Latest news with #Qatar-funded

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

Yahoo

5 days ago

Business
Yahoo

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

Al Hilal's new coach Simone Inzaghi took Inter Milan to two Champions League finals in three seasons but lost both. (Marco BERTORELLO) Simone Inzaghi was revealed as the new coach of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Thursday, days after he led Inter Milan to a heavy defeat in the Champions League final. "The Italian genius is here," Al Hilal posted on X, with a slickly produced video of the Italian coach. "Welcome, Simone Inzaghi." Advertisement Inzaghi joins the Riyadh club, a mainstay of the oil-funded Saudi Pro League, weeks before it takes part in the new-look Club World Cup in the United States. "I am Simone Inzaghi and today begins my story with Al Hilal," he said in the video message to fans, in which he sips Arabian coffee and pins an Al Hilal lapel badge on his suit. Inzaghi's Inter slumped 5-0 to Qatar-funded Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Champions League final. His departure was confirmed on Tuesday. The 49-year-old guided Inter to one Serie A title and two Italian Cups since joining in 2021. He took them to two Champions League finals in three seasons but lost both. Advertisement On track to repeat the treble heroics of 2010 just a few weeks ago, Inter ended the season trophyless after falling away in each competition. Last month, Inzaghi played down rumours of a two-year deal with Al Hilal worth 50 million euros. bur/th/kir

France 24

5 days ago

Business
France 24

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

"The Italian genius is here," Al Hilal posted on X, with a slickly produced video of the Italian coach. "Welcome, Simone Inzaghi." Inzaghi joins the Riyadh club, a mainstay of the oil-funded Saudi Pro League, weeks before it takes part in the new-look Club World Cup in the United States. "I am Simone Inzaghi and today begins my story with Al Hilal," he said in the video message to fans, in which he sips Arabian coffee and pins an Al Hilal lapel badge on his suit. Inzaghi's Inter slumped 5-0 to Qatar-funded Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Champions League final. His departure was confirmed on Tuesday. The 49-year-old guided Inter to one Serie A title and two Italian Cups since joining in 2021. He took them to two Champions League finals in three seasons but lost both. On track to repeat the treble heroics of 2010 just a few weeks ago, Inter ended the season trophyless after falling away in each competition.

Yahoo

6 days ago

Sport
Yahoo

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

Memri

23-05-2025

Politics
Memri

Qatar-Funded Media And Islamist Groups Renew Their Attacks On Moderate Muslim Scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Over His Peace Advocacy And UAE Ties, Following His Appointment To Advisory Board Of New U.S. R

