French minister criticizes PSG fans’ ‘Free Palestine’ banner; club to escape UEFA sanctions

French minister criticizes PSG fans’ ‘Free Palestine’ banner; club to escape UEFA sanctions
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Thursday criticised the unfurling of a giant "Free Palestine" banner at a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) soccer match, saying it was "unacceptable". (X/@KonateFC)
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Updated 07 November 2024
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French minister criticizes PSG fans’ ‘Free Palestine’ banner; club to escape UEFA sanctions

French minister criticizes PSG fans’ ‘Free Palestine’ banner; club to escape UEFA sanctions
  • European soccer’s governing body UEFA said the club would not face sanctions
  • Retailleau, asked if he would seek sanctions against PSG, told Sud Radio: “I am not ruling out anything. I will demand explanations from PSG“

PARIS: French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Thursday criticized the unfurling of a giant “Free Palestine” banner at a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) soccer match, saying it was “unacceptable.”
However, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said the club would not face sanctions.
Retailleau, asked if he would seek sanctions against PSG, told Sud Radio: “I am not ruling out anything. I will demand explanations from PSG.”
The French federation (FFF) president, Philippe Diallo, was summoned for a meeting at 0900 GMT at the interior ministry on Friday, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, adding it had not yet confirmed its attendance.
The FFF has no power over European club competitions.
French TV channel BFM said PSG director general Victoriano Melero was also summoned. PSG did not respond to a request for comment.
Fans from PSG’s hard-line Auteuil Kop group displayed a huge “Free Palestine” banner before their Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, eight days before France play Israel in Paris in a Nations League game.
“In no way was this tifo (banner) intended to convey a message of hatred — quite the contrary,” the group, Collectif Ultras Paris, said in a statement.
“The message that accompanied it is explicit and is a call for peace between peoples,” the group said, adding that the banner was made outside the stadium.
Their action took place as Israel pressed on with a military offensive in Gaza that has killed about 43,400 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza health ministry figures.
The conflict broke out after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
PSG said after the game they had not been made aware of any plans to display such a message.
“Paris St. Germain recall that the Parc des Princes is — and must remain — a place of communion around a common passion for soccer and firmly opposes any message of a political nature in its stadium,” the club said in a statement.
Minister Retailleau said: “Of course the club president is responsible. I want to know how this tarpaulin arrived, how it was deployed.”
A UEFA spokesperson said that PSG would not face disciplinary proceedings as it only bans political messages deemed insulting or provocative.
Last year, the Scottish club Celtic were fined 17,500 euros ($18,907) for fans’ waving Palestinian flags at a Champions League match.
Questions have been raised about security surrounding the France v Israel Nations League game next Thursday in a country that has the largest Jewish community in Europe as well as its biggest population of Muslims.


De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak
Updated 58 sec ago
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De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

MANCHESTER: Manchester City snapped a seven-game winless streak as Kevin De Bruyne played a starring role in a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Belgian created Bernardo Silva’s opening goal and then scored the second before Jeremy Doku rounded off a much-needed victory for the English champions.
City’s barren run included six defeats to leave them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool before kick-off.
However, De Bruyne’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months helped resume normal service at the Etihad Stadium.
City move back into the top four and within nine points of Liverpool after their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola had to shoot down suggestions of a rift with De Bruyne on the eve of the game after bedding him back into action slowly with a series of substitute appearances.
The 33-year-old showed what City have been missing as he rolled back the years and could well have had more than just one goal.
Guardiola reacted to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool by making four changes as Josko Gvardiol, Doku and Jack Grealish also came into the team.
It took just eight minutes for City to make the breakthrough.
Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was headed back toward goal by De Bruyne and Silva was in the right place to tap home from centimeters out.
Guardiola claimed pre-match that Ederson remains his number one goalkeeper but the Brazilian was again benched in favor of Stefan Ortega.
The German made a big save to deny Morgan Gibbs-White before Forest missed a glorious chance to put the Etihad crowd back on edge.
Chris Wood’s fine goalscoring form has been the catalyst to a fabulous season so far for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
But the New Zealander was wayward as he fired wide with just Ortega to beat.
De Bruyne settled City nerves on 31 minutes when he collected Doku’s pass inside the area and coolly slotted into the top corner.
Erling Haaland has now failed to find the net in his last three Premier League games.
But the Norwegian did play a part in the third goal with the assist for Doku, who cut inside and fired into the far corner.
De Bruyne saw a free-kick curl just wide and was then denied a second by his international team-mate Matz Sels.
He was given a standing ovation when he departed 15 minutes from time.
City spectacularly collapsed from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League eight days ago.
However, there was never any sense of a repeat as they controlled the closing stages to add a clean sheet to an all-round restorative night for Guardiola’s men.
Defeat leaves Forest still in sixth but now four points off the top four.


Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller
Updated 4 min 31 sec ago
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Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

NEWCASTLE: Liverpool’s seven-game winning run came to a dramatic end as Fabian Schar’s last-gasp equalizer forced the Premier League leaders to settle for a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday.
Arne Slot’s side were seconds away from wrapping up yet another victory in a dream start to the season after Mohamed Salah scored his second goal of the game in the closing stages.
But, in keeping with a testing evening on Tyneside, Liverpool were unable to hold on as Schar punished a mistake from Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Alexander Isak’s first half rocket had put Newcastle ahead before Curtis Jones levelled soon after the interval.
Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead before Salah’s double took him to 15 goals in all competitions this season, including nine in his last seven league games.
Dropping points for the first time since a 2-2 draw at Arsenal on October 27, Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table is down to seven points.
After impressive 2-0 wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City last week, Slot’s men were hailed as champions elect in England and leading contenders for the Champions League.
Failing to kill off spirited Newcastle won’t change that status, but Slot will have noted the flaws in his injury-hit defense ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park.
With 18 victories in 21 matches this season, it was a surprise to see Liverpool rattled by Newcastle’s tenacious high press.
Despite their erratic opening, Liverpool couldn’t be completely subdued and Alexis Mac Allister’s snap-shot from distance drew a fine save from Nick Pope.
Again Mac Allister was inches away from the opener moments later with a low drive that clipped the outside of the post.
In the absence of the rested Trent Alexander-Arnold and the injured Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool remained unusually vulnerable at the back, an issue vividly illustrated as Jacob Murphy smashed a fierce shot off the far post from an acute angle.
It was a warning Liverpool failed to heed as Isak opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Surging into Lewis Hall’s pass, Isak took a clever touch that wrong-footed Virgil van Dijk 20 yards from goal, opening space for a blistering strike that flashed into the roof of the net.
Gordon should have doubled Newcastle’s lead after Joe Gomez’s miscued clearance, but the forward’s hesitant shot was straight at Kelleher.
Liverpool were ragged and Slot threw his arms up in frustration after another Gomez mistake allowed Murphy to blast narrowly wide.
Yet in the blink of an eye, Liverpool conjured an equalizer five minutes after half-time.
Anonymous in the first half, Salah burst into life with a superbly measured cross toward Jones, whose run was perfectly timed to meet the Egyptian’s delivery with an emphatic close-range finish.
Newcastle were back in front after 62 minutes as Isak’s deft pass sent Gordon galloping into the area and he cut back inside before planting a composed finished beyond Kelleher from 10 yards.
But Liverpool’s resolve was unshaken, thanks in large part to the presence of the sublime Salah, as well as Slot’s decision to send on Alexander-Arnold.
Having set up Liverpool’s first goal, Salah hauled them level in the 68th minute, capping a flowing move with an instinctive close-range shot from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
That was the signal for a late Liverpool siege and the visitors thought they had stolen the points in the 83rd minute.
Probing away patiently on the edge of the area, they pounced when Alexander-Arnold slipped a pass to Salah, who finished with typical aplomb.
However, there was a painful sting in the tale for Liverpool in the 90th minute as Kelleher completely misjudged a cross and Schar slid in to poke the loose ball into the net.


Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri

Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri
Updated 04 December 2024
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Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri

Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri
  • The World Football Summit wraps up in Riyadh, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans and the passion propelling it to become a global football hub
  • Experts discuss the evolving fan experience and lasting legacy of football in the Kingdom

RIYADH: The second and final day of the World Football Summit provided an exciting platform for football leaders to share their insights on the sport’s evolving role in society.
One of the most engaging discussions came during the closing ceremony from Mauricio Macri, executive chairman of the FIFA Foundation and former president of Argentina, who offered his perspective on the power of football to bridge cultures and unite people.
Macri emphasized that we are witnessing the dawn of a new era — what he called the “Expectations Revolution Era.”

