Latest news with #beIN
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Champions League final highlights Al-Khelaïfi ties to PSG, UEFA, beIN and Qatar
The Champions League final on Saturday will be an especially busy one for Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, perhaps the most multi-tasked official in world soccer. As president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain since 2011, Al-Khelaïfi's main goal is seeing his team become champion of Europe for the first time against Inter Milan in Munich. As chairman of the influential European Club Association, he leads 700 member teams increasingly taking over from UEFA in shaping sporting and commercial decisions for the Champions League. It also puts him on UEFA's strategy-setting executive committee. As chairman of Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group, Al-Khelaïfi controls exclusive Champions League rights to air the final in the Middle East, North Africa and much of South-East Asia. 'Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is considered a visionary leader in the media industry,' beIN says on its website, adding that in 2016 he 'also acquired the Hollywood film studio Miramax.' He also is a minister in Qatar's government, a director of its sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) that owns PSG. QSI and Al-Khelaïfi — a former tennis professional — also are key in the fast-emerging racket sport padel which has ambitions to be an Olympic sport, maybe in time for the 2036 Summer Games that Qatar and its tennis-loving Emir want to host. Among the invited VIP guests in Munich is Thomas Bach, the outgoing though still influential president of the International Olympic Committee. Saturday can be a peak of Al-Khelaïfi's 14-year career in international soccer that has fueled talk — despite ongoing investigations of his sports career by French authorities — he could be a future FIFA president. Al-Khelaïfi declined comment to The Associated Press after a recent UEFA meeting in Bilbao, Spain. In a statement, PSG said he 'doesn't want to be a distraction and wants humble focus for the team.' From tennis to soccer Now aged 51, Al-Khelaïfi was a tennis pro who played for Qatar in the Davis Cup, bringing him into contact with the future Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Al-Khelaïfi's ATP biography shows his ranking peaked at No. 995 and he played two matches on tour. The first in 1996 was against world No. 2 Thomas Muster in Austria. Brief footage shows a good-natured exchange of shots with Muster in a 6-0, 6-1 mismatch. Al-Khelaïfi's career ended in 2003 and he joined the start-up Al Jazeera Sport as 'Director of Rights Acquisitions,' according to beIN. Qatar stunned soccer in 2010, when FIFA awarded it 2022 World Cup hosting rights, and PSG was bought within months. Rising in soccer The rise of ambitious clubs fueled by Middle East sovereign cash — Qatar and PSG, Abu Dhabi and Manchester City — concerned the storied elite. The ECA helped UEFA introduce financial control rules for European competitions that saw both clubs deducted 20 million euros ($22.7 million) of Champions League prize money in 2014. Still, while Man City did not get on the ECA board, Al-Khelaïfi was elected in 2016. Three years later he got one of two seats reserved for clubs on the UEFA executive committee (ExCo) — despite in-house cautioning about conflicts of interest. Conflicted interests? On election day in 2019 in Rome, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was asked about potential conflicts of interest around Al-Khelaïfi. BeIN was, and still is, among UEFA's main clients also owning extensive European Championship rights. Ceferin's narrowly focused answer was that ExCo members are not involved in approving commercial deals. Any conflict worked in UEFA's favor in 2021 when ECA leaders launched the Super League project designed to rival and replace the Champions League, which beIN broadcasts. PSG's refusal to join rebel clubs from Spain, Italy and England helped to undermine the breakaway that ultimately failed amid a fan backlash and British government threats of legislation. In the fallout, Al-Khelaïfi took over leading the ECA and quickly repaired relations with UEFA and Ceferin. One year later, UEFA opened a disciplinary case into claims the PSG president confronted the match referee after losing in the Champions League at Real Madrid. When UEFA published the verdict Al-Khelaïfi was no longer cited and blame was put on sporting director Leonardo, who PSG had fired weeks earlier. Challenges in France Al-Khelaïfi is not always popular in France where PSG has won 11 of 14 league titles during Qatari ownership. His powerful role has attracted criticism, particularly from John Textor, the American owner at Lyon, including that PSG's funding model involving Qatari money allegedly breaks European Union laws. The pair have argued about poor management of the league's TV rights. In leaked footage from