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FILE PHOTO: MotoGP - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar - April 13, 2025 Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin in action REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo

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The Star
39 minutes ago
- The Star
Soccer-Brentford sign Liverpool goalkeeper Kelleher on five-year deal
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Liverpool - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 6, 2025 Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher celebrates their first goal scored by Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File Photo (Reuters) -Brentford have signed Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool on a five-year contract, both Premier League clubs said on Tuesday. The 26-year-old will replace Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who joined Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on a three-year deal. Kelleher's contract also includes an option for a 12-month extension, with British media valuing the deal at around 18 million pounds ($24.35 million). "I am very pleased to welcome Caoimhin to Brentford. We have scouted him in the past and were aware that he had a year to go on his contract with Liverpool this summer," Brentford's Director of Football Phil Giles said. Kelleher, who has earned 22 caps for Ireland, has made 67 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions. In his 10-year career with Liverpool, he won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two Carabao Cups and the UEFA Super Cup. ($1 = 0.7393 pounds) (Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Netherlands 'obligated' to top World Cup qualifying group, says Koeman
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Spain v Netherlands - Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia, Spain - March 23, 2025 Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman before the match REUTERS/Pablo Morano/File photo (Reuters) - The Netherlands are obligated to win their World Cup qualifying group, coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday as they began preparation for their opening Group G clash against Finland in Helsinki on Saturday. It will be their first match in their bid to qualify for next year's finals in North America, followed by a second fixture on Tuesday when they host Malta in Groningen. The Dutch belatedly kick off their qualifiers because they played in the Nations League quarter-finals in March where they drew twice with Spain before being eliminated on penalties. "Maybe it is easier to play football against Spain," Koeman told a press conference. "Because no one expects anything from us then. "Finland and Malta are different types of opponents. We will have more of the ball, and they try to stop us. "We are obligated to finish first in this group, but we do not underestimate anyone and we need to bring the energy that we have shown in our last few matches." The group also includes Lithuania and Poland, who top the standings after two wins in March. The winners qualify for the World Cup while the runners-up advances to a playoff competition. "We want to be good for all the matches and perform much more consistently," Koeman said. "We have shown that against one of the best countries in the world, which gives us confidence." One problem Koeman admitted, however, was the lack of a recognised centre forward. "We don't have top strikers now. I don't know what is coming through the ranks with the 15-16-year-olds, but it is clear that at the moment we do not have the classic striker of the past. Players like (Patrick) Kluivert, (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar, and (Ruud) Van Nistelrooy. You don't see players like them around anymore." Koeman is not sure who would lead the line in the qualifiers over the next week. "It will probably be Memphis (Depay) or Wout (Weghorst) at the top of the attack," he said. "But (Cody) Gakpo and (Donyell) Malen are all possibilities in that position." (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Swimming-World Aquatics adopts bylaw to stop doping enablers amid Enhanced Games furore
FILE PHOTO: Swimming - European Aquatics Championships - Sports and Recreational Center Milan Gale Muskatirovic, Belgrade, Serbia - June 23, 2024 Gold medallist, Greece's Kristian Gkolomeev poses with his medal on the podium after winning the men's 50m freestyle final REUTERS/Novak Djurovic/File Photo (Reuters) -World Aquatics introduced a new bylaw on Tuesday that will prevent any athlete or official who supports or endorses doping from competing or holding any positions after a Greek swimmer supported by the Enhanced Games 'broke' the world record. With the help of the controversial programme, Greece's Kristian Gkolomeev swam the men's 50 metres freestyle in 20.89 seconds to shave 0.02 seconds off the long-standing record set by Brazil's Cesar Cielo in 2009. Gkolomeev, who has competed at four Olympics and came fifth in the event at the Paris Games last year with a time of 21.59 seconds, said he had gained "an extra 10 pounds of muscle" before the attempt. Enhanced Games had declined to disclose which "performance enhancements" the 31-year-old used. "Individuals who support, endorse, or participate in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices ... will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events, or other activities," World Aquatics said. The practices can include either prohibited substances or prohibited methods. "This ineligibility would apply to roles such as athlete, coach, team official, administrator, medical support staff, or government representative," the governing body added. The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competitions does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance, and called on athletes to join the competition. The World Anti-Doping Agency had condemned the Enhanced Games as "dangerous and irresponsible", while Olympic 50 metres freestyle champion Cam McEvoy said Gkolomeev's time was 'irrelevant' to the sport. "Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events," World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam said. "This new bylaw ensures that we can continue to protect the integrity of our competitions, the health and safety of our athletes, and the credibility of the global aquatics community." The Enhanced Games have set their inaugural competition for May 2026 in Las Vegas, with swimming, athletics and weightlifting on the agenda. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)