Tuchel as saying. Earlier this season, fans were seen hostile towards Neymar and were seen constantly booing the player. Many supporters were seen with banners after Tuchel decided to include the Brazilian striker in the team. Neymar had missed the team's first five matches after being rumoured t...

Zurich[Switzerland], Sept 28 (ANI): FIFA has threatened some national federations with possible sanctions over the voting process in the annual FIFA awards ceremony. After the ceremony, there were few reports which questioned the integrity with which the polls were conducted to honour the players. However, in a statement FIFA deemed these reports as "unfair and misleading". "These reports are unfair and misleading. The voting procedure for each of the awards is supervised and monitored by an independent observer, in this case, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Switzerland. FIFA requested all member associations to submit their voting forms both electronically and in writing. The written documents must also be signed by the responsible persons of the association as well as by the persons authorised to vote. Therefore in order for a vote to be valid, it must include the respective signatures and the member association's stamp," FIFA said in an official statement. ...

Founded in 1872 and playing out of the Ibrox Stadium, Rangers have won the league title a staggering 54 times, the Scottish Cup 33 times and the Scottish League Cup 27 times. They also hold the distinction of being the first British club to make the final of a UEFA tournament when they faced Fiorentina in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1961. The club is currently managed by Steven Gerrard. During the length of the link-up, the Light Blues will look to have an active presence in the Indian footballing market enabling the club to grow its international audience. The partnership will also encompass a scouting link up with the Indian Super League side to identify India's best talent with a view to opening up opportunities. The Rangers Academy will travel to India and be welcomed at Bengaluru's state of art training centre. Rangers Soccer Schools will also be holding training camps in Bengaluru and will be bringing tour groups to Glasgow to see how to play and train the Rang...

Nicaragua captain Juan Barrera called for an investigation into the integrity of the vote after he insisted that he did not vote for Messi, according to a report in www.metro.co.uk. FIFA looked into Barrera's allegations and released a statement to ESPN, which read: "We have checked the voting documents submitted by the Nicaraguan FA and all documents are signed and confirmed with the official stamp of the Nicaraguan FA. "Having compared with the vote sheets submitted by the federation and the ones we have published on FIFA.com, we confirm that we have the right votes signed by the player. We are asking the Nicaraguan Football Federations to inquire on this matter." Messi won the award earlier in the week ahead of Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk who helped the Reds win the Champions League. Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was also in contention. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nfhT38

Leeds [UK], Sept 27 (ANI): Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde is uncertain about Lionel Messi's comeback after the latter sustained an injury during Villarreal clash. "I don't know how long he will be out. We hope he will be with the team soon. It is not serious, it is a small strain and we will see next week how everything goes," Goal.com quoted Valverde as saying. Barcelona registered a 2-1 victory over Villarreal in La Liga on Wednesday. However, Messi elongated his left adductor and was substituted in the match after the first half. Valverde said if Messi misses out a game, the club lacks an 'absolutely decisive player'. "If he is [playing] we have strengths and if he does not then we lack an absolutely decisive player. But we have resources to manage. It is a setback but we must continue," he said. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mcDuJB

New Delhi [India], Sept 27 (ANI): FIFA Women's Football regional consultant Belinda Wilson feels the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup India 2020 will galvanise the whole country, not just on the women's game, but also of the men. "The World Cup will have a huge impact in the country, not just on the women's game but also on the men's. You saw what happened when India hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, and how much it changed the demographics and direction. I expect the same for the coming World Cup as well. You'll see that the host cities will galvanize from within and the rest of the states will follow," All India Football Federation quoted Wilson as saying. The 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will be the 7th edition of the tournament which will be hosted by India from November 2 to 21. A total of 16 teams qualify for the final tournament. India will enjoy the automatic qualification as they are the host nation. When asked about the women...

London [UK], Sept 27 (ANI): Moussa Sissoko on Friday signed a new contract with Tottenham, which will keep him at the club until 2023. The midfielder joined the club back in 2016 from Newcastle United and made 132 appearances for Tottenham. Sissoko said he is 'very proud' to sign the new deal. "Of course, I'm very proud to sign a new deal with the Club - that means the Club believes in me and they're happy with what I'm doing. So hopefully I can give my best to the Club for a long time and hopefully we can get some trophies all together," the club's official website quoted Sissoko as saying. When asked how much he has developed, both professionally and personally, since he joined the club, Sissoko said: "I think on both sides I've learned a lot - as a man and as a footballer. The facilities here, the talent of the players and even the talent of the coaching staff is unbelievable." "I've learned a lot from them and as a pers...

India looked to attack from the get-go, and reaped the reward early on, when centre-back Narender Gahlot, who had impressed for the senior team in the Intercontinental Cup, rose above the rest of the pack and glided his header past a flailing keeper. <br>The Indians created a flurry of chances, and Givson had the opportunity to make it two when he headed a cross from the left towards the top corner. However, an outstretched hand by Maldives keeper Hassan Aleef kept it out. Around the half-hour mark, Ninthoi worked a short corner and crossed it in, but Jeakson Singh's shot on the volley whistled inches wide. Ninthoi looked lively on the right flank, bombing up and down, to create a lot of problems for the Maldives defenders. He linked up well with full-back Thoiba Singh. Maldives started to create a few chances towards the end of the first half, when Ahmed Husaam made his way into the Indian box and earned a corner. The Islanders also worked a short corner, as captain Hassan...

Liverpool [UK], Sept 27 (ANI): Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised James Milner calling him 'Mr Professional' and 'unbelievably important' for the club. "Millie is unbelievably important. I said it a couple of times. He is Mr Professional, that's how it is," the club's official website quoted Klopp as saying. Liverpool registered a 2-0 win over MK Dons on Thursday in the Carabao Cup. Milner performed brilliantly as he scored the first goal of the match. "He is very, very serious in all the things he's doing but still a funny guy in the dressing room. In a game like MK Dons, for example, you go there and play with five kids, that's good and nice, and then you have six first-team regulars on the pitch. And the others didn't even travel. It could be kind of a feeling of, 'Oh, we play MK Dons, nice, thank you very much, boss'," Klopp said. "But there's no chance in the team as long as guys like James or Adam [...

Liverpool [UK], Sept 27 (ANI): Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker could return to training with the team from Sunday onwards, revealed manager Jurgen Klopp. Klopp also confirmed that Becker, who has been sidelined for nearly seven weeks due to a calf problem, is not in contention for tomorrow's game against Sheffield United. "Ali is in a good way. He did yesterday [Thursday], not with us but with the goalie coaches, a full session, so [he's] getting closer and closer. We will see, now we have to talk to the medical department," the club's official website quoted Klopp as saying. "So Ali looks like he is close but the final word is with the medical department obviously, because we have to ask how it is exactly and that's it. Ali is not in contention for tomorrow, it looks like maybe he can train with the team maybe from Sunday on. We don't know 100 per cent, but he's really close," he added. Becker was recently crowned as the Best ...

Leeds [UK], Sept 27 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is upbeat even as the club remains quite low on the points table. "I never said it was going to be easy this season. I've said it many times, there are going to be ups and downs, highs and lows and when we lose a game we have to trust ourselves and what we're doing, eyes on the prize and keep working to the principles we believe in," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. Solskjaer also said that any game in the Premier League is 'winnable' as well as 'loseable'. "Any game in the Premier League is winnable but is also loseable, it's margins, fine margins and sometimes you stand there smiling happy to have won a game, sometimes angry because you've lost, you've got to portray the right image," he said. Currently, Manchester United is on the eighth position on the Premier League's points table with eight points. The club will now compete against Arsena...

Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept 27 (ANI): India U-18 defeated Maldives 4-0 in the SAFF U-18 Championship 2019 here on Friday to secure their spot in the final of the tournament. From the beginning, India played aggressively and Narender Gahlot scored the opening goal of the match when the game was just in the seventh minute. Maldives failed to equalise and to make things worse, their Ahnaf Rasheedh (45'+1') scored an own goal. Hence, after half-time, India gained a 2-0 lead. India did not lose momentum in the second half as well and netted two more goals. India's Manvir Singh and Ninthoinganba Meetei scored one goal each in the 79th and 81st minute, respectively. India U-18 will compete against Bangladesh in the final which will be played on September 29. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mjSgOr

According to a BBC report, the development comes after anti-discriminatory body Fare said Italian football officials and their disciplinary systems to fight against racism were not fit for purpose. Roma tweeted an image of the messages -- including details of the account -- and confirmed they had reported the same to the police. Fare executive director Piara Powar added "the rot is deep" and "no-one is taking the issue seriously", but Serie A insisted it was "seriously and constantly engaged in activities against racism". via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nNlBkT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had announced in March that India will be the host of the 2020 U-17 Women's World Cup. The country had previously hosted the men's U-17 World Cup in 2017. Belinda said that the tournament, which will be held from November 2 to 21 next year, will "galvanise the whole country, not just on the women's game, but also on the men's." "The World Cup will have a huge impact in the country, not just on the women's game but also on the men's. You saw what happened when India hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, and how much it changed the demographics, and direction. I expect the same for the coming World Cup as well. You'll see that the host cities will galvanize from within and the rest of the states will follow," Belinda told www.the-aiff.com. She also said that women's football is improving at a rapid pace in India. "Women's football in India is improving a lot. It has come a long way in a s...

New Delhi [India], Sept 27 (ANI): Showering praises at teammate Sadio Mane, Senegal's Ismaila Sarr has labelled him as the 'best player in the world'. In a video posted by Watford FC's Youtube channel, Sarr said "Mane is one of the best men in Africa and in the world. I can say that for me, he is the best player in the world. Because he is quality. He has won the Champions League". Sarr also lauded the teammate for doing well in both life and football and said, "He has done everything for Liverpool and in all competitions, unfortunately not the Premier League but I hope he does at some point because, for me, he's the best African player in Europe. He plays well, he does everything well both in football and life". Sarr moved to Watford this year and as a result, he joined Mane (Liverpool) in the English Premier League. Earlier this year, the duo played together in the finals of Africa Cup of Nations. However, Senegal lost the finals to Algeri...

Madrid [Spain], Sept 26 (ANI): Spanish club FC Barcelona has been fined just 300 euros by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Thursday for breaking the rules in the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. The French forward switched from Atletico to Barcelona in July after Griezmann exercised his release clause, although Atletico complained that negotiations took place when he was under contract with them. The RFEF have released an official statement, which reads: "It is evident that the amount of economic sanction does not bear any proportion to the importance of the facts that have given rise to this file." "Taking into account the economic capacity of the club and the amount of the economic operation, this committee is aware that the payment of EUR300, beyond its merely symbolic nature (the fine is imposed because the issued club has been considered the author of a disciplinary infraction), will not contribute to the sanctioned club in pa...

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The 26-year-old mid-fielder last played for Point Fortin Civic FC. Garcia can also play as a central mid-fielder and was part of the Central FC team that won the CFU Club Championship (Caribbean Club Championship), Charity Shield and T&T Pro League in the year 2016. In 2017, Garcia left Central FC and joined Point Fortin Civic FC and will now be moving to Gokulam Kerala FC. Garcia will be the third player from Trinidad and Tobago to join Gokulam Kerala FC, after Marcus Joseph and Andre Ettienne. Gokulam Kerala FC recently created history when they rode on Marcus Joseph's brace to stun Mohun Bagan 2-1 and lift the 129th Durand Cup in their debut appearance in August. The tournament was played in Kolkata and that made Gokulam's win all the more special. After the triumph, owner V.C. Praveen had said that his aim is to win trophies and bring back the glory of Kerala football. "We were able to promote four players from our reserve team to the main squad. And we may inc...

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New Delhi [India], Sept 26(ANI): The two-day FIFA Capacity Building Workshop for State Associations commenced in Dwarka, New Delhi on Thursday. The Capacity Building programme which comes under FIFA Forward was launched in 2018. The programme was initially launched with 11 Indian states. Speaking on the occasion, Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation (AIFF) said, "I hope there will be a lot of learnings from the workshop." "Capacity building of state associations has its own challenges and is a critical aspect. We have been trying to do it for long, and while there have been some states who have been successful, most need to up the ante," AIFF quoted Das as saying. "Under FIFA Forward we have assisted AIFF with competitions such as the Golden Baby Leagues, the Hero Indian Women's League, the Hero Sub Junior Youth League, the NCE, etc," said Sanjeevan C Balasingam, Director Member Associations (Asia and Oceania). The Indian ...