a 2024 meeting of Ligue 1 club owners, Al-Khelaïfi called Textor a cowboy. Textor described his rival as a bully with a conflict of interest given his role at beIN. Al-Khelaïfi's legal challenges in France include some not related to PSG. The recent preliminary charges about possible alleged corruption relate to his links to a French businessman. Proceedings were dropped in relation to Qatari bids to host track and field's world championships, which Doha staged in 2019. In Switzerland, Al-Khelaïfi stood trial twice and was acquitted both times on charges of inciting a top FIFA official to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement from 2013-15. His lawyers said after the second acquittal in 2022 that "years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated — twice.' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Champions League final highlights Al-Khelaïfi ties to PSG, UEFA, beIN and Qatar
The Champions League final on Saturday will be an especially busy one for Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, perhaps the most multi-tasked official in world soccer. As president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain since 2011, Al-Khelaïfi's main goal is seeing his team become champion of Europe for the first time against Inter Milan in Munich. As chairman of the influential European Club Association, he leads 700 member teams increasingly taking over from UEFA in shaping sporting and commercial decisions for the Champions League. It also puts him on UEFA's strategy-setting executive committee. As chairman of Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group, Al-Khelaïfi controls exclusive Champions League rights to air the final in the Middle East, North Africa and much of South-East Asia. 'Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is considered a visionary leader in the media industry,' beIN says on its website, adding that in 2016 he 'also acquired the Hollywood film studio Miramax.' He also is a minister in Qatar's government, a director of its sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) that owns PSG. QSI and Al-Khelaïfi — a former tennis professional — also are key in the fast-emerging racket sport padel which has ambitions to be an Olympic sport, maybe in time for the 2036 Summer Games that Qatar and its tennis-loving Emir want to host. Among the invited VIP guests in Munich is Thomas Bach, the outgoing though still influential president of the International Olympic Committee. Saturday can be a peak of Al-Khelaïfi's 14-year career in international soccer that has fueled talk — despite ongoing investigations of his sports career by French authorities — he could be a future FIFA president. Al-Khelaïfi declined comment to The Associated Press after a recent UEFA meeting in Bilbao, Spain. In a statement, PSG said he 'doesn't want to be a distraction and wants humble focus for the team.' From tennis to soccer Now aged 51, Al-Khelaïfi was a tennis pro who played for Qatar in the Davis Cup, bringing him into contact with the future Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Al-Khelaïfi's ATP biography shows his ranking peaked at No. 995 and he played two matches on tour. The first in 1996 was against world No. 2 Thomas Muster in Austria. Brief footage shows a good-natured exchange of shots with Muster in a 6-0, 6-1 mismatch. Al-Khelaïfi's career ended in 2003 and he joined the start-up Al Jazeera Sport as 'Director of Rights Acquisitions,' according to beIN. Qatar stunned soccer in 2010, when FIFA awarded it 2022 World Cup hosting rights, and PSG was bought within months. Rising in soccer The rise of ambitious clubs fueled by Middle East sovereign cash — Qatar and PSG, Abu Dhabi and Manchester City — concerned the storied elite. The ECA helped UEFA introduce financial control rules for European competitions that saw both clubs deducted 20 million euros ($22.7 million) of Champions League prize money in 2014. Still, while Man City did not get on the ECA board, Al-Khelaïfi was elected in 2016. Three years later he got one of two seats reserved for clubs on the UEFA executive committee (ExCo) — despite in-house cautioning about conflicts of interest. Conflicted interests? On election day in 2019 in Rome, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was asked about potential conflicts of interest around Al-Khelaïfi. BeIN was, and still is, among UEFA's main clients also owning extensive European Championship rights. Ceferin's narrowly focused answer was that ExCo members are not involved in approving commercial deals. Any conflict worked in UEFA's favor in 2021 when ECA leaders launched the Super League project designed to rival and replace the Champions League, which beIN broadcasts. PSG's refusal to join rebel clubs from Spain, Italy and England helped to undermine the breakaway that ultimately failed amid a fan backlash and British government threats of legislation. In the fallout, Al-Khelaïfi took over leading the ECA and