Football

HONG KONG: Saudi Arabian football authorities have banned referee Fahad Al Mirdasi for life, weeks before he was due to fly to Russia to officiate at this year’s World Cup finals. Al Mirdasi confessed to offering to fix Saturday’s King’s Cup final on behalf of one of the participating clubs and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has requested FIFA ...

RIO DE JANEIRO: Striker Neymar, who hasn’t played a game since breaking his foot in February, was named Monday as the star of the Brazilian national team which will seek a record sixth World Cup out in Russia. Coach Tite announced the team list at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. Neymar’s returning form will be a key factor ...

Pakistan beat Indonesia on penalties in the semi-final to qualify for the final of Street Child World Cup 2018. Photo: Twitter  Pakistan have qualified for the final of the Street Child World Cup 2018 in Russia, making history as they beat Indonesia in a nail-biting semi-final on Monday. The boys in green outclassed Indonesia 5-4 on penalties to secure their place ...

LONDON: Mohamed Salah set a new Premier League record of 32 goals in a 38-game season to guarantee Liverpool´s place back in the Champions League next season by beating Brighton 4-0 at Anfield on Sunday. Victory for Liverpool meant it didn´t matter what fifth-placed Chelsea did at Newcastle, but they failed to put any sort of pressure on the Champions ...

PARIS: With the 2018 World Cup in Russia starting in a month, AFP Sport takes a look at how the biggest names — who between them have won 13 of the last 20 tournaments — are shaping up: Germany Germany´s build-up has been marred by uncertainty as to the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The 32-year-old Bayern Munich man ...

Saudi Embassy ‘B’ team were crowned champions of Diplomatic League football  Islamabad:- The Diplomatic League football, hosted by Leisure Leagues, concluded here with a lavish closing ceremony at a local hotel, which was attended by a number of dignitaries, heads of various corporations and diplomats as well as celebrities. Leisure Leagues, which is an initiative of the Trunkwala Family and World Group, ...

Brazil right-back Dani Alves was ruled out of the World Cup on Friday after suffering a knee injury playing for French champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) said. “All possibilities for his recovery being exhausted, it will be impossible to select Daniel Alves… for the World Cup,” said the CBF in a statement. The 35-year-old suffered the injury ...

BARCELONA: Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto will miss the rest of the Liga season and the first match of the next campaign after being given a four-game ban for striking Real Madrid´s Marcelo in last Sunday´s tension-filled 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced the ban for “assaulting another player” in its weekly disciplinary statement on ...

Rolando’s volley found its way into the corner to send Marseille through to the Europa League final. Photo: AFP Marseille booked a Europa League final meeting with Atletico Madrid after Portuguese defender Rolando struck in extra time to grab a 3-2 aggregate victory over a spirited Salzburg on Thursday. Salzburg produced a rousing second-half performance to wipe out a 2-0 ...

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne came second with Tottenham striker Harry Kane third. Salah, 25, has scored 31 goals in 34 league appearances for Liverpool this season. The Egypt star – the first African winner of the award – also won the Professional Footballers’ ...