JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has invited Egypt’s national football team to the Kingdom to perform umrah in recognition of their qualification to the World Cup, Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper reported.
Turki Al-Asheikh, Chairman of the General Authority for Sport and Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, invited the team to perform the religious rite after their automatic qualification to the final next summer in Russia.
The Pharaohs, who are 30th in the FIFA rankings, topped CAF Group E by winning all but one of their 5 matches.
There are negotiations for a friendly match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia some time before the start of the World Cup, sources told the paper.
Last month, Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006 when the Falcons beat Japan in a do or die encounter in Jeddah.
In celebration for their team’s qualification to the competition, the Egyptian Football Association announced the lifting of “all previous sanctions on all players, administrators and technical teams of the Egyptian league, including futsal games and the republic’s tournaments for all age groups, starting October 15th.”
The association highlighted that previously sanctioned cases of fraud are exempt from the decision.
Saudi Arabia invites Egyptian national football team for umrah
Saudi Arabia invites Egyptian national football team for umrah
Barcelona midfielder Fermín López to extend contract through 2031
- Fermín was close to a move to Chelsea last summer, but stayed at Barcelona
- Barcelona called the new deal with Fermín a “strategic decision”
BARCELONA: Barcelona and breakout midfielder Fermín López have agreed to extend his contract through June 2031, the Spanish club said Friday.
The 22-year-old Fermín is one of the club’s top young talents, along with Lamine Yamal and Pedri González.
Fermín was close to a move to Chelsea last summer, but stayed at Barcelona and has remained a versatile member of Hansi Flick’s side thanks to his scoring instinct.
He has netted 10 goals this season, including five in the Champions League, along with making 11 assists despite not always starting.
Barcelona called the new deal with Fermín a “strategic decision.”
Fermín joined Barcelona when he was 13. His previous contract was to expire in 2029.
Fermín has only made five appearances for Spain but is expected to be part of their World Cup team this summer.
