Brazil coach Tite said Neymar will make a long-awaited return from injury when the South American champions take on Colombia in a friendly in Miami on Friday.

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has not played since suffering an ankle injury in a friendly against Qatar in June which ruled him out of the Copa America.

However Tite Thursday said the striker had been declared fit and ready to return against the Colombians in Friday's game at the Hard Rock Stadium.

"Clinically he has recovered from the injury that as everyone remembers removed him from the Copa America," Tite said.

"If he wasn't fit, he wouldn't be with the national team. We are not irresponsible to force a situation when it concerns the athlete's health," Tite added.

"Me and the coaching staff will be very attentive to his development. He is ready, he is capable of doing what the team needs," he added.

Brazil went on to win the Copa America crown without Neymar in July, their first victory in the tournament since 2007.

Since then Neymar has been embroiled in a protracted saga, which saw him fail in his attempts to engineer a move back to Barcelona from PSG.

Tite meanwhile said he expects a demanding test of his team against Colombia, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of this year's Copa America.

"It will be a strong confrontation. We all know the quality of the Colombian national team," Tite said.

While the game will mark the return of Neymar, Tite also plans to hand a debut to Real Madrid's 19-year-old Vinicius Jr.

"I'm happy to be here realising my dream," Vinicius said. "It's hard to believe that at 19 I'm here next to the best players, next to my idol (Neymar) and the players I'd always supported," he told a press conference.

Colombia meanwhile will be without star attackers Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez.

Brazil coach Tite said Neymar will make a long-awaited return from injury when the South American champions take on Colombia in a friendly in Miami on Friday. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has not played since suffering an ankle injury in a friendly against Qatar in June which ruled him out of the Copa America.

Brazil coach Tite said Neymar will make a long-awaited return from injury when the South American champions take on Colombia in a friendly in Miami on Friday. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has not played since suffering an ankle injury in a friendly against Qatar in June which ruled him out of the Copa America. However Tite Thursday said the striker had been declared fit and ready to return against the Colombians in Friday's game at the Hard Rock Stadium. "Clinically he has recovered from the injury that as everyone remembers removed him from the Copa America," Tite said. "If he wasn't fit, he wouldn't be with the national team. We are not irresponsible to force a situation when it concerns the athlete's health," Tite added. "Me and the coaching staff will be very attentive to his development. He is ready, he is capable of doing what the team needs," he added. Brazil went on to win the Copa America crown without Neymar in July, their first victory in the tournament since 2007. Since then Neymar has been embroiled in a protracted saga, which saw him fail in his attempts to engineer a move back to Barcelona from PSG. Tite meanwhile said he expects a demanding test of his team against Colombia, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of this year's Copa America. "It will be a strong confrontation. We all know the quality of the Colombian national team," Tite said. While the game will mark the return of Neymar, Tite also plans to hand a debut to Real Madrid's 19-year-old Vinicius Jr. "I'm happy to be here realising my dream," Vinicius said. "It's hard to believe that at 19 I'm here next to the best players, next to my idol (Neymar) and the players I'd always supported," he told a press conference. Colombia meanwhile will be without star attackers Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez.

Neymar set to return for Brazil v Colombia: Tite

Italian football was involved in another racism storm on Sunday as Romelu Lukaku was targeted by monkey chants before putting Inter Milan top of Serie A with the winning penalty in their 2-1 triumph at Cagliari.

Lukaku — a 65 million euros ($73 million) summer signing from Manchester United — was preparing to take the spot-kick in the 71st minute in Sardinia when the racist chants came from the crowd that continued for several seconds.

The 26-year-old Belgian international angrily looked towards the stands before confidently converting his second goal in as many games, which came after Lautaro Martinez's 28th-minute opener for the Antonio Conte's side and Joao Pedro's leveller for the hosts four minutes after the break.

Lukaku was quickly surrounded by his teammates as Inter won their second from two league matches to sit ahead of champions Juventus, who also are on maximum points following their thrilling 4-3 win over Napoli on Saturday.

Racist chanting has dogged Italian stadia in recent years, with Italy striker Moise Kean also the victim of similar abuse — alongside teammate Blaise Matuidi — at Cagliari after he scored a goal there for his former team Juventus last April.

Kalidou Koulibaly was showered with monkey chants last season by Lukaku's new fans at the San Siro, while several other black players have been targeted.

"I didn't hear (the chants)," said Conte.&nbsp;

"I can speak however in general: I think we need to improve in Italy, respect everyone.

"When I was working abroad, the fans would cheer on their own team, not spend their entire time insulting the opponent. I was fine here, noone insulted me."

Torino are right alongside Inter and local rivals Juve after shocking Atalanta 3-2, while Lazio missed the chance to keep the pace with that trio after drawing an eventful Rome derby 1-1.&nbsp;

Aleksandar Kolarov put Roma ahead in the 17th minute against the run of play with a well-taken penalty, but Luis Alberto grabbed the equaliser just before the hour mark to leave Paulo Fonseca without a win as new Roma boss.

'Extraordinary show'

Lazio missed several chances to seal a second win from their two opening games, hitting the woodwork four times with Roma rattling the frame of the goal twice. The hosts' biggest regret was Manuel Lazzari's 92nd-minute strike being ruled out for offside.

"There's a bit of bitterness. We had 21 shots on goal, hit the woodwork four times and a goal ruled out," said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.

"We had so many chances and you have to win games like that."

"We offered an extraordinary show for the public, and a great thrill for me as a coach, at my first Rome derby," said Fonseca.

The derby took place amid heightened security after the murder of former Lazio ultras chiefs Fabrizio Piscitelli, nicknamed "Diabolik", who was shot dead in the capital last month.

Piscitelli was for almost 30 years the boss of Lazio's hardcore Irriducibili ("Die Hards") fan group, which is notorious for its far-right politics.

Lazio fans unfurled a banner in his honour before the match with "Rest in peace Fabrizio".

Torino are also on maximum points after their comeback win at Atalanta, who qualified for this season's Champions League by finishing third last season.

Kevin Bonifazi had put Torino ahead after 24 minutes before Duvan Zapata's double either side of the break for Atalanta.

But Alex Berenguer got Torino back level on 57 minutes with Armando Izzo nodding in the winner on 66 minutes.

Fiorentina fell to their second straight defeat 2-1 at Genoa, as did Sampdoria who were hammered 4-1 at Sassuolo thanks to a Domenico Berardi hat-trick scored in 14 first-half minutes.

Italian football was involved in another racism storm on Sunday as Romelu Lukaku was targeted by monkey chants before putting Inter Milan top of Serie A with the winning penalty in their 2-1 triumph at Cagliari.

Italian football was involved in another racism storm on Sunday as Romelu Lukaku was targeted by monkey chants before putting Inter Milan top of Serie A with the winning penalty in their 2-1 triumph at Cagliari. Lukaku — a 65 million euros ($73 million) summer signing from Manchester United — was preparing to take the spot-kick in the 71st minute in Sardinia when the racist chants came from the crowd that continued for several seconds. The 26-year-old Belgian international angrily looked towards the stands before confidently converting his second goal in as many games, which came after Lautaro Martinez's 28th-minute opener for the Antonio Conte's side and Joao Pedro's leveller for the hosts four minutes after the break. Lukaku was quickly surrounded by his teammates as Inter won their second from two league matches to sit ahead of champions Juventus, who also are on maximum points following their thrilling 4-3 win over Napoli on Saturday. Racist chanting has dogged Italian stadia in recent years, with Italy striker Moise Kean also the victim of similar abuse — alongside teammate Blaise Matuidi — at Cagliari after he scored a goal there for his former team Juventus last April. Kalidou Koulibaly was showered with monkey chants last season by Lukaku's new fans at the San Siro, while several other black players have been targeted. "I didn't hear (the chants)," said Conte. "I can speak however in general: I think we need to improve in Italy, respect everyone. "When I was working abroad, the fans would cheer on their own team, not spend their entire time insulting the opponent. I was fine here, noone insulted me." Torino are right alongside Inter and local rivals Juve after shocking Atalanta 3-2, while Lazio missed the chance to keep the pace with that trio after drawing an eventful Rome derby 1-1. Aleksandar Kolarov put Roma ahead in the 17th minute against the run of play with a well-taken penalty, but Luis Alberto grabbed the equaliser just before the hour mark to leave Paulo Fonseca without a win as new Roma boss. 'Extraordinary show' Lazio missed several chances to seal a second win from their two opening games, hitting the woodwork four times with Roma rattling the frame of the goal twice. The hosts' biggest regret was Manuel Lazzari's 92nd-minute strike being ruled out for offside. "There's a bit of bitterness. We had 21 shots on goal, hit the woodwork four times and a goal ruled out," said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi. "We had so many chances and you have to win games like that." "We offered an extraordinary show for the public, and a great thrill for me as a coach, at my first Rome derby," said Fonseca. The derby took place amid heightened security after the murder of former Lazio ultras chiefs Fabrizio Piscitelli, nicknamed "Diabolik", who was shot dead in the capital last month. Piscitelli was for almost 30 years the boss of Lazio's hardcore Irriducibili ("Die Hards") fan group, which is notorious for its far-right politics. Lazio fans unfurled a banner in his honour before the match with "Rest in peace Fabrizio". Torino are also on maximum points after their comeback win at Atalanta, who qualified for this season's Champions League by finishing third last season. Kevin Bonifazi had put Torino ahead after 24 minutes before Duvan Zapata's double either side of the break for Atalanta. But Alex Berenguer got Torino back level on 57 minutes with Armando Izzo nodding in the winner on 66 minutes. Fiorentina fell to their second straight defeat 2-1 at Genoa, as did Sampdoria who were hammered 4-1 at Sassuolo thanks to a Domenico Berardi hat-trick scored in 14 first-half minutes.

Romelu Lukaku sends Inter top after racist abuse at Cagliari

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said.

Fans of the Olimpia and Motagua football teams, bitter local opponents, rioted outside Tegucigalpa’s National Stadium after a crowd of people believed to be rival supporters intercepted and vandalized a bus transporting Motagua players, police said.

“Three people died and seven were shot and stabbed. One of them is a boy. Three of the injured adults are in critical condition,” Laura Schoenherr, a spokeswoman for the state University School Hospital, told Reuters.

The riot broke out after crowds threw stones at the bus carrying members of the Motagua team, sending shards of window glass at the players inside, according to the Motagua club, which blamed members of the Ultra-Faithful Olimpia fan club.

“This has to be severely sanctioned by the corresponding authorities,” the Motagua club said in a tweet. “Reprehensible and lamentable,” it added in another tweet.

Three of the players - Emilio Izaguirre, Roberto Moreira, and Jonathan Rougier - were transferred to a hospital with facial wounds, the Motagua club said.&nbsp;

Accompanying video purported to show players in blue uniforms standing in the still-moving bus beside smashed windows and a glass bottle rolling on a seat. “A rock! A rock! There! There!” someone shouts as a siren blares.

A statement from the Ministry of Security confirmed the bus attack and said its perpetrators wore the uniforms of the rival Olimpia team. The ministry added in the statement that it had set up “five rings of security” ahead of the game.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-players-at-greater-risk-of-premature-death-than-baseball-players-study-221388">The National Football League</a> suspended the game after the incident. It had expected some 20,000 fans to attend.

The president of the Olympia club, Rafael Villeda, told the local press that he would meet with the leadership of the National League and Motagua to decide on the future of the game.

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said.

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said. Fans of the Olimpia and Motagua football teams, bitter local opponents, rioted outside Tegucigalpa’s National Stadium after a crowd of people believed to be rival supporters intercepted and vandalized a bus transporting Motagua players, police said. “Three people died and seven were shot and stabbed. One of them is a boy. Three of the injured adults are in critical condition,” Laura Schoenherr, a spokeswoman for the state University School Hospital, told Reuters. The riot broke out after crowds threw stones at the bus carrying members of the Motagua team, sending shards of window glass at the players inside, according to the Motagua club, which blamed members of the Ultra-Faithful Olimpia fan club. “This has to be severely sanctioned by the corresponding authorities,” the Motagua club said in a tweet. “Reprehensible and lamentable,” it added in another tweet. Three of the players - Emilio Izaguirre, Roberto Moreira, and Jonathan Rougier - were transferred to a hospital with facial wounds, the Motagua club said. Accompanying video purported to show players in blue uniforms standing in the still-moving bus beside smashed windows and a glass bottle rolling on a seat. “A rock! A rock! There! There!” someone shouts as a siren blares. A statement from the Ministry of Security confirmed the bus attack and said its perpetrators wore the uniforms of the rival Olimpia team. The ministry added in the statement that it had set up “five rings of security” ahead of the game. The National Football League suspended the game after the incident. It had expected some 20,000 fans to attend. The president of the Olympia club, Rafael Villeda, told the local press that he would meet with the leadership of the National League and Motagua to decide on the future of the game.

