Alonso urges Real Madrid to learn from humbling 5-2 derby defeat
MADRID :Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso called on his team to learn from their 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid on Saturday, a result he described as both painful and deserved.
Xabi Alonso Sport News
Madrid derby defeat 'hurts,' but result deserved - Alonso - ESPN
Manager Xabi Alonso said Real Madrid's 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in Saturday's derby «hurts,» but admitted the result was deserved after «a bad game» and stressed the importance of his side's reaction to the defeat.
Grimaldo touch helps Leverkusen to beat St Pauli 2-1
HAMBURG, Germany :Bayer Leverkusen needed the magic touch of Alejandro Grimaldo to set up goals for Edmond Tapsoba and Ernest Poku and earn a 2-1 victory at St. Pauli on Saturday, maintaining their league-record unbeaten run on the road.
Turkish soccer leader urges FIFA, UEFA to suspend Israel
ISTANBUL: Turkiye on Friday became the first UEFA member to publicly call for Israel to be suspended from soccer, calling the situation in Gaza “inhumane and unacceptable.” Turkish Football Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu’s letter to international soccer leaders came as European body UEFA moves toward a vote to suspend Israel, whose men’s team is in the middle of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. “It is now time for FIFA and UEFA to act,” Haciosmanoglu wrote in the letter quoted by the Anadolu news agency. “Despite positioning themselves as defenders of civic values and peace, the sporting world and football institutions have remained silent for far too long,” the Turkish official said. Haciosmanoglu is not on the 20-member UEFA ruling committee, which is expected to have a majority to exclude Israel if a vote is called. The committee includes Israel soccer leader Moshe Zuares, who was elected in April. The head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, is closely aligned with 2026 World Cup co-host the United States and President Donald Trump so is seen as unlikely to back a move to suspend Israel. The US State Department said on Thursday it will work to stop any efforts aiming to ban Israel’s team from the World Cup. Infantino chairs a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council next Thursday in Zurich. Norway hosts Israel in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on Oct.
Hamilton misses F1 tire test to care for his seriously ill dog Roscoe
SCARPERIA E SAN PIERO, Italy: Lewis Hamilton missed a chance to test Formula 1’s 2026 tires for Ferrari on Friday as he stayed with his bulldog Roscoe, who was in a coma following a pneumonia infection. Hamilton said Roscoe was resuscitated after his heart stopped while under sedation for pneumonia treatment.
UCI chief says Israeli athletes are welcome amid boycott calls
Lappartient said: “We are not a tool for sanctions, we are a tool in the service of an ideal of bringing people together with the unifying power of sport”He dismissed questions about double standards despite the UCI’s ban on Russian and Belarusian teams from events over Russia’s war in UkraineKIGALI: The world cycling governing body (UCI) will continue to welcome Israeli athletes at its competitions despite calls for sporting boycotts, UCI president David Lappartient declared on Friday, saying sport should unite rather than punish.Lappartient, who was re-elected the body’s president for a third four-year term at the UCI Congress on Thursday, was speaking on the sidelines of the World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.Earlier this week, a UN Commission of Inquiry said in a report that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza — an accusation that Israel has dismissed — and called for Israel’s suspension from international football, but Lappartient said the UCI would not go down that path.“It is perfectly normal for them to be here, because we believe — and I am speaking on behalf of the UCI but I could almost say that these are also Olympic values — that sport is not a tool for punishment,” he told reporters.’NOT A TOOL FOR SANCTIONS’Lappartient, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), added: “The IOC has confirmed our position.“We are not a tool for sanctions, we are a tool in the service of an ideal of bringing people together with the unifying power of sport, with the aim of promoting peace.
FIFA sanctions Malaysia for fielding foreign-born players with fake documents
ZURICH: FIFA has sanctioned the Football Association of Malaysia after finding documents submitted to naturalize seven foreign-born players were doctored. The players — Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano — were all born abroad and featured in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier in June. The players breached regulations concerning forgery and falsification, FIFA said on Friday. The FAM submitted eligibility inquiries to FIFA, and in doing so “used doctored documentation to be able to field the above players,” the governing body said. Each player was suspended for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss francs ($2,510). The FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs ($438,000). The players’ eligibility to play for Malaysia will also be investigated, FIFA added. Vietnamese media reported its national team will be awarded a 3-0 win for the June match, but FIFA made no comment. Malaysia leads Asia Group F in qualifying with six points from two games, three clear of Vietnam in second.
No complacency for Real ahead of Alonso’s first Madrid derby as coach
MADRID: Real Madrid have made a perfect start to the season under Xabi Alonso, but their new coach warned against complacency on Friday ahead of his first Madrid derby in charge of LaLiga’s leaders. Alonso spent five seasons as a player with Real but now takes his team to the Metropolitano stadium to take on Atletico in his latest role with his side in impressive form. Real have won all six league matches, conceding three goals, and hold a two-point advantage over champions Barcelona. “We’ve only played six and got full points, but some games were a real struggle so we can’t get overconfident,” Alonso told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game. “You can’t think that just by stepping onto the pitch you’ll win because of the badge you wear or the squad we have. I believe the more we educate ourselves to come out switched on for any match at any ground, the more games we’ll win. “And if we win a lot of games, if we have that natural activation, we can pick up a lot of points. But we mustn’t relax because a lapse can cost you.” Alonso has faced Atletico as manager when in charge of Bayer Leverkusen — drawing 2-2 in Madrid in 2022 shortly after taking over the German club and losing 2-1 away last season — but going there with Real is a very different prospect. “It’s definitely different going to the Metropolitano with any other club than with Real Madrid,” Alonso said. “Because of the healthy rivalry and I think that’s something beautiful, something that’s been enjoyed for many years, and hopefully we can keep enjoying it tomorrow as well.”