“Football will continue to be more and more in our lives. People are more and more interested in their teams and the players, and social media has created a new engagement between the idols and the fans,” he said.
He pointed to Saudi Arabia as a prime example of a country using football strategically to boost its international influence.

“We see a country called Saudi Arabia, crashing in with a very aggressive strategy … but under that, there is an intelligent strategy, especially at the academic level. People are increasing their engagement and their passion, and this is wonderful because football unites the world,” Macri said. “So many countries have disputes, and now they dispute over kicking the ball. That’s much more friendly than using weapons. Football is the new religion of the world,” he added, echoing FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s famous sentiment.
Macri also shared a humorous story about his experience in Saudi Arabia following the country’s historic World Cup win over Argentina.

“I had an appointment with my friend Yasir Al-Rumayyan the day after the first match. I couldn’t believe it. I had to travel here to Saudi Arabia. When I entered the airport, they saw my passport. Everybody was laughing at me. The day after Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, I have never seen such happiness in this country like that day,” he laughed.
Turning to the subject of social media and its impact on players, Macri advised athletes to focus on their true identities.

“Focus on who they are,” he said, highlighting the importance of authenticity in the digital age.
He also offered a comparison between running a popular football club and leading a country, suggesting that managing a football club could be even more challenging: “Running a very popular football club is more difficult than running a country — and I have been in both situations! Nobody cares about politics, but everybody cares about football.”
Recalling the goals Saudi Arabia scored against Argentina, Macri praised the second as “wonderful” and likened it to a Messi strike: “The first one was from an angle that was impossible. The ball pounded twice just before the hand of the goalkeeper,” he recalled.

Macri’s broader vision for the FIFA Foundation is ambitious, with a focus on empowering the next generation of young people. His goal is to reach a million refugee children and teach them digital skills, education, and robotics.

“They will build their own robot to play football among other kids,” he said, highlighting the potential for football to inspire and teach life skills to young people worldwide.
Meanwhile, in a panel discussion titled “Fan of Tomorrow: How is the stadium experience changing with the times,” speakers explored the role of technology in enhancing fan engagement.
They discussed innovations such as integrating public transport systems to provide seamless journeys for fans, and the use of augmented and virtual reality technologies to create emotionally engaging stadium experiences.

Data integration was also a key focus, with panelists stressing the importance of creating a 360-degree view of sports infrastructure to help plan cities and enhance the fan experience.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the creation of a one-stop platform to track sports infrastructure and venue availability in Riyadh.

Yazeed Al-Rasheed, chief marketing and communication officer at the local organizing committee of AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia, reflected on lessons learned from the 2023 Club World Cup.
“The Club World Cup that we hosted last year in Jeddah was a great exercise for us, even to test ourselves, and our capabilities,” he said.

He also highlighted the significance of the experience in preparing for future events, including the 2027 AFC Asian Cup: “We are investing in ourselves and our people, our teams, to be educated, to be aware, to try to see. By 2027, we will have a full-fledged system with services, airports, and airlines. It’s going to be totally different,” he said.
Alrasheed’s comments were echoed by Turki bin Oudah, general manager of the sports sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, who discussed the city’s plans to create a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for residents and visitors.

“We have the database now that is ready. We are at the phase of developing that dashboard or tableau for residents and visitors. This will be a one-stop shop that gives you a 360-view of all the sports infrastructure in the city of Riyadh,” he said.
Bin Oudah also touched on the broader legacy of Saudi Arabia’s sports development, emphasizing that the real legacy of hosting major events would be the lasting impact on the people. “Our main legacy is the people,” he said. “We are going to deliver a huge document of legacy for the next competition, not only for 2034, but we have a lot between 2034 and 2027 — not only sport, not only football, but winter games, Asian games, all of these big events are going to take advantage of the legacy we are going to leave behind.”
As the World Football Summit in Riyadh drew to a close, it was clear that Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global hub for sports and innovation.