The old grudge between Honduras football fans sparks a riot that kills three

A Brazilian judge on Friday dismissed the rape case against footballer Neymar citing insufficient evidence, a court spokesman told AFP.

The decision -- the final episode in the rape case hanging over the Brazilian international superstar for months -- comes on the recommendation of prosecutors just over a month after police dropped the case citing lack of evidence.

Neymar vehemently denied allegations he raped a Brazilian woman in a Paris hotel in May.&nbsp;

Judge Ana Paula Vieira de Moraes "accepted prosecutors recommendations and demanded the case be dismissed," the court spokesman told AFP.

Prosecutor Flavia Merlini had argued that the plaintiff Najila Trindade, a Brazilian model, had provided no conclusive evidence of rape against the Paris Saint-Germain player.

"What happened between four walls is impossible to know, we have her word against his," Merlini told reporters. "We have decided to ask for the closure of the case."&nbsp;

However Merlini said dismissal was not equivalent to acquittal for Neymar, 27, the world's most expensive footballer.

The case could be reopened at any time should new evidence emerge, she said.

Trinidade filed a rape complaint with Sao Paulo&nbsp;police on her return from a trip to Paris in May in which she said she was raped by Neymar following a pre-arranged meeting. The player insisted that relations with the Brazilian woman were consensual.

A Brazilian judge on Friday dismissed the rape case against footballer Neymar citing insufficient evidence, a court spokesman told AFP. The decision -- the final episode in the rape case hanging over the Brazilian international superstar for months -- comes on the recommendation of prosecutors just over a month after police dropped the case citing lack of evidence.

A Brazilian judge on Friday dismissed the rape case against footballer Neymar citing insufficient evidence, a court spokesman told AFP. The decision -- the final episode in the rape case hanging over the Brazilian international superstar for months -- comes on the recommendation of prosecutors just over a month after police dropped the case citing lack of evidence. Neymar vehemently denied allegations he raped a Brazilian woman in a Paris hotel in May. Judge Ana Paula Vieira de Moraes "accepted prosecutors recommendations and demanded the case be dismissed," the court spokesman told AFP. Prosecutor Flavia Merlini had argued that the plaintiff Najila Trindade, a Brazilian model, had provided no conclusive evidence of rape against the Paris Saint-Germain player. "What happened between four walls is impossible to know, we have her word against his," Merlini told reporters. "We have decided to ask for the closure of the case." However Merlini said dismissal was not equivalent to acquittal for Neymar, 27, the world's most expensive footballer. The case could be reopened at any time should new evidence emerge, she said. Trinidade filed a rape complaint with Sao Paulo police on her return from a trip to Paris in May in which she said she was raped by Neymar following a pre-arranged meeting. The player insisted that relations with the Brazilian woman were consensual.

Rape case dismissed against Brazilian football player Neymar: Court

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who suffered a heart attack in May, has been registered by the club to play in this season's Portuguese league.

The 38-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper features in the Porto squad list which has been published on the league's official website ahead of their opening game away to Gil Vicente on Saturday.

Casillas, who captained Spain to their only World Cup triumph in 2010 and played 725 games for Real Madrid before joining Porto in 2015, suffered a heart attack in a training session on May 1 and spent five days in the hospital.

Two weeks later, Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo suggested that Casillas would shortly announce his retirement.

However, in July, Porto said that Casillas had been given a role on the team's technical staff "while he recovers from his health problem."

Porto last month signed Argentine goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin from Mexico City club America and the 31-year-old made his debut on Wednesday in the 1-0 win away to Krasnodar in a Champions League qualifying match.

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who suffered a heart attack in May, has been registered by the club to play in this season's Portuguese league. The 38-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper features in the Porto squad list which has been published on the league's official website ahead of their opening game away to Gil Vicente on Saturday.

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who suffered a heart attack in May, has been registered by the club to play in this season's Portuguese league. The 38-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper features in the Porto squad list which has been published on the league's official website ahead of their opening game away to Gil Vicente on Saturday. Casillas, who captained Spain to their only World Cup triumph in 2010 and played 725 games for Real Madrid before joining Porto in 2015, suffered a heart attack in a training session on May 1 and spent five days in the hospital. Two weeks later, Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo suggested that Casillas would shortly announce his retirement. However, in July, Porto said that Casillas had been given a role on the team's technical staff "while he recovers from his health problem." Porto last month signed Argentine goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin from Mexico City club America and the 31-year-old made his debut on Wednesday in the 1-0 win away to Krasnodar in a Champions League qualifying match.

Iker Casillas included in Porto squad for new season

Young hopefuls at Premier League giants Chelsea were abused for years by a "prolific and manipulative" coach as staff at the club "turned a blind eye", an independent report said Tuesday.

The report, led by lawyer Charles Geekie, found that the club's former chief scout Eddie Heath, who died in 1983, was able to operate "unchallenged", abusing boys aged between 10 and 17 in the 1970s.

Victims recalled that Heath used "sexual innuendo" in the changing room, but made sure "that his most serious sexual assaults took place in private," it added.

Heath's behaviour was an open secret among players and staff.

"The boys all knew it was safety in numbers, you didn't want to be the last in the van, you risked being groped by him or having your bum slapped. He was regarded as 'Nightmare Eddie'," one witness said.

Chelsea said in a statement that "Heath was a dangerous and prolific child abuser" whose conduct was "beyond reprehensible".

"Although the club today is a very different place from the club then... we will not shy away from responsibility for what happened in the past," it added.

Claims for compensation are being assessed by insurers for the former European champions.

'Manipulative risk-taker'

Heath was sacked when England World Cup-winning hero Geoff Hurst took over the club in 1979. But the former striker, now aged 77, denied knowing about Heath's behaviour and turned down requests to be interviewed for the report.

Geekie talked to 23 witnesses who claim that they were targeted by Heath, saying they painted a picture of an "audacious, manipulative risk-taker".

One witness said staff and players "must have known or been suspicious of what he was doing... but turned a blind eye to it."

One former player described how Heath would come into the urinals and watch, while another said he peered over the shower cubicle while he was inside.

Heath would lavish praise on his "favourites", inviting them around to his house to watch football matches, offering out money and sweets and befriending their parents.

Many said they were fearful of telling the authorities and getting Heath into trouble, while others "wanted to impress him" to ensure they kept being picked.

One former player said the abuse had had a "massive impact on me and my family".

Veteran manager Dario Gradi, who worked at Chelsea at the time, also came in for criticism, with the report finding he failed to report Heath despite receiving a complaint that he had indecently assaulted a boy in the showers.

Ex-Chelsea football star Alan Hudson said it was "common knowledge" that Heath was a paedophile.

"It was common knowledge that Eddie Heath was a 'nonce' (slang for paedophile)," Hudson wrote on Facebook when the allegations first surfaced.

Players from other London clubs he worked for, Leyton Orient and Charlton, also came forward about his predatory behaviour.

Young hopefuls at Premier League giants Chelsea were abused for years by a "prolific and manipulative" coach as staff at the club "turned a blind eye", an independent report said Tuesday.

Young hopefuls at Premier League giants Chelsea were abused for years by a "prolific and manipulative" coach as staff at the club "turned a blind eye", an independent report said Tuesday. The report, led by lawyer Charles Geekie, found that the club's former chief scout Eddie Heath, who died in 1983, was able to operate "unchallenged", abusing boys aged between 10 and 17 in the 1970s. Victims recalled that Heath used "sexual innuendo" in the changing room, but made sure "that his most serious sexual assaults took place in private," it added. Heath's behaviour was an open secret among players and staff. "The boys all knew it was safety in numbers, you didn't want to be the last in the van, you risked being groped by him or having your bum slapped. He was regarded as 'Nightmare Eddie'," one witness said. Chelsea said in a statement that "Heath was a dangerous and prolific child abuser" whose conduct was "beyond reprehensible". "Although the club today is a very different place from the club then... we will not shy away from responsibility for what happened in the past," it added. Claims for compensation are being assessed by insurers for the former European champions. 'Manipulative risk-taker' Heath was sacked when England World Cup-winning hero Geoff Hurst took over the club in 1979. But the former striker, now aged 77, denied knowing about Heath's behaviour and turned down requests to be interviewed for the report. Geekie talked to 23 witnesses who claim that they were targeted by Heath, saying they painted a picture of an "audacious, manipulative risk-taker". One witness said staff and players "must have known or been suspicious of what he was doing... but turned a blind eye to it." One former player described how Heath would come into the urinals and watch, while another said he peered over the shower cubicle while he was inside. Heath would lavish praise on his "favourites", inviting them around to his house to watch football matches, offering out money and sweets and befriending their parents. Many said they were fearful of telling the authorities and getting Heath into trouble, while others "wanted to impress him" to ensure they kept being picked. One former player said the abuse had had a "massive impact on me and my family". Veteran manager Dario Gradi, who worked at Chelsea at the time, also came in for criticism, with the report finding he failed to report Heath despite receiving a complaint that he had indecently assaulted a boy in the showers. Ex-Chelsea football star Alan Hudson said it was "common knowledge" that Heath was a paedophile. "It was common knowledge that Eddie Heath was a 'nonce' (slang for paedophile)," Hudson wrote on Facebook when the allegations first surfaced. Players from other London clubs he worked for, Leyton Orient and Charlton, also came forward about his predatory behaviour.

Chelsea staff 'turned blind eye' to sexual abuse

From Harry Maguire to Virgil van Dijk, list of world's most expensive defenders

Luis Suarez's late volley saw Barcelona to a 2-1 win in the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly in front of a bumper crowd at the Camp Nou, as Antoine Griezmann made his home debut following his big-money move from Atletico Madrid.

Suarez flashed home Sergi Roberto's lofted pass in the 89th minute in front of nearly 99,000 people, who packed the stands to see new signings Griezmann and Frenckie De Jong, with his strike and Ainsley Maitland-Niles' comical own goal&nbsp;cancelling out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's fine first-half opener.

"It was an entertaining game, the atmosphere was great and it was a privilege to reunite with our fans," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.

"I think we did well, but perhaps in the first half we lacked a bit of rhythm."

Barca are aiming for European glory this campaign after suffering Champions League humiliations against Roma and Liverpool the last two seasons.

Before the match captain, Lionel Messi addressed those defeats -- which saw Barca throw away comfortable first-leg leads before being dumped out -- in a speech to the crowd.

However, Messi didn't take the field and it was&nbsp;left to his long-time strike partner rather than the new boys to see off the Gunners after a powerful second-half display.

Luis Suarez's late volley saw Barcelona to a 2-1 win in the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly in front of a bumper crowd at the Camp Nou, as Antoine Griezmann made his home debut following his big-money move from Atletico Madrid.

Luis Suarez's late volley saw Barcelona to a 2-1 win in the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly in front of a bumper crowd at the Camp Nou, as Antoine Griezmann made his home debut following his big-money move from Atletico Madrid. Suarez flashed home Sergi Roberto's lofted pass in the 89th minute in front of nearly 99,000 people, who packed the stands to see new signings Griezmann and Frenckie De Jong, with his strike and Ainsley Maitland-Niles' comical own goal cancelling out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's fine first-half opener. "It was an entertaining game, the atmosphere was great and it was a privilege to reunite with our fans," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. "I think we did well, but perhaps in the first half we lacked a bit of rhythm." Barca are aiming for European glory this campaign after suffering Champions League humiliations against Roma and Liverpool the last two seasons. Before the match captain, Lionel Messi addressed those defeats -- which saw Barca throw away comfortable first-leg leads before being dumped out -- in a speech to the crowd. However, Messi didn't take the field and it was left to his long-time strike partner rather than the new boys to see off the Gunners after a powerful second-half display.

99,000 fans see Luis Suarez sink Arsenal in Antoine Griezman's Camp Nou debut

Stephanie&nbsp;Frappart&nbsp;will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul on August 14, becoming the first woman to referee a major men's match in European competition.