Edson Cholbi Nascimento, known as Edinho, was originally given a 33-year prison sentence in 2014 for laundering money to a drug gang, reports Xinhua news agency. The 49-year-old had the penalty reduced to 12 years and 11 months in February 2017 following an appeal. Sao Paulo Court of Justice judge Sueli Zeraik said Edinho must comply with a series of requirements such as monthly court appearances, a commitment to find work within 30 days and a ban on leaving home between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. without legal authorization. Zeraik said failure to adhere to the conditions would lead to Edinho's return to jail. Edinho made nine first-team appearances for Santos as a goalkeeper in the 1990s before turning his hand to coaching. His father is considered one of the greatest players of all time, scoring more than 1,000 career goals and winning three World Cups. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2nl15I0

Leeds [UK], Sept 26 (ANI): After edging out Rochdale AFC on penalties in the Carabao Cup, Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted that the side is better in penalty shoot-outs than in proper 90 minutes game. The proper match action between United and Rochdale ended in a 1-1 draw, after which a penalty shoot-out was played in which United came out triumphant 5-3. "We handled it really well. I'm very pleased with the confidence. You know we're better in penalty shoot-outs than in proper games," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. "We go 1-0 up in many games and again we go 1-0 up and you think 'go on then. It is the key now and it is a learning curve for these boys. We need to go for the second. At this club, you don't just sit back and hope that's enough. If you settle for good enough that's not what we want," the manager added. Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira, Fred, Mason Greenwood, and Daniel James converted their penalties fo...

The Argentine suffered from the injury during Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Villarreal. "First team player Leo Messi has elongated his left adductor. He is out and his recovery will determine his availability," the club said in a statement. Messi, who on Monday won Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year award, played the first 45 minutes of Tuesday's 2-1 win over Villarreal, his first start after a preseason injury. Despite only playing the first half, the Argentine was superb, assisting Antoine Griezmann on Barca's first goal, which Messi chalked up with a corner kick. Messi missed Barcelona's first four league matches of the season with a separate calf problem, although he made his return via a 30-minute substitute appearance in a goal-less draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mJYwiC

Leeds [UK], Sept 26 (ANI): After registering a 2-0 win against MK Dons in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp labelled striker Harvey Elliot as a 'brilliant boy'. In the match against MK Dons, Elliot became the youngest player to make a competitive start for the Reds. "At 16, Elliott is the kind of footballer that's really good for us. He is a brilliant boy, he takes the situation really well and wants to learn. He will always be a special player for moments, but you see overall with his defending and movements, it is not easy so that is really good," Goal.com quoted Klopp as saying. Elliott who is 16 years and 174 days old made an impressive start for the team, however, he missed a scoring opportunity as he failed to turn James Milner's delivery. He also became the Premier League's youngest player when he played for Fulham against Wolves in May this year. "His left foot is not too bad. He was a bit unlucky otherwise he would have scor...

Barcelona [Spain], Sept 26 (ANI): Spanish club FC Barcelona on Wednesday (local time) confirmed that Argentine striker Lionel Messi elongated his left adductor during the team's match against Villarreal. Following this news, Messi will be sidelined for the upcoming matches but the side has not mentioned a timeline for his recovery. "First team player Leo Messi has elongated his left adductor. He is out and his recovery will determine his availability," FC Barcelona said in a statement. The 32-year-old Messi played the first half of against Villarreal and this was his first start after a preseason injury. Messi played his first match this season when he came off the bench in the second half in the match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last week. He also came off the bench in the second half of the 2-0 loss at Granada in the La Liga on Sunday. Messi helped Antoine Griezmann to score the opening goal against Villarreal, but he suffered an injury afte...

Leeds [UK], Sept 25 (ANI): Manchester City's Phil Foden admitted that teammate Raheem Sterling helps him in the game by giving tips. "Every time I watch him, I think 'wow' and he is a better player every time I see him. He has got a lot more to come and that is what is good about him, he is still young and improving and wanting to improve," Goal.com quoted Foden as saying. "He is a role model and he helps me out a lot and I am just really happy for him. In the game and in training and overall, he helps me with my game, giving me tips and what is what for a young lad coming through," he added. Manchester City played brilliantly as they defeated Preston by 3-0 on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup. The club will now compete against Everton in Premier League on September 28. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2mERewx

Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept 25 (ANI): India U-18 on Wednesday defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the SAFF U-18 Championship 2019 at the AFP Stadium here to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the tournament. Both the team competed aggressively in the first half and restricted each other from gaining a lead. However, the Indian team made a strong comeback and netted three goals in the second half. Gurkirat Singh scored the first goal of the match in the 65th minute. Singh and Aman Chetri added one goal each to take India's tally to three goals. Head coach of the team Floyd Pinto said, "It was good to get the win and gain some momentum. But none of these goals and this win matters unless we win the SAFF Championship." "Our aim is to win the SAFF Championship and the boys produced a much better performance against Sri Lanka and we look forward to even better performance by them," All India Football Federation's (AIFF) official website quoted Pinto as saying. (ANI) ...

Neymar gave the statement on Tuesday. The Bobigny district attorney office led the investigation into the incident which reportedly took place after the French Cup final, as the Brazilian was on his way, alongside his teammates, to collect their silver medals on April 27. Neymar, then, stopped for a moment and hit a fan in the face who was allegedly insulting the Brazilian international. The incident was captured by TV cameras, reports Efe news. In late August, the 29-year-old fan, by the name Nelson gave his statement to police officials. In the wake of the incident, Neymar was handed a three-match ban. The fan filed a complaint against the former Barcelona player in August. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lHD65j

Leeds [UK], Sept 25 (ANI): Arsenal's Rob Holding lauded his teammate Kieran Tierney, who made his debut in the club on Wednesday against Nottingham Forest, saying that he was brilliant during the match. After joining Arsenal, Tierney had to wait for two months for his debut in the club as he was recovering from a double hernia operation. "I think he was brilliant. I loved having him on the left side of me. He was solid and for his first game back from a double hernia operation you can't ask for any more than that," Goal.com quoted Holding as saying. Arsenal displayed an impeccable performance as they thrashed Nottingham Forest by 5-0. Holding also admitted 'going on really well' with Tierney. "He and I are getting on really well, you couldn't ask for a better way for him to settle in. He's a top-quality lad and he's a great lift in the changing room as well," he said. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lGZgoe

Gurkirat Singh's brace, coupled with a late Aman Chetri strike, proved to be the difference between the two sides despite India having the lion's share of possession and creating multiple opportunities. The Indian U-18s had started the match on an attacking note and, despite having possession, the Colts could do little in front of goal with Sri Lanka heaping bodies in defence and making it difficult for the U-18 boys to play their passing game. The half-time scoreline read 0-0 as both teams went into the tunnel on level pegging. The Indian colts started the second half with much vigour but once again complacency in front of goal cost them chances. In the 65th minute, Gurkirat Singh found the back of the net after a melee in the box with a cross coming in through the flanks. Gurkirat Singh and Aman Chetri added more to India's tally in the dying moments of the match to extend India's lead and make it unassailable. The three-goal margin proved enough for the Indian co...

Madrid [Spain], Sept 25 (ANI): Real Madrid on Wednesday announced their 19-man squad for the La Liga clash against Osasuna tomorrow. Gareth Bale is the notable absentee in the squad. Bale did feature in the team during their 1-0 win over Sevilla on September 23. Real Madrid team: Goalkeepers: Courtois, Areola and Altube. Defenders: Carvajal, Militao, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Nacho and Odriozola. Midfielders: Kroos, Casemiro, F. Valverde and James. Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Lucas Vazquez, Jovic, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo. (ANI) via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2l2Most

Liverpool [UK], Sept 25 (ANI): Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker praised his deputy Adrian saying that the 'special guy' has shown his value to everyone. Becker, who was recently crowned as the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper, has been sidelined for nearly seven weeks due to a calf problem. To fill Becker's shoes, Adrian has been playing for Liverpool since then. "I think the boys are doing very well, all the team [and] Adrian especially. He's a special guy who came late in the season, he just came and shows everyone his value, not just as a player but as a person and that is the more important thing," the club's official website quoted Becker as saying. "He is doing very well on the pitch. I have peace to recover in a proper way so it's better for everyone," he added. Adrian has been performing brilliantly and with his help, Liverpool have won all their Premier League matches so far. Moreover, Liverpool are on the top position in the P...

