Saudi Arabia – https://bhartiyanews24x7.com

23Dec

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Manchester City cruise to first Club World Cup triumph – Times of India

[ad_1] JEDDAH: Manchester City won the Club World Cup for the first time to end 2023 with five trophies after a 4-0 win over Fluminense in Jeddah on Friday.City's victory extended European clubs' domination of the competition since 2012 and was never in doubt once Julian Alvarez opened the scoring inside the first minute.Nino's first-half own goal realistically ended the Brazilians' dreams of an upset, before Phil Foden and Alvarez rounded off the scoring in the final 20 minutes.After clinching the treble of the club's first ever Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season, City also lifted the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in August.Pep Guardiola also made history as the first coach to lift the Club World Cup on four occasions and with three different clubs after previou...

3Nov

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Saudi Arabia eyes stake in $30 billion Indian Premier League | Cricket News – Times of India

[ad_1] Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in buying a multibillion-dollar stake in the Indian Premier League, international cricket’s most lucrative event, following a string of investments that have upended professional sports including football and golf.Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s advisers have sounded out Indian government officials about moving the IPL into a holding company valued at as much as $30 billion, in which Saudi Arabia would then take a significant stake, people familiar with the matter said.The talks were held when the kingdom’s defacto ruler visited India in September, the people said, asking not to be named as the information is not public.Under plans discussed at the time, the kingdom proposed investing as much as $5 billion into the league and help lead an exp...

17Oct

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Pakistan beat Cambodia 1-0 to register first-ever win in FIFA World Cup qualifying | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: In a historic moment, Pakistan's national soccer team secured their first-ever World Cup qualifying game victory on Tuesday by defeating Cambodia with a score of 1-0 in Islamabad, allowing them to advance to the second round of qualifiers.The initial leg of the match in Phnom Penh had ended in a goalless draw. However, the game in Islamabad saw Harun Hamid's half-volley becoming the decisive factor in Pakistan's favor, securing the much-awaited victory at the Jinnah Sports Stadium. This marked the first time Pakistan hosted a home game since 2015.This victory also marked Pakistan's first win since 2018, a significant milestone for the team ranked 197th in the world. Their upcoming challenges in the World Cup qualifiers will involve facing formidable opponents like Saudi...

21Sep

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If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we’ll continue sportswashing: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

[ad_1] Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia recently said in an interview that he does not care when he is accused of ‘sportswashing‘ “If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by one per cent, then we’ll continue sportswashing. I don’t care. I have 1% growth in GDP from sport and I am aiming for another 1.5%. Call it whatever you want – we are going to get that 1.5 per cent,” he said in an interview with Fox Sports. The middle eastern nation has being routinely accused of heavily investing in sports and using their events to clean its global reputation. Prince Mohammed has given very few interviews to Western media outlets, particularly since the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist, in an operation by Saudi agents that U.S. in...

19Aug

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Watch: Neymar presented as Al Hilal player in glitzy ceremony

[ad_1] Brazilian superstar Neymar was officially unveiled as an Al Hilal player at the King Fahd International Stadium on Saturday. Neymar signed a two-year contract with the Riyadh-based club after moving from Paris St Germain. Financial details were not disclosed but the transfer is reported to be for a fee of about 90 million euros plus add-ons. “I am very excited to write a new story chasing all the objectives with the club and my team mates – winning more and more titles and fulfilling the club’s ambition,” Neymar had said on Wednesday. NEYMAR JR IS BLUE! 💙💙💙 His full presentation, what an incredible atmosphere from the Al Hilal fans. pic.twitter.com/3671V6jIq2 — Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) August 19, 2023 Last week, Neymar missed PSG’s season-opening 0-0 draw against Lorie...

14Aug

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Al-Ittihad win Saudi league opener, Malcom nets hat-trick for Al-Hilal

[ad_1] Al-Ittihad began their Saudi Pro League title defence with an emphatic 3-0 win over Al-Raed on Monday while Al-Hilal’s Malcom grabbed a hat-trick to secure a 3-1 win over Abha. Al-Ittihad, managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, lined up with Ballon d’Or winner and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema leading the line while N’Golo Kante and Fabinho anchored the midfield. Benzema failed to score but after a goalless first half, the Frenchman grabbed an assist when Fabinho’s well-timed tackle in midfield launched a counter-attack and the striker found Abderrazak Hamdallah on the wing. The Morocco forward, who scored 21 league goals last season, had missed a sitter from close range moments earlier but this time he composed himself, cut into the box beating two defenders and scored just b...

