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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A step too far? New Club World Cup set to have far-reaching impact on football
UEFA Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will be among the sides taking part in the Club World Cup (Marco BERTORELLO) FIFA's expanded Club World Cup which gets underway in the United States this weekend is a controversial addition to the global football calendar and one that could have a far-reaching impact on the sport in the years to come. The 32-team tournament, with one billion dollars in prize money on offer, has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule leading to concerns it will push elite players to breaking point. Advertisement It also threatens to upset the balance of domestic and continental club competitions, giving competing teams huge financial advantages over rivals. Consider the leading clubs in Europe, which is sending 12 teams including Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. The chances are high that some will go deep into the Club World Cup, with a maximum of seven games to be played up to the July 13 final. The riches on offer are extraordinary, up to a possible $125 million for the top-performing European team. "The Club World Cup model affects the ecosystem of national leagues, especially in Europe," Javier Tebas, the president of Spain's La Liga, told radio station Cadena Cope. Advertisement But while the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona will not be in the United States and so will miss out on the cash prizes, they will be able to give players a much-needed rest. "I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there," said England manager Thomas Tuchel when asked about the consequences for the Premier League. - Lavish sums - Those clubs are already among the world's wealthiest without taking into account the sums being lavished by FIFA, but what about teams elsewhere. It will become harder for clubs in South Africa to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns once they leave with a guaranteed minimum of almost $10 million -- the equivalent of the prize money for winning nine domestic titles. Advertisement The amateurs of Auckland City already dominate in Oceania before being handed over $3.5 million just as an appearance fee. But if taking part here will be perhaps the ultimate career highlight for their players, it just adds to the demands on those at top clubs. The introduction of the competition was met with opposition in Europe, and global players union FIFPro has warned that the wellbeing of many of its members is being threatened by the huge workload they face. - Too many games? - Portugal midfielder Vitinha has played 52 matches for PSG this season, including the Champions League final win over Inter Milan on May 31. Advertisement There have also been eight games for Portugal, including the Nations League finals last week. Now he is off to the United States with PSG, with potentially no holiday until mid-July. The next French season is then due to start in mid-August, at the same time as the Premier League and La Liga. And at the end of next season Vitinha should be back in North America with Portugal at the expanded 48-team World Cup. Such demands on leading stars are why player unions in Europe last year raised the threat of strike action in a bid to cut down on the number of matches. "The problem is the accumulation of excessively long and intense seasons back to back," said Maheta Molango, chief executive of England's Professional Footballers' Association. Advertisement "Players don't think just about the summer, they think about how they are not going to have a holiday for the foreseeable future." Meanwhile, domestic leagues do not see why they should change to accommodate FIFA's new tournament. "International organisations and especially FIFA have increased the number of matches they organise, so now we have a calendar that is beyond saturation," said Mathieu Moreuil of the Premier League. Other competitions are being devalued because the Club World Cup is taking place at the same time, like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, also being played in the United States. Advertisement USA coach Mauricio Pochettino is unable to call on leading players like Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah because they are at the Club World Cup with Juventus. "That is the circumstance that we have and we need to adapt," said Pochettino, the former PSG coach who may disagree with the view of Luis Enrique, currently in charge of the French side. "I think it is an incredible competition," he remarked looking ahead to the Club World Cup. as/jc
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Napoli and Inter disagree on dates for final round of 2024-25 Serie A season