France's&nbsp;Frappart, 35, refereed the Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands in July, and last season became the first female to officiate a Ligue 1 match.

She took charge of April's game between Amiens and Strasbourg and has since been promoted to the French top flight's pool of referees on a permanent basis for the upcoming campaign.

"I have said on many occasions that the potential for women's football has no limits and I am delighted that Stephanie&nbsp;Frappart&nbsp;has been appointed to officiate at this year's UEFA Super Cup along with assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neal," said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

"As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women's football in all areas.&nbsp;

"I hope the skill and devotion that Stephanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one's dream."

Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus became the first female referee in one of the top European leagues when she took charge of a Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen in September 2017.

Nicole Petignat was the first female referee assigned to a men's match in UEFA competition, overseeing three qualifiers in the UEFA Cup between 2004 and 2009.

Stephanie Frappart will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul on August 14, becoming the first woman to referee a major men's match in European competition.

Stephanie Frappart will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul on August 14, becoming the first woman to referee a major men's match in European competition. France's Frappart, 35, refereed the Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands in July, and last season became the first female to officiate a Ligue 1 match. She took charge of April's game between Amiens and Strasbourg and has since been promoted to the French top flight's pool of referees on a permanent basis for the upcoming campaign. "I have said on many occasions that the potential for women's football has no limits and I am delighted that Stephanie Frappart has been appointed to officiate at this year's UEFA Super Cup along with assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neal," said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. "As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women's football in all areas. "I hope the skill and devotion that Stephanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one's dream." Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus became the first female referee in one of the top European leagues when she took charge of a Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen in September 2017. Nicole Petignat was the first female referee assigned to a men's match in UEFA competition, overseeing three qualifiers in the UEFA Cup between 2004 and 2009.

Stephanie Frappart to referee UEFA Super Cup

After 17 years playing for the top clubs in Europe, Brazil captain Dani Alves has decided to return home, signing a three-year deal with Sao Paulo.

A free agent after his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain expired in June, Alves explained his decision on a Twitter video posted on the club website.

"I could have picked any team to play for but I chose to return to Brazil, to my country, my people, to the club that I love," said the 36-year-old who has been in Europe since he signed for Sevilla in 2002.

The right back went on to play for Barcelona, Juventus and PSG, collecting nine national league titles along the way -- six in Spain, one in Italy and two in France.&nbsp;

He has collected 40 trophies in all with club and country including three Champions League titles with Barcelona and two UEFA Cups with Sevilla

He has also won two Copa Americas with Brazil, most recently in July when he was named player of the tournament as he captained them to victory over Peru in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

"Once, I told Daniel that he would come to play at Sao Paulo, the club of his heart," said club president Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva in a statement.

"Today I have the immense joy and pride to have kept that promise."

Sao Paulo, the former club of 1994 World Cup winner Rai, now the general manager, and legendary goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, are currently fifth in the Brazilian championship.&nbsp;

After 17 years playing for the top clubs in Europe, Brazil captain Dani Alves has decided to return home, signing a three-year deal with Sao Paulo. A free agent after his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain expired in June, Alves explained his decision on a Twitter video posted on the club website.

After 17 years playing for the top clubs in Europe, Brazil captain Dani Alves has decided to return home, signing a three-year deal with Sao Paulo. A free agent after his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain expired in June, Alves explained his decision on a Twitter video posted on the club website. "I could have picked any team to play for but I chose to return to Brazil, to my country, my people, to the club that I love," said the 36-year-old who has been in Europe since he signed for Sevilla in 2002. The right back went on to play for Barcelona, Juventus and PSG, collecting nine national league titles along the way -- six in Spain, one in Italy and two in France. He has collected 40 trophies in all with club and country including three Champions League titles with Barcelona and two UEFA Cups with Sevilla He has also won two Copa Americas with Brazil, most recently in July when he was named player of the tournament as he captained them to victory over Peru in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. "Once, I told Daniel that he would come to play at Sao Paulo, the club of his heart," said club president Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva in a statement. "Today I have the immense joy and pride to have kept that promise." Sao Paulo, the former club of 1994 World Cup winner Rai, now the general manager, and legendary goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, are currently fifth in the Brazilian championship.

Brazil's Dani Alves heads home to Sao Paulo

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he does not expect to make many, if any, new signings before the transfer window closes.

The Premier League champions have made one big-money signing in the close season, brining in Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, better known as 'Rodri', from Atletico Madrid for a club-record €70 million ($79 million).

Speaking in Yokohama on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, Guardiola said he was happy with his current title-winning squad.

“Not many,” the Spaniard said on Friday, when asked if any more transfer deals can be expected.

“The transfer market is so difficult and we are good enough. Maybe zero, one or one and a half (transfers). We will see.”

One player Guardiola may have to replace if Bayern Munich get their way is German winger Leroy Sane.

Bayern have made it clear they would like to take the 23-year-old to Bavaria, but Guardiola has stated his resolve to keep Sane in England.

Despite Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge suggesting earlier this week that the City manager "doesn't know everything that goes on in his club," Guardiola refused to be drawn into a war of words with his former side.

“I love Bayern Munich. It is part of my life. So the people working there, I appreciate a lot,” said Guardiola, who won three league titles with the German club.

“They gave me an incredible opportunity to work in Germany at this historical club. I have real, real friends out there.

“Football is what it is. Sometimes you know I say things the people on the opposite side don’t like, but I know that they always do it with good intentions.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he does not expect to make many, if any, new signings before the transfer window closes. The Premier League champions have made one big-money signing in the close season, brining in Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, better known as 'Rodri', from Atletico Madrid for a club-record €70 million ($79 million).

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he does not expect to make many, if any, new signings before the transfer window closes. The Premier League champions have made one big-money signing in the close season, brining in Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, better known as 'Rodri', from Atletico Madrid for a club-record €70 million ($79 million). Speaking in Yokohama on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, Guardiola said he was happy with his current title-winning squad. “Not many,” the Spaniard said on Friday, when asked if any more transfer deals can be expected. “The transfer market is so difficult and we are good enough. Maybe zero, one or one and a half (transfers). We will see.” One player Guardiola may have to replace if Bayern Munich get their way is German winger Leroy Sane. Bayern have made it clear they would like to take the 23-year-old to Bavaria, but Guardiola has stated his resolve to keep Sane in England. Despite Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge suggesting earlier this week that the City manager "doesn't know everything that goes on in his club," Guardiola refused to be drawn into a war of words with his former side. “I love Bayern Munich. It is part of my life. So the people working there, I appreciate a lot,” said Guardiola, who won three league titles with the German club. “They gave me an incredible opportunity to work in Germany at this historical club. I have real, real friends out there. “Football is what it is. Sometimes you know I say things the people on the opposite side don’t like, but I know that they always do it with good intentions.”

Pep Guardiola plays down prospect of more Manchester City signings before deadline

Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters admits VAR is certain to cause "controversy" when the technology makes its English top-flight debut in the forthcoming season.

The video referee system will be used for the first time in the Premier League after its introduction was delayed for a year to allow time to develop the system.

VAR has been used in England in the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as in numerous other foreign leagues and tournaments including the Champions League.

It hasn't been a huge success, with complaints from managers and fans about the slowness of the system and mistakes made by the officials.&nbsp;

"I have no doubt it will create some controversy because it is about the big decisions but we are prepared for that," Masters said.

"We have spent two years working up to this point, and we were committed to doing it in our heads for two years.

"We have been training and testing and making sure when it happens, particularly on Saturday afternoons when we have got multiple matches going on, that we have a number of VARs trained. We feel that is done and we are ready to launch it."

Masters is adamant the Premier League have looked at ways to ensure VAR operates effectively, taking lessons from the initial use of the system elsewhere.

He hopes there will be fewer stoppages for referees to consult monitors than seen during other events such as the Champions League last season or the recent Women's World Cup.

"I think fans want to see those clear and obvious mistakes changed and put right," Masters said in China, where he has been attending the Premier League's pre-season Asia Trophy.

"But they don't want to see the Premier League or English football interrupted, or the pace of the game changed.

"I think the only difference you might see is the referees using the referee review area a bit more sparingly and relying more on the VAR for the more subjective decisions.

"But we are putting something new into the Premier League and if it needs to be refined or improved or tweaked we will look at it when the moment arises.&nbsp;

"We've got to let it happen first and keep an open mind about whether it is really working."

Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters admits VAR is certain to cause "controversy" when the technology makes its English top-flight debut in the forthcoming season.

Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters admits VAR is certain to cause "controversy" when the technology makes its English top-flight debut in the forthcoming season. The video referee system will be used for the first time in the Premier League after its introduction was delayed for a year to allow time to develop the system. VAR has been used in England in the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as in numerous other foreign leagues and tournaments including the Champions League. It hasn't been a huge success, with complaints from managers and fans about the slowness of the system and mistakes made by the officials. "I have no doubt it will create some controversy because it is about the big decisions but we are prepared for that," Masters said. "We have spent two years working up to this point, and we were committed to doing it in our heads for two years. "We have been training and testing and making sure when it happens, particularly on Saturday afternoons when we have got multiple matches going on, that we have a number of VARs trained. We feel that is done and we are ready to launch it." Masters is adamant the Premier League have looked at ways to ensure VAR operates effectively, taking lessons from the initial use of the system elsewhere. He hopes there will be fewer stoppages for referees to consult monitors than seen during other events such as the Champions League last season or the recent Women's World Cup. "I think fans want to see those clear and obvious mistakes changed and put right," Masters said in China, where he has been attending the Premier League's pre-season Asia Trophy. "But they don't want to see the Premier League or English football interrupted, or the pace of the game changed. "I think the only difference you might see is the referees using the referee review area a bit more sparingly and relying more on the VAR for the more subjective decisions. "But we are putting something new into the Premier League and if it needs to be refined or improved or tweaked we will look at it when the moment arises. "We've got to let it happen first and keep an open mind about whether it is really working."

VAR will cause 'controversy' admits Premier League chief

Former coach and player Farouk Gaafar put his finger on Egyptian football's fundamental problem even if his call for the military to take over and run the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) with an "iron fist" amounted to inviting the fox into the chicken pen.

Gaafar issued his call after Egypt, once the undisputed king of African football, was knocked out of the African Cup of Nations that it is hosting in a bid to bolster its international image tarnished by systematic violations of human rights. Egypt’s government is headed by general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who initially came to power in a military coup.

Egypt’s bid has been marred by multiple events besides its poor performance in the tournament.&nbsp;

Fans exploited matches to honour legendary but controversial retired player Mohamed Aboutreika as well as the deaths of 94 fans in two separate politically charged incidents in 2012 and 2015.

World soccer body FIFA, in a legally controversial move, took over management of its Cairo-based affiliate, the corruption-riddled Confederation of African Football (CAF), on the eve of the tournament.

As if all of this were not enough, Egyptian midfielder Amr Warda was initially banned early in the tournament from further participation amid mounting allegations of online sexual harassment, but then under pressure from his teammates reinstated.

Like many fans and some executives, Gaafar, who managed the military’s Talaee el Geish (Army’s Vanguards) Sports Club for seven years, blamed Egypt’s poor performance in the African tournament as well as last year’s World Cup in Russia on the EFA’s lack of accountability.

EFA president Hany Abo Rida sacked Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre and resigned together with the majority of the group’s board members hours after the Egyptian national team’s crucial defeat at the hands of South Africa.

“The state has done everything, but the football federation and the players have done nothing. There is nothing better than the discipline of the armed forces… football needs to be run with an iron fist,” Gaafar said on a pro-government television show.

There is no doubt that Egyptian football desperately needs deep structural reform. The problem is that the state of the sport reflects Egypt’s broader structural problems. The country’s military is as much part of the problem as it is part of the solution.

Add to this the fact that a military takeover of soccer would deepen problems because it would violate FIFA’s insistence on a fictional separation of sports and politics and likely lead to a suspension of the EFA’s membership of the world soccer body.

Alaa Sadek, a Qatar-based Egyptian critic of Al-Sisi, moreover, noted that Egypt had failed to qualify for the World Cup in the 31 years between 1936 and 1967 that it was headed by a military officer.

Sadek charged that Egyptian soccer had recently failed domestically and internationally because Al-Sisi since coming to office in 2013 had turned the EFA into an “army camp.”

Newspaper editor Gamal Sultan noted that the government and the military’s recent assault on the EFA ocurred only after Egypt lost its decisive match against South Africa.

