arabnews.com - FIFA U-turn allows Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte

FIFA U-turn allows Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte

BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao will sign Aymeric Laporte after world football governing body FIFA changed their stance on Thursday. The Basque side tried to bring in the Spanish defender from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on Sept. 1 but the move was not completed before the transfer deadline. FIFA last week rejected a request from the Spanish football federation (RFEF) to make an exception for Laporte’s move, but Athletic said the RFEF request has now been granted after they sought to overturn the decision.

Al-Ittihad sign Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic on 4-year deal

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad has confirmed the signing of Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic from Belgian side Anderlecht on a four-year contract.

Defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon take perfect records into 4th round

PARIS: Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon are the only sides to have won all their games heading into the fourth round of matches in Ligue 1. Not many observers would have expected Lyon to start this well, having avoided relegation to the second tier for financial irregularities after a successful appeal and being obliged to sell key players to balance the books. Veteran striker Olivier Giroud’s Lille side is the only other unbeaten side so far.

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck needs more time until comeback, says Kovac

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck will need more time before he makes his comeback from a knee injury, coach Niko Kovac said on Thursday. Schlotterbeck underwent surgery five months ago for a meniscus tear in his left knee that he sustained in April and despite having come back to light team training in recent days, he is still not yet ready for a comeback. Schlotterbeck’s services were also badly missed in Germany’s two World Cup qualifiers in the international break, with the national team suffering a shock 2-0 loss to Slovakia before beating Northern Ireland 3-1. “Nico has come back after five months and has been doing some light training without contact,” Kovac told a press conference. “He is a key player, a top national team player. “Before we even consider the national team, he has to be healthy for the club and have playing minutes in training, in Bundesliga and Champions League matches,” he said. “It will take more time.

India routs UAE for 57 to notch 9-wicket win in Asia Cup

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and seamer Shivam Dube helped limit the United Arab Emirates to 57 runs as India swept to a nine-wicket win in the Asia Cup on Wednesday. Kuldeep baffled batters with his sharp googlies and bagged 4-7 while Dube claimed 3-4 to dismiss UAE in 13.1 overs — the lowest-ever T20 total against India. In the Group A game, India cruised to 60-1 in just 4.3 overs with opening batter Abhishek Sharma (30) showing flashes of his skillful power-hitting and Shubman Gill scoring an unbeaten 20. UAE folds without a fight UAE batters had no answer for India’s relentless bowling attack despite Jasprit Bumrah showing signs of rustiness in his first T20 game since the World Cup last year. Captain Suryakumar Yadav believed his team was “flexible” when India won the toss and the skipper chose to field. India had lost the toss in 15 consecutive games. Alishan Sharafu (22) and captain Muhammad Waseem (19) gave UAE a reasonable start of 41-2 in the powerplay before the batters crumbled against Kuldeep’s sharp spin and Dube warmed up for more tougher games ahead in the tournament with a three-wicket haul. Bumrah nailed Sharafu will his trademark smearing yorker in the second over and Mohammad Zohaib sliced a catch to backward point when he tried to play Varun Chakravarthy inside out. Kuldeep’s three-wicket over, that included a plumb leg before wicket dismissal of Waseem, rattled UAE middle-order before Dube claimed three wickets in his two overs and UAE folded with more than six overs to spare. India called back No.

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FIFA U-turn allows Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte

Al-Ittihad sign Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic on 4-year deal

Defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon take perfect records into 4th round

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck needs more time until comeback, says Kovac

India routs UAE for 57 to notch 9-wicket win in Asia Cup

Risks in cricket sponsorship laid bare in India

Partnership will ‘nurture future stars’ at Al-Jazira, says Manchester City academy director

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