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[BangaloreaN]

Maradona Cup

Barcelona suffer Maradona Cup upset as Boca prevail on penalties in tribute match




The Blaugrana welcomed Dani Alves back to the fold but ultimately ended up empty-handed in Saudi Arabia

Barcelona coach Xavi was frustrated in his first attempt to win a trophy at the club in his new position, as the Catalans lost out in Tuesday's Maradona Cup to Boca Juniors.
The two sides, both former clubs of Argentine great Diego Maradona, fought out an entertaining match at Riyadh's Mrsool Park in Saudi Arabia.
Barca took the lead in the second half, but could not hold their advantage and ultimately went down on penalties.

No cup for Xavi

Less than a week after suffering the disappointment of elimination from the Champions League and three days after being pegged back by Osasuna in La Liga, Xavi put out a mixed line-up of first-teamers and reserves to take on the Argentine giants.
Among his starting XI was Dani Alves, playing his first game after agreeing terms with Barca following departure from Sao Paulo.
The Blaugrana legend looked sharp throughout and played a big part in Barca's opener.
His cross was diverted into the path of youngster Ferran Jutgla, who steered a powerful shot past Boca goalkeeper Agustin Rossi five minutes after the half-time break.
Boca remained in the chase and went close to equalising through Sebastian Villa minutes later before finally equalising in the 77th minute through 19-year-old substitute Exequiel Zeballos.
In the resulting shoot-out Matheus Pereira saw his effort saved by Rossi and Guillem Jaime shot over the bar, while the Argentines netted all four of their penalties to seal a 4-2 victory.

A tribute to Diego

Maradona passed away in November 2020, prompting a wave of grief and tributes from across the footballing world.
Article continues below
Tuesday's match was the latest homage to the late star, bringing together Barca and Boca - for both of who Diego represented during his playing days - in a one-off clash in Saudi Arabia.
Maradona's ex-wife Claudia was in attendance at the Mrsool Park, as were his daughters Dalma and Giannina, while at half-time Ulises Bueno, the son of seminal late Argentine music legend Rodrigo, performed his father's anthem La mano de Dios (The Hand of God), dedicated to the 1986 World Cup winner.


Boca Juniors win Maradona Cup over Barcelona in Saudi Arabia



Argentina's Boca Juniors Marcelo Weigandt raises the Maradona Cup trophy following a friendly football match against Spain's Barcelona.

• The Argentine legend played for both clubs during his career

RIYADH: Fans of football and admirers of the Argentine legend, Diego Armando Maradona, got a treat in Riyadh on Tuesday as Barcelona and Boca Juniors played out a match in honor of one of the sports’ biggest icons at Marsool Park Stadium, in Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Maradona Cup.
The Argentine club got the better of their more illustrious opponents 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match finished all square at 1-1.
The game marked just over a year since the passing of Maradona, who was laid to rest on Nov. 25. The two teams participating in Tuesday's event had met ten times previously in friendlies, with Boca having won five of those matches, Barcelona four, and one draw.
Both teams share close ties to the late Argentine, who donned the famous colors of both teams. Although Maradona struggled with injuries during his two-year spell at Barcelona his impact was evident, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez says he grew up idolizing him.
And during Maradona’s lifetime, he was a regular visitor to Boca's La Bombonera Stadium long after he hung up his boots and enjoyed his own private box at the ground.

[BangaloreaN]

Senegal beats Egypt to win Africa Cup of Nations trophy




Senegal's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations match against Egypt on February 6, 2022.



Senegal defeated Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations championship match on Sunday, winning the continental championship for the first time on penalty kicks at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Neither Senegal nor Egypt -- which had previously won the Africa Cup of Nations seven times, the most in the tournament's history -- were able to breakthrough in the first 90 minutes, with Senegal looking in control for most of the game before Egypt gained strength late in the second half.

Egypt's Marwan Hamdi, top, jumps for the ball with Senegal's Abdou Diallo during the African Cup of Nations 2022 final soccer match on Sunday, February 6, 2022.



The game's best opportunity at a goal in regulation time came in the early minutes of the match for Senegal. After an Egyptian foul in the penalty box, Liverpool star Sadio Mané's penalty kick was saved in spectacular fashion by goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, also known as Gabaski, in the seventh minute.
But after 30 scoreless minutes of extra time, which featured a pair of stellar saves from Gabaski and Senegalese keeper Edouard Mendy, the game went to penalty kicks.
Another clutch save from Mendy set Mané up with a chance at redemption. Mané buried a rocket in the back of the net to give Senegal the championship.
The tournament was completed in the shadow of the deadly stadium crush where at least eight people were killed and 38 injured during the game between Cameroon and Comoros on January 24 outside Olembe Stadium.

[BangaloreaN]

Chelsea world champions as Havertz's late penalty ends Palmeiras' resistance



Once again, Kai Havertz was the match-winner.
On Saturday evening in Abu Dhabi, the man who scored the only goal in last May's Champions League final stepped up to take one of the most important penalties in his club's history, and cooly stroked the ball past Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton to claim the Club World Cup for the Blues.
No wonder they call him King Kai. In less than a year, he's crowned Chelsea champions of both Europe and the world.
Chelsea fans have long sung that they've won it all. But they hadn't until Havert's extra-time spot-kick at the 40,000 seater Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
Finally, owner Roman Abramovich, who was in attendance, has got his hands on the Club World Cup trophy, making it 20 titles in 19 years of the Russian's rule.
Chelsea will receive an estimated £4m ($5m) for winning the FIFA-organised tournament but that will obviously mean little to a man that has spent over £1 billion ($1.35bn) on players turning the Blues into world-beaters.

Indeed, as well as Havertz, another big signing also played a pivotal role, with Romelu Lukaku opening the scoring early in the second half with his 10th goal of the season.
However, Thiago Silva handled the ball in his own box in the 61st minute, allowing Raphael Veiga to level matters from 12 yards out.
The winner came from another handball, as Chelsea's pressure finally told.
By the time Havertz scored with three minutes of extra time remaining, manager Thomas Tuchel was on his third formation and had already used all five substitutes.
His changes worked, just, meaning the German – who arrived just before the game after recovering from Covid-19 – has now won three cups since succeeding Frank Lampard at the helm just over a year ago.
This latest triumph was as difficult as the final scoreline suggested, though.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira brought up the massive difference in budgets before the game, telling reporters, "[Chelsea] are a team that that has spent £545m ($740m) to be in this competition. Palmeiras spent £29m ($39m)."
However, he added, "But I believe – and my players believe."
Their fans clearly did, too. Chelsea's players had to deal an intense atmosphere but they proved their mettle in a deserved victory.

N'Golo Kante can now boast of being a world champion for club and country, while Cesar Azpilicueta became the first Chelsea player to complete a clean sweep of honours.
Antonio Rudiger was arguably man of the match, though, showing why the Blues are now willing to make him the highest-paid defender in the club's history.
Tuchel and his players will now be targeting more silverware, with Chelsea set to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final later this month.
The Blues' Premier League title challenge may have faltered over Christmas, but there's a belief behind the scenes that Tuchel can break the boom-and-bust cycle at Stamford Bridge, given his success and excellent working relationship with those behind the scenes.
For example, he didn't complain when Chelsea refuse to sign another wing-back on a permanent transfer in January, despite Ben Chilwell being out for the rest of the season.
Tuchel is a good fit for Chelsea. He understands how things work at the club and he has every chance of staying longer than the 18 months Chelsea managers average under Abramovich.
Indeed, he's now provided his boss with the one trophy he was missing and there is an undeniable feeling that there are even more titles to come for Tuchel and his young side.

[BangaloreaN]

[BangaloreaN]

A New Zealand soccer star scored a hat-trick of own goals in 35 minutes, then got subbed off in a shockingly unfortunate SheBelieves Cup performance

A New Zealand soccer star scored a hat-trick of own goals in 35 minutes, then got subbed off in a shockingly unfortunate SheBelieves Cup performance

• New Zealand's Meikayla Moore had a day to forget against the USWNT on Sunday.
• The Liverpool defender scored three own-goals in 35 minutes, then got subbed before half time.

The Liverpool defender Meikayla Moore had a day to forget while representing New Zealand in the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday, scoring a hat-trick of own-goals in just 35 minutes before being substituted by her manager.
Facing off against the USWNT in Los Angeles, Moore scored her first for the wrong team in just the fifth minute when she prodded US forward Sophia Smith's cross into her own net with her right foot as she attempted to block the ball.
Only a minute later she did the same again, this time heading home right back Sofia Huerta's cross in somewhat comical fashion. The ball ricocheted off the side of Moore's face into the net as she sprinted back to try and cover the goal.
In the 35th minute, she scored past her own team for the third time, this time with her left foot as she attempted to block a cross from USWNT forward Margaret Purce.
25-year-old Moore, who has nearly 50 caps for the Football Ferns, was substituted just four minutes later.
Moore's exit did little to stop the US' dominance however, with second-half goals from Ashley Hatch and Mallory Pugh sealing an emphatic 5-0 win for the world champion.