14Aug

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‘Can’t understand why coming here would damage Henderson’s legacy and Messi going to the MLS enhances his’: Saudi Pro League Director

[ad_1] One of the major talking points in the summer transfer window has been Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson moving from the Merseyside to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq. That, the English midfielder had honed the image of an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community during his time at the Premier League has been put under the scanner with his move to Saudi Arabia, a country where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death. Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo however, believes that Henderson’s move to the league “is (not) going to be something that defines (players’) legacy”. “I find it hard to understand why coming here would damage his legacy and (Lionel) Messi going to the MLS enhances his legacy. There is something wrong with that. I don’t get why that would be the...

12Aug

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Cristiano Ronaldo wins first title at Al-Nassr with brace in Arab Club Champions Cup final

[ad_1] Cristiano Ronaldo guided nine-man Al-Nassr to their first ever Arab Club Champions Cup title after scoring twice in a 2-1 extra-time win over fellow Saudi side Al-Hilal on Saturday at the King Fahd Stadium. Ronaldo failed to land a trophy last season after his move to Al-Nassr, who finished runners-up in the Saudi Pro League, but the 38-year-old scored six times in the tournament to finish as its top scorer en route to the title. The tournament is played by top Arab clubs in the region and included teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. The star-studded Al-Nassr side had many chances to score in the first half with new close season signings Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana and Marcelo Brozovic all denied by goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais....

10Aug

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Can oil-money buy football dreams? As European football season beckons, the cash-rich shadow of Saudi Pro League looms large

[ad_1] It was Napoleon who had said, “whoever possesses Constantinople ought to rule the world.” By the end of June 10 – in pure footballing terms – it was Manchester City. Europe has, for long, been the heartbeat of club football. And City, the champions of England, were finally the champions of Europe. It was the last piece of silverware missing in their trophy cabinet and now, they had it. Making them unequivocally, the best football club in the world. Maybe even of all times. But just as the days rolled by and we moved closer to the beginning of another football year around the sun, Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut wasn’t the big topic of conversation in football circles. The departure of club captain Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez wasn’t an issue. The arrivals of the likes of Josko Gvard...

29Jun

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Lessons for Saudi Arabia: Why did the Chinese Super League fail?

[ad_1] A few years before Saudi Arabia’s recent cash splurge, China was the one to carry the mantle of a burgeoning Asian super power. Buoyed by president Xi Xi Jinping’s desire to develop the nation into a footballing force, a lot of businesses, especially from real estate, started investing in the sport. Soon, the Chinese Super League (CSL) was signing players like Oscar, Hulk, Paulinho and Jackson Martinez, something that was unheard of for Asian clubs at that time. But soon, everything fell apart. The financial issues that the coronavirus pandemic raised were too much for the CSL as well as the country to handle. In 2021, Jiangsu FC went out of business after its owners pulled out. One of the biggest blows, however, was dealt to Guangzhou FC who had won 8 Chinese titles and two Asian...

18Jun

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Not Lionel Messi’s American Dream, America’s Messi dream

[ad_1] Lionel Messi would not feature in Inter Miami’s next fixture, against Philadelphia Union on June 24. His contract with PSG ends only a week later, and he is expected to make his Major League Soccer debut later next month. But MLS has been buzzing in anticipation in what is dubbed as the league’s biggest moment since Pele descended in New York and changed the game in the country forever, four-and-half decades ago. Even before Messi has worn the Inter Miami shirt, the delirium has soared into the pristine skies of the Sunshine State. The tickets for Miami’s games have been sold out, despite a spike of 1000 percent for certain games. The cheapest for Inter’s Leagues Cup encounter against Mexico City’s Cruz Azul on July 21, assumed to be his first match with the club, leapt from $29 ...

6Jun

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France striker Benzema joins Saudi side Al Ittihad

[ad_1] Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has joined Al Ittihad as a free agent on a three-year deal, the Saudi Arabian champions said on Tuesday, after the French striker’s departure from Real Madrid. According to media reports, the contract is estimated to be worth more than 100 million euros ($106.89 million). “I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country. I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe,” the 35-year-old Benzema said. “It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project … I am looking forward to joining my new team mates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels.” Al-Ittihad last month clinched the Saudi Pro League tit...

6Jun

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PGA Tour players react to LIV merger, say they found out on Twitter

[ad_1] PGA Tour players were apparently blindsided by the news Tuesday morning that their tour had agreed to merge with rival league LIV Golf and accept funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. “I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” two-time major champion Collin Morikawa tweeted. Multiple news outlets reported that PGA Tour players were not told ahead of time that the news was coming before a press release was posted online and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan appeared together on CNBC for an interview. Al-Rumayyan said Tuesday that LIV CEO Greg Norman, a former PGA player who became a Tour nemesis by aligning with the competitor, was in the dark on the merger until moments before a national TV interview announcing the deal. “I...