quickly repaired relations with UEFA and Ceferin. One year later, UEFA opened a disciplinary case into claims the PSG president confronted the match referee after losing in the Champions League at Real Madrid. When UEFA published the verdict Al-Khelaïfi was no longer cited and blame was put on sporting director Leonardo, who PSG had fired weeks earlier. Challenges in France Al-Khelaïfi is not always popular in France where PSG has won 11 of 14 league titles during Qatari ownership. His powerful role has attracted criticism, particularly from John Textor, the American owner at Lyon, including that PSG's funding model involving Qatari money allegedly breaks European Union laws. The pair have argued about poor management of the league's TV rights. In leaked footage from a 2024 meeting of Ligue 1 club owners, Al-Khelaïfi called Textor a cowboy. Textor described his rival as a bully with a conflict of interest given his role at beIN. Al-Khelaïfi's legal challenges in France include some not related to PSG. The recent preliminary charges about possible alleged corruption relate to his links to a French businessman. Proceedings were dropped in relation to Qatari bids to host track and field's world championships, which Doha staged in 2019. In Switzerland, Al-Khelaïfi stood trial twice and was acquitted both times on charges of inciting a top FIFA official to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement from 2013-15. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. His lawyers said after the second acquittal in 2022 that 'years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated — twice.' ___ AP Sports Writer Tales Azzoni contributed from Bilbao, Spain ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Champions League final highlights Al-Khelaïfi ties to PSG, UEFA, beIN and Qatar
The Champions League final on Saturday will be an especially busy one for Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, perhaps the most multi-tasked official in world soccer. As president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain since 2011, Al-Khelaïfi's main goal is seeing his team become champion of Europe for the first time against Inter Milan in Munich. As chairman of the influential European Club Association, he leads 700 member teams increasingly taking over from UEFA in shaping sporting and commercial decisions for the Champions League. It also puts him on UEFA's strategy-setting executive committee. As chairman of Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group, Al-Khelaïfi controls exclusive Champions League rights to air the final in the Middle East, North Africa and much of South-East Asia. 'Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is considered a visionary leader in the media industry,' beIN says on its website, adding that in 2016 he 'also acquired the Hollywood film studio Miramax.' He also is a minister in Qatar's government, a director of its sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) that owns PSG. QSI and Al-Khelaïfi — a former tennis professional — also are key in the fast-emerging racket sport padel which has ambitions to be an Olympic sport, maybe in time for the 2036 Summer Games that Qatar and its tennis-loving Emir want to host. Among the invited VIP guests in Munich is Thomas Bach, the outgoing though still influential president of the International Olympic Committee. Saturday can be a peak of Al-Khelaïfi's 14-year career in international soccer that has fueled talk — despite ongoing investigations of his sports career by French authorities — he could be a future FIFA president. Al-Khelaïfi declined comment to The Associated Press after a recent UEFA meeting in Bilbao, Spain. In a statement, PSG said he 'doesn't want to be a distraction and wants humble focus for the team.' From tennis to soccer Now aged 51, Al-Khelaïfi was a tennis pro who played for Qatar in the Davis Cup, bringing him into contact with the future Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Al-Khelaïfi's ATP biography shows his ranking peaked at No. 995 and he played two matches on tour. The first in 1996 was against world No. 2 Thomas Muster in Austria. Brief footage shows a good-natured exchange of shots with Muster in a 6-0, 6-1 mismatch. Al-Khelaïfi's career ended in 2003 and he joined the start-up Al Jazeera Sport as 'Director of Rights Acquisitions,' according to beIN. Qatar stunned soccer in 2010, when FIFA awarded it 2022 World Cup hosting rights, and PSG was bought within months. Rising in soccer The rise of ambitious clubs fueled by Middle East sovereign cash — Qatar and PSG, Abu Dhabi and Manchester City — concerned the storied elite. The ECA helped UEFA introduce financial control rules for European competitions that saw both clubs deducted 20 million euros ($22.7 million) of Champions League prize money in 2014. Still, while Man City did not get on the ECA board, Al-Khelaïfi was elected in 2016. Three years later he got one of two seats reserved for clubs