HT Kick Off: The sublime and the ridiculous
On Sunday evening, Mo Salah taking a selfie with the Kop summed up everything that was right for Liverpool. Hours before, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) held a prize distribution ceremony that encapsulated all that was wrong with the beautiful game in the world's biggest democracy. The latest in that developing story is that Churchill Brothers are yet to return the I-League trophy as asked for by AIFF. But more of that later.
'We truly deserve to be champions of England,' said Virgil van Dijk and not a syllable in that sentence was out of place from the skipper who has played every minute of Liverpool's 34 matches. Salah was at the front and centre of a dominating show from Liverpool. He is so removed from the player who arrived from Roma in 2017, one who had been cast-off after 19 matches by Chelsea and had had a spell at Fiorentina. You couldn't blame Juergen Klopp for wanting Julian Brandt over him just as you could not blame Liverpool for giving him a new two-year deal now.
Because by now, his position as 'The Egyptian King' at Merseyside is secure. Salah has won the Champions League and scored in the final. He has two Premier League titles and two League Cups. Just as important, he has been a voice for gender parity in the Arab-speaking world and has spoken against the pummelling of Gaza.
And though Dominik Szoboszlai regularly covered 11km, as per Arne Slot, Salah has been their fittest player. His tally of 28 league goals this term includes strikes against Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester United.
'Super grateful for the past, super, super happy about the present, extremely positive about the future!' Klopp said in an Instagram post.
From Liverpool to Goa, city to state. AIFF went ahead with its prize distribution ceremony for the I-League on Sunday, hours before kick-off at Anfield, even as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) asked it not to. That happened because AIFF said by the time it had received the intimation from CAS late.
Watch video here.
Apparently, AIFF has an e-mail address for all official communication. And it being Sunday, the administrative office was shut, the federation said. But this being AIFF, you will hear many conspiracy theories. One of them is: it was only to embarrass AIFF that the e-mail was not forwarded by Inter Kashi to the AIFF deputy secretary-general who handed over the prize to Churchill Brothers or to anyone in the federation's legal team with whom the club had been liaising over the past few months is not known.
Another goes like this; the e-mail also reached Churchill Brothers but maybe they too had missed it. A third version is: AIFF knew about it and kept quiet as its top officials wanted to keep Churchill Brothers in its corner.
AIFF is on record saying it got to know of the CAS order after handing over the trophy to Churchill Brothers who were adjudged winners by the federation's appeals committee. It is puzzling why Churchill Brothers could not wait, as suggested by AIFF, to take the trophy at the federation's prize distribution night on Friday, before the Super Cup final. Exactly what anyone gains by having the trophy for a few days is not known. Nor is the deafening silence on being asked to return it (till Thursday evening that is).
In the middle of all this, the Goa federation president has written to AIFF's executive committee saying he was not informed by the federation where the I-League programme would be held. As Klopp did not say, the present and the future in India is not much to look forward to.
India's group: India have been clubbed with Myanmar, Indonesia and Turkmenistan in Group D of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup following the draw conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, reports PTI. Myanmar will host the qualifiers between August 6 and 10. A total of 33 teams were divided into eight groups. Group A has five teams while the rest have four each The group winners and the three best runners-up, along with final round host country Thailand, will complete the cast of 12 teams for the 12th edition of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, which will take place from April 1 to 18, 2026. The top four teams in the final tournament will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.
Thailand test for India: The Indian men's team will play a friendly against higher-ranked Thailand away from home on June 4, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced, reports PTI. To be held at Thammasat Stadium, the match will be a part of the team's preparation for its 2027 Asian Cup qualification match against Hong Kong-China on June 10. India are ranked 127th in the FIFA Rankings, while Thailand are 99th.
6th successive WSL for Chelsea: Chelsea clinched their sixth straight Women's Super League title on Wednesday to secure a second trophy of the season in its bid for another domestic treble, reports AP. After seeing second-place Arsenal lose 5-2 to Aston Villa, Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 away to move into an unassailable nine-point lead with two games remaining and stay undefeated in the league. Chelsea have already won the League Cup this season and advanced to the FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester United again at Wembley Stadium on May 18. The London club lost to Barcelona in the Women's Champions League semi-finals to end the quadruple hopes of Sonia Bompastor's squad.
Vijayan promoted: The Kerala government has passed an order to create a supernumerary post of Deputy Commandant in the Malabar Special Police Battalion for I M Vijayan and appoint him to it, given his contribution to the sport, reports PTI. Vijayan is currently the Assistant Commandant in the Malabar Special Police Battalion. The government directed the State Police Chief to take further steps following the order and submit a report. The order, on Vijayan's request, comes a day before Vijayan is set to retire from the force.