Introduction On May 16, 2015, the White House announced the appointment of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, prominent moderate Islamic scholar and cofounder of Zaytuna College in California, to the advisory board of the new Religious Liberty Commission. The commission was established by the White House on May 1, 2025.[1] Also appointed were Muslim activist Sameerah Munshi and Ismail Royer, director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute. Following the announcement, Sheikh Yusuf became the target of renewed attacks by Qatar-funded media outlets and Islamist organizations and figures. As they had following Yusuf's appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, established in July 2019 by President Trump during his first term of office,[2] these groups condemned his new appointment, largely due to his pro-peace activism and his balanced positions vis-à-vis the U.S., the UAE, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and the concept of jihad in Islam – positions that diverge from their ideological narratives. Critics also took aim at Yusuf's long-standing association with the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, in Abu Dhabi, where he serves on the board of trustees, and his mentorship under Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, head of the UAE's Fatwa Council and a respected advocate for moderate Islam.[3] This report will examine the backlash against Sheikh Hamza Yusuf from Islamist circles, highlight the support his recent appointment has received, and explore his efforts to offer alternative Islamic perspectives on complex issues facing the Arab and Muslim world as well as Muslim communities in the West – perspectives that challenge the dominance of Islamist rhetoric. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Critic Daniel Haqiqatjou: "Hamza Yusuf Has Made A Deal With The Devil, Literally" – He Has Been "A Part Of Administrations Going Back To George W. Bush" – May 2025 One of the harshest critics of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views and positions is American Islamist writer and commentator Daniel Haqiqatjou. In a YouTube video published on May 20, 2025, titled "Hamza Yusuf Betrays Palestine Again," Haqiqatjou focused his criticism on the fact that Yusuf had worked for the George W. Bush and Trump administrations. He said: "This is something that we have seen of him for a long time. Basically, since 9/11, 24 years ago, Hamza Yusuf has made a deal with the devil, literally, if you want to say that – if you consider the great Satan to be the forces within the U.S. that are directed at the killing, mass slaughter of Muslims, launching wars that have killed millions of Muslims. Hamza Yusuf has been a part of these administrations going back to George W. Bush, standing next to George W. Bush, and the next conservative Republican president has been Donald Trump, and, once again, Hamza Yusuf has been joining the Donald Trump administration in one capacity or another." Mocking defenders of Sheikh Yusuf who consider him a pious Muslim and a moderate scholar, Haqiqatjou said: "This is absolutely nonsense. Show which Sufi master or any pious worshiper of Allah who was joining the administration of tyrants – not just any type of tyrant, this is like an infidel tyrant. This is like a non-Muslim administration actively involved in multiple wars against multiple countries, Muslim countries, and Hamza Yusuf is happy to join the team..." Haqiqatjou also criticized Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, whom he referred to as the Yusuf's sheikh who is "doing the same exact thing, except in the Gulf with the UAE." Expressing his frustration, he said: "This makes me angry. It should make you angry. The question I want you to consider is how implicated the entire Da'wa mafia network is because of Hamza Yusuf's associations."[4] Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's Moderate View On The Concept Of Jihad – November 2023 Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views on multiple Islamic concepts stand in clear contrast than those of the Islamists. His moderate view on the concept of jihad as a holy war is one for which he is often criticized by the Islamists. Asked about jihad during an interview on the Kim Iversen show on YouTube, he said: "Jihad in Arabic literally means struggle. No holy war in Islam. There is nothing that says war is holy. War is actually the absence of holiness. War is the failure of holiness, and that's why in the Quran it says, whenever they ignite the flames of fire of war, God works to put it out, and that's through people. Raising people up that are peace makers. "Juan Cole wrote another book, he edited a book on peace movement within Islam. There are many great peace movements in Islam. People forget that Gandhi's main supporters were Muslims. One of the closet people to Gandhi was Abu Kalam Azad, who was a scholar of Islam. He was born in Makkah and he was with Gandhi in jail and worked with him, and was one of the closet people to Gandhi. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the great peacemaker from the Pathan community. Many examples of this throughout history. There has been a belligerent element within Islam, and I will never deny that. Jihad can be misused."[5] Criticism Of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's Views On Peace With Israel – November 2024 Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's views on peace with Israel, and on the Palestinian resistance and its use of violence against Israel using advanced war technology and lethal weapons, have been condemned by both Islamists and pro-Palestinian activists. One of Sheikh Yusuf's statements in particular has been widely circulated by them in order to delegitimize him and raise questions about his qualifications; he had said in 2019, on France24, "If the Palestinians have abandoned violence and instead acknowledged that they are weak and helpless who are in need of help, by the name of Allah, they will find many people in the world sympathizing with them. But when they strike with their petty weapons against powerful weapons that would destroy everything, and people would then think that they have initiated the attacks – this is what is happening now. Have they gained anything? Have they benefited from this violence?"[6] The video of these statements by Yusuf was shared on November 12, 2024 on the X account of British Islamist and YouTuber Dilly Hussain. Pro-Palestinian Activist: "Hamza Yusuf Is "A White Muslim Convert" Who Said About The Palestinians: "Sometimes It's Absolutely Necessary To Suffer In Silence" – December 2023 Furthermore, some pro-Palestinian activists have tried to discredit Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and criticize his moderate views by mentioning that he is a white and a convert. For example, on December 25, 2023, X user Palestinian Ph.D. candidate Ghada Sasa wrote: "Hamza Yusuf, a white Muslim convert, who previously suggested Palestinians stop resisting at all Israeli colonization to garner pity & await aid, doubled down on his take at the [Reviving the Islamic Spirit] RIS conference this weekend: "Sometimes it's absolutely necessary to suffer in silence."