Koeman keeps Depay hungry for goals after equalling Van Persie's record
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Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
New boy Joao Felix fires 10-man Al-Nassr to Saudi Super Cup win over Al-Ittihad
LONDON: Joao Felix shone on his club debut as 10-man Al-Nassr defeated Al-Ittihad 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong on Tuesday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The forward, who joined the Jeddah side at the end of July from Chelsea, grabbed the second-half winner for his new team, who were reduced to 10 men after just 25 minutes when Sadio Mane was sent off. Before the red card, Mane had opened the scoring in fine fashion after just 10 minutes. Ayman Yahya freed Marcelo Brozovic down the left and the Croatian fired in a low cross from the byline. The ball was in the air and a little behind Mane but the former Liverpool star managed to lean back and volley it into the net from near the penalty spot, although goalkeeper Hamed Al-Shanqiti got his hands to the shot and should probably have kept it out. The advantage was short-lived, however, as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions hit back just six minutes later. Mario Mitaj carried the ball forward down the left and found Moussa Diaby inside the box. The French winger then slipped the ball back for Steven Bergwijn to slot home. New Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus soon faced a bigger headache nine minuted later when Mane was given his marching orders. The Senegalese attacker seemed to stamp on Al-Shanqiti as he went for the ball and, after the video assistant referee had a look, the Riyadh side were down to 10 men. Yet on the hour mark, it was Al-Nassr who took the lead once again. Cristiano Ronaldo broke free down the right, entered the area and, despite having only the goalkeeper to beat, the 40-year-old unselfishly side-footed the ball to Felix, and his Portuguese compatriot made no mistake from close range. Five minutes later, Felix fired home a rocket from the edge of the area, only for the goal to be ruled out because of a foul in the build-up. He came close once again when he rounded the goalkeeper, but hit the post from a tight angle. Al-Ittihad had almost two-thirds of the possession but could not get back into the game, and when Saleh Al-Shehri headed straight at the goalkeeper from close range in injury time, it was all over. With last season's Pro League runners-up Al-Hilal, who finished the season five points clear of third-place Al-Nassr, opting not to participate in this traditional curtain-raiser to the new campaign, after their exploits in the FIFA Club World Cup in the US over the summer, the second semi-final, on Wednesday, will feature fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli, who finished fifth in the league and are reigning Asian champions. The final will take place on Saturday.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
FIFA hit with $76m claim by Lassana Diarra in decade-long football transfer rules case
GENEVA: Lawyers for former France international Lassana Diarra said Monday he is claiming €65 million ($76 million) from FIFA and the Belgian Football Federation after a landmark legal win about transfer rules. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Diarra's decade-long challenge to FIFA after a breakdown in relations with his former club Lokomotiv Moscow led to a ruling at the European Court of Justice last October that some aspects of football transfer rules do not comply with the 27-nation European Union's labor and competition laws. Lawyers for the 40-year-old former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder cited 'unsuccessful settlement negotiations with FIFA' for the financial claim for damages throughout his career. 'Lassana Diarra is claiming €65 million gross (€35 million net) in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association,' his legal firm Dupont Hissel said in a statement. FIFA said it would not comment about 'on-going legal matters' — the latest high-stakes legal challenge to their authority. Football's governing body said in a statement it 'has been working with its stakeholders to amend its regulations following the guidance offered by the ECJ.' Diarra's case, which is back in court in Belgium, is supported by the global players' union FIFPRO, its European division and their national member union in France. The legal case started in the home country of Charleroi, the Belgian club that wanted to sign Diarra after his contract in Moscow was terminated. FIFA transfer rules at the time made the player and the potential signing club liable for paying the former club when a contract was ruled to have been broken without 'just cause.' The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld FIFA's ruling in favor of Lokomotiv. The case was sent to the European court in Luxembourg which said some aspects of the FIFA rules 'hinder the free movement of players and competition between clubs.' Diarra's dispute with Lokomotiv and FIFA forced him to miss the 2014-15 season. He then signed for Marseille and ended his career at Paris Saint-Germain six years ago. 'I am doing this for myself,' Diarra said in a statement Monday published by his lawyers. 'And if I have been able to hold out against the FIFA steamroller, it is because I had a good career.' 'But I have also done it for all the up and coming, lesser known players who do not have the financial and psychological means to challenge FIFA before real judges,' he said. Diarra's lawyers also are working on a class action suit filed this month against FIFA and some national football federations in Europe which claims could benefit 100,000 players over more than two decades.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
D360 Bank signs strategic agreement with Thmanyah as banking partner for broadcasting Saudi Football League tournaments
RIYADH: D360 Bank, the Saudi Shariah-compliant digital bank, has announced its exclusive partnership with Thmanyah, part of the Saudi Research & Media Group (SRMG), for the landmark broadcast rights of the Kingdom's most prestigious football tournaments. This partnership positions D360 Bank as the exclusive financial player reshaping the sports broadcasting scene, securing a distinctive presence in the largest and most prominent regional sporting event. It delivers impactful access to a massive and highly engaged audience year-round, while strengthening the bank's association with the finest Arabic content on the internet. The agreement covers the Saudi Pro League (Roshn League), Saudi Super Cup, and First Division League (Yelo League), along with a broad range of sports-related Thmanyah content. Through this collaboration, D360 Bank is championing the future of sports entertainment by offering fans unprecedented control and insight into every match. Viewers will be able to simultaneously stream up to three games, access in-depth analytics and real-time insights, instantly rewind key moments, and enjoy crisp, high-definition streaming at 50 frames per second. Tiered viewing packages will ensure that every viewer is catered to, delivering a personalized and immersive football experience. The partnership reflects D360 Bank's strategy of aligning with homegrown innovators who share its commitment to community, culture, and progress. By investing in sports, the bank aims to extend its role beyond financial services to become a driver of shared experiences that bring people together.