On Wednesday, Stimac announced a list of 29 probables for India's preparatory camp for the Bangladesh match slated to be played at the YBK Stadium in Kolkata on October 15.<br> <br>The 29 probables are scheduled to report to the preparatory camp in Guwahati from October 3.<br> <br>Speaking to www.the-aiff.com, Stimac mentioned "the list will be further cut for another 4 names until the end of the week."<br> <br>"This is an initial list of 29 players. We still have some uncertainties with small injury problems with few players," he stated. "The Bangladesh game is going to be very different from the last one against Qatar. We need all the players to be fully fit, and ready for the day," he added.<br> <br>"I hope that YBK will be packed and our supporters in Kolkata will push our players all the way through to our first victory in qualifiers," the coach maintained.<br> <br>The Blue Tige...

Leeds [UK], Sept 25 (ANI): Villarreal coach Javi Calleja believes that Barcelona were not superior after striker Lionel Messi suffered an adductor injury during the match on Wednesday. "Without Messi, they are not as superior, that is evident, but we know how to stop them. We were unable to do more damage or defend better at the beginning," Goal.com quoted Calleja as saying. Barcelona defeated Villarreal 2-1 in the La Liga fixture in which Messi made his first start of the season after sustaining a calf injury. He returned to the pitch but was replaced by French winger Ousmane Dembele at half-time. "Messi played the first half. The team worked to ensure he was not decisive. When he's on the pitch he makes a difference, although it's true he had some discomfort," Calleja said. "We are hurt by the defeat, but happy with our job," he added. Ansu Fati replaced Luis Suarez with 12 minutes remaining and went close to sealing the three points before...

Nyon [Switzerland], Sept 25 (ANI): Cyprus and Israel have been chosen to host the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European U17 Championship final tournaments of 2021 and 2022, respectively, by the UEFA executive committee at its meeting in Ljubljana on Wednesday. The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) previously staged the predecessor U16 Euro Championship in 1992 and the U18 Euro Championship in 1998, the last time the island hosted a UEFA final tournament. The Israel Football Association (IFA) welcomed the U16 finals in 2000 and more recently was the venue for the 2013 U21 Euro Championship and 2015 Women's U19 Euro Championship. Estonia will host the 2020 finals from May 21 to June 6. While Romania and Slovakia have been chosen to host the UEFA European U19 Championship final tournaments of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) previously hosted the U19 Euro Championship in 2011. Romania also staged the 1998 U21 finals and Buchare...

Nyon [Switzerland], Sept 25 (ANI): The four leagues for the 2020-21 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League have been confirmed following an adjustment to the competition format on Wednesday. The groups within each league will be decided by a draw on March 3, 2020, in Amsterdam. The new league structure comprises of 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C and seven teams in League D, for the 2020-21 edition. The teams are allocated to leagues based on the overall ranking following the 2018-19 inaugural UEFA Nations League. Portugal, Netherlands, England, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, Germany, and Iceland are participating in the competition. Teams will be split into four groups of four, with the group winners then contesting the UEFA Nations League Finals (semi-finals, match for third place and final) in June 2021 to become the second UEFA Nations League winners. One host country will be ...