[7] Qatar-Funded Media Outlets' Criticize Sheikh Yusuf Following His First Appointment To A U.S. Commission In July 2019, And Criticize His Ties To UAE Following His Support For 2020 Abraham Accords Criticism of Sheikh Yusuf appeared in Qatar-funded media following his appointment in July 2019 to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, established by President Trump during his first term of office. Also criticized was Yusuf's connection with the UAE peace efforts that led to the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020. On July 15, 2019, the Qatar-owned and funded Al-Jazeera outlet in English published an article by Dr. Maha Hilal, codirector of the Justice for Muslims Collective. Under the title "It's time for Muslim Americans to condemn Hamza Yusuf, Dr. Hilal accused Yusuf of not representing the best interest of the Muslim community in the U.S. because of his UAE affiliation and because his ideas about the U.S. and about anti-Trump protests diverge from those held by Islamists in the U.S. Dr. Hilal specifically condemned him for calling on Muslims to do better than protesting against the election of Donald Trump. Yusuf had written in a November 2016 post: "We have too much work to do, not protesting, not lighting fires, not saying, 'Trump is not my president. He is, and that is how our system works: by accepting the results and moving on."[8] She added that Yusuf should be condemned for calling the U.S. "one of the least racist countries" in the world, and for calling the UAE a "tolerant" country, writing: "That he clearly ignores all the human rights abuses the UAE has been accused of is rather unsurprising, given that he is a former student and good friend of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah and is serving as the vice president of his Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies – a religious body bankrolled by Abu Dhabi." Two days later, on July 17, 2019, the London-based another Qatar-funded media outlet, published an article aimed at Muslims in the U.S. condemning Sheikh Yusuf's appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights as well as his association with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Under the title "Hamza Yusuf is not your friend," Sam Hamad, who describes himself as an independent Scottish-Egyptian activist and writer, defended the Muslim Brotherhood and condemned Yusuf's relationship with the UAE and Saudi Arabia: Hamad wrote: "[Sheikh Yusuf] became a convenient Muslim voice who would advance the agenda of U.S. allies in the Muslim world, most notably the autocrats, theocrats, and gross human rights violators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the post-Arab Spring era, the intermixing of the agenda of autocracy in the Arabic-speaking and Muslim world and western Islamophobia is of the utmost importance. We've seen how Islamophobic fascists and extremists in the West, ranging from Marine Le Pen to Donald Trump, have come to support the Sisi regime [in Egypt] and his [Sisi's] efforts to overthrow democracy and target the Muslim Brotherhood for their advocacy of Islamic democracy."[9] In August 2019, the Qatar-owned and funded Al-Jazeera's Arabic website continued its campaign against Sheikh Yusuf's scholarly status in a report describing him as a "Sufi disciple" employed by the Trump administration as an advisor. The report reiterated the Islamist condemnation of Yusuf's association with the UAE, Sheikh bin Bayyah, and the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies.[10] In August 2020, the London-Based Middle East Eye, which is widely regarded as a pro-Muslim Brotherhood website, published a report titled "Influential Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf criticised for backing UAE-Israel deal." In it, he was criticized for endorsing the UAE decision to normalize ties with Israel, in the Abraham Accords that would be signed the following month, in September 2020. The article cited Doha-based Usaama Al-Azami, assistant professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University, as condemning Yusuf for serving as vice president of the Abu Dhabi-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, that had issued a statement endorsing Israel-UAE normalization. Al-Azami said that "the bizarre statement closely aligned with the forum's history of legitimizing the decisions of the UAE government."[11] Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Responds To Criticism – October 2019 In response to the waves of criticism that followed his July 2019 appointment to the Commission on Unalienable Rights, Sheikh Yusuf released a video on October 27, 2019, in which he said: "It is really important to remember that Trump is not the government. He is the head of the administration and our system differentiate between the government and the administration. This man was a political appointee meaning that the administration appointed him for a temporary position. The civil servants are there all the time. They are different kinds of officials. People say I joined the Trump... Give me a break. Seriously. This commission is an independent body of academics. It is literally illegal by federal law for the State Department to put any pressure of this committee to come up with what they want."[12] Support For Sheikh Yusuf's Appointment – May 2025 In contrast, Sheikh Yusuf's May 2025 appointment to the Religious Liberty Commission has also been widely praised by Arabs and Muslims in the West, as well as in the Arab region, and was considered by some to be a step in the right direction. On May 18, 2025, Canadian lawyer and law professor Faisal Kutty wrote on X: "I rarely find myself commending anything from the Trump administration. But credit where it's due: the appointment of three Muslims – Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Sameerah Munshi, and Ismail Royer – to the newly formed Religious Liberty Commission is a positive and notable development. "Agree or disagree with some of their views, the fact remains: there will be Muslim voices at the table – and that matters. This inclusion is particularly significant considering that Imam Husham Al-Husainy,[13] who was initially slated to deliver a benediction at Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, ultimately did not participate in the ceremony. The reasons for his absence remain unclear. While one can (and should) scrutinize the broader motives and policies, the inclusion of Muslim voices in matters of religious liberty is a step in the right direction – especially at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment remains a political currency. We'll continue to hold power accountable. But today, we also recognize this rare but welcome shift."[14] The previous day, May 17, 2025, Saudi researcher and political analyst Hasan Almustafa wrote on his X account in support and praise of Sheikh Yusuf's appointment: "The appointment of Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, Vice President of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, [i.e. the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies] by President Donald Trump as a member in the Commission on International Religious Freedom [sic] – This [appointment] reflects the power of moderate and rational religious discourse and is a success that reflects positively on the values promoted by the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, which are based on cooperation between religions and cultures."[15] Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, head of the UAE's Fatwa Council, right, with Sheikh Hamza Yusuf (Source: May 17, 2025) * Mansour Al-Hadj is Director of the MEMRI Project for Reform in the Arab and Muslim World; Yigal Carmon is Founder and President of MEMRI.

