LONDON: Christian Eriksen says he has no anxiety about playing his first match since a cardiac arrest and believes a return to England was perfect after the incident last summer.
The Denmark international has not played a competitive match since June 12, when he collapsed and in his own words was “gone from this world for five minutes” during a European Championship match against Finland.
After being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator days after the incident, Eriksen had to be released by Inter Milan in December due to rules in Italy preventing athletes from competing with an ICD. He made a surprise return to the English Premier League with Brentford in January.
Bees boss Thomas Frank revealed on Friday the former Tottenham playmaker will play in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Monday which could open the door for him to be involved at Arsenal on Feb. 19.
“I do feel in my head and body that the excitement is coming, the adrenaline is coming more and more toward game time,” Eriksen said on Friday at his unveiling news conference at Brentford Community Stadium.
“No, if there was any anxiety I wouldn’t go back.
“If I wasn’t fully committed and feel like I am trusting of the doctors, trusting of my heart, trusting my ICD in me, then I wouldn’t go back. No, I feel 100 percent secure to go back.”
Eriksen trained with his teammates for the first time on Monday but was familiar with several of them who are Denmark internationals.
The 29-year-old Eriksen has previously worked with Frank in Danish age-group teams and yet had no ambitions to return to England before he suffered a cardiac arrest, having spent 6 1/2 years in the UK with Tottenham before leaving in January 2020. Unable then to play in Italy, he considered an England return the best alternative.
He passed the required medical checks and cleared to play in the Premier League with the ICD.
Daley Blind, Eriksen’s former Ajax teammate who also played for Manchester United, is a notable footballer to still play with a pacemaker.
“First of all, I felt from the beginning of this I needed to prove you can play with an ICD and if something that bad has happened, you can be returning to a normal life afterwards,” Eriksen insisted. “That is more the motivation for me, to show I am capable of that.
“At the same time, I haven’t forgotten how to play football. My body is still the same and my vision and ability is still the same. Of course it is about kicking on, getting used to my teammates and falling into the rhythm of the team.”
Eriksen excited to prove he can play after cardiac arrest
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Eriksen excited to prove he can play after cardiac arrest
- The Denmark international has not played a competitive match since June 12
- Eriksen made a surprise return to the English Premier League with Brentford in January.
Australia struggle in World Cup qualifying as Son lifts South Korea
South Korea’s English Premier League strike force of Hwang Hee-chan and Son Heung-min both scored as they beat Oman 3-1 in Muscat
HONG KONG: Australia failed to score for the second successive match, but Son Heung-min scored a stunning goal as South Korea got off the mark in Asian World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
Graham Arnold’s Socceroos, having been shocked at home 1-0 by Bahrain last week, dominated a Group C encounter with Indonesia but were held 0-0 in front of almost 80,000 fans at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Australia carved out a succession of chances but lacked any cutting edge, coming closest when Bayern Munich teenager Nestory Irankunda thundered a shot against the post.
“It was our game all along,” Irankunda said. “We should have won it. We should have put them away in the first half.”
Next month, Arnold’s men face China at home in Group C and then a tough trip to in-form Japan.
“There’s eight games to go,” said Arnold. “It’s not like it’s a disaster, but I’ve got to go home and do a lot of thinking.”
South Korea’s English Premier League strike force of Hwang Hee-chan and Son Heung-min both scored as they beat Oman 3-1 in Muscat.
Wolverhampton’s Hwang opened the scoring after 19 minutes before Jung Seungh-hyun’s own goal equalized on the stroke of half-time.
Tottenham’s Son got South Korea’s second, turning outside the box and firing home an unstoppable left-foot finish on 82 minutes.
Joo Min-kyu put the result beyond doubt in the 11th minute of added time after being played in by Son.
It was South Korea’s first win in the final Asian qualifying phase after they were held goalless at home by Palestine last week.
The Palestinians could not repeat their heroic performance in Seoul, however, and were beaten 3-1 by Jordan in a match played in Kuala Lumpur because of the war in Gaza.
North Korea drew 2-2 with Asian Cup champions Qatar in wild weather in a Group A match played in Vientiane.
Ri Il Song gave North Korea an early lead, in what was nominally their home fixture, before they were reduced to 10 men when Jang Kuk Chol was red carded for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity.
Akram Afif scored the resulting penalty and Almoez Ali put the Qataris 2-1 up at half-time.
After the break, the heavens opened violently, dumping huge amounts of water on the Laos National Stadium pitch.
Kang Kuk Chol pierced the gloom with a rasping free-kick equalizer from 30 yards before puddles on the pitch grew into lakes leaving the referee no choice but to take the players off.
There was a delay of more than 20 minutes until the rain eased but when the teams resumed there were no further goals as the players struggled on the waterlogged surface.
In another Group A match Uzbekistan beat Kyrgyzstan 3-2 in Bishkek.
The top two from each of the three six-team Asian groups will be guaranteed a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The third qualifying round wraps up in June.
Vincent Labrune re-elected to another 4-year term as French soccer league president
- The league (LFP) said Labrune received strong support from the board and was then elected by the general assembly in the first round
- The vote was expected to be tighter because Labrune had faced criticism in recent months over the handling of the league’s TV rights
PARIS: French league president Vincent Labrune was re-elected Tuesday to another four-year term with an overwhelming majority.
The league (LFP) said Labrune, who was formerly club president of nine-time French champion Marseille, received strong support from the board and was then elected by the general assembly in the first round of ballots with 85.67 percent percent of the votes.
“After a first mandate marked by emergency solutions and long-term responses to the unprecedented crisis in the financing of audiovisual rights, an era of transformation for professional soccer has now begun,” the league said in a statement.”
The vote was expected to be tighter because Labrune had faced criticism in recent months over the handling of the league’s TV rights.
Following the collapse of its record-breaking TV rights contