Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr around the world as holy month of Ramadan comes to a close
Muslims around the world bid farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and celebrated the holiday of Eid al-Fitr on Sunday.
Palestine Sport News
Bayern survive St. Pauli scare to stay on course for Bundesliga title
BERLIN: Leroy Sane spared Bayern Munich’s blushes with two second-half goals on Saturday, as the Bundesliga leaders beat relegation-threatened St. Pauli 3-2 to stay six points clear at the top of the table. Sane settled Bayern’s nerves after an uneasy first half, as Vincent Kompany’s side struggled once again against weaker opposition. “It was a bit tight at the end, but we are really happy to have got the three points,” Sane told Sky. Having dropped unexpected points against Bochum and Union Berlin in recent weeks, Bayern were under pressure to avoid a third slip after reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen narrowed the gap to three points with a 3-1 win over Bochum on Friday. Sane insisted that pressure was a good thing for Bayern, “because it helps us keep our rhythm when we know we have to win every game.” Yet they looked sluggish against a fearless St.
Martinez punishment ‘out of Flick’s hands’ as Barca focus on title
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Saturday he is focussed on winning games despite the threat of a potential punishment for an ineligible line-up rumbling on in the background. Flick selected Inigo Martinez in the 3-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Thursday, after the Spanish defender had withdrawn injured from the national team squad for their recent Nations League matches. Osasuna appealed to the Spanish football federation on Friday over Martinez being ineligible, citing FIFA rules regarding players which have not joined up with their national teams when called on. “We won three points and this is my focus, so I’m focussing on the next match against Girona,” Flick told a news conference Saturday, a day before leaders Barcelona host Girona in La Liga. “The other thing is not in my hands, it’s not about me.” FIFA rules state that players cannot appear for their clubs within five days of the last national team match, if they did not join the squad when called upon without the federation’s permission. Martinez played 90 minutes against Osasuna after pulling out of international duty with knee discomfort, as Barcelona took a three-point lead at the top of the table. The match was played on Thursday after being initially postponed from March 8, when a Barca club doctor died, with neither side wanting to play it this week but both having appeals against it rejected. Flick lined up against Osasuna with star striker Robert Lewandowski on the bench, although he later scored when appearing as a substitute. The Polish veteran has 23 goals in La Liga, leading the scoring charts, known as the Pichichi, ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe on 20. “Lewandowski is focussed on the success of the team, not just winning the
Bayern chief slams Canada Soccer again over Davies injury
MUNICH: Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen doubled down on his criticism of Canada Soccer on Saturday, saying their handling of Alphonso Davies’ injury was “astonishing.” The German giants had threatened legal action after Davies returned from the international break with a torn anterior cruciate ligament this week. Canada Soccer initially gave the 24-year-old the all-clear after he went off injured in his side’s 2-1 CONCACAF Nations League play-off win over the USA in California. But an examination in Munich revealed he had torn his ACL, ruling him out for at least six months and prompting Dreesen to accuse the Canadian federation of “gross negligence” in an interview with tabloid Bild. Speaking to reporters after Bayern’s 3-2 win over St. Pauli on Saturday, Dreesen said Bayern were in touch with Canada Soccer and would write to them next week demanding an explanation. “It can’t be that you put a player on a flight without a bandage on his knee and not notice that he has torn his ACL,” said Dreesen. “It can’t be that you don’t send a scan, when Los Angeles has, I think, the highest density of MRT facilities per capita of anywhere in North America.
Newcastle holding open-top bus parade to celebrate English League Cup title
NEWCASTLE: Ending a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy deserves an official party. Newcastle will get one Saturday when the team holds an open-top bus parade to celebrate its English League Cup title. More than 150,000 fans are expected to join the celebration. The parade route runs from St.
Global Champions Arabians Tour returns to Riyadh for fourth stage of the 2025 Europe and Middle East Series
RIYADH: Following three stages in Ajman, Doha and Muscat, the Global Champions Arabians Tour makes its return to Riyadh for the fourth stage of the Europe and Middle series — the final stop in the Middle East and the pivotal halfway point of this eight-stage 2025 tour.
Offensive Iraq-Palestine World Cup qualifier video ‘fabricated,’ says Jordan Football Association
AMMAN: The Jordanian Football Association expressed regret on Friday over a video widely shared on social media this week that appeared to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans during a World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine. The footage was fabricated, it said. The video, which claimed to show Jordanian fans directing insulting chants at the Iraqi players and supporters, began to spread online after Palestine defeated Iraq 2-1 in the match at the Amman International Stadium on Tuesday. It provoked heated exchanges online among the two sets of fans. The JFA said it regretted the fabricated video and affirmed the depth of the historical, deep-rooted ties between the Jordanian and Iraqi peoples, which it said could not be damaged by people who act in ways that do not reflect true sporting values, the Jordan News Agency reported on Friday. The association said it had verified the video was fake, and was dismayed that some individuals seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans.
Barca bolster Liga title bid by winning match they didn’t want to play
BARCELONA: Barcelona swept to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Osasuna to move three points clear at the top of La Liga despite their discontent at having to play their match on Thursday. The Catalans’ appeal against the rescheduling of this game was rejected but Hansi Flick’s side, unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions, still made light work of Osasuna, 14th. Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo netted in the first half with Robert Lewandowski on target after the break. Barca were without key winger Raphinha as he played for Brazil on Wednesday in South America in World Cup qualifying but cruised at the Olympic stadium regardless. Flick was happy with the victory but said an injury to Olmo meant it came at a cost. “We have three points more but we paid a really high price with the injury of Dani,” Flick told reporters. “We don’t know how long he will be out but if it’s two weeks, he’ll miss a lot of games and if it’s three weeks even more.” The match was originally due to be played on March 8 but was postponed after a Barcelona club doctor died. Some players, including France’s Jules Kounde, played 120 minutes on Sunday for their countries before returning for the game. “It’s a lack of respect to the club to select this date,” Kounde told DAZN. “We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.” Flick put veteran striker Lewandowski on the bench, deploying Torres in his place to excellent effect. “Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us,” Torres told DAZN. Barcelona controlled the game from the start, taking the lead through Torres after 11 minutes. Frenkie de Jong led the way as Barcelona moved the ball around smartly, with Alejandro Balde receiving it