DEBRECEN, Hungary: Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team returned to Europe on Wednesday for the first time since its fans were assaulted in the Netherlands earlier this month in attacks that were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Israel and across Europe.
The team will face off Thursday against Turkiye’s Besiktas in an Europa League match that was relocated to Hungary. The contest at Nagyerdei Stadium in the city of Debrecen will be played without fans due to security concerns following the violence in Amsterdam on Nov. 7 that resulted in five people being treated in hospitals and dozens of detentions.
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic told a news conference on Wednesday that his team was focused on its game, regardless of what tensions may exist elsewhere.
“It’s not a question for me what happened outside of the stadium. We saw some videos and everything, but we really try to focus on football,” he said. “We’ll see tomorrow what is the effect.”
The violence in Amsterdam came after local authorities banned pro-Palestinian demonstrators from gathering outside the stadium where Maccabi was playing Dutch team Ajax.
A large crowd of Israeli fans chanted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the match, video showed. Afterward, youths on scooters and on foot crisscrossed the city in search of Israeli fans, punching and kicking them, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.
The city’s police commander said the incidents had “an antisemitic character.”
Maccabi press officer Ofer Ronen-Abels said Wednesday the events in Amsterdam “had nothing to do with football.”
Before the assaults, Besiktas had requested its home game against Maccabi, originally scheduled for Istanbul, to be moved to “neutral ground” over security concerns.
The club later said on social media that Hungary was the only country willing to host the match and that Hungarian authorities requested it be played behind closed doors.
Hungary has hosted several home games for Israel’s national team for security reasons since the war in Gaza began.
Maccabi held its final practice session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex in Tel Aviv on Wednesday before departing for Hungary, the team said on its website.
Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam
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Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam
- The team will face off Thursday against Turkiye’s Besiktas in an Europa League match that was relocated to Hungary
- Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic told a news conference on Wednesday that his team was focused on its game, regardless of what tensions may exist elsewhere
Green Falcons beat Bahrain to set up FIFA World Cup qualifier showdown with Australia
- Herve Renard's men had to win to push the race for second to Tuesday
RIFFA: Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 2-0 in Riffa on Thursday to tee up a showdown with Australia for the second automatic spot in AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C.
With Australia snatching a last-minute victory against already qualified Japan earlier, Herve Renard's men had to win to push the race for second to Tuesday.
The Saudis got off to the perfect start, when on 16 minutes rising star Musab Al Juwayr met captain Salem Al-Dawsari's pinpoint cross to the back post to volley home.
The visitors then survived a few nervy moments in the second half before Abdulrahman Al Obud made safe the result 12 minutes from time with a goal on the counter.
The win keeps Saudi third, three points behind Australia, although with a far inferior goal difference.
Only a huge victory for the Gulf side in Jeddah would see them leapfrog the Socceroos.
Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in
- Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia’s celebrations on hold
- Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan’s hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman
HONG KONG: Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Thursday as a 0-0 draw with the UAE confirmed the nation’s progress to next year’s finals as Australia and Jordan moved to the verge of booking berths in North America.
Aziz Behich’s 90th minute strike earned the Socceroos a 1-0 win over already-qualified Japan in Perth in Group C to keep Tony Popovic’s side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa.
Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia’s celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday.
But Australia’s vastly superior goal difference means they can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finishers behind the Japanese.
Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan’s hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman in Muscat to leave Jamal Sellami’s side waiting for the result from South Korea’s clash with Iraq in Basra later on Thursday in Group B.
Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation their first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev had hit the crossbar with a 54th minute header for the visitors but it was Yusupov who frustrated the Cosmin Olaroiu-coached Emiratis, who needed to win to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification.
The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A.
Indonesia guaranteed their involvement in the World Cup preliminaries would continue into the fourth round as a 1-0 win over China also ended the qualification hopes of Branko Ivankovic’s side.
Ole Romeny’s 45th minute penalty separated the sides in Jakarta to ensure Indonesia would finish in either third or fourth place in Group C, thereby progressing to the next phase, which will be played in October.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF named as partner for FIFA Club World Cup 2025
- Sides say deal reflects ‘shared vision to enable greater participation in sports’
- PIF ‘creating a legacy of transformative impact in sports,’ corporate brand head says
ZURICH/RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will be an official partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which gets underway in the US later this month.
The partnership was described in a joint statement by FIFA and PIF as evidence of the two sides’ “shared vision to enable greater participation in sports by unlocking new opportunities, fostering innovation and engaging fans around the world.”
PIF’s Head of Corporate Brand Mohammed Al-Sayyad said: “PIF is creating a legacy of transformative impact in sports including through its partnerships, delivering positive and lasting results at every level, from players and fans to host communities.”
The deal with FIFA comes after the sovereign wealth fund last year announced a partnership deal with CONCACAF, football’s governing body for the Americas and Caribbean.
Saudi Arabia was also earlier named as the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Talking about the club tournament, Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief business officer, said: “Together, we look forward to delivering a historic tournament that inspires and unites fans from around the world.”