"Each player who has played and it doesn't matter what level, has great games and tough games, and Mouse [Moore's nickname] had a tough day at the office," New Zealand's manager Jitka Klimkova said after the match, per Australian outlet Wide World of Sports.
"Obviously she's sad and disappointed, but she has us. We know who she is, we know what a great player she is, and we are going to support her as much as possible and we will be behind her."

Moore joined FA Women's Championship team Liverpool in 2020 having previously spent the entirety of her domestic career in Germany playing for FC Koln and Duisburg.
The victory for the US means it has now not been defeated on home soil for 64 matches, while the team has also not conceded a goal while playing at home in just under two years.

The SheBelieves Cup, a four-team international tournament designed to inspire and empower women and girls in sport, concludes on Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, when New Zealand play the Czech Republic and the US play Iceland.

[BangaloreaN]

RIP, FFP: UEFA agree new sustainability rules



UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin explains the new regulations that will come into force in June 2022.

UEFA's executive committee has approved new "sustainability regulations" to replace the previous Financial Fair Play system, president Aleksander Ceferin said on Thursday.
A new "squad cost rule" will limit spending on wages, transfers and agent fees to 70% of a club's revenue -- with that figure reached after a three-year gradual change.
"UEFA's first financial regulations, introduced in 2010, served its primary purpose," Ceferin said at the Executive Committee meeting in Nyon.
"They helped pull European football finances back from the brink and revolutionised how European football clubs are run.
"However, the evolution of the football industry, alongside the inevitable financial effects of the pandemic, has shown the need for wholesale reform and new financial sustainability regulations."
UEFA added that acceptable losses will double from €30 million ($32.74m) over three years to €60m over the same period.
Reacting to the announcement, Ivan Gazidis, CEO of AC Milan, said: "The new rules represent a significant evolution of the previous Financial Fair Play structure.
"It is clear that creating a financially sustainable model for European football remains a critically important objective and we hope that, after the period of transition from the previous system, the new rules will be strongly enforced to ensure that they can help drive us towards this ambition."
Milan were one of the clubs who initially signed onto join the rebel European Super League last year.
"The failure of the Super League demonstrated that the only way to do this successfully is by creating an open and constructive environment based on transparency, dialogue and trust," Gazidis added. "We have had positive and broad-ranging discussions with UEFA about the future development of the game and look forward to continuing to develop our strong relationship with its leadership in future.'
The new regulations will come into force in June 2022, with a gradual implementation over three years so clubs have time to adapt.

[BangaloreaN]

UEFA's new financial sustainability regulations to replace FFP: All you need to know


What are UEFA'S new financial sustainability rules? What are the punishments for breaking the rules? When do the new rules start? Is everyone in favour of the new rules? Here's everything you need to know....



The UEFA executive committee approved new financial sustainability regulations at its meeting in Nyon on Thursday

The regulations are the first major reform of UEFA's finance regulations since they were first introduced in 2010.


UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: "UEFA's first financial regulations, introduced in 2010, served its primary purpose. They helped pull European football finances back from the brink and revolutionised how European football clubs are run. However, the evolution of the football industry, alongside the inevitable financial effects of the pandemic, has shown the need for wholesale reform and new financial sustainability regulations.
"UEFA has worked together with its stakeholders across European football to develop these new measures to help the clubs to address these new challenges. These regulations will help us protect the game and prepare it for any potential future shock while encouraging rational investments and building a more sustainable future for the game."

What are the new regulations?

Given their name, it is no surprise that the key objective of the new regulations is to achieve financial sustainability. These will be achieved through three key pillars: solvency, stability, and cost control.

For solvency, the new no overdue payables (towards football clubs, employees, social/tax authorities, and UEFA) rule will ensure better protection of creditors. Controls will be performed every quarter and there will be less tolerance towards late payers.

The new football earnings requirements are an evolution of the existing break-even requirements and will bring greater ability to club finances. To ease the implementation for clubs, the calculation of football earnings is similar to the calculation of the break-even result. While the acceptable deviation has increased from €30m over three years to €60m over three years, requirements to ensure the fair value of transactions, to improve the clubs’ balance sheet, and to reduce debts have been significantly strengthened.