on the UEFA executive committee (ExCo) — despite in-house cautioning about conflicts of interest. Conflicted interests? On election day in 2019 in Rome, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was asked about potential conflicts of interest around Al-Khelaïfi. BeIN was, and still is, among UEFA's main clients also owning extensive European Championship rights. Ceferin's narrowly focused answer was that ExCo members are not involved in approving commercial deals. Any conflict worked in UEFA's favor in 2021 when ECA leaders launched the Super League project designed to rival and replace the Champions League, which beIN broadcasts. PSG's refusal to join rebel clubs from Spain, Italy and England helped to undermine the breakaway that ultimately failed amid a fan backlash and British government threats of legislation. In the fallout, Al-Khelaïfi took over leading the ECA and quickly repaired relations with UEFA and Ceferin. One year later, UEFA opened a disciplinary case into claims the PSG president confronted the match referee after losing in the Champions League at Real Madrid. When UEFA published the verdict Al-Khelaïfi was no longer cited and blame was put on sporting director Leonardo, who PSG had fired weeks earlier. Challenges in France Al-Khelaïfi is not always popular in France where PSG has won 11 of 14 league titles during Qatari ownership. His powerful role has attracted criticism, particularly from John Textor, the American owner at Lyon, including that PSG's funding model involving Qatari money allegedly breaks European Union laws. The pair have argued about poor management of the league's TV rights. In leaked footage from a 2024 meeting of Ligue 1 club owners, Al-Khelaïfi called Textor a cowboy. Textor described his rival as a bully with a conflict of interest given his role at beIN. Al-Khelaïfi's legal challenges in France include some not related to PSG. The recent preliminary charges about possible alleged corruption relate to his links to a French businessman. Proceedings were dropped in relation to Qatari bids to host track and field's world championships, which Doha staged in 2019. In Switzerland, Al-Khelaïfi stood trial twice and was acquitted both times on charges of inciting a top FIFA official to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement from 2013-15. His lawyers said after the second acquittal in 2022 that 'years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated — twice.' ___ AP Sports Writer Tales Azzoni contributed from Bilbao, Spain ___ AP soccer:
Qatar Tribune
11-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
beIN Academy empowers more than 300 Qatar University students in hands-on media training
Tribune News Network DOHA The beIN MEDIA GROUP ('beIN'), a leading global sports, entertainment and media group, successfully concluded a two-day media training event at Qatar University titled 'On Air with beIN; in collaboration with Career Development Centre. Held as part of beIN's CSR initiative, beIN Academy, which aims to inspire and empower the next generation of media professionals in Qatar, the event engaged more than 300 media students from across the university, offering them a unique opportunity to explore the world of media and broadcasting through interactive sessions that simulated real-world production environments. The event was attended by beIN's Director of MENA HR Hamad Ibrahim Al Shaikh and beIN's Director of Technical Operation Ali Hassan Al Naama. As part of the immersive experience, beIN set up a fully operational mini studio on campus, staffed by a full team of experts, including directors, presenters, reporters, photographers, and a technical crew, who guided students through the complete media production process. Participants received hands-on training in key industry skills such as sports broadcasting, digital content creation, and live reporting. Attendees also had a unique opportunity to engage with prominent beIN talents Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari and Asya Abdullah, who shared their professional journeys and offered insights into working within the region's leading sports and entertainment network. beIN Academy is an educational programme designed to equip students with the insights, skills, and tools needed to thrive in both the national and international media industry. It encompasses volunteering opportunities, workshops, and internships, offering hands-on experience across the sports, entertainment, and broadcasting sectors. beIN and Qatar University have enjoyed a strategic partnership since 2020, which was further solidified last year with the renewal of their long-term cooperation agreement, extending their collaboration until 2028. Since the initial agreement, the partnership has resulted in numerous achievements and areas of joint cooperation. This latest collaboration not only marks a significant milestone in the partnership, but also reinforces beIN's broader mission to develop local talent, support Qatar's creative economy, and contribute to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
beIN SPORTS to deliver unprecedented month of football with live coverage of 14 major finals
Fourteen football finals – one unmissable month. beIN SPORTS, the leading sports broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is airing an unprecedented feast of live football action this May, cementing its position as home to both the beautiful game and the sport's biggest and best tournaments around the globe. From the EFL Championship play-off – widely accepted to be the world's most valuable football match – to men's and women's continental deciders across Europe, Africa, and Asia, beIN's unrivalled programming is set to provide a celebration of football like no other this May. With the broadcaster delivering a range of live studio coverage, pre- and post-match analysis from the likes of Arsene Wenger, Marcel Desailly, Ruud Gullit, and Mohamed Aboutrika, and bilingual – often trilingual – commentary, beIN SPORTS is raising the game when it comes to showpiece football this season. The region's leading sports network launched its 'Month of Finals' last Saturday with a nervy French Women's Cup final in which Paris FC triumphed over PSG on penalties in Calais. This was followed by live coverage in Arabic and English of Al Ahli Saudi's historic 2-0 victory over Kawasaki in Asia's AFC Champions League Elite final in Jeddah. Next up is the Qatar Cup final on 10 May, where league champions Al Sadd face off against runners-up Al Duhail in what promises to be another thrilling encounter. The focus now moves west, with the first leg of Africa's CAF Confederation Cup final taking place on 17 May in Morocco between the country's two-time winners RS Berkane and Tanzania's history-makers Simba SC. The return leg in Dar es Salaam is scheduled for 25 May with beIN providing Arabic studio coverage for both ties, as well as commentary in Arabic, English, and French. Also on 17 May, Manchester City will take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley as London club Palace seek a first major trophy in their 119-year history. beIN will deliver full Arabic and English studio coverage, with additional French commentary, while the following day brings Asia's AFC Champions League Two final in which UAE side Sharjah FC face Lion City Sailors. Lion City are the first Singaporean side to reach a continental Asian final after their 6-1 semi-final defeat to Hiroshima became a 3-0 victory by forfeit when their opponents were found to have fielded an ineligible player. In the reformatted UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday 21 May, hosts Athletic Club or European giants Manchester United will take on Norway's Bodo/Glimt or English side Tottenham Hotspur. With a place in next season's UEFA Champions League on the line, all four will be well aware of the financial fall-out of lifting the coveted trophy. Saturday 24 May brings with it not one but six finals in the form of Africa' s CAF Champions League first leg, the French Cup final between PSG and Reims, Qatar's Amir Cup final, Asia's AFC Women's Champions League final, Europe's UEFA Women's Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona, and the lucrative EFL Championship Play-off final, which is worth an unparallelled US$470m to the winners in TV deals, sponsorship, and additional revenue streams. 'No matter where you go in the world – whether it's Calais or Qatar – football is so popular,' said Desailly, who finished his playing career after having won the UEFA Champions League with Marseille and AC Milan. 'This month provides a host of players with the chance to play in a final, to win a trophy, and become a legend at their club. I am very proud to be working with beIN as they bring a 'Month of Finals' to the Middle East and North Africa – a region I know loves football. I can't wait to share some special moments with fans over the next few weeks.' Closing out the month, the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday 28 May pits either Chelsea or Djurgarden against Real Betis or Fiorentina in Wroclaw, Poland, while the second-most watched football competition in world football – the UEFA Champions League – culminates on Saturday 31 May with PSG or Arsenal taking on Inter Milan or Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Ruud Gullit, another two-time European Cup winner with Milan between 1988-90, added: 'This month promises to produce some unforgettable moments in world football and I'm delighted to be involved as part of beIN's team of analysts and special guests. The UEFA competitions will always hold a special place in my heart – winning the European Cup remains one of my career highlights – but I am also excited for the FA Cup, which is a magical competition that I won both as a player and manager.' Don't miss a moment of football's biggest month. Catch every final live and exclusive on beIN SPORTS. Subscribe now at