13-match ban: Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been handed a 13-match suspension and a £2,000-fine for homophobic language towards an opponent in a game against Walsall in January, England's Football Association has said, reports Reuters. During Walsall's 5-1 win over Tranmere in January, Finley admitted to the referee that he had called Jamille Matt a homophobic term after the Walsall striker notified the match official. The FA alleged Finley's language was 'abusive and/or insulting and/or improper' and constituted an aggravated breach as it included a reference to sexual orientation. Finley later admitted the charge against him.
Li Tie loses appeal: Former Premier League midfielder Li Tie has lost his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence for bribery, a Chinese court said on Wednesday, reports AFP. A lower court jailed the former China coach in December, snaring one of the country's best-known football figures in a sweeping government crackdown on corruption in sport. The Hubei Provincial Higher People's Court said in a statement on Wednesday it had rejected Li's appeal and ruled to uphold his original jail term. He was found guilty of a string of offences relating to giving and receiving bribes. The 47-year-old represented China nearly 100 times and moved to Everton in 2002. After retiring from playing, he served as national team coach from January 2020 to December 2021.
FIFA study: A groundbreaking FIFA-funded study at Kingston University will investigate whether hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be contributing to an alarming rise in career-threatening knee injuries in women's soccer, says Reuters. The research comes after players including Arsenal's Beth Mead, Manchester City's Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea's Sam Kerr have all suffered serious injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. Led by PhD student Blake Rivers alongside a team of sports science experts, the year-long study at Kingston near London will analyse blood samples from elite and grassroots footballers to track hormone concentrations through their menstrual cycles.
Rüdiger's problems: Antonio Rüdiger underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Rüdiger had to be replaced in extra-time of Madrid 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. He made headlines for shouting at the referee from the bench and for apparently throwing a small bag of ice onto the field. Rüdiger apologised for his behaviour but the incident prompted former Germany player Dietmar Hamann to call for the defender to be left out of Germany's squad for the Nations League final four in June. German national team sporting director Rudi Völler also criticised Rüdiger, saying he needed to show 'class' and respect for others.
Premier League office in Mumbai: The Premier League is expanding its global footprint with the opening of a new office in Mumbai, strengthening its commitment to one of football's most passionate fan bases, says Reuters. The Mumbai hub will build on nearly two decades of Premier League engagement in India, where the league has run grassroots initiatives since 2007 through its Premier Skills programme, supporting thousands of coaches and young people in 18 states. Premier League has also collaborated with the Indian Super League since 2014, sharing expertise in governance and development. Their joint Next Gen Cup youth tournament will feature its sixth edition in Mumbai next May, featuring ISL youth teams competing against Premier League Under-19 sides.
Dorival Jr at Corinthians: Former Brazil coach Dorival Jr has been appointed as the new manager of Corinthians till December 2026, the Brazilian club said on Monday, reports Reuters. The 63-year-old was sacked by Brazil following their 1-4 loss to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier last month. He replaces Ramon Diaz at Corinthians, who are 12th in the league with just seven points from six matches. 'It's an important moment in my career. I hope to leave a legacy within the work that has already been going on,' Dorival Jr said in a statement.
Vardy to leave: Jamie Vardy will leave former Premier League champions Leicester at the end of the season, the relegated club announced on Thursday, describing the lightning-quick forward as their 'greatest-ever player,' reports AFP. The talismanic striker, a key member of the side that lifted the English league title against seemingly impossible odds in 2016, vowed to continue playing even at the age of 38. The former England international joined the Foxes in 2012 from non-league side Fleetwood for just £1 million and has scored 198 goals (143 in Premier League) in nearly 500 appearances.
Meghalaya's Riiohlang Dhar will be the first Indian to be part of the refereeing team for the AFC Women's Champions League semi-final and final. The FIFA assistant-referee is among the eight chosen for the last two rounds in May. Dhar has officiated in under-17 women's World Cup and the AFC under-17 women's Asian Cup.
How Dembele helped PSG have a good night in London.
