Bayern Munich shift away from ‘Visit Rwanda' sponsorship after criticism
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Asharq Al-Awsat
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German Soccer Club Defends Pulling Out of Buying Israeli Player over His Gaza Posts
The chairman of Fortuna Düsseldorf has defended the German soccer club's decision to pull out of signing Israeli player Shon Weissman after fan backlash over his contentious social media posts about Gaza, and said it's 'absurd' to accuse the second-division team of antisemitism. Düsseldorf announced Tuesday that it would not sign Weissman from Spanish team Granada despite having been in advanced negotiations. Fans had opposed the planned signing of the 29-year-old Weissman because of his social media posts expressing support for Israel's conduct in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Weissman's Instagram account was set to 'private' on Saturday. In the social media post on Tuesday announcing the decision, the club did not say why it had called off the transfer. But Fortuna issued a statement on Friday saying Weissman's 'statements on social media and the subsequent handling of them were not consistent with our values.' Chairman Klaus Allofs defended the club's decision before the team's match against Hannover on Saturday, but acknowledged that a faster process to reach the decision would have been preferable. 'I wouldn't say it was a mistake. We tried to sign a player and I think that's legitimate,' Allofs said. 'It's also part of our values, that we don't limit ourselves with prejudices and rule things out from the start.' Allofs said the club deliberately waited to consult with Jewish community members in Düsseldorf before deciding against the signing. Asked about accusations of antisemitism, Allofs said: 'It's absurd, to put it bluntly.' Israel's air and ground campaign has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. Hamas-led fighters triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people. Shortly after those attacks, Weissman sat out Granada's Spanish league game at Osasuna over security concerns. Authorities had been worried about a potentially hostile atmosphere created by Osasuna supporters angered by Weissman's social media posts.
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Man United sign Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig as attacking revamp continues
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Arab News
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Football superstar Alisha Lehmann thrilled by ‘incredible' Esports World Cup
RIYADH: Swiss football sensation Alisha Lehmann, known for her electrifying presence on the pitch and her massive social media following, has made a visit to the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Lehmann's journey into the world's biggest celebration of esports and gaming culture revealed a world that both surprised and resonated deeply with the superstar professional athlete. Her first taste of the Esports World Cup 2025 was the highly competitive League of Legends final, an experience that left a lasting impression. 'I was able to watch the League of Legends final and I was surprised by the atmosphere and passion in the arena,' she said. 'I enjoyed the crowds' reaction to a tight game; it was a great experience. The stadium is full, there are so many people cheering for the players and you can see how much effort the players put in to get where they are now. It's amazing. I would tell everyone to come here to experience it and enjoy it.' This immediate connection to the energy of esports fans highlighted a striking parallel to the intensity she knows well from her experience performing in the world's leading football stadiums and deepened her appreciation for esports. The parallels between her world on the football pitch and the virtual battlegrounds of esports are evident to Lehmann. 'I started playing from six years old. It doesn't matter if it's a racing game or a football game, the experiences are linked because we grow up with the same mindset and we want to win.' When not on the football pitch, Lehmann likes to play Fortnite and appreciates the innate talent of young gamers, noting how young people possess skills that were unimaginable when she was their age. 'All children and young kids love to play games,' she says. 'Sometimes I've noticed when I'm playing Fortnite that there are kids that are like 10 years old, and I'm watching them and I'm amazed. 'I think esports is growing every year now. Everyone is watching it, the technology is constantly improving and the games are getting better, I feel that it's becoming really big.' As esports continue to grow and connect with a global audience, Lehmann firmly believes that esports will continue to expand its global appeal and become mainstream entertainment for fans around the world. 'I think esports will catch up with traditional sports for sure. Because the technology is constantly evolving and the whole industry is really cool,' she said. 'It's amazing. I think you can also learn a lot. I know kids in Switzerland who speak English now because they play Fortnite and watch streamers. It's great to see.' The growth of women's participation in both football and esports is a topic close to Lehmann's heart. Witnessing Team Vitality win the MLBB Women's Invitational tournament at the Esports World Cup 2025 filled her with pride, and she hopes that female participation in esports and sports continues to thrive. 'I think it's so good that we push women to compete at the highest levels of sport,' she said. 'It's essential because they are as important as the men and we want to see them shine too.' When asked to create the line-up for her dream EA Sports FC team, Lehmann was keen to select a starting eleven that represented elite talent from women's and men's football. 'Of course I would take Hannah Hampton as a goalkeeper, she's been amazing in the Euros, I played with her and she does really well,' Lehmann said. 'For right back, I'll take Trent Alexander-Arnold. For center back, I'm going to take Millie Bright and Leah Williamson. For left back, Lucas Hernandez. In midfield, my number 6 would be Alexia Putellas, then Jude Bellingham, and Lionel Messi. Up front it would be Killian Mbappe on the right, Erling Haaland as striker, and Cristiano Ronaldo on the left.' Gathering the world's elite players under one competitive banner, the EA Sports FC Pro 25 World Championship tournament is underway at the Esports World Cup 2025 from Aug. 7-10. More details and tickets, including access to all tournament days and festival experiences, are available at Esports World Cup 2025 concludes with the New Global Sport Conference, the leading B2B platform for decision-makers across gaming, esports, sport and entertainment. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh from Aug. 23-24, NGSC 2025 aims to foster dialogue, drive collaboration and shape the future of competitive entertainment.