“Only last week, the EFA was clean, acceptable and patriotic. They were received by Sisi and the minister of defence and celebrated only when their victories served the image of the regime. One week later, the EFA has become corrupt and wanted for investigations. These are the standards of justice in today’s Egypt,” Sultan said.

In a rare broad-based lifting of an eight-year-old ban on unfettered attendance of football matches by fans, Egypt’s defeat in the African Cup was witnessed by 75,000 mostly Egyptian spectators, many of whom have long accused the EFA of mismanagement and corruption.

Egypt has with brief exceptions banned fans from stadia since the first day of the January 2011 popular revolt that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in a bid to stop soccer from being a venue for the release of pent-up popular anger and frustration as well as anti-government protest.

The government has made exemptions for international matches so that it could not be blamed for weak national team performance and to avoid putting the ban on international display.

More recently, small groups of fans have been admitted to domestic matches but only after identifying themselves with their IDs and with approval of their club.

Fans, nonetheless, defied bans on political slogans and jerseys during the African tournament by chanting Aboutreika’s name in the stadium and in online videos that went viral.

A legendary player, Aboutreika, who was consistently public about his politics, retired in 2013 after helping Egypt clinch three African Cups.

He has since been forced into exile in Qatar after being accused of having been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a political group that Al-Sisi has brutally tried to crush.

Aboutreika was sentenced to jail in absentia last November for tax evasion in what many view as trumped-up charges.

Fans also ignored rules imposed to prevent political expression by lighting up the stadium with their mobile phone flashlights during the South Africa match in commemoration of the 72 supporters that died in 2012 in a stampede and 22 others in another stampede three years later.

Many fans believe the incidents were instigated in an effort to intimidate fans and cut the most militant among them down to size.

Militant football fans played a key role in the 2011 uprising as well as subsequent protests, including against Al-Sisi’s coup that overthrew Mohammed Morsi, a Muslim Brother and the country’s first and only democratically elected leader.

The role of the fans highlighted the threats and opportunities posed to autocrats by soccer, the only thing that evokes the kind of deep-seated passion associated with religion.

As a result, stadiums as a public space that were contested and difficult to control threatened autocratic leaders’ grip on power. Yet, soccer’s popularity offered autocrats an opportunity to shore up their tarnished image by associating themselves with something that had immense public acceptance.

If anything, Egypt’s African Cup of Nations demonstrates that exploiting football&nbsp;for political purposes is a tricky business.

Tweeted journalist Karim Zidan under the trending hashtag ‘Team of sexual harassers:’ "Egypt's national team is…its national embarrassment ... Plenty of Egyptians are basking in the team's loss today."

Much like in the latter part of toppled Mubarak’s 30-year rule, Zidan was inferring that fans see the national team as Al-Sisi’s squad rather than Egypt’s.

In a country in which all expressions of dissent are brutally repressed, that is a clear rejection of Al-Sisi’s effort to polish his and Egypt’s severely tarnished image as it gets. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Former coach and player Farouk Gaafar put his finger on Egyptian football's fundamental problem even if his call for the military to take over and run the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) with an "iron fist" amounted to inviting the fox into the chicken pen.

Former coach and player Farouk Gaafar put his finger on Egyptian football's fundamental problem even if his call for the military to take over and run the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) with an "iron fist" amounted to inviting the fox into the chicken pen. Gaafar issued his call after Egypt, once the undisputed king of African football, was knocked out of the African Cup of Nations that it is hosting in a bid to bolster its international image tarnished by systematic violations of human rights. Egypt’s government is headed by general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who initially came to power in a military coup. Egypt’s bid has been marred by multiple events besides its poor performance in the tournament. Fans exploited matches to honour legendary but controversial retired player Mohamed Aboutreika as well as the deaths of 94 fans in two separate politically charged incidents in 2012 and 2015. World soccer body FIFA, in a legally controversial move, took over management of its Cairo-based affiliate, the corruption-riddled Confederation of African Football (CAF), on the eve of the tournament. As if all of this were not enough, Egyptian midfielder Amr Warda was initially banned early in the tournament from further participation amid mounting allegations of online sexual harassment, but then under pressure from his teammates reinstated. Like many fans and some executives, Gaafar, who managed the military’s Talaee el Geish (Army’s Vanguards) Sports Club for seven years, blamed Egypt’s poor performance in the African tournament as well as last year’s World Cup in Russia on the EFA’s lack of accountability. EFA president Hany Abo Rida sacked Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre and resigned together with the majority of the group’s board members hours after the Egyptian national team’s crucial defeat at the hands of South Africa. “The state has done everything, but the football federation and the players have done nothing. There is nothing better than the discipline of the armed forces… football needs to be run with an iron fist,” Gaafar said on a pro-government television show. There is no doubt that Egyptian football desperately needs deep structural reform. The problem is that the state of the sport reflects Egypt’s broader structural problems. The country’s military is as much part of the problem as it is part of the solution. Add to this the fact that a military takeover of soccer would deepen problems because it would violate FIFA’s insistence on a fictional separation of sports and politics and likely lead to a suspension of the EFA’s membership of the world soccer body. Alaa Sadek, a Qatar-based Egyptian critic of Al-Sisi, moreover, noted that Egypt had failed to qualify for the World Cup in the 31 years between 1936 and 1967 that it was headed by a military officer. Sadek charged that Egyptian soccer had recently failed domestically and internationally because Al-Sisi since coming to office in 2013 had turned the EFA into an “army camp.” Newspaper editor Gamal Sultan noted that the government and the military’s recent assault on the EFA ocurred only after Egypt lost its decisive match against South Africa. “Only last week, the EFA was clean, acceptable and patriotic. They were received by Sisi and the minister of defence and celebrated only when their victories served the image of the regime. One week later, the EFA has become corrupt and wanted for investigations. These are the standards of justice in today’s Egypt,” Sultan said. In a rare broad-based lifting of an eight-year-old ban on unfettered attendance of football matches by fans, Egypt’s defeat in the African Cup was witnessed by 75,000 mostly Egyptian spectators, many of whom have long accused the EFA of mismanagement and corruption. Egypt has with brief exceptions banned fans from stadia since the first day of the January 2011 popular revolt that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in a bid to stop soccer from being a venue for the release of pent-up popular anger and frustration as well as anti-government protest. The government has made exemptions for international matches so that it could not be blamed for weak national team performance and to avoid putting the ban on international display. More recently, small groups of fans have been admitted to domestic matches but only after identifying themselves with their IDs and with approval of their club. Fans, nonetheless, defied bans on political slogans and jerseys during the African tournament by chanting Aboutreika’s name in the stadium and in online videos that went viral. A legendary player, Aboutreika, who was consistently public about his politics, retired in 2013 after helping Egypt clinch three African Cups. He has since been forced into exile in Qatar after being accused of having been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a political group that Al-Sisi has brutally tried to crush. Aboutreika was sentenced to jail in absentia last November for tax evasion in what many view as trumped-up charges. Fans also ignored rules imposed to prevent political expression by lighting up the stadium with their mobile phone flashlights during the South Africa match in commemoration of the 72 supporters that died in 2012 in a stampede and 22 others in another stampede three years later. Many fans believe the incidents were instigated in an effort to intimidate fans and cut the most militant among them down to size. Militant football fans played a key role in the 2011 uprising as well as subsequent protests, including against Al-Sisi’s coup that overthrew Mohammed Morsi, a Muslim Brother and the country’s first and only democratically elected leader. The role of the fans highlighted the threats and opportunities posed to autocrats by soccer, the only thing that evokes the kind of deep-seated passion associated with religion. As a result, stadiums as a public space that were contested and difficult to control threatened autocratic leaders’ grip on power. Yet, soccer’s popularity offered autocrats an opportunity to shore up their tarnished image by associating themselves with something that had immense public acceptance. If anything, Egypt’s African Cup of Nations demonstrates that exploiting football for political purposes is a tricky business. Tweeted journalist Karim Zidan under the trending hashtag ‘Team of sexual harassers:’ "Egypt's national team is…its national embarrassment ... Plenty of Egyptians are basking in the team's loss today." Much like in the latter part of toppled Mubarak’s 30-year rule, Zidan was inferring that fans see the national team as Al-Sisi’s squad rather than Egypt’s. In a country in which all expressions of dissent are brutally repressed, that is a clear rejection of Al-Sisi’s effort to polish his and Egypt’s severely tarnished image as it gets. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Egyptian football desperately needs deep structural reform

India lost to Tajikistan 4-2 in the opening game of the Intercontinental Cup at EKA Arena here on Sunday.India, after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, failed to maintain momentum as Tajikistan bounced back strongly in the second half of the match.

The home side had the perfect start in the early minutes of the game, as Sunil Chhetri converted a penalty into a goal, giving India an upper hand in the match.

Blue Tigers dominated the first half as Chhetri doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 41st minute. At the end of half time, the scoreline was 2-0.

Tables turned in the second half as Tajikistan came out with great enthusiasm and scored a goal within the first 11 minutes of the restart.

Komron Tursonov netted the opening goal for Tajikistan in the 56th minute.

Sheriddin Boboev equalised the lead for the visitor's and built the momentum in favour of the team.

Soon after, Muhammadjon Rahimov powered through the defence and slotted it past Gurpreet to put Tajikistan in the lead 3-2.

Panshanbe Ehsoni crossed it in for substitute Shahrom Samiev to volley it in for the fourth goal.

India's second-half substitute Rowllin Borges, who replaced Sahal Samad, had the opportunity to pull one back when Udanta Singh crossed it into him, but the midfielder skied his effort, as the match ended with a two-goal victory for Tajikistan.

India will play their next game against DPR Korea on July 13.

India lost to Tajikistan 4-2 in the opening game of the Intercontinental Cup at EKA Arena here on Sunday.India, after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, failed to maintain momentum as Tajikistan bounced back strongly in the second half of the match.

India lost to Tajikistan 4-2 in the opening game of the Intercontinental Cup at EKA Arena here on Sunday.India, after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, failed to maintain momentum as Tajikistan bounced back strongly in the second half of the match. The home side had the perfect start in the early minutes of the game, as Sunil Chhetri converted a penalty into a goal, giving India an upper hand in the match. Blue Tigers dominated the first half as Chhetri doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 41st minute. At the end of half time, the scoreline was 2-0. Tables turned in the second half as Tajikistan came out with great enthusiasm and scored a goal within the first 11 minutes of the restart. Komron Tursonov netted the opening goal for Tajikistan in the 56th minute. Sheriddin Boboev equalised the lead for the visitor's and built the momentum in favour of the team. Soon after, Muhammadjon Rahimov powered through the defence and slotted it past Gurpreet to put Tajikistan in the lead 3-2. Panshanbe Ehsoni crossed it in for substitute Shahrom Samiev to volley it in for the fourth goal. India's second-half substitute Rowllin Borges, who replaced Sahal Samad, had the opportunity to pull one back when Udanta Singh crossed it into him, but the midfielder skied his effort, as the match ended with a two-goal victory for Tajikistan. India will play their next game against DPR Korea on July 13.

Intercontinental Cup: India lose to Tajikistan 4-2

The crowd at the women's World Cup final booed FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron as United States fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/usa-win-womens-world-cup-after-beating-netherlands-2-0-in-final-233834">claimed a fourth global title</a> by beating the Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday.

Macron and Infantino, the head of soccer's world governing body, were turned on by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium -- a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd.

Despite a recent rebound, Macron's popularity was last at 38 per cent in an Ifop poll, up 15 points since a low in December at the peak of the anti-government yellow-vest crisis.

US&nbsp;captain Rapinoe, the leading voice for equal pay in a sport where the men are far better paid than the women, scored the opening goal with a VAR-awarded penalty in the 61st minute at the sold-out Groupama Stadium.&nbsp;

Rose Lavelle rounded off the victory eight minutes later as the Americans added to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 world titles.

After the game Rapinoe told reporters,&nbsp;"I think everyone is ready for this conversation and move to the next step. I think we're done with,&nbsp;'Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?'."

Earlier this year, members of the US&nbsp;squad were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the national soccer federation alleging gender discrimination.

Watch: Fans booed&nbsp;FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron

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Fans booed Infantino and followed it up by chanting “equal pay!” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWWC2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWWC2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USWNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USWNT</a> <a href="https://t.co/p4Kw7vZrbU">pic.twitter.com/p4Kw7vZrbU</a>
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It was filed in federal court last month and says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts.