The Roman Weidenfeller interview
An emotion called East Bengal
Inconclusive but Inter and Barca make magic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
KSP moves Karnataka HC seeking intervention in plea filed against relief of 'Thug Life'
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has resolved to ban the release and distribution of Thug Life in Karnataka as actor Kamal Haasan refused to tender an apology over his controversial statement that Kannada was born out of Tamil. Questioning this decision, Raajkamal Films International, for which Kamal Haasan is one of the directors, moved the HC. In its impleading application filed to this petition, KSP contended that the statement in question amounts to intentional or reckless speech that denigrates the dignity of the Kannada language and added that so far, the actor has not made any bonafide effort to tender an apology over his remarks. The KSP has also opposed the prayer made by the petitioner for police protection to release a movie in Karnataka, saying that police resources are not meant to provide protection to a commercial interest. The KSP is approaching the court in the public interest to seek permission to intervene in the petition and to place on record relevant constitutional, linguistic and cultural issues arising from recent events that have caused public unrest and hurt to the sentiments of the Kannada-speaking community.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Chef Sarah Todd Enjoys Kilanji From Lakshadweep - Here's A Quick Recipe
The Lakshadweep Islands are renowned for their breathtaking natural beauty. Most tourists go there to enjoy its pristine beaches with picturesque turquoise waters, diverse marine life and multiple opportunities for water sports. But there's so much more it can offer, including the chance to taste distinctive local delicacies. Recently, celebrity chef Sarah Todd shone the spotlight on a wholesome dish from Lakshadweep known as kilanji. She shared a video of herself preparing this treat from scratch and praised its simplicity, smooth texture and comforting flavour. Also Read: Planning A Visit To Lakshadweep? Don't Miss Out On These 5 Must-Try Local Dishes How To Make Kilanji At Home | Easy Recipe For Lakshadweep's Kilanji You can bring a taste of Lakshadweep home by preparing Kilanji in your own kitchen. You don't need any special or expensive ingredients - only a handful of everyday ingredients that will mostly be in your pantry already. The basic requirements are: rice, eggs, oil/ghee, banana, sugar and coconut milk. To make kilanji, Chef Sarah Todd begins by blending soaked rice until she gets a plain liquid. She cracks some eggs into the grinder and then blends them to combine both components. She later sieves this mixture to get a smooth batter. She incorporates a little water to improve its consistency. She adds a pinch of salt to enhance its natural flavour. After this, the chef greases a flat pan/tawa with oil or ghee and ladles some of the batter onto it. She swirls it around until a thin layer of the batter has covered the entire surface of the pan. Once it cooks and the edges can be lifted, she folds it like a crepe or dosa. Next, the chef starts preparing the sweet sauce for the kilanji. She stirs coconut milk with sugar and chopped banana together. Once the elements are mixed well, she tops the paper-thin crepes with this sauce. After that, all that's left is to dig in and relish this unique sweet treat! Also Read: Celebrity Chef Sarah Todd Tries Mylari Dosa In Mysore, Calls It Absolute Perfection "It's light, it's creamy, it's comfort with a salty breeze... passed down through generations. This dish is island simplicity at its finest. Humble, soulful and absolutely unforgettable," says Chef Sarah Todd, as she enjoys the kilanji. In the caption, she added, "Lakshadweep may be India's smallest union territory, but its food tells big stories, influenced by centuries of trade routes, Arab connections, and its incredible local produce. No heavy spices. No rich curries. Just soft, clean island flavours that feel like a breath of sea air." View this post on Instagram A post shared by SARAH TODD (@sarahtodd) If you would like the complete recipe for kilanji, including exact ingredient quantities, click here.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Yamal sparkles as Spain beats France in thrilling semifinal
Lamine Yamal won the battle of Ballon d'Or contenders by scoring twice as Spain eclipsed France 5-4 in their Nations League semifinal. The 17-year-old Yamal outshone French counterparts Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele on Thursday (June 5, 2025) as Spain initially ran riot against Didier Deschamps' tired-looking team to book its place in Sunday's final against Portugal. Portugal defeated host nation Germany 2-1 on Wednesday. Thursday's game had been billed as a contest between young stars, but it was clear that Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League win in Munich on Saturday had added more weight to French legs with PSG stars Doué and Dembélé disappointing. Highest scoring game It was the highest scoring game in the Nations League's short history, but three of the four French goals came after Yamal had made it 5-1 and the Spanish players eased up thinking the game was won. Kylian Mbappé scored what seemed a consolation from a penalty with France 4-0 down. Substitute Rayan Cherki scored late on his France debut after Yamal scored Spain's fifth, then Spain defender Daniel Vivian conceded an own goal, and Cherki set up fellow substitute Randal Kolo Muani in stoppage time as France ultimately came close to an improbable comeback. 'It was a great game. In the end it was a little close, but we played very well and I think deserved to win,' Yamal said. Nico Williams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Yamal threaded the ball through to Mikel Oyarzabal, who held off two defenders and served it on a plate for Williams to rifle to the roof of the net. Mikel Merino, the hero when Spain last played in Stuttgart, made it 2-0 three minutes later after playing a one-two with Oyarzabal. Théo Hernandez struck the crossbar and Spain needed goalkeeper Unai Simón to deny Doué, then Mbappé and Dembélé. But Spain looked capable of scoring at any time. Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen thought he'd scored spectacularly after a brilliantly worked free kick, only to have the goal ruled out for offside. It was the 20-year-old Huijsen's third game for Spain. It looks like he's set to stay. Adrien Rabiot conceded a penalty for a mistimed challenge on Yamal, who dusted himself off to make it 3-0 from the spot in the 54th. Pedri scored a minute after that, taking Williams' pass with his first touch and dinking it past the bewildered Mike Maignan with his next. Pedro Porro's foul gave Mbappé his chance from the penalty, but Yamal replied to that by prodding the ball past Maignan for 5-1.
