LYON, France: The head of Iraq’s delegation said Olympic chiefs had rejected their request not to display Israel’s flag next to Iraq’s during the Paris Games.
Iraq’s men’s football team beat Ukraine 2-1 on Wednesday in Lyon and lost 3-1 to Argentina on Saturday.
“When we arrived at Lyon Stadium (Wednesday), we found the Iraqi flag displayed next to the Israeli flag,” despite Israel’s team not having any matches in Lyon, Herda Raouf told AFP.
Raouf, whose country does not recognize the Israeli state and supports the Palestinian cause, added that his delegation had asked a representative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) “to relocate or remove the Israeli flag,” but their wish was denied.
The committee’s representative argued, according to Raouf, that the “flags of all participating countries in the men’s and women’s football games needed to be displayed in alphabetical order.”
Raouf added that his delegation sent a formal protest by email to the IOC with the same demand before the game with Argentina, but the request was once again rejected.
French security forces identified the Ukraine-Iraq and Israel-Mali football matches on Wednesday as high-risk events.
Around 1,000 French police officers were on duty to provide security at Israel’s game against Mali, at which fans flew Palestinian and Israeli flags.
The Palestine Olympic Committee wrote to the IOC last week asking for a ban on Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympics over the war in Gaza, which was rejected.
Following a 1-1 draw with Mali, Israel’s team are in action against Paraguay on Saturday in Paris.
Iraq’s request to move Israel flag rejected by Olympic chiefs
https://arab.news/mbng4
Iraq’s request to move Israel flag rejected by Olympic chiefs
- “When we arrived at Lyon Stadium, we found the Iraqi flag displayed next to the Israeli flag,” despite Israel’s team not having any matches in Lyon, Herda Raouf said
- French security forces identified the Ukraine-Iraq and Israel-Mali football matches on Wednesday as high-risk events
After stadium delays, African Nations Championship kicks off
- The CHAN tournament acts as a precursor to the continent’s main event, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027
- CHAN features only players from domestic clubs, and cannot include anyone playing for teams abroad
NAIROBI, Kenya: After severe delays in stadium renovations, east Africa is finally ready to co-host the much-awaited African Nations Championship (CHAN), kicking off on Saturday.
It is a historic moment for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, whose “Pamoja” — meaning “together” in Swahili — bid two years ago gave birth to the first Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament in the region since 1976, and the first to be jointly hosted by three countries.
The CHAN tournament, which runs to August 30, acts as a precursor to the continent’s main event, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, also co-hosted by the three countries.
CHAN features only players from domestic clubs, and cannot include anyone playing for teams abroad.
Getting the five stadiums ready has been a struggle, with CAF delaying the tournament from its planned dates in February to give them more time to prepare.
On a final inspection tour in Nairobi last week CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba celebrated the three nations’ progress and co-operation.
“I think we in Africa need to learn from this model. Three countries have pooled their efforts and resources to successfully deliver,” he told reporters.
Tanzania will get the 19-team competition underway when they play Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in the economic capital Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Favourites Morocco pulled out of the last competition in Algeria in February 2023, but have returned with one of the tournament’s strongest teams, featuring six players from the winning CAF Confederation Cup — including Olympian goalkeeper Rachid Ghanimi.
The two-time champions have been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Kenya, as well as Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya are making their debut under South African head coach Benni McCarthy, part of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United coaching staff.
“Honestly, it is a great challenge,” the 47-year-old said.
“When you play football and then convert to become a coach, to get what you want to be the best, the difficult teams will always be in your path. You have to beat them anyway.”
Co-hosts Uganda have competed in six of the previous seven CHAN tournaments without ever qualifying for the knockout phase, but they hope to break the jinx, beginning with the home group matches against Algeria, Guinea, Niger and South Africa.
They have tapped former national team captain Denis Onyango to join the technical bench and help improve their goalkeeping.
Meanwhile, defending champions Senegal begin against fellow west African rivals Nigeria at Zanzibar’s Amaan stadium on August 5.
Napoli’s Osimhen completes 75mln euro move to Galatasaray
- Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in 30 league games
- Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks
ISTANBUL: Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on Thursday completed his permanent move to Turkish champions Galatasaray in a 75 million euro ($87.5 million) four-year deal.
A key figure in Napoli’s 2023 title triumph, Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in 30 league games as the Istanbul club claimed their 25th Super Lig crown.
He was absent as Napoli, the freshly crowned Serie A champions, resumed training at the start of the week as the finer details of the deal were concluded.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte seemingly did not have the 26-year-old in his plans for his side’s Scudetto defense next term.
Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks but up to Thursday had stalled over the terms of payment for the transfer.
Napoli recently recruited Kevin De Bruyne from Premier League club Manchester City.
Osimhen becomes Galatasaray’s most expensive ever player.
Portugal’s Sousa named as Kuwait national team coach
- The 55-year-old succeeds Juan Antonio Pizzi
- Local media reported that Sousa has signed a contract with the KFA until 2027
KUWAIT: Portuguese Helio Sousa has been appointed as coach of the Kuwait men’s team, the country’s football association (KFA) announced on Thursday.
The 55-year-old succeeds Juan Antonio Pizzi, whose contract expired earlier this year.
“Helio Sousa is the coach of the Kuwait national football team. Welcome to Kuwait,” KFA said on X without providing further details.
Local media reported that Sousa has signed a contract with the KFA until 2027, reportedly worth $1.6 million per year.
Sousa previously enjoyed a successful stint with Bahrain, guiding the nation to the West Asian Football Federation Championship title in 2019 before securing their maiden Gulf Cup later that year.
West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta cleared of spot-fixing charges
- The English Football Association confirmed Thursday that an independent panel had found the charges unproven
- The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international
LONDON: West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of alleged spot-fixing after being accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets.
The English Football Association confirmed Thursday that an independent panel had found the charges unproven.
“Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing,” the FA said in a statement.
The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international, who was charged in May 2024.
The FA had claimed the 27-year-old Paqueta intentionally sought to be booked in four separate games — against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023 “in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”
Blackstone Chambers, representing Paqueta, said it was understood to be the longest case in FA history.
Paqueta was charged with breaches of FA Rule E5 related to integrity of matches and competitions.
The rule sates a participant “shall not, directly or indirectly, seek to influence for an improper purpose the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition.”
The panel did uphold two charges against Paqueta for failing to answer questions and provide
information to the FA’s investigation. The governing body said it would determine an appropriate sanction at the earliest opportunity.
Full reasons for the verdict have not yet been published.
Wirtz opens Liverpool account in friendly win in Japan
- Wirtz equalized after Yokohama opened the scoring early in the second half
- “I am really happy that I could score my first goal,” said Wirtz
YOKOHAMA, Japan: Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as the Premier League champions beat Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in Japan on Wednesday.
French forward Hugo Ekitike made his debut for Liverpool, one week after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported 69 million pounds ($92 million).
Wirtz equalized after Yokohama opened the scoring early in the second half, the German slamming home a right-foot shot from inside the box in front of over 65,000 fans.
“I am really happy that I could score my first goal. I hope there are more to come,” said Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster deal.
Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha also scored for Liverpool, who announced the sale of Colombian forward Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was happy to see his team come from behind to win but was not pleased with their missed chances.
“It could be with a tough training camp and it could be with the heat circumstances,” said the Dutchman.
“But that’s something that we definitely have to improve.”
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed the match after traveling home to Brazil “for private reasons,” Liverpool said.
Shortly before kickoff, an emotional tribute was given to Diogo Jota, who passed away this month in a car crash.
Liverpool dominated throughout but Yokohama opened the scoring when Asahi Uenaka pounced in the 55th minute to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Wirtz levelled when he latched onto a Mohamed Salah pass.
Nyoni volleyed home a Jeremie Frimpong cross to put Liverpool in front, before Ngumoha dribbled from the halfway line and fired in a shot from the edge of the box.