On Saturday, Rapinoe launched a scathing attack on FIFA, saying the organisation did not respect the women's game.

Rapinoe said FIFA’s decision to allow the men's Copa America final and Gold Cup showpiece to take place on the same day as the women’s final was “unbelievable”.

Rapinoe shook Infantino and Macron's hands as she received her medal.

"It’s unbelievable to know all the people who put in so much in this group," she said.

"We have all our families and friends here. It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous."

The crowd at the women's World Cup final booed FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron as United States fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating the Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday.

The crowd at the women's World Cup final booed FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron as United States fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating the Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday. Macron and Infantino, the head of soccer's world governing body, were turned on by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium -- a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd. Despite a recent rebound, Macron's popularity was last at 38 per cent in an Ifop poll, up 15 points since a low in December at the peak of the anti-government yellow-vest crisis. US captain Rapinoe, the leading voice for equal pay in a sport where the men are far better paid than the women, scored the opening goal with a VAR-awarded penalty in the 61st minute at the sold-out Groupama Stadium. Rose Lavelle rounded off the victory eight minutes later as the Americans added to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 world titles. After the game Rapinoe told reporters, "I think everyone is ready for this conversation and move to the next step. I think we're done with, 'Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?'." Earlier this year, members of the US squad were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the national soccer federation alleging gender discrimination. Watch: Fans booed FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron Fans booed Infantino and followed it up by chanting “equal pay!” #FIFAWWC2019 #USWNT pic.twitter.com/p4Kw7vZrbU — Lissa Tan (@page1of1) July 7, 2019 × It was filed in federal court last month and says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts. On Saturday, Rapinoe launched a scathing attack on FIFA, saying the organisation did not respect the women's game. Rapinoe said FIFA’s decision to allow the men's Copa America final and Gold Cup showpiece to take place on the same day as the women’s final was “unbelievable”. Rapinoe shook Infantino and Macron's hands as she received her medal. "It’s unbelievable to know all the people who put in so much in this group," she said. "We have all our families and friends here. It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous."

Watch: FIFA boss Gianni Infantino booed at women's World Cup final ceremony

France is once again gripped by football fever -- a year after the men's national team triumphed on the world stage, the women's team is cruising through the group stages and smashing TV audience records in their own World Cup.

Stadiums are selling out, and TV broadcasters are bumping up the price of advertising slots as millions tune in. Les Bleues' star players are fast becoming household names.

TF1, France's main broadcaster for the tournament, had expected the team's opening match to draw up to 5 million viewers. Instead, numbers peaked at 10.9 million, while almost 1 million followed the game on Canal+, a pay-TV unit of Vivendi.

TF1, owned by family-controlled conglomerate Bouygues, described the numbers as a French record for a women's football match.

But the records did not stop there -- in France's second group game against Norway, domestic viewer numbers spiked to 11 million on TF1 - on par with the number of people who watched the men's opening matches in 2018.

The French women play Nigeria on Monday in their last group game before the knock-out stages.

The surprising level of interest prompted TF1 to drive up the cost of advertising slots by 50-60 per cent the day after France's first match, Le Parisien newspaper reported.

Thirty-second slots during the half-time break of France's group stage matches, initially slated at 73,000 euros, now cost 116,000 euros, it said.

The surge in viewer numbers extends beyond the French games. England's match against arch rival Argentina drew nearly 1.5 million viewers on TF1, while up to 1.1 million people have tuned in to watch the United States.

Women's football is steadily growing in popularity in many parts of the world.

Football's governing body FIFA has said it has received a record number of expressions of interest for hosting the next women's tournament, in 2023, including a joint bid by South Korea and North Korea football associations.

France is once again gripped by football fever -- a year after the men's national team triumphed on the world stage, the women's team is cruising through the group stages and smashing TV audience records in their own World Cup.

France is once again gripped by football fever -- a year after the men's national team triumphed on the world stage, the women's team is cruising through the group stages and smashing TV audience records in their own World Cup. Stadiums are selling out, and TV broadcasters are bumping up the price of advertising slots as millions tune in. Les Bleues' star players are fast becoming household names. TF1, France's main broadcaster for the tournament, had expected the team's opening match to draw up to 5 million viewers. Instead, numbers peaked at 10.9 million, while almost 1 million followed the game on Canal+, a pay-TV unit of Vivendi. TF1, owned by family-controlled conglomerate Bouygues, described the numbers as a French record for a women's football match. But the records did not stop there -- in France's second group game against Norway, domestic viewer numbers spiked to 11 million on TF1 - on par with the number of people who watched the men's opening matches in 2018. The French women play Nigeria on Monday in their last group game before the knock-out stages. The surprising level of interest prompted TF1 to drive up the cost of advertising slots by 50-60 per cent the day after France's first match, Le Parisien newspaper reported. Thirty-second slots during the half-time break of France's group stage matches, initially slated at 73,000 euros, now cost 116,000 euros, it said. The surge in viewer numbers extends beyond the French games. England's match against arch rival Argentina drew nearly 1.5 million viewers on TF1, while up to 1.1 million people have tuned in to watch the United States. Women's football is steadily growing in popularity in many parts of the world. Football's governing body FIFA has said it has received a record number of expressions of interest for hosting the next women's tournament, in 2023, including a joint bid by South Korea and North Korea football associations.

France's women football team smash TV viewing records, advertising costs spike

French girl's soccer clubs hope the Women's World Cup in France this month will encourage more interest in female soccer, as the event is set to open in Paris on Friday (June 7) with the first game to kick-off between France and South Korea.

Next generation of French female footballers hope World Cup nets new fans

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.&nbsp;

The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development.&nbsp;

But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study.&nbsp;

As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not.&nbsp;

The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years.&nbsp;

After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players.&nbsp;

The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease.

But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers.

NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players.

Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players.

The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States.

"Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.&nbsp;

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday. The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development. But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study. As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not. The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years. After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players. The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease. But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers. NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players. Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players. The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States. "Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.

Football players at greater risk of premature death than baseball players: Study

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to return to football soon but says he is at a crossroads and is not sure if he should take up another role as manager.&nbsp;

Wenger left Arsenal at the end of the 2017-18 season after 22 years in charge of the London club where he won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups.&nbsp;

The 69-year-old has kept himself busy as a television pundit and conference speaker since leaving the Gunners and said in October that he had received offers to return to football from all over the world.

"You will see me again in football. As a manager... I don't know," Wenger told reporters on Thursday. "I thought I would come back into management very quickly but I enjoyed taking a little distance. Now I'm at a crossroads.

"Football is still my passion. I'll come back soon, but I cannot tell you exactly in what capacity."

The Frenchman also described the nearly 6,000-mile round trip fans would have to make from London to Baku for next week's Europa League final as a "nightmare".

Arsenal face London rivals Chelsea in the Azerbaijan capital on Wednesday with victory guaranteeing Wenger's former club a spot in the Champions League, but European soccer governing body UEFA has been roundly criticised for its choice of venue.

"It's a little bit of a nightmare (for supporters)," Wenger said. "The teams have no problem. They live in ideal conditions, they have their private jets."

Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not travel with the team after the Armenian national decided to skip the final amid concerns over his safety due to political tensions between Azerbaijan and his native country.

"(Mkhitaryan's situation) is something that should not happen in football," Wenger added. "I feel it's not normal that in 2019 -- inside Europe with very sophisticated democracies -- that you cannot play for political reasons."

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to return to football soon but says he is at a crossroads and is not sure if he should take up another role as manager. Wenger left Arsenal at the end of the 2017-18 season after 22 years in charge of the London club where he won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to return to football soon but says he is at a crossroads and is not sure if he should take up another role as manager. Wenger left Arsenal at the end of the 2017-18 season after 22 years in charge of the London club where he won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups. The 69-year-old has kept himself busy as a television pundit and conference speaker since leaving the Gunners and said in October that he had received offers to return to football from all over the world. "You will see me again in football. As a manager... I don't know," Wenger told reporters on Thursday. "I thought I would come back into management very quickly but I enjoyed taking a little distance. Now I'm at a crossroads. "Football is still my passion. I'll come back soon, but I cannot tell you exactly in what capacity." The Frenchman also described the nearly 6,000-mile round trip fans would have to make from London to Baku for next week's Europa League final as a "nightmare". Arsenal face London rivals Chelsea in the Azerbaijan capital on Wednesday with victory guaranteeing Wenger's former club a spot in the Champions League, but European soccer governing body UEFA has been roundly criticised for its choice of venue. "It's a little bit of a nightmare (for supporters)," Wenger said. "The teams have no problem. They live in ideal conditions, they have their private jets." Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not travel with the team after the Armenian national decided to skip the final amid concerns over his safety due to political tensions between Azerbaijan and his native country. "(Mkhitaryan's situation) is something that should not happen in football," Wenger added. "I feel it's not normal that in 2019 -- inside Europe with very sophisticated democracies -- that you cannot play for political reasons."

You will see me again in football, may not be as manager, says Arsene Wenger

Spain's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-posts-record-financial-figures-217311">La Liga</a> is in danger because of a proposal from European soccer body UEFA to create a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Champions+League">Champions League</a> that would be largely closed off to outsiders, its president Javier Tebas said Monday.

UEFA is working with the European Club Association (ECA), whose members includes Europe's biggest clubs, to redesign the Champions League from 2024 onwards but has not given any details on proposals, saying discussions are at an early stage.

However, sources with knowledge of the matter have told Reuters that there was a concrete proposal to create a European league with three divisions, with promotion and relegation between each.

The top division would be the equivalent of the current Champions League and would have 32 teams, but divided into four groups of eight rather then eight groups of four. This would mean teams playing 14 group stage games instead of six.

Twenty-four teams would qualify automatically for the following year's competition with four more promoted from

the second tier, currently the Europa League, and only four places open to champions of Europe's 54 domestic leagues.

This would break with the tradition that teams qualify for European competition through their domestic leagues.

"They are talking about a reform of the Champions, but really it is a new competition. The (domestic) leagues have been the way of qualifying for the Champions League but that won't be the case any more," Tebas said during a progamme on the Gol television channel.

"A number of clubs will be established who are always among the 32. On a scale out of 10, my level of worry is seven to eight."

"Is La Liga in danger? Yes, without doubt. UEFA can't do this and we want to convince other institutions that this cannot go ahead. We are working on a strategy."

Referring to the proposed competition as a Super League, he added, "The broadcast rights in Europe will change. There will be less money to share around the other clubs....and, in four or five years, the inequality will be enormous."

Last week, Lars-Christer Olsson, head of the European Leagues umbrella grouping which includes La Liga, said the current situation was more worrying than in the 1990s, when the top clubs threatened to form a breakaway league.

"The problem is that the discussions are taking place between the clubs and UEFA and that would mean a closed league under the umbrella of UEFA," he said.

Both Olsson and Tebas have said that only a small number of big clubs are in favour of the reported UEFA proposals.

UEFA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Spain's La Liga is in danger because of a proposal from European soccer body UEFA to create a Champions League that would be largely closed off to outsiders, its president Javier Tebas said Monday.

Spain's La Liga is in danger because of a proposal from European soccer body UEFA to create a Champions League that would be largely closed off to outsiders, its president Javier Tebas said Monday. UEFA is working with the European Club Association (ECA), whose members includes Europe's biggest clubs, to redesign the Champions League from 2024 onwards but has not given any details on proposals, saying discussions are at an early stage. However, sources with knowledge of the matter have told Reuters that there was a concrete proposal to create a European league with three divisions, with promotion and relegation between each. The top division would be the equivalent of the current Champions League and would have 32 teams, but divided into four groups of eight rather then eight groups of four. This would mean teams playing 14 group stage games instead of six. Twenty-four teams would qualify automatically for the following year's competition with four more promoted from the second tier, currently the Europa League, and only four places open to champions of Europe's 54 domestic leagues. This would break with the tradition that teams qualify for European competition through their domestic leagues. "They are talking about a reform of the Champions, but really it is a new competition. The (domestic) leagues have been the way of qualifying for the Champions League but that won't be the case any more," Tebas said during a progamme on the Gol television channel. "A number of clubs will be established who are always among the 32. On a scale out of 10, my level of worry is seven to eight." "Is La Liga in danger? Yes, without doubt. UEFA can't do this and we want to convince other institutions that this cannot go ahead. We are working on a strategy." Referring to the proposed competition as a Super League, he added, "The broadcast rights in Europe will change. There will be less money to share around the other clubs....and, in four or five years, the inequality will be enormous." Last week, Lars-Christer Olsson, head of the European Leagues umbrella grouping which includes La Liga, said the current situation was more worrying than in the 1990s, when the top clubs threatened to form a breakaway league. "The problem is that the discussions are taking place between the clubs and UEFA and that would mean a closed league under the umbrella of UEFA," he said. Both Olsson and Tebas have said that only a small number of big clubs are in favour of the reported UEFA proposals. UEFA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Without doubt La Liga in danger, says Javier Tebas

Borussia Dortmund suffered a severe setback in the Bundesliga title race when their shock 4-2 home loss to lowly Schalke 04 in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday left them a point behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Dortmund, who had two players sent off, are on 69 points, with three games left to play, with Bayern, who face strugglers Nuremberg on Sunday, on 70.

