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Wood’s penalty gives Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in Europa League semifinal 1st leg

Chris Wood scored from the penalty spot to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their all-English Europa League semifinal on Thursday. In a matchup of two teams hoping to revive former European glory, the win at the City Ground puts Forest a step closer to what would be its first continental competition final in 46 years. Wood fired his 71st-minute penalty high into the net, giving goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez no chance to save after defender Lucas Digne was whistled for handball. “It’s nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game,” the New Zealand striker told the TNT Sports. “But we’ve done the job here at home and now hopefully we’ll build into next week.” Vítor Pereira’s team stretched its unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions.

Mexico's goalkeeper Ochoa set to hang up gloves after his sixth World Cup

April 30 : Guillermo Ochoa, one of the most iconic goalkeepers in Mexican football history, will hang up his gloves immediately after the World Cup, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Palestinian football chief slams Israeli official at FIFA meeting

VANCOUVER: Palestinian football federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to take part in a photo opportunity with Israel soccer official Basim Sheikh Suliman in a tense incident at the end of FIFA’s Congress on Thursday. After both Rajoub and Suliman had addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited both men to stand alongside him. However Rajoub declined the gesture, refusing repeated attempts by Infantino to encourage him to participate in the moment. At one point Rajoub could be heard to say: “We are suffering.” The Palestinian Football Association recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over FIFA’s refusal to sanction Israel over football clubs based in the West Bank. The PFA maintains that clubs based in West Bank settlements should not be allowed to compete in leagues controlled by Israeli football authorities. In 2024, United Nations experts said at least eight football clubs had been identified as playing in “Israeli colonial settlements” and called on FIFA to “fulfil its responsibility to respect human rights.” Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rajoub called on FIFA to “apply the statutes with fairness, with logic.” “What’s going on in Palestine is terrible, destroying all the Palestinian sport facilities in Gaza, the killings of hundreds of Palestinian athletes, employees... I think it’s now the time to make justice,” Rajoub said. “The guy who spoke on behalf of Israel, he did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what’s going on. “I refused to shake hands.

FIFA to review ticket strategy for 2030 World Cup

VANCOUVER: FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said high ticket prices for this year’s tournament reflected “the reality of the market in North America.” “I will always have understanding for fans and their opinions, but I think there are quite a wide array of ticket prices — some are cheap, some are more expensive,” he said. “But of course, you know, we listen, we take into the account the comments, and of course, as for every World Cup, we will review and see how we do it for the next one,” Grafstrom added. FIFA has faced searing criticism over soaring ticket prices for this year’s World Cup, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe branding the pricing structure “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal” of fans. FSE last month filed a lawsuit with the European Commission targeting FIFA over “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand. “In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down,” depending on the match in question, Infantino has said. FIFA’s own ticket resale exchange this week showed four tickets on offer for the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium for an eye-watering $2 million apiece, according to reports. Other resale platforms commonly show tickets for the World Cup final costing tens of thousands of dollars. Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that anger over ticket prices

'They are not representing Iran': Protesters urge FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup

VANCOUVER, April 30 : Iran's soccer team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran, and FIFA should ban the team from participating in the upcoming World Cup, protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver said on Thursday.

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Wood’s penalty gives Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in Europa League semifinal 1st leg

Mexico's goalkeeper Ochoa set to hang up gloves after his sixth World Cup

Palestinian football chief slams Israeli official at FIFA meeting

FIFA to review ticket strategy for 2030 World Cup

'They are not representing Iran': Protesters urge FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup

Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

Georgia's Kirby Smart says Big Ten is 'more competitive conference' than SEC after CFP title streak

Two of Iran delegation could have attended FIFA congress but chose not to, source says