FIFA will discuss the issue on Wednesday as part of the modification of the regulation on the statute and the transfer of players, and the regulation of the agents, FIFA's Chief Legal Officer, Emilio Garcia Silvero said during World Football Summit 2019 in Madrid on Tuesday, reports Efe news. A club will have to allocate 5 per cent of any transfer fee to the sides that trained the player in question when he was between 10 and 23 years old, the official said. Around $500 million should be allocated as training compensation and solidarity payment, but less than 1 per cent of this money is set to actually be rewarded, according to Garcia Silvero. The international transfer fees increased from $300 or $400 million in 2001 to 17 billion in 2018, with investments increasing from $100 or $200 million in 2001 to seven billion this year, the FIFA figures revealed. Only $67.7 million were paid out of $315 million due in 2018, according to FIFA. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lxfDns

Nyon [Switzerland], Sept 25 (ANI): The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have announced the hosts for the Champions League final for 2021, 2022 and 2023 on Wednesday. The decisions were taken by the UEFA executive committee at its Tuesday meeting in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. UEFA Champions League finals hosts are: 2021: Saint Petersburg Stadium, St Petersburg, Russia 2022: Football Arena Munich, Munich, Germany 2023: Wembley Stadium, London, England The 2021 edition will be the second final to be staged in Russia. The first, between Manchester United and Chelsea at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in 2008, ended in an epic penalty shoot-out won by Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The 2022 season will conclude at the Football Arena Munich, ten years after the stadium last hosted the showpiece. Bayern were involved on home soil on that occasion, eventually losing to Chelsea on penalties. The 2023 final will be the eighth to be played at Wembley Stadium, the UEF...

Leeds [UK], Sept 25 (ANI): Despite the 2-1 win against Villarreal in the La Liga game on Wednesday, Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann feels that the club is not at its best and will get better with the upcoming matches. "We are far from our best version. But with the matches to come, everything will be better," Goal.com quoted Griezmann as saying. French forward Griezmann scored Barca's first goal in the sixth minute at the Camp Nou, getting to the near post and heading home Lionel Messi's corner. "You have to keep working. There are new players that have just arrived. We try to do our best in the group, in the field," Griezmann said. The 28-year-old joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in July and acknowledged there is a gap between the two clubs in terms of expectation. "It's not Atletico, it's different. I'm not too bad, right? Three goals so far. I can do better, yes. But I have to keep working," Griezmann said. Barcelona ...

New Delhi [India], Sept 24 (ANI): Indian Football Team on Tuesday announced their 29-man squad for preparatory camp ahead of their clash with Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. India faced a 1-2 defeat against Oman in the qualifiers but displayed a brilliant performance and managed a goalless draw against Qatar on September 10. India will compete against Bangladesh on October 15. The 29-man squad for the preparatory camp is as follow: Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Balwant Singh, Manvir Singh, Farukh Choudhary Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Vinit Rai, Anirudh Thapa, Abdul Sahal, Raynier Fernandes, Brandon Fernandes, Halicharan Narzary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Narender, Sarthak Golui, Anas Edathodika, Anwar Ali (Jr.), Mandar Rao Dessai, Subhasish Bose, Jerry Lalrinzuala Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh. (ANI) via Sify.com http...

Earlier in the day, Ferland Mendy was diagnosed with a left leg abductor injury, reopening a debate on the physical work the team had done in preparation for the season, reports Efe news. "The preparation has not changed," Zidane said during a press conference ahead of Wednesday's La Liga game against Osasuna. "All the physical trainers think about the interest of the team," Zidane added. "I believe in the people I work with, but then everyone has his own opinion and it is said that (our team) preparation is bad," he continued. "We worked very well in the pre-season and injuries came from many factors ... and must be accepted," the legendary French player and coach said. Madrid is not the only team which has been struggling with injuries, a plague that hit several teams, Zidane said. He also defended his decision to grant the team days off, which sparked a controversy following their 3-0 defeat by Paris Saint Germain in their 2019-20 UE...

"Getting children to play and enjoy football is a crucial element of UEFA's vision - and the body's new Football in Schools programme will take this vision an important step forward," UEFA said in a statement. The UEFA will invest $48 million in grassroots football in Europe, of which $12 million will be dedicated to developing and improving football in educational institutions. The programme was launched on Tuesday at a special festival held in Republic Square in Ljubljana, coinciding with the start of the UEFA Executive Committee meeting. In that meeting, the hosts of the finals of various UEFA competitions will be designated. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and several former football stars, including retired Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo, held an exhibition match at the festival together with school children from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2lblLBL