The Bavarians will open up a four-point lead with a win, leaving Dortmund hoping that Bayern might slip up twice in the remaining three games.

Schalke are now all but certain of staying up, having moved up to 30 points in 15th place, nine ahead of the relegation playoff spot occupied by VfB Stuttgart, who play Borussia Moenchengladbach later on Saturday.

It had all started perfectly for Dortmund with Mario Goetze's header from a superb Jadon Sancho assist putting them in front in the 14th minute.

But Schalke earned a penalty following a VAR review for a handball by Julian Weigl after Breel Embolo shot at him from close range, and Daniel Caligiuri converted it to level. The decision left Dortmund coach Lucien Favre furious.

"We started really well and got the opening goal," Favre said. "But then their penalty was ridiculous.

"This was so ridiculous. Whoever invented that rule had no clue. They want that players stop using their arms. How is that possible? You need them for balance. Do they have to cut off their arms? It is a disgrace. The biggest scandal in years."

Asked whether the title had now been decided in favour of Bayern, Favre said: "Yes, of course."

Salif Sane's powerful header from a Caligiuri corner in the 28th made it 2-1 to Schalke, who looked nothing like a team who have been battling to avoid relegation for most of this season.

Disciplined Schalke

Disciplined at the back and waiting for their chances on the break, Schalke were able to successfully soak up attack after attack from Dortmund, who had more than 75 per cent of possession in the first half but lacked the final pass.

"When you play in this stadium then you have to enjoy it," said Schalke interim coach Huub Stevens.

"My players did what we had set out to do. As for the penalty, I do not know if it was one but today we had luck on our side."

Things took a turn for the worse with Dortmund captain Reus was sent off on the hour with a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Suat Serdar.

Caligiuri curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner before Dortmund were reduced to nine men when Marius Wolf got his marching orders in the 65th for another rough challenge on Serdar.

Dortmund gave it all they had and Axel Witsel cut the deficit in the 85th minute but Breel Embolo netted Schalke's fourth goal a minute later to seal a memorable derby win in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for last year's league runners-up.

RB Leipzig made sure of their top-four finish and a return to the Champions League by beating Freiburg 2-1 to remain in third place on 64 points, 10 ahead of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.

Borussia Dortmund suffered a severe setback in the Bundesliga title race when their shock 4-2 home loss to lowly Schalke 04 in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday left them a point behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund suffered a severe setback in the Bundesliga title race when their shock 4-2 home loss to lowly Schalke 04 in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday left them a point behind leaders Bayern Munich. Dortmund, who had two players sent off, are on 69 points, with three games left to play, with Bayern, who face strugglers Nuremberg on Sunday, on 70. The Bavarians will open up a four-point lead with a win, leaving Dortmund hoping that Bayern might slip up twice in the remaining three games. Schalke are now all but certain of staying up, having moved up to 30 points in 15th place, nine ahead of the relegation playoff spot occupied by VfB Stuttgart, who play Borussia Moenchengladbach later on Saturday. It had all started perfectly for Dortmund with Mario Goetze's header from a superb Jadon Sancho assist putting them in front in the 14th minute. But Schalke earned a penalty following a VAR review for a handball by Julian Weigl after Breel Embolo shot at him from close range, and Daniel Caligiuri converted it to level. The decision left Dortmund coach Lucien Favre furious. "We started really well and got the opening goal," Favre said. "But then their penalty was ridiculous. "This was so ridiculous. Whoever invented that rule had no clue. They want that players stop using their arms. How is that possible? You need them for balance. Do they have to cut off their arms? It is a disgrace. The biggest scandal in years." Asked whether the title had now been decided in favour of Bayern, Favre said: "Yes, of course." Salif Sane's powerful header from a Caligiuri corner in the 28th made it 2-1 to Schalke, who looked nothing like a team who have been battling to avoid relegation for most of this season. Disciplined Schalke Disciplined at the back and waiting for their chances on the break, Schalke were able to successfully soak up attack after attack from Dortmund, who had more than 75 per cent of possession in the first half but lacked the final pass. "When you play in this stadium then you have to enjoy it," said Schalke interim coach Huub Stevens. "My players did what we had set out to do. As for the penalty, I do not know if it was one but today we had luck on our side." Things took a turn for the worse with Dortmund captain Reus was sent off on the hour with a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Suat Serdar. Caligiuri curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner before Dortmund were reduced to nine men when Marius Wolf got his marching orders in the 65th for another rough challenge on Serdar. Dortmund gave it all they had and Axel Witsel cut the deficit in the 85th minute but Breel Embolo netted Schalke's fourth goal a minute later to seal a memorable derby win in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for last year's league runners-up. RB Leipzig made sure of their top-four finish and a return to the Champions League by beating Freiburg 2-1 to remain in third place on 64 points, 10 ahead of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dortmund's title hopes dented by shock home loss to Schalke

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/three-manchester-city-players-make-it-to-the-six-man-shortlist-for-pfa-award-212082&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiuuoyB6d7hAhVEro8KHeCIAFQQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3qjnkc62DWZx_A6hgTvlER">Manchester City</a> exacted some measure of revenge on Tottenham for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden's first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win to move them back top of the table on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's men edge one point ahead of Liverpool once more with four games of a titanic title race left for both sides.

 
For all their Champions League heroics to get to the semi-finals this season, Tottenham still have much to do to qualify for the competition next season as they could easily end the Easter weekend outside the top four should Arsenal and Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and Burnley at home respectively.

City's quest for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies was ended by defeat on away goals to Spurs on Wednesday, despite winning a thrilling quarter-final, second leg 4-3.

However, they remain on course for a first ever treble of domestic trophies in England as they survived a nervy finale thanks to another blistering start.

City have made a habit of firing out of the blocks this season and just like in midweek to kickstart a kamikaze encounter, they struck within five minutes. 
Foden was making just his second Premier League start and immediately justified Guardiola's faith in the 19-year-old by heading home Sergio Aguero's nodded pass across goal from Bernardo Silva's cross.

However, history could easily have repeated itself as after four goals were shared in the opening 11 minutes on Wednesday, Spurs had numerous chances to strike back.

Son Heung-min had already forced Ederson in a smart save from a narrow angle before City scored and the Brazilian goalkeeper had to rush from his goal once more to deny Christian Eriksen an equaliser on 15 minutes.

Two minutes later the Dane played provider with a glorious ball to free Son in behind the City defence.

However, the South Korean, who scored twice in midweek to end City's European dreams for another season, was caught up just in time by Aymeric Laporte, who made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle.

Despite Tottenham's chances on the break, it was the hosts who were still dominating territory and possession with Bernardo Silva a constant threat.

The Portuguese's outstanding season was rewarded as he was named alongside teammates Aguero and Raheem Sterling in the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award and Jan Vertonghen was fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty when he appeared to trip Silva inside the area.

Spurs were without captain Hugo Lloris through injury and his understudy Paulo Gazzaniga looked nervous early on, but the Argentine goalkeeper got down to save Silva's next effort.

Guardiola's decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne out for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the sides was doubly questioned after the Belgian bagged a brilliant hat-trick of assists in midweek.

However, Guardiola's reasoning for being cautious with his playmaker after an injury-plagued season was understandable as De Bruyne limped off again just before the break and may well now miss the rest of the campaign.

Both sides suffered from their midweek exertions and the blazing sun as the second-half meandered along at a much more subdued pace.

Spurs had a big penalty appeal of their own turned down when Kyle Walker handled inside the area against his former club.

Sterling briefly thought he had completed a hat-trick in stoppage time on Wednesday with the goal that would have sent City through to the Champions League last four until VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

And the England international could not believe his misfortune once more when Gazzaniga stuck out an outstretched leg to prevent Sterling sealing a vital three points from Leroy Sane's cut-back.

Instead, City had to suffer through the closing stages knowing one mistake could cost them the title.

But they held on as Spurs suffered an eighth straight away defeat to English opposition.

Manchester City exacted some measure of revenge on Tottenham for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden's first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win to move them back top of the table on Saturday.

Manchester City exacted some measure of revenge on Tottenham for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden's first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win to move them back top of the table on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's men edge one point ahead of Liverpool once more with four games of a titanic title race left for both sides. For all their Champions League heroics to get to the semi-finals this season, Tottenham still have much to do to qualify for the competition next season as they could easily end the Easter weekend outside the top four should Arsenal and Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and Burnley at home respectively. City's quest for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies was ended by defeat on away goals to Spurs on Wednesday, despite winning a thrilling quarter-final, second leg 4-3. However, they remain on course for a first ever treble of domestic trophies in England as they survived a nervy finale thanks to another blistering start. City have made a habit of firing out of the blocks this season and just like in midweek to kickstart a kamikaze encounter, they struck within five minutes. Foden was making just his second Premier League start and immediately justified Guardiola's faith in the 19-year-old by heading home Sergio Aguero's nodded pass across goal from Bernardo Silva's cross. However, history could easily have repeated itself as after four goals were shared in the opening 11 minutes on Wednesday, Spurs had numerous chances to strike back. Son Heung-min had already forced Ederson in a smart save from a narrow angle before City scored and the Brazilian goalkeeper had to rush from his goal once more to deny Christian Eriksen an equaliser on 15 minutes. Two minutes later the Dane played provider with a glorious ball to free Son in behind the City defence. However, the South Korean, who scored twice in midweek to end City's European dreams for another season, was caught up just in time by Aymeric Laporte, who made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle. Despite Tottenham's chances on the break, it was the hosts who were still dominating territory and possession with Bernardo Silva a constant threat. The Portuguese's outstanding season was rewarded as he was named alongside teammates Aguero and Raheem Sterling in the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award and Jan Vertonghen was fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty when he appeared to trip Silva inside the area. Spurs were without captain Hugo Lloris through injury and his understudy Paulo Gazzaniga looked nervous early on, but the Argentine goalkeeper got down to save Silva's next effort. Guardiola's decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne out for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the sides was doubly questioned after the Belgian bagged a brilliant hat-trick of assists in midweek. However, Guardiola's reasoning for being cautious with his playmaker after an injury-plagued season was understandable as De Bruyne limped off again just before the break and may well now miss the rest of the campaign. Both sides suffered from their midweek exertions and the blazing sun as the second-half meandered along at a much more subdued pace. Spurs had a big penalty appeal of their own turned down when Kyle Walker handled inside the area against his former club. Sterling briefly thought he had completed a hat-trick in stoppage time on Wednesday with the goal that would have sent City through to the Champions League last four until VAR ruled the goal out for offside. And the England international could not believe his misfortune once more when Gazzaniga stuck out an outstretched leg to prevent Sterling sealing a vital three points from Leroy Sane's cut-back. Instead, City had to suffer through the closing stages knowing one mistake could cost them the title. But they held on as Spurs suffered an eighth straight away defeat to English opposition.

Manchester City beat Tottenham 1-0 to go top of the Premier League

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva have made the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year award, the organisation said on Saturday.

Premier League leaders Liverpool were represented by centre back Virgil Van Dijk and forward Sadio Mane, while Chelsea winger Eden Hazard completed the list of nominees for the 2018-19 campaign.

Aguero is the league's joint top-scorer with 19 goals and Sterling has found the net 17 times as City aim to become the first team in a decade to defend the English top-flight title.

Van Dijk has transformed Liverpool's defence since joining the club from Southampton in Jan. 2018, and has been key in the Merseyside club keeping 18 clean sheets this season.

