Latest news with #SpanishFA
New Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Lopetegui returns to international stage with Qatar
Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui has been appointed Qatar manager on a two-year deal, the country's FA said on Thursday. It posted a video on X saying: "Julen Lopetegui the coming coach of the national team. He will guide the team throughout the remaining matches of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers." He will replace compatriot Luis Garcia, who was appointed last December ahead of the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait. A move to Qatar represents the first return to international management for Lopetegui, 58, since he was dismissed from his role as Spain head coach on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. Lopetegui was unbeaten in 20 matches with Spain but was sacked by the Spanish FA after Real Madrid announced they had agreed a deal to appoint him for the 2018-19 season. He was sacked as West Ham United coach in January after six months in charge. Qatar are fourth in Group A in the third round of qualifying for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. They cannot finish in the top two places which bring automatic qualification for the finals but are in contention to reach the Asian playoffs for teams finishing third and fourth. Qatar have 10 points from eight matches, four ahead of fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan. They host group leaders Iran on June 5 and visit Uzbekistan, who are second, on June 10 in their remaining third round games.
CNA
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Lopetegui returns to international stage with Qatar
Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Julien Lopetegui has been appointed Qatar manager on a two-year deal, the country's FA said on Thursday. It posted a video on X saying: 'Julien Lopetegui the coming coach of the national team. He will guide the team throughout the remaining matches of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers." He will replace compatriot Luis Garcia, who was appointed last December ahead of the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait. A move to Qatar represents the first return to international management for Lopetegui, 58, since he was dismissed from his role as Spain head coach on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. Lopetegui was unbeaten in 20 matches with Spain but was sacked by the Spanish FA after Real Madrid announced they had agreed a deal to appoint him for the 2018-19 season. He was sacked as West Ham United coach in January after six months in charge. Qatar are fourth in Group A in the third round of qualifying for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. They cannot finish in the top two places which bring automatic qualification for the finals but are in contention to reach the Asian playoffs for teams finishing third and fourth. Qatar have 10 points from eight matches, four ahead of fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan. They host group leaders Iran on June 5 and visit Uzbekistan, who are second, on June 10 in their remaining third round games.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Madrid and Germany's Rüdiger has knee surgery, gets six-game ban
Real Madrid and Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger had a knee operation on Tuesday and faces a race to be fit for the Nations League Final Four and the Club World Cup. The centre back was also hit with a six-game ban by the Spanish FA after throwing an object at the referee in Saturday's Spanish Cup final defeat to Barcelona. Advertisement "Antonio Rüdiger underwent surgery today for a tear in the outer meniscus of his left knee. The operation was performed by Dr Manuel Leyes under the supervision of Real Madrid's medical services," a club statement said. "Rüdiger will begin his recovery process shortly." No word was given on how long he would be out for, but meniscus injuries can be serious. Spanish newspaper AS said Rüdiger would be out for six to eight weeks and that the decision for surgery had been taken given he is likely to miss the La Liga run-in due to suspension. Madrid trail Barcelona by four points with five games left. Advertisement German website T-Online also said he would miss weeks rather than months. Germany's Nations League semi-final against Portugal is on June 4 in Munich, with the final or third-place match following four days later. Madrid's Club World Cup campaign starts on June 18 against Al Hilal in Miami. "After I have played more than seven month with severe pain, it was unfortunately unavoidable that I had to undergo a meniscus surgery. Now I'm finally pain-free again, and the surgery was a success," Rüdiger wrote on Instagram. "I want to be able to play again as soon as possible as two big tournaments with the Nations League and the Club World Cup are in front of me, but I have to look from week to week now and we will see. I will do everything I can to make it happen." Advertisement Despite his wish to be fit in time, Rüdiger is a huge doubt for at least the Germany games, amid calls for him to be dropped anyway because of his antics in the Copa del Rey final where he was red carded late in the game after being substituted. While Rüdiger got a six-game ban, team-mate Lucas Vazquez was banned for two games by the Spanish FA for arguing with the referee. A red card for Jude Bellingham was meanwhile rescinded. Kroos and Kahn defend Rüdiger Former Madrid and Germany team-mate Toni Kroos opposes any sanction by the national team against Rüdiger. "All these people coming out of the woodwork again, calling for him to be excluded from the national team and so on. Especially since some of them, let's just say, probably should have been suspended themselves back in the day," the 2014 World Cup winner said. Advertisement Other former national players, such as Lothar Matthäus and Dietmar Hamann, have sharply criticized Rüdiger. Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the German national team, told dpa on Monday the incident was "not acceptable." He added: "Especially as a Germany international. He has to change that and he knows that himself, as his public reaction shows." Retired Kroos warned against overreacting. "He will get his punishment and it will be justified. But we don't need to act as if he killed someone," Kroos said during an event for his indoor Icon League in Dusseldorf late on Monday. "You always have to be careful not to just go along with the flow." Advertisement Kroos said he had been in contact with Rüdiger, who has publicly apologized. "It was a big mistake, I think the images speak for themselves. He knows that too, and he is aware of it," Kroos added. Former Germany captain Oliver Kahn also came to Rüdiger's defence. "Emotions on the pitch are not always helpful. But who doesn't overshoot the mark sometimes," he wrote on social media. Rüdiger had shown contrition. "That should be enough for now," said Kahn.
CNA
29-04-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Real's Ruediger undergoes knee surgery, handed six-match suspension
Real Madrid defender Antonio Ruediger has undergone knee surgery, the LaLiga club said on Tuesday, hours before the German was given a six-match ban by the Spanish FA for his behaviour in the recent Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona. Spanish media had reported that the 32-year-old German international was considering surgery to fix ongoing knee problems. "Our player Antonio Ruediger underwent successful surgery today for a partial tear in the external meniscus of his left leg," Real said in a statement. "Ruediger will begin recovery work shortly." Ruediger said he had played in severe pain for seven months. "I want to be able to play again as soon as possible as two big tournaments with the Nations League and the Club World Cup are in front of me," he posted on X. "But I have to look from week to week now and we will see. I will do everything I can to make it happen." Ruediger was sent off during Saturday's Copa del Rey final for his angry reaction after the referee called a foul for a challenge by Kylian Mbappe moments after Jules Kounde had scored deep into extra time to put Barca ahead. Ruediger, who apologised for his behaviour, was given a six-match suspension, while teammate Lucas Vazquez, who was also sent off, received a two-match ban. Real and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was shown a red card for protesting to the referee after the final whistle, avoided a suspension.
Al Etihad
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Real Madrid boycott pre-Cup final activities after referee's press conference
25 Apr 2025 22:10 SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) Real Madrid boycotted pre-match activities ahead of their Copa del Rey final against rivals Barcelona after the match referee gave an emotional press conference in which he called out Real for criticising the official on their in-house TV channel.A club source told Reuters that the decision was taken due to Real's "unprecedented astonishment" at the press conference given by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea earlier on Friday, who broke down in tears while responding to a critical video published by source said Real saw the press conference as "a clear conflict of interest" and, while they have not asked the Spanish FA (RFEF) to replace the officials, they believe the refereeing team should be RFEF did not immediately respond to a request for for the final were thrown into chaos when match referee De Burgos gave a press conference in which he cried as he responded to the RMTV video, released on Thursday, shows what RMTV says is a series of errors made by De Burgos throughout his release is the latest in a string of edits by RMTV, criticising Spanish Burgos expressed his distress during the press conference, stating: "When a child arrives at school and his mates tell him that his father is a thief, it makes you sick." He went on to emphasise his integrity and the challenges faced by many officials, in professional football and at the grassroots level.