3Jun

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Lionel Messi to leave PSG at end of season | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] Paris St Germain (PSG) announced on Saturday that Lionel Messi will be leaving the club at the end of the current season, bringing his two-year tenure in the French capital to a close.The news of Messi's departure from PSG comes ahead of their final Ligue 1 match against Clermont later on Saturday. In an official statement, PSG confirmed, "After two seasons in the French capital, Leo Messi's adventure with Paris St Germain will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign."Rumours surrounding Messi's future at PSG had been swirling recently, with reports suggesting that he had received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal for the upcoming season. Additionally, there has been speculation linking the Argentine superstar with a return to his boyhood club Bar...

28May

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Ronaldo ends disappointing debut season in Saudi empty-handed | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] In a high-profile transfer, Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia secured the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, in January. Despite Ronaldo's impressive goal-scoring record, the team finished the season without any silverware.Ronaldo's hopes of lifting a trophy came to an end when Al-Ittihad clinched the league title with one match remaining. This marked Al-Ittihad's first league triumph since 2009, dashing Ronaldo's aspirations of immediate success with Al-Nassr.The Portuguese forward departed Manchester United the previous year following a controversial television interview, expressing feelings of betrayal and a lack of respect for then-manager Erik ten Hag. Al-Nassr capitalised on the opportunity and signed Ronaldo until 2025 in a deal reportedly worth over 200...

9May

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Lionel Messi’s move to Saudi Arabia a ‘done deal’: Source close to negotiations | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] RIYADH: Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia next season under a "huge" deal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Tuesday."Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity and without naming the club."The contract is exceptional. It's huge. We are just finalising some small details," the source added.Asked about the comments, Messi's current club Paris Saint-Germain simply noted that he remains under contract until June 30.A separate PSG source said: "If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier."The 35-year-old World Cup winner was suspended by Qatari-owned PSG last week for an unauthorised trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador.M...

4May

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Messi receives offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal: Source | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina's World Cup-winning captain told Reuters on Thursday.The offer from the Saudi club is the only one Messi has received so far, the source added. Argentine media have reported that the offer is worth around $400 million a year.Al-Hilal did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of normal business hours.The 35-year-old Messi has also been linked in the media with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona, with the United States' Major League Soccer club Inter Miami also being touted as a possible destination.He was suspended by his current club Paris St Germain at the start of the week after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, Fren...

3May

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Lionel Messi in talks for $400 million Saudi deal: Report | Football News – Times of India

[ad_1] Saudi Arabia is preparing to offer football star Lionel Messi a $400 million annual contract to play with the Saudi Pro League this summer, the Telegraph reported.The deal, which is being negotiated by Messi’s father, would far exceed the more than $200 million deal Cristiano Ronaldo signed to play in Saudi Arabia until the summer of 2025.The Argentine World Cup champion was suspended on Tuesday by his current club Paris Saint-Germain for two weeks after traveling to Saudi Arabia without permission from the organization. Messi had previously agreed to a deal in principle to stay with PSG, but following the disciplinary action, he will not renew his contract, BBC reported.The signing is the latest move by Saudi Arabia to upend the world of professional sports. In addition to the re...

2May

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Lionel Messi suspended for two weeks without pay by PSG after unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia

[ad_1] The strains between Paris Saint Germain and Lionel Messi continue to take the headlines. Per RMC Sport, the Ligue 1 club have suspended their World Cup winning forward for two weeks without pay for his recent trip to Saudi Arabia which came without the club’s authorisation. The Argentine is therefore set to miss PSG’s next two games against Troyes and Ajaccio in Ligue 1. Messi, who moved from Barcelona to Paris in the summer of 2021, has been linked to a move back to the Catalan club. A move that has been publicly discussed and considered by the hierarchies at the Nou Camp including club manager Xavi, who played large part of his club football alongside the Argentine. The relationship between the Parisian fans and Messi has taken a blow following the 2022 World Cup final that saw ...

25Apr

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Cricket shouldn’t float on barrels of oil at a time of climate crisis

[ad_1] Image for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images In the recent issue of Wisden, the 160th, there is a plea for giving Test cricket the ‘kiss of life’. The editor wasn’t exaggerating. In fact, if anything he might have actually understated the problem. Perhaps it is cricket itself, in all its forms and formats that is in need of the kiss of life. The Almanack says: “The national boards have handed the keys to the self-interested few, and lost control of players they nurtured. The Indian franchises have been allowed to take over the house… private money calls the shots.” Man-made perilsInternal threats leading to an implosion is one thing, and worrying enough, but the game faces two external perils, both man-made, and not coincidentally, connected. The first is c...