Dubai to host PFL MENA 2026 season opener
DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League has announced that PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia, the season opener, will take place on May 24 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
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Shabab Al Ahli cry foul over Asian Champions League semifinal defeat
RIYADH: UAE side Shabab Al Ahli on Wednesday formally requested that their Asian Champions League semifinal against Japanese club Machida Zelvia be replayed, claiming that their late equalizer should have stood. The Emirati side were beaten 1-0 in Jeddah on Tuesday but a club source told AFP that the referee made a technical error in disallowing a 93rd-minute equalizer. Machida Zelvia took the lead through Yuki Soma in the 12th minute and Shabab Al Ahli believed their Brazilian winger Guilherme Bala had levelled the scores as the seconds clock ticked toward the final whistle. But Australian referee Shaun Evans disallowed the goal after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which ruled that the Emirati side had taken the throw-in that led to the goal before the Japanese team had completed a substitution. The Shabab Al Ahli source, who asked not to be named, told AFP: “An official objection was submitted by the club before the team left the stadium. “The objection includes a request to replay the match, and therefore it was decided to keep the team in Jeddah until a decision is made on our request.” The appeal will have to be considered rapidly because Machida Zelvia will face defending champions Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the final on Saturday. The UAE Football Association has pledged its support for Shabab Al Ahli “in any step it takes to safeguard its rights” and called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to “select appropriate referee teams for the competitions it organizes.” Furious Shabab Al Ahli players protested to the referee at the end of the match, and goalkeeper Hamad Al Maqbali received a red card. Al Maqbali said: “The referee wanted us to be eliminated, and he succeeded in doing so.” Shabab Al
Court confirms Neymar corruption acquittal over Barcelona transfer
BARCELONA: Spain’s Supreme Court on Wednesday announced it had confirmed the acquittal of Neymar and former Barcelona presidents of corruption charges centered on the Brazil star’s 2013 transfer to the Catalan giants. Brazilian sports investment firm DIS initially took legal action in 2015, saying it lost out financially on Neymar’s transfer because it owned 40 percent of his sporting rights when he was a young prospect at Santos FC. DIS said the true value of the deal had been obscured by those involved and that it was not informed of the existence of an exclusivity contract in 2011 between Neymar and Barcelona. But a Spanish court acquitted all defendants — including Neymar, his parents and former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell — of corruption and fraud in a highly publicized trial in 2022. Santos, its former president Odilio Rodrigues Filho and N&N — the company founded by Neymar’s parents to manage his career — were also cleared. DIS appealed the verdict, but the Supreme Court said “the proven facts have revealed the inconsistency of the accusation.” “There was neither an offense of corruption in business dealings nor improper fraud, neither by the player, his representatives nor FC Barcelona,” the court said in a statement. “It was all due to a sporting decision by the club, which wanted to ensure his signing and then decided to bring it forward,” it added, with several rival teams coveting Neymar at the time. DIS was seeking to recover 35 million euros it claims it was cheated of. Barca said the transfer cost 57.1 million euros, with 40 million euros paid to N&N and 17.1 million to Santos, of which 6.8 million was given to DIS. Prosecutors had initially sought a two-year jail term and
Mbappé and Vinícius lift Real Madrid out of a 4-game slump with a 2-1 win over Alaves
MADRID: Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior each scored as Real Madrid ended a four-game winless streak by defeating Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday to move closer to Spanish league leader Barcelona. The victory at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium left Madrid six points behind Barcelona, which hosts sixth-placed Celta Vigo on Wednesday. It was Madrid’s first game since it was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Madrid lost 2-1 at home and 4-3 in Germany in the second leg. The team’s last two Spanish league matches had been a 1-1 home draw against Girona and a 2-1 loss at Mallorca. “We have six games left,” Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said.
Turki Alalshikh announces launch of Pepsi’s largest global campaign powered by Saudi BigTime Creative Shop
RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, has announced the launch of Pepsi’s largest global advertising campaign of the year, executed by Saudi BigTime Creative Shop, in a move that reflects the growing global presence of the Kingdom’s creative industries.
Canada's women rise to 9th in rankings following impressive effort at FIFA Series
Canada's women's soccer team moved up one place to ninth in the FIFA rankings released Tuesday after a two-win showing at the recent FIFA Series in Brazil.
Japanese clubs cannot compete with big-spending Saudis, says Kobe coach Skibbe
JEDDAH, April 21 : Vissel Kobe coach Michael Skibbe has questioned whether clubs from Japan can compete with their counterparts from cash-rich Gulf state leagues after his side were eliminated from the Asian Champions League Elite by holders Al-Ahli.
Shabab Al-Ahli reach ACL Elite semifinals after win over Buriram United
RIYADH: Shabab Al-Ahli are back in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinals for the first time in 11 years after edging out Thailand’s Buriram United 3-2 in a dramatic quarter-final.