Speaking of the partners for the event, which runs from June 14 to July 13, he said: “Their support of the tournament will not only be integral to its success but will underpin investment in supporting the development of club football everywhere.”
This year marks a new chapter for the tournament, with 32 teams taking part, up from just seven in previous events. A total of 63 matches will be held across 11 cities, with the final set to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
All of the games will be livestreamed for free on DAZN.com. More information about ticket options is available from FIFA.com/tickets.
New Rangers boss Martin aims to win over fans as he targets Celtic crown
- The 39-year-old former Southampton manager has the daunting task of toppling champions Celtic
- Martin guided Saints to promotion to the Premier League last year
LONDON: Rangers head coach Russell Martin said Thursday his “whole career has been based on proving people wrong” after he was unveiled as the new man in the Ibrox hot seat.
The 39-year-old former Southampton manager, who has signed a three-year contract with Rangers, has the daunting task of toppling champions Celtic, who have a stranglehold on the Scottish game.
Martin guided Saints to promotion to the Premier League last year but was sacked in December following one win from their first 16 games. The club were subsequently relegated.
Rangers finished last season second in the Scottish Premiership under the caretaker management of former captain Barry Ferguson, having dismissed Philippe Clement in February.
Ex-Scotland defender Martin, who had a short loan spell as a player at Rangers in 2018 and has also managed MK Dons and Swansea, was asked at a press conference about negative reaction from fans to his appointment.
“To the fans, I have to win. I don’t think I’ve been the number one choice at any club I’ve been at,” he said.
“By the time we’ve left every team I’ve been at, we’ve formed a real connection with the supporters. I hope this will be the same.
“My whole playing career was based on hard work and resilience. It was not done on talent.”
Martin said success at Ibrox would be measured in trophies, admitting he had “a lot to prove.”
Celtic have an iron grip on Scottish football, recently wrapping up a 13th title in 14 seasons.
But Martin is confident he can eventually knock Rangers’ bitter Glasgow rivals from their perch.
“My whole career has been based on proving people wrong,” he said. “I got to the Premier
League as a player, played international football. It’s the same as a manager.
“I feel after five and a half years of being a coach and a leader, I love doing it. I will be all-in here with my energy and my love for it. Hopefully it will reflect on the pitch.”
Martin was criticized for sticking to an attacking approach at Southampton even as his team was losing consistently but he defended his methods.
“We are here to win and we’ll do that in the best way we possibly can within a similar concept of the game,” he said.
“That is to be dominant with the ball, which I think is what Rangers fans expect, but to be really aggressive, really intense, really passionate, really hard-working first and foremost.”
Martin’s arrival is the latest in a series of major changes at Rangers.
An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday, while new sporting director Kevin Thelwell officially began work on Monday.
Australia on brink of World Cup after dramatic late winner
- In front of a sell-out crowd of 57,226 at Optus Stadium, the Socceroos were outplayed for long periods by an experimental Japan side
- After beating Japan for the first time since 2009, Australia are on the cusp of next year’s World Cup in North America
PERTH: Australia moved to the brink of the World Cup after beating already qualified Japan 1-0 in Perth on Thursday thanks to Aziz Behich’s 90th-minute winner.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 57,226 at Optus Stadium, the Socceroos were outplayed for long periods by an experimental Japan side.
But then substitute Riley McGree cut the ball back to defender Behich, who rifled a bullet into the corner for his first international goal in 13 years and trigger scenes of jubilation.
After beating Japan for the first time since 2009, Australia are on the cusp of next year’s World Cup in North America.
“We know there’s room to grow and room to improve, but we’ve done something special tonight,” coach Tony Popovic said.
Before the game the Socceroos had a three-point lead and a significantly better goal difference over Saudi Arabia with two matches left.
The win does not totally guarantee Australia’s passage, with Saudi Arabia at Bahrain later on Thursday.
Australia then face the Saudis in Jeddah on June 10 in their final Group C match in the battle for second behind Japan.
Teams that finish in the top two of the six-team group guarantee their automatic spot at the World Cup.
After what had been a lacklustre performance for much of the game, Australia’s last-gasp victory continued their turnaround since Popovic arrived in September.
“We’ve all played a part in getting us to this point,” he said.
“We want to go to Saudi Arabia and really finish the job off.”
After becoming the first team to punch their ticket to the World Cup, Japan coach Hajjime
Moriyasu used the trip to Australia as an opportunity to experiment.
“I wanted to see what they (the inexperienced players) could do against a strong opponent in very difficult circumstances,” Moriyasu said.
“We have to improve and expand our squad.”
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo started on the bench as Japan fielded three debutants in the starting line-up.
Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada, playing his 41st international, was considerably their most experienced starter.
Japan completely dominated the first half with 21-year-old midfielder Kota Tawaratsumida impressing on his debut.
It was only a matter of time before Japan had a clear-cut chance, with Yuito Suzuki having an attempt from long range on the half-hour mark.
Japan continued to attack with debutant Yu Hirakawa firing just wide of the left post after beating outstretched goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
The break arrived at a good time for Australia.
After being brought on in the 64th minute, Kubo curled past the right post, before Behich stepped up late with his priceless goal.