Despite there being just one point separating Napoli and Inter at the top of the Serie A table with one game to go, it has not yet been confirmed when the final round of the 2024-25 season will take place, and the two teams involved in the title fight have different dates in mind for the Scudetto showdown. Napoli were held level at 0-0 away against Parma on Sunday night, while Inter were pegged back twice against Lazio for an eventual 2-2 draw in San Siro, which keeps the Partenopei one point clear at the top of the Serie A standings heading into the final week of the season. Advertisement However, given that it is still technically possible for there to be a Serie A play-off, and with Inter participating in the Champions League final one weekend after the league season is due to finish, it is increasingly likely that the last round of the 2024-25 season will take place midweek. Napoli and Inter, however, have two different preferred dates in mind. Here's why. Why Napoli and Inter want last round of Serie A season to be played on different days Inter Milan's Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez lifts the trophy with teammates during a ceremony for the Italian Champions following the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Lazio in Milan, on May 19, 2024. Inter celebrates his 20th Scudetto. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter would prefer to play the final match of the Serie A season on Thursday, in order to give themselves as much time as possible to prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain scheduled for May 31. Advertisement Napoli, meanwhile, would prefer to play the game on Friday night, which would allow them to celebrate the title heading into the weekend if they are victorious in their last match of the season against Cagliari. Importantly, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the TV broadcasters DAZN would also prefer to play the game on Friday instead of Thursday in order to maximise viewing figures, as a Friday night game tends to bring a bigger viewership than games on Thursday. A decision over the scheduling for the final week of the Serie A season is expected to arrive by the end of Monday.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lega Serie A Decide – Inter Milan & Napoli To Play Last League Matches On Friday May 23rd
Lega Serie A Decide – Inter Milan & Napoli To Play Last League Matches On Friday May 23rd Inter Milan and Napoli will play their final Serie A matches of the season on Friday, May 23rd. This according to Italian outlet FCInterNews. They report that the league meeting has concluded and has set the date for the title rivals' final matches, whilst a prospective playoff would be on May 26th. Advertisement The Lega Serie A met today to determine when the final matches of the season would take place. Inter Milan and Napoli's two matches have presented a particularly thorny dilemma for the league. That is because the title race between the Nerazzurri and the Partenopei will go down to the final day. Therefore, the two teams must play their matches concurrently. Moreover, there is the fact that, should Inter and Napoli finish level on points, there would be a head-to-head playoff between the pair to determine the title-winner. Inter & Napoli To Play Final Serie A Matches Of The Season On May 23rd Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta poses during a photocall prior the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) Awards ceremony 2023 on December 04, 2023 in Milan. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) Fitting in a prospective playoff match is no easy feat. Advertisement This is because of the fact that Inter will be playing in the Champions League final. They face Paris Saint-Germain in Munich on May 31st. Therefore, Inter will certainly want ample time to rest and prepare for that season-defining match. Accordingly, the Nerazzurri's priority has been to get their league commitments out of the way as early as possible. Inter had hoped, therefore, to play their final match of the season against Como on the Thursday. Along with Napoli hosting Cagliari at the same time. This would have meant that a playoff, in the event that it happens, could take place on Sunday, May 25th. Advertisement However, Napoli preferred the date of Friday, just before the weekend. Meanwhile, Friday was also the preference of broadcaster DAZN. The league met today to determine which kickoff date would prevail. Inter made their case, as did Napoli as well as DAZN. It was a contentious meeting, which had to be briefly suspended. However, in the end, the league has decided upon Friday, May 23rd as the date for Inter and Napoli's final matches of the season. Then, if there is to be a playoff, it will be on Monday, May 26th.
Local France
17-04-2025
- Local France
10 of the most beautiful villages in France to visit this summer
France has an endless supply of charming, historic villages, but the gold standard is the 'Les plus beaux villages de France' (the most beautiful villages of France). This designation is only awarded to some of France's most idyllic villages, as long as they have a population of less than 2,000 and are making an effort to sustain their cultural and historical heritage. As of 2025, there were 180 villages listed. READ MORE: Which parts of France have the most beautiful villages? Here is our pick at The Local, with a little bit from each part of France. Northern France Gerberoy - Known as the "village de briques et de bois" (village of brick and wood), is located at the border of the historic Picardy region in the Oise département. It's a close distance from Paris (less than two hours away), and it is famous for its mix of half-timbered cob and brick homes. The village also has a significant history, due to its strategic location during conflicts between England and France between the 11th and 15th centuries. Later on, it was a spot for the impressionist and post-impressionist painters to visit. If you are a fan of Henri le Sidaner, you might recognise the village in his work. In 2018, the Tour de France passed through the village of Gerberoy. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Beuvron-en-Auge - Located in the Calvados département, Beuvron-en-Age is exactly what you would imagine when you think of a typical Norman village, with most of the homes maintaining their timber framing facades. The village is located along the "Cider Route", which has plenty of cider producers and opportunities for tours and tastings. If you visit in the autumn, you might be able to catch the annual Cider Festival. Villagers press apples in the square and there is plenty of cider to taste. A photo from 2001 showing the entrance of the Beuvron-en-Auge village, with a local gîte pictured. (Photo by MYCHELE DANIAU / AFP) Southern France Les baux de provence - Located in the Alpilles mountains in the Bouches-du-Rhône département in southern France, this village is perched on top of a rocky cliff, with the ruins of its castle overlooking the plains. Advertisement The name baux actually comes from the Provençal language, and it means 'rocky spur'. For those who enjoy nature and hiking, there are plenty of paths to choose from nearby. More information on the village website . A picture taken on October 2, 2013 shows a part of the village of Baux-de-Provence. (Photo by BERTRAND LANGLOIS / AFP) Tourtour - Home to one of the world's smallest film festivals (the "CourtsCourts") - which screens its films under the stars in an open-air theatre - the Tourtour village is located in the hilly Var département. Called "le village dans le ciel de Provence" (the village in the sky of Provence), Tourtour overlooks the historic Luberon area. A view of the home of French painter Bernard Buffer in Tourtour, in the Var, in 1999. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP) Auvillar - Historically a port town on the Garonne river, Auvillar is located in the Tarn-et-Garonne département in the Occitanie region. It boasts several old, still-standing fortifications and churches, including its Église Saint-Pierre, which dates back to the 12th century. The town is also located along one of the popular pilgrimage routes to the Santiago de Compostela. A view of the village of Auvillar, southwestern France. Photo taken in 2013. (Photo by PASCAL PAVANI / AFP) Western France Rochefort-en-Terre - Located a short drive away from the Medieval city of Vannes in the Morbihan in Brittany, Rochefort-en-Terre is an adorable village with a mix of architectural styles - from Gothic to Renaissance and half-timbered houses. It also has its own castle, which was almost destroyed at the end of the French Revolution. The town was also once home to the American painter Alfred Klots. Advertisement In the winter, the village hosts one of the most popular Christmas markets in southern Brittany. In the summer months, as it is inland and near a forest, there are several walking paths to explore. Tourists walk in a street of Rochefort-en-Terre, western France, on August 12, 2019. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) Ars-en-Ré - Located on the western end of the popular island of Ile de Ré, Ars-en-Ré is well-known for its salt production. According to Les plus beaux villages de France , it still produces 2,000 tonnes of salt per year. Aside from visiting the salt marshes and the store houses, you can gander at the merchants' residences as well as the iconic church bell tower at the église Saint-Étienne. Pedestrians walk past the harbour in Ars-en-Re, western France on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Olympia DE MAISMONT / AFP) Eastern France Yvoire - Called the "pearl of Lake Geneva", Yvoire gives you a taste of Switzerland without leaving France. Once a medieval fishing town, Yvoire is located on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Haute Savoie département. As a port, it has held an important trade role for hundreds of years. One tourist attraction is Yvoire's 'Jardin des Cinq Sens' (Garden of five senses). The French village of Yvoire on Lake Geneva, in 2013. (Photo by JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT / AFP) Riquewihr - Located along the Alsace Wine Route, in the Haut-Rhin département, Riquewihr is not far from the Vosges mountains. The town has existed since the Middle Ages - perhaps even dating back to the Roman times - and it has been producing wine for centuries. Even outside of the popular Christmas market season, Riquewihr offers the typical Alsatian experience, with its colourful, half-timbered homes. This aerial picture taken on November 3, 2023, shows vineyards surrounding the Alsatian village of Riquewihr. (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP) Central France Sancerre - A hilltop town in the Cher département, about 45km from Bourges, Sancerre is best known for its world renowned wines. Advertisement The village is famous for the Crottin de Chavignol cheese, a small goat cheese that has been produced in the area since the 16th century. The village of Sancerre in 2002 (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)