Mane was rewarded for his 18 league goals this campaign, while Hazard has been Chelsea's standout performer with 16 goals and 12 assists.

Sterling and Silva are also up for the PFA Young Player of the Year award alongside Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold, West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks.

The winners, voted for by the PFA members, will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on April 28.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva have made the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year award, the organisation said on Saturday.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva have made the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year award, the organisation said on Saturday. Premier League leaders Liverpool were represented by centre back Virgil Van Dijk and forward Sadio Mane, while Chelsea winger Eden Hazard completed the list of nominees for the 2018-19 campaign. Aguero is the league's joint top-scorer with 19 goals and Sterling has found the net 17 times as City aim to become the first team in a decade to defend the English top-flight title. Van Dijk has transformed Liverpool's defence since joining the club from Southampton in Jan. 2018, and has been key in the Merseyside club keeping 18 clean sheets this season. Mane was rewarded for his 18 league goals this campaign, while Hazard has been Chelsea's standout performer with 16 goals and 12 assists. Sterling and Silva are also up for the PFA Young Player of the Year award alongside Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold, West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks. The winners, voted for by the PFA members, will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on April 28.

Three Manchester City players make it to the six-man shortlist for PFA award

Olympique Lyonnais returned to winning ways when they beat visiting Angers 2-1 on Friday to consolidate third place in Ligue 1.

Memphis Depay and Martin Terrier found the back of the net in the first half to put Lyon, who had lost their three previous games in all competitions, on 59 points from 33 matches.

The visitors pulled a goal back with one minute left thanks to Lucas Tousart's own goal.

Lyon trail second-placed Lille, who have a game in hand, by five points but lead fourth-placed St Etienne by six ahead of Les Verts' trip to Stade Reims on Sunday.

The top three in Ligue 1 qualify for the Champions League, with the third-placed team starting in the third qualifying round for Europe's premier club competition.

Depay started the game at the Groupama stadium after beginning the last two matches on the bench and he did not disappoint.

The Dutch forward collected Hassem Aouar's through ball before beating Ludovic Butelle with a powerful shot to put Lyon ahead after 14 minutes.

Aouar played Terrier through for the hosts' second goal six minutes into the second half.

Lyon's domination continued but Butelle pulled off several great saves to deny Depay and Terrier before Tousart diverted Angelo Fulgini's cross into his own net.

Earlier, Dijon beat Stade Rennais 3-2 at home to stay in 18th place, meaning they look set to take part in the relegation/promotion playoffs.

Leaders Paris St Germain will clinch the title if they beat AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Olympique Lyonnais returned to winning ways when they beat visiting Angers 2-1 on Friday to consolidate third place in Ligue 1. Memphis Depay and Martin Terrier found the back of the net in the first half to put Lyon, who had lost their three previous games in all competitions, on 59 points from 33 matches.

Olympique Lyonnais returned to winning ways when they beat visiting Angers 2-1 on Friday to consolidate third place in Ligue 1. Memphis Depay and Martin Terrier found the back of the net in the first half to put Lyon, who had lost their three previous games in all competitions, on 59 points from 33 matches. The visitors pulled a goal back with one minute left thanks to Lucas Tousart's own goal. Lyon trail second-placed Lille, who have a game in hand, by five points but lead fourth-placed St Etienne by six ahead of Les Verts' trip to Stade Reims on Sunday. The top three in Ligue 1 qualify for the Champions League, with the third-placed team starting in the third qualifying round for Europe's premier club competition. Depay started the game at the Groupama stadium after beginning the last two matches on the bench and he did not disappoint. The Dutch forward collected Hassem Aouar's through ball before beating Ludovic Butelle with a powerful shot to put Lyon ahead after 14 minutes. Aouar played Terrier through for the hosts' second goal six minutes into the second half. Lyon's domination continued but Butelle pulled off several great saves to deny Depay and Terrier before Tousart diverted Angelo Fulgini's cross into his own net. Earlier, Dijon beat Stade Rennais 3-2 at home to stay in 18th place, meaning they look set to take part in the relegation/promotion playoffs. Leaders Paris St Germain will clinch the title if they beat AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Lyon beat Angers to consolidate Ligue 1 third place

England women's forward Toni Duggan says her nation must match the achievements of three-times world champions the United States and "put trophies on the table" before they also ask for equal conditions as the men's team.

All 28 members of the U.S. 2015 World Cup winning squad have filed a lawsuit against their national federation, complaining about wages and working conditions compared to the men's side, who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

"You look at the U.S. team and they're a lot more successful than the men's and that's their argument. So first and foremost England need to be more successful," Duggan told Reuters in an interview at Barcelona's training ground.

"I can't sit here and say we're going to get to that stage, we need to be putting trophies on the table. Hopefully one day we'll be like that, but fair play to the U.S. team because it (equal pay) is what they deserve."

Duggan was part of the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/englands-lionesses-take-pride-in-team-spirit-ahead-of-world-cup-201762&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwigruWulN7hAhWIwI8KHaZxCKUQFggLMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ai7_FkedyD4CFEE1uvsgX">England side which reached the World Cup</a> semi-finals in 2015 and the last four of the 2017 European Championships.

After the Lionesses piped the U.S. to win the four-nation SheBelieves Cup in March, she challenged the team to take the next step and go all the way in this year's World Cup in France.

"I believe we can, we've got to two semi-finals at major tournaments, we've beat all the tough opponents. So it's possible but it's OK saying it, it's about doing it," Duggan said.

She is also confident her side will be able to continue the feel-good factor Gareth Southgate's men's side provided back home with their run to the last four in Russia, which she said began with the women's excellent 2015 World Cup campaign.

"To be honest, we started it, we had amazing support in Canada and Gareth followed on from that, great credit to him because he got them playing nice football and people wanted to be part of supporting England again," she said.

"There was a dip in the past few years but the buzz is back and I'm sure everyone will be behind us this summer."

Former Manchester United and Everton player Phil Neville had no experience of the women's game when he succeeded Mark Sampson as England coach last year but Duggan praised the impact he has had on the team.

"We need people like Phil who have experienced winning trophies to share that experience with us," she said. "The standards he sets are important to him, everyone's enjoying life under him and the new style we play, hopefully we can see that in the summer."

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PUSH

Before the World Cup, Duggan can look forward to a thrilling end to the season with Barcelona, who are involved in a close-run title-tilt with Atletico Madrid and meet Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.

Barca have missed out on the last-four stage on three occasions and last year were beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Olympique Lyonnais.

"I just felt Lyon had a little more than us. We were a new team but we're more together now," Duggan said.

"We're on a good run, winning games comfortably. Bayern won't be easy but I believe this is our chance."

Duggan has already made history with Barca, scoring in a 2-0 win at title rivals Atletico in front of 60,739 people at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium which smashed the world attendance record for a women's game.

More than 20,000 people watched last week's derby between Real Betis and Sevilla, while 48,000 went to Athletic Bilbao's San Mames to see their women's side take on Atletico Madrid in January.

"I've played in big games, at Wembley, a World Cup semi-final, but the atmosphere with 60,000 people was amazing," Duggan added.

"In Spain they're doing something right because the attendances keep creeping up and teams are getting the opportunity to play at the men's stadiums.

"That's the way forward for this women's game and you see it spreading across the world with Juventus doing it. It was a great occasion and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling."

England women's forward Toni Duggan says her nation must match the achievements of three-times world champions the United States and "put trophies on the table" before they also ask for equal conditions as the men's team.

England women's forward Toni Duggan says her nation must match the achievements of three-times world champions the United States and "put trophies on the table" before they also ask for equal conditions as the men's team. All 28 members of the U.S. 2015 World Cup winning squad have filed a lawsuit against their national federation, complaining about wages and working conditions compared to the men's side, who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. "You look at the U.S. team and they're a lot more successful than the men's and that's their argument. So first and foremost England need to be more successful," Duggan told Reuters in an interview at Barcelona's training ground. "I can't sit here and say we're going to get to that stage, we need to be putting trophies on the table. Hopefully one day we'll be like that, but fair play to the U.S. team because it (equal pay) is what they deserve." Duggan was part of the England side which reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2015 and the last four of the 2017 European Championships. After the Lionesses piped the U.S. to win the four-nation SheBelieves Cup in March, she challenged the team to take the next step and go all the way in this year's World Cup in France. "I believe we can, we've got to two semi-finals at major tournaments, we've beat all the tough opponents. So it's possible but it's OK saying it, it's about doing it," Duggan said. She is also confident her side will be able to continue the feel-good factor Gareth Southgate's men's side provided back home with their run to the last four in Russia, which she said began with the women's excellent 2015 World Cup campaign. "To be honest, we started it, we had amazing support in Canada and Gareth followed on from that, great credit to him because he got them playing nice football and people wanted to be part of supporting England again," she said. "There was a dip in the past few years but the buzz is back and I'm sure everyone will be behind us this summer." Former Manchester United and Everton player Phil Neville had no experience of the women's game when he succeeded Mark Sampson as England coach last year but Duggan praised the impact he has had on the team. "We need people like Phil who have experienced winning trophies to share that experience with us," she said. "The standards he sets are important to him, everyone's enjoying life under him and the new style we play, hopefully we can see that in the summer." CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PUSH Before the World Cup, Duggan can look forward to a thrilling end to the season with Barcelona, who are involved in a close-run title-tilt with Atletico Madrid and meet Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals. Barca have missed out on the last-four stage on three occasions and last year were beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Olympique Lyonnais. "I just felt Lyon had a little more than us. We were a new team but we're more together now," Duggan said. "We're on a good run, winning games comfortably. Bayern won't be easy but I believe this is our chance." Duggan has already made history with Barca, scoring in a 2-0 win at title rivals Atletico in front of 60,739 people at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium which smashed the world attendance record for a women's game. More than 20,000 people watched last week's derby between Real Betis and Sevilla, while 48,000 went to Athletic Bilbao's San Mames to see their women's side take on Atletico Madrid in January. "I've played in big games, at Wembley, a World Cup semi-final, but the atmosphere with 60,000 people was amazing," Duggan added. "In Spain they're doing something right because the attendances keep creeping up and teams are getting the opportunity to play at the men's stadiums. "That's the way forward for this women's game and you see it spreading across the world with Juventus doing it. It was a great occasion and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling."

England women must win trophies before fighting for equal pay: Toni Duggan

Gaza amputees tackle trauma with football

Hosts Egypt were handed a favourable draw for the 2019 Africa Cup on Nations finals on Friday (April 12), but continental powerhouses Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa were placed together in a tough group.

Hosts Egypt handed favourable draw for Africa Cup of Nations

Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid on Saturday attended the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid La Liga match at Camp Nou and said that to experience the atmosphere is absolutely electric.&nbsp;

In a video posted by Barcelona's official website, Dravid said, "It's incredible, it's a huge honour, it's one of the things I've always wanted to do, come to Camp Nou and watch a football match. To be here and experience the atmosphere, it's absolutely electric."

Barcelona closed in on the La Liga title after beating 10-man Atletico Madrid 2-0 as late strikes by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi gave the Catalans an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/luis-suarez-and-lionel-messi-late-show-sinks-10-man-atletico-madrid-208496">11-point lead</a> at the top of the table.&nbsp;

Dravid gave special mention to Barca's great Messi and his skills. He said, "To be able to watch players like Messi and Suarez play live, it's fantastic for me and my family. Thanks to Barcelona FC for the hospitality, it’s been excellent."&nbsp;

He further added, "He's an absolute genius. It's incredible to watch what he does and to watch him live… One thing to see with Messi is how fantastic he is with the ball but it is incredible to see how good he is without the ball and how he is able to find spaces. I don’t think there's been a better player than him ever. It's fantastic to watch him live."&nbsp;

Dravid, who is popular a "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive batting also talked about popularity of cricket in India. &nbsp;He said, "Cricket is a different game. We have great atmosphere and great crowd in the IPL and a lot of Test matches as well."

"Cricket is the No.1 sport in India but football is catching up very quickly. The ISL, the new league there since the last few years, Indian football is catching up but yeah, this was a lovely atmosphere to watch. Similar to some of the IPL games that we have," Dravid said.&nbsp;

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🇮🇳😁 Rahul Dravid, it was a pleasure greeting you at Camp Nou! We hope you enjoyed our victory 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bar%C3%A7aAtleti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BarçaAtleti</a> <a href="https://t.co/WENyIUQ8C8">https://t.co/WENyIUQ8C8</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1114907331018547201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Dravid also said that he is looking forward to Barcelona's performance in UEFA Champions League quarter-final matches against Manchester United.&nbsp;

Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid on Saturday attended the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid La Liga match at Camp Nou and said that to experience the atmosphere is absolutely electric.

Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid on Saturday attended the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid La Liga match at Camp Nou and said that to experience the atmosphere is absolutely electric. In a video posted by Barcelona's official website, Dravid said, "It's incredible, it's a huge honour, it's one of the things I've always wanted to do, come to Camp Nou and watch a football match. To be here and experience the atmosphere, it's absolutely electric." Barcelona closed in on the La Liga title after beating 10-man Atletico Madrid 2-0 as late strikes by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi gave the Catalans an 11-point lead at the top of the table. Dravid gave special mention to Barca's great Messi and his skills. He said, "To be able to watch players like Messi and Suarez play live, it's fantastic for me and my family. Thanks to Barcelona FC for the hospitality, it’s been excellent." He further added, "He's an absolute genius. It's incredible to watch what he does and to watch him live… One thing to see with Messi is how fantastic he is with the ball but it is incredible to see how good he is without the ball and how he is able to find spaces. I don’t think there's been a better player than him ever. It's fantastic to watch him live." Dravid, who is popular a "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive batting also talked about popularity of cricket in India. He said, "Cricket is a different game. We have great atmosphere and great crowd in the IPL and a lot of Test matches as well." "Cricket is the No.1 sport in India but football is catching up very quickly. The ISL, the new league there since the last few years, Indian football is catching up but yeah, this was a lovely atmosphere to watch. Similar to some of the IPL games that we have," Dravid said. 🇮🇳😁 Rahul Dravid, it was a pleasure greeting you at Camp Nou! We hope you enjoyed our victory 👏 #BarçaAtleti https://t.co/WENyIUQ8C8 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 7, 2019 × Dravid also said that he is looking forward to Barcelona's performance in UEFA Champions League quarter-final matches against Manchester United.

Lionel Messi is absolute genius, watching him live is fantastic, says Rahul Dravid

Swapping Kalashnikovs for bat and pads: Taliban's cricket connection

Pope Francis said during an interview to a Spanish TV channel&nbsp;that Barcelona's star footballer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Lionel+Messi">Lionel Messi</a> is great but "he is not God".

Lionel Messi currently tops the European Top Scorer standings with 31 goals from 27 appearances ahead of Paris-Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappe.&nbsp;

Messi has scored 16 goals in 12 Champions League appearances to help Barca reach the quarterfinals in the ongoing season and also helped his side reach the Copa del Rey final.&nbsp;

For his great footwork and decisive skills, Messi is often hailed as football God by his fans.&nbsp;

Also for fans, Messi is 'D10S', a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "Dios" - with the No. 10 on his shirt.&nbsp;

The leader of the Catholic Church explained that theoretically, Messi's reference to God is a violation of something which is sacred and it shouldn't be done.&nbsp;

"In theory, it is sacrilege," said Pope Francis, who is known to be a football fan.&nbsp;

"You can't do it," he added.&nbsp;

Pope, who was Born in Buenos Aires, is also a club member of Buenos Aires side San Lorenzo.&nbsp;

Recently, Messi's two goals gave Barcelona victory in the Catalan derby over Espanyol on Sunday, taking the Liga leaders another step closer to the title.&nbsp;

Pope Francis said during an interview to a Spanish TV channel that Barcelona's star footballer Lionel Messi is great but "he is not God". Lionel Messi currently tops the European Top Scorer standings with 31 goals from 27 appearances ahead of Paris-Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappe.

Pope Francis said during an interview to a Spanish TV channel that Barcelona's star footballer Lionel Messi is great but "he is not God". Lionel Messi currently tops the European Top Scorer standings with 31 goals from 27 appearances ahead of Paris-Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappe. Messi has scored 16 goals in 12 Champions League appearances to help Barca reach the quarterfinals in the ongoing season and also helped his side reach the Copa del Rey final. For his great footwork and decisive skills, Messi is often hailed as football God by his fans. Also for fans, Messi is 'D10S', a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "Dios" - with the No. 10 on his shirt. The leader of the Catholic Church explained that theoretically, Messi's reference to God is a violation of something which is sacred and it shouldn't be done. "In theory, it is sacrilege," said Pope Francis, who is known to be a football fan. "You can't do it," he added. Pope, who was Born in Buenos Aires, is also a club member of Buenos Aires side San Lorenzo. Recently, Messi's two goals gave Barcelona victory in the Catalan derby over Espanyol on Sunday, taking the Liga leaders another step closer to the title.

Lionel Messi is 'not God', says Pope Francis

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers.

It may be a nice idea, but it is grounded in the fiction that football can play an independent role in bringing nations together or developing national identity.

The fiction is that football has the potential to be a driver of events, that it can spark or shape developments. It is also the fiction that sports in general and football, in particular, has the power to build bridges.&nbsp;

Infantino’s assertion that if foes play football, bridges are built is but the latest iteration of a long-standing myth.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Football is an aggressive sport. It is about conquering the other half of a pitch. It evokes passions and allegiances that are tribal in nature and that more often than not divide rather than unite.

In conflict situations, football tends to provide an additional battlefield. Examples abound.

The 2022 World Cup; this year’s Qatari Asian Cup victory against the backdrop of the Gulf state’s rift with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt; the imprint the Palestinian-Israeli conflict puts on the two nations’ football; or the rise of racist, discriminatory attitudes among fans in Europe.

The Bad Blue Boys, hardcore fans of Dinamo Zagreb’s hardcore fans, light candles each May and lay wreaths at a monument to their comrades who were killed in the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. They mark the anniversary of a riot during the 1990 match against Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, their club’s most controversial match, as the first clash in the wars that erupted a year later and sparked the collapse of former Yugoslavia.

The fact of the matter is that sports like ping pong in Richard Nixon’s 1972 rapprochement with China or the improvement of ties between North and South Korea in the most recent Summer Olympics served as a useful tool, not a driver of events.

Sports is a useful tool in an environment in which key political players seek to build bridges and narrow differences.

The impact of football in the absence of a conducive environment created by political not sports players, is at best temporary relief, a blip on an otherwise bleak landscape.

The proof is in the pudding. Legend has it that British and German soldiers played football in no-man’s lands on Christmas Day in 2014, only to return to fighting World War One for another four years. Millions died in the war.

Similarly, Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites poured into the streets of Iraqi cities hugging each other in celebration of Iraq’s winning in 2007 of the Asia Cup at the height of the country’s sectarian violence only to return to killing each other a day later.

Football’s ability to shape or cement national identity is no different. In other words. football can be a rallying point for national identity but only if there is an environment that is conducive.

The problem is that football and the formation of national identity have one complicating trait in common: both often involve opposition to the other.

That is nowhere truer than in the Middle East and North Africa where football has played and plays an important role in identity formation since it was first introduced to the region in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Qatar has been in some ways the exception that proves the rule by plotting its sports strategy not only as a soft power tool or a pillar of public health policy but also as a component of national identity. That element has been strengthened by the rift in the Gulf and bolstered by this year’s Asian Cup victory.

Qatar’s efforts to strengthen its national identity benefits from the fact that the Gulf state no longer operates on the notion that Gulf states have to hang together. Today it's hanging on its own in conflict with three of its neighbours.

Soccer’s role in identity formation in the Middle East and North Africa was often because it was a battlefield, a battlefield for identity that was part of larger political struggles.

Clubs were often formed for that very reason. Attitudes towards the country’s monarchy in the early 20th century loomed large in the founding of Egypt’s Al Ahli SC and Al Zamalek SC, two of the Middle East and North Africa’s most storied clubs.

Clubs in Algeria were established as part of the anti-colonial struggle against the French. Ottoman and Iranian rulers used sports and football to foster national identity and take a first step towards incorporating youth in the development of a modern defense force.

Zionists saw sports and football as an important way of developing the New Jew, the muscular Jew. To Palestinians, it was a tool in their opposition to Zionist immigration. And finally, football was important in the shaping of ethnic or sub-national identities among Berbers, Kurds, East Bank Jordanians and Jordanian Palestinians.

In other words, football was inclusive in the sense of contributing to the formation of a collective identity. But it was also divisive because that identity was at the same time exclusionary and opposed to an other.

The long and short of this is that football is malleable. Its impact and fallout depend on forces beyond its control. Football is dependent on the environment shaped by political and social forces. It is a tool that is agnostic to purpose, not a driver or an independent actor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers.

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers. It may be a nice idea, but it is grounded in the fiction that football can play an independent role in bringing nations together or developing national identity. The fiction is that football has the potential to be a driver of events, that it can spark or shape developments. It is also the fiction that sports in general and football, in particular, has the power to build bridges. Infantino’s assertion that if foes play football, bridges are built is but the latest iteration of a long-standing myth. Nothing could be further from the truth. Football is an aggressive sport. It is about conquering the other half of a pitch. It evokes passions and allegiances that are tribal in nature and that more often than not divide rather than unite. In conflict situations, football tends to provide an additional battlefield. Examples abound. The 2022 World Cup; this year’s Qatari Asian Cup victory against the backdrop of the Gulf state’s rift with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt; the imprint the Palestinian-Israeli conflict puts on the two nations’ football; or the rise of racist, discriminatory attitudes among fans in Europe. The Bad Blue Boys, hardcore fans of Dinamo Zagreb’s hardcore fans, light candles each May and lay wreaths at a monument to their comrades who were killed in the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. They mark the anniversary of a riot during the 1990 match against Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, their club’s most controversial match, as the first clash in the wars that erupted a year later and sparked the collapse of former Yugoslavia. The fact of the matter is that sports like ping pong in Richard Nixon’s 1972 rapprochement with China or the improvement of ties between North and South Korea in the most recent Summer Olympics served as a useful tool, not a driver of events. Sports is a useful tool in an environment in which key political players seek to build bridges and narrow differences. The impact of football in the absence of a conducive environment created by political not sports players, is at best temporary relief, a blip on an otherwise bleak landscape. The proof is in the pudding. Legend has it that British and German soldiers played football in no-man’s lands on Christmas Day in 2014, only to return to fighting World War One for another four years. Millions died in the war. Similarly, Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites poured into the streets of Iraqi cities hugging each other in celebration of Iraq’s winning in 2007 of the Asia Cup at the height of the country’s sectarian violence only to return to killing each other a day later. Football’s ability to shape or cement national identity is no different. In other words. football can be a rallying point for national identity but only if there is an environment that is conducive. The problem is that football and the formation of national identity have one complicating trait in common: both often involve opposition to the other. That is nowhere truer than in the Middle East and North Africa where football has played and plays an important role in identity formation since it was first introduced to the region in the late 19th and early 20th century. Qatar has been in some ways the exception that proves the rule by plotting its sports strategy not only as a soft power tool or a pillar of public health policy but also as a component of national identity. That element has been strengthened by the rift in the Gulf and bolstered by this year’s Asian Cup victory. Qatar’s efforts to strengthen its national identity benefits from the fact that the Gulf state no longer operates on the notion that Gulf states have to hang together. Today it's hanging on its own in conflict with three of its neighbours. Soccer’s role in identity formation in the Middle East and North Africa was often because it was a battlefield, a battlefield for identity that was part of larger political struggles. Clubs were often formed for that very reason. Attitudes towards the country’s monarchy in the early 20th century loomed large in the founding of Egypt’s Al Ahli SC and Al Zamalek SC, two of the Middle East and North Africa’s most storied clubs. Clubs in Algeria were established as part of the anti-colonial struggle against the French. Ottoman and Iranian rulers used sports and football to foster national identity and take a first step towards incorporating youth in the development of a modern defense force. Zionists saw sports and football as an important way of developing the New Jew, the muscular Jew. To Palestinians, it was a tool in their opposition to Zionist immigration. And finally, football was important in the shaping of ethnic or sub-national identities among Berbers, Kurds, East Bank Jordanians and Jordanian Palestinians. In other words, football was inclusive in the sense of contributing to the formation of a collective identity. But it was also divisive because that identity was at the same time exclusionary and opposed to an other. The long and short of this is that football is malleable. Its impact and fallout depend on forces beyond its control. Football is dependent on the environment shaped by political and social forces. It is a tool that is agnostic to purpose, not a driver or an independent actor. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The fallacy of football's magical bridge-building qualities

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