The Star

20-05-2025

Business
The Star

Welcome to the club

FOR the first time in 35 years, two Paris-based football clubs will be playing in France's top division. Paris FC, who were recently bought by France's richest family, secured promotion to the top flight and will join Qatar-funded Paris St Germain next season in the elite as the City of Light's football scene undergoes a major facelift. Paris FC's promotion to Ligue 1 puts an end to the French anomaly of having only one major football team in the capital. The Star Sportlight take a look at the reasons behind the lack of top clubs in Paris. When fans visit some European cities, they are spoiled for choice about which match to watch. While there are seven London clubs in the Premier League this season, there is only one top side in Paris: PSG. It's a rarity in European football, where big cities such as Madrid, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, and even Manchester and Lisbon, generally have two high-level clubs. Paris FC supporters during the match against Lorient on March 8. — AFP 'There's a paradox. We have a very popular sport that produces great players but for the moment has not produced great clubs in Paris,' said sports history researcher Paul Dietschy. 'The Seine Saint-Denis area (north of Paris) is one of the main scouting grounds for Europe's top clubs. And at the same time, Paris has never produced clubs with the same long-lasting impact as those in major European cities such as Madrid, London, Barcelona or Manchester.' It is not the first time an ambitious billionaire has invested in a Paris club. Before the Arnault family, the late French media baron Jean-Luc Lagardere tried to revive the fortunes of Paris' former greatest team, Racing Club. In the 1980s, Lagardere launched Matra Racing, signing big players such as Uruguay star Enzo Francescoli, Germany's dribbling ace Pierre Littbarski, France midfielder Luis Fernandez and spectacular goalkeeper Pascal Olmeta in an attempt to compete with PSG. It threatened to work, but in the end Matra struggled to draw fans, did not achieve significant results and Lagardere opted out of the ill-fated adventure after just a few years. Many Paris teams alive at the start of the 20th century have gradually sunk from view. Red Star, who have returned to the second division, still enjoy a strong working-class fan base, but their chaotic functioning and lack of stability have kept the club in the shadows over the last 50 years. Paris FC's Mohamed Toure and Jules Gaudin celebrate after the French Ligue 2 match against Grenoble. The lack of top-level clubs in Paris and across the country can find its roots in the complex relationship between France and football. First of all, French football had a slow start. While the English FA Cup was first played in 1871, football did not become France's No. 1 sport until the 1930s-40s. Cycling previously captivated audiences thanks to the Tour de France. In a championship that traditionally struggles to attract star names, lacks significant financial clout and lags behind in salaries, PSG have won 11 Ligue 1 titles in 13 seasons since Qatari backer QSI took over the club. Monaco won in 2017 with a young Kylian Mbappe and Lille did so against the odds in 2021. That makes Ligue 1 easier to invest in for outsiders. The talent is already there. France's exceptional football academies are arguably the world's best along with Brazil and Spain, producing a veritable production line of talent, such as 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema (Lyon) and Mbappe. So French football's richness remains more anchored in its grass roots than its results. Only Marseille have won the Champions League, way back in 1993, and a handful of finals have been graced by PSG, Monaco and, decades ago, Reims. Although French football is well-established with more than two million people affiliated to clubs, interest in Ligue 1 remains fickle and league officials struggle to sell their TV rights. France is not like England, where the passion for football clubs is fierce and pervades every class of society. Even though Les Bleus have won four major trophies and finished runner-up at three others, this has not produced a lasting effect at home. With the few exceptions of teams like Marseille, St Etienne, Strasbourg or Lens, who have faithful supporters, the interest for club football remains mediocre. Interest in the French league did spike considerably during the '80s-'90s, however, when Marseille played with verve and style. Stars like Rudi Voeller, Chris Waddle, Rai and George Weah joined a league where the rivalry between Marseille and newly confident PSG was relentlessly promoted by the clubs' owners: Bernard Tapie at Marseille and pay TV channel Canal Plus at PSG. Then came the Bosman ruling in 1995, which hurt French clubs badly. The end of restrictions on the number of foreign players in clubs led to a mass exodus of French talent to more prestigious and – crucially – higher-paying leagues. It took until the past decade for a French club to re-emerge with major spending power: PSG. Created in 1969, Paris FC's men's team have yet to achieve any significant success. The Arnault family, owners of the LVMH luxury empire, plan to draw on Juergen Klopp's expertise as part of an ambitious project to transform Paris FC into a force in French football. The family's takeover has energy drink giant Red Bull on board as a minority stakeholder. Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has joined Red Bull as head of global football. Arnault has described the project as a long-term effort to elevate Paris FC's men's and women's teams to top-tier success. — AP

Latest news with #Qatar-funded

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

'Italian genius' Inzaghi to coach Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal

Qatar-Funded Media And Islamist Groups Renew Their Attacks On Moderate Muslim Scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Over His Peace Advocacy And UAE Ties, Following His Appointment To Advisory Board Of New U.S. R

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