The biggest innovation in the new regulations will be the introduction of a squad cost rule to bring better cost control in relation to player wages and transfer costs. The regulation limits spending on wages, transfers, and agent fees to 70 per cent of club revenue. Assessments will be performed on a timely basis and breaches will result in pre-defined financial penalties and sporting measures. The new regulations will come into force in June 2022. There will be gradual implementation over three years to allow clubs the necessary time to adapt.

What are the new rules?
UEFA's executive committee has approved new financial sustainability rules to replace Financial Fair Play from this June. The rules have three pillars - No Overdue Payment Rule, Football Earnings Rule and Squad Cost Rule. The No Overpayment Rule means clubs' accounts will be checked every quarter to make sure all bills are being paid on time.
The Football Earnings Rule will allow clubs to lose €60m over three years - double what was permitted under Financial Fair Play. Clubs will be allowed to sustain an extra €10m in losses a year if they are deemed to be "in good financial health".
As part of The Squad Cost Rule spending on wages (players and head coaches), transfers and agent fees will be capped at 70 per cent of a club's revenue. This will be assessed over a calendar year and not a season, so spending in the summer transfer window will be included in the calculations.

What are the punishments for breaking the rules?

UEFA will have pre-agreed financial and sporting punishments ready to impose on clubs who break the rules. Clubs could be prohibited from using specific players signed during an assessment year and they could be forced to play with a smaller squad. UEFA will also have the power to deduct points. Relegation as a sanction is also being discussed but it has not been approved as a punishment yet.

Won't rich clubs just pay the fines and carry on as normal?

The sanctions are progressive so if a club keeps breaking the rules the punishments will become more and more severe. First and second breaches of the rules are likely to result in fines, subsequent and more serious breaches will result in sporting sanctions. UEFA says it will also closely monitor commercial contracts clubs sign to make sure they are real contracts with third parties who are paying fair value. UEFA will calculate fair value by benchmarking and using external agencies to advise on whether deals are being done at real market prices.

Will it still take UEFA years to punish clubs who break the rules?

UEFA is hoping the new rules will be more transparent and work much faster than Financial Fair Play. For instance, in 2023 clubs will be assessed from January to December. They will find out in May 2024 whether they have broken any rules. If they have, their punishment will be applied for the start of the season three months later.

When is the new regime starting?

The new rules come into force this June but they will be implemented gradually over three years to give clubs time to adapt to the new regulations. The 70 per cent Squad Cost Rule cap will be phased in over three years. In 2023/24 the cap will be 90 per cent, in 2024/25 it will be 80 per cent and from 2025/26 it will be 70 per cent.

What about competitive balance? Will this give smaller clubs more of a chance to compete with the big clubs?

The new rules are about financial stability and not competitive balance. They are designed to make sure clubs are run properly, they are not designed to make competitions fairer or more equal. UEFA has decided to drop the name 'Financial Fair Play' because they believe it gave the false impression that they were trying to create a level playing field. They will continue to look at competitive balance but their key objective has so far been financial stability. The No Overdue Payment Rule and quarterly audits will start this June. The first assessment period for the Football Earnings Rules will be 2023.

Are the new rules coming in because football finances have been hit hard by the pandemic?

Financial Fair Play needed to be overhauled and the pandemic has accelerated the process. UEFA estimates that European football lost €7bn in revenues in 2020 and 2021. Some €4.4bn of revenue was lost from gate receipts, €1.7bn in commercial and sponsorship income and just under €1bn from lost and renegotiated TV deals. At the same time player wages went up two per cent every year in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 transfer costs were up 18 per cent and transfer profits down 41 per cent.

Is everyone in favour of the new rules?

Ceferin says he is "happy and surprised" that the new rules have the backing of all stakeholders in European football. The rules were agreed on after a consultation process which included national associations, the European Clubs Association, European Leagues, FIFPro, supporters' groups, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.

[sillan]

If you want to relive those magic moments of past world cups and classic matches - FIFA Plus is alive... Lot of free live games from around the world, nostalgic classics (full matches), documentaries are th e highlights etc...

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en

[kevin]

world cup ethiyallo. amazing. ithrayum kaalathe anubhavam vachu the greatest national side is the spanish team which won the world cup in 2010. enthaa team. perfect. ini angane oru side udane undavumo..

[BangaloreaN]

UEFA Nations League staring from 1-June.



Club football season just ended and international matches staring.
No rest for European footballers after a long season.