Peace and Sport honors Saudi Arabia’s sports sector

Peace and Sport honors Saudi Arabia’s sports sector
Updated 04 December 2024
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Peace and Sport honors Saudi Arabia’s sports sector

Peace and Sport honors Saudi Arabia’s sports sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s sports sector has received the prestigious Peace and Sport Award for its contribution to promoting the role of sport in fostering worldwide peace.

The recognition also highlights the Kingdom’s efforts in implementing a number of sports initiatives, including hosting elite international events.

The award was presented during the 14th International Peace and Sport Forum, held in Monaco under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. The forum was attended by Prince Fahad bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

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He accepted the award on behalf of Minister of Sports and SOPC President Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who in a speech read on his behalf, said: “I begin this occasion by expressing my profound gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud — from them, we draw inspiration and unwavering belief in supporting global efforts to promote peace, development, and prosperity across the world.”

He said Saudi Arabia was a global leader in fostering coexistence through sports, which served as a noble and effective tool for peaceful communication among the world’s peoples. He also expressed his gratitude to Prince Albert and the Peace and Sport organization team, led by World Olympians Association President Joel Bouzou, for their efforts in spotlighting the organization’s programs and initiatives.


UAE’s Thani Al-Qemzi eyes big finish in Sharjah as Wyatt and Andersson chase title

UAE’s Thani Al-Qemzi eyes big finish in Sharjah as Wyatt and Andersson chase title
Updated 04 December 2024
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UAE’s Thani Al-Qemzi eyes big finish in Sharjah as Wyatt and Andersson chase title

UAE’s Thani Al-Qemzi eyes big finish in Sharjah as Wyatt and Andersson chase title
  • Veteran Team Abu Dhabi driver returns to career starting point with sights already set on new chapter in powerboating

ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al-Qemzi is already looking forward to opening another chapter in his illustrious career as the Grand Prix of Sharjah brings the 2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship to a tense conclusion at the weekend.

For Al-Qemzi, Sharjah’s renowned Khalid Lagoon is where it all began in November 2000, when he made his debut in the flagship international series of single-seater inshore circuit powerboat racing.

On that occasion, his race ended prematurely in retirement. But in the 24 years since, he has built a reputation as one of the toughest and most enduring competitors in the F1H2O World Championship.

He has been world championship runner-up twice, finished third on six occasions, helped Team Abu Dhabi to a fifth consecutive world team crown two years ago, and still commands enormous respect at the top level.

On Sunday, Al-Qemzi will be starting his 158th Grand Prix, as defending champion Jonas Andersson and Sharjah Team rookie Rusty Wyatt go head-to-head in the title showdown.

While Al-Qemzi returns to action in Sharjah holding 11th place in what has been a difficult season for Team Abu Dhabi, he is determined to add to his career record of Grand Prix victories. If not at the weekend, then next season.

Joining forces again with Sweden’s Erik Stark, who returns to Team Abu Dhabi for a second spell in 2025, Al-Qemzi wants to get back to his best alongside last season’s world championship runner-up.

“The first priority is to find a big finish to the season in Sharjah,” says the veteran Emirati driver, who is once more partnered with cousin Rashed Al-Qemzi, the five-time F2 world title winner, at the weekend.

“It’s a long time since I started my first race there, and so much has happened in between. It’s always been a special place for me, and I look forward to racing on Khalid Lagoon again.

“Next season, it’s up to Erik and myself to push each other to get the results we’re capable of, and hopefully take Team Abu Dhabi back to the top.”

Starting his final Grand Prix for Victory Team in fourth place, before his move to Team Abu Dhabi, Stark will be looking to reproduce the form that took him to victory in the Grand Prix of Binh Dinh-Vietnam back in March.

2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship standings

1. Jonas Andersson (SWE) 99

2. Rusty Wyatt (CAN) 96pts

3. Peter Morin (FRA) 79.5

4. Erik Stark (SWE) 77.5

5. Bartek Marszalek (POL) 64

6. Sami Selio (FIN) 52

7. Marit Stromoy (NOR) 43

8. Stefan Arand (EST) 34.5

9. Ben Jelf (GB) 30.5

9. Ferdinand Zandbergen (NED) 30.5

11. Thani Al-Qemzi (UAE) 27.5