Injured Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will miss Euro 2024 opener

Injured Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will miss Euro 2024 opener
Poland will have to play their opening game at the European Championship against the Netherlands on Jun. 16, 2024 without its striker Robert Lewandowski who will miss it out due to a muscle injury. (AP/File)
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Updated 11 June 2024
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Injured Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will miss Euro 2024 opener

Injured Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will miss Euro 2024 opener
  • Poland’s team doctor said the Barcelona star has a torn biceps femoris muscle from a warmup against Turkiye
  • The Poland captain had to be substituted in the 32nd minute of the game with a right leg injury

WARSAW: Poland will be without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski for their opening game at the European Championship against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Poland’s team doctor Jacek Jaroszewski said in a statement the Barcelona star has a torn biceps femoris muscle from a warmup against Turkiye in Warsaw on Monday that Poland won 2-1.
The Poland captain had to be substituted in the 32nd minute of the game with a right leg injury.
“We are doing everything so that Robert can play in the second match against Austria,” the statement said.
In Group D, Poland face Austria on June 21 at the tournament in Germany before playing France four days later.
The injury is another blow for Poland. Lewandowski is the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 82 goals from 150 games.
Arkadiusz Milik was to be up front with Lewandowski for the Euros until he damaged his left knee on Friday in the friendly against Ukraine. Milik returned to Juventus and had successful knee surgery on Monday.
Paweł Dawidowicz and Karol Świderski, who were also injured Monday, are expected to return to full training in three or four days.


Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast
Updated 28 February 2025
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Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast
  • After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys“
  • The Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench

ISTANBUL: Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho was handed a four-match ban and fined more than €40,000 by the Turkish football federation on Thursday for comments he made after an explosive Istanbul derby against Galatasaray.

After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys.”

He also reportedly repeated his criticism of Turkish referees.

Fenerbahce said that Mourinho’s comments were taken out of context.

On Thursday the Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench.

They were judged “contrary to sporting ethics.”

Mourinho, whose team trail leaders Galatasaray by six points in the table, was also fined just over €42,000.


Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations
Updated 27 February 2025
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Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations
  • The Portuguese executive is said to have been offered a decade-long deal worth €20 million a year
  • Sources say the federation wants to restructure the national team ahead of 2034 World Cup, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals

PARIS: Representatives of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation met Luis Campos, the sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain, in Geneva last week to discuss an offer for him to handle the federation’s sporting operations, French daily newspaper Le Parisien reported on Wednesday.
The Portuguese executive was offered €20 million ($20.8 million) a year in a contract that would run until 2034, according to the newspaper. Citing unnamed sources, it said the move is part of the federation’s plans to restructure and reorganize the Saudi national team ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the Kingdom will host, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals.
If Campos, also a former sporting director of AS Monaco, accepts the offer, he will reportedly submit reports on Saudi football and the national team to Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and the federation’s president, Yasser Al-Misehal.
The Le Parisien report added that Campos was given until the end of the year to respond to the offer, and in the meantime he will continue to focus on PSG until the end of the season. Campos joined the club in July 2022 and has helped it secure back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.


Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension

Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension
Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension

Pakistan soccer approves steps wanted by FIFA to lift international suspension
  • The PFF decided to approve those amendments
  • Pakistan remained hopeful the suspension will be lifted in time to play Syria on Mar. 25

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation took a step toward returning to international soccer by unanimously approving constitutional amendments proposed by FIFA on Thursday.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected electoral reforms.
The PFF decided to approve those amendments by a 23-0 vote at an extraordinary congress in Lahore, where the attendees included officials from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
“The congress members endorsed the FIFA proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, paving the way for the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers following the expected lifting of FIFA’s suspension,” the PFF said in a statement.
Pakistan remained hopeful the suspension will be lifted in time to play Syria on March 25 in its first qualifier for the 2027 Asian Cup. For that to happen, the AFC told the PFF the ban must be lifted by Tuesday.


Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich

Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich
Updated 27 February 2025
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Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich

Bayern Munich reportedly withdraw contract offer to Joshua Kimmich
  • Bayern decided at their supervisory board meeting on Monday to withdraw the offer
  • The proposed new deal reportedly included a modest pay rise

MUNICH: German media is reporting that Bayern Munich have retracted their contract extension offer to midfielder Joshua Kimmich, whose deal expires at the end of the season.
Kicker magazine on Thursday corroborated a report from the Bild tabloid saying Bayern decided at their supervisory board meeting on Monday to withdraw the offer they made to the player because of his hesitation in accepting it.
The 30-year-old Kimmich, who has played more than 400 games for Bayern since joining as a 20-year-old from Leipzig in 2015, reportedly earns around 20 million euros ($21 million) a year at the Bavarian powerhouse.
The proposed new deal reportedly included a modest pay rise.
Bayern’s board member for sports, Max Eberl, told broadcaster Sky this month that talks between the two parties were positive after the club announced new contract extension deals with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Manuel Neuer.
“We’ve done our work bit by bit. We’ve had very good discussions with Joshua. We’ve clearly shown what our idea is with the extensions (that were announced),” said Eberl, who hoped that “we’ll get it over the finish line.”
Kimmich played every minute for Bayern across three competitions until he was forced off before the break against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend with a tendon strain. He will likely miss the team’s visit to Stuttgart on Friday, but the club hopes he’ll be back for Bayer Leverkusen’s visit in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
Kimmich is at liberty to join another club at the end of this season — as long as he does not sign a new deal at Bayern in the meantime. There has been speculation of a possible reunion with former Bayern coach Hansi Flick at Barcelona, though the financially troubled Spanish club would still need to pay his wages.


England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch

England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch
Updated 27 February 2025
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England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch

England hammer out Women’s Nations League victory over Spain in World Cup final rematch
  • Park netted in the 33rd minute at Wembley to ensure England saw off the side ranked second in the world
  • Spain never relented in five minutes of stoppage time, but England held firm to banish the painful memories of the World Cup misery

LONDON: Jess Park fired England to a 1-0 win against Spain on Wednesday in a Women’s Nations League clash that provided a measure of revenge for their World Cup final defeat.

Park netted in the 33rd minute at Wembley to ensure England saw off the side ranked second in the world.

It was the first time England had faced Spain since the Lionesses lost the 2023 World Cup final.

That showpiece success for Spain was eventually overshadowed by the controversy caused by the Luis Rubiales case.

Former Spanish football federation boss Rubiales was recently found guilty of sexual assault after kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the World Cup medal ceremony.

Spain have tried to moved on from the scandal, with their Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati saying she hoped speaking out about what happened can lead to change in football and wider society.

With the focus back on the pitch, England struggled in the early stages of their latest Spain showdown.

They were fortunate not to fall behind when Lucia Garcia’s corner hit the crossbar.

Lauren James finally tested Spain keeper Cata Coll with a curling effort and then a fierce drive at the near post.

England were growing into the game and Park struck after some fine work by Alessia Russo, who carved through the Spanish defense for a shot that was blocked by Spain captain Irene Paredes.

The rebound fell for Manchester City midfielder Park, who prodded home from close range.

Spain looked to Salma Paralluelo for a near-instant reply, but the Barcelona winger’s shot was wide before England keeper Hannah Hampton denied Bonmati.

Hampton saved again to frustrate Bonmati just before half-time.

The game was briefly paused in the 52nd minute when the stadium lights went dark.

But light was restored and Paralluelo looked in prime position to equalize after she was released by Athenea del Castillo, but she was closed down at the last moment by Millie Bright.

Montse Tome’s team piled on the pressure, with Leila Ouahabi repelled by Hampton in a frantic finale.

England nearly had a late second after Coll spilled the ball from a sharp James effort before the keeper smothered it on the line.

Spain never relented in five minutes of stoppage time, but England held firm to banish the painful memories of the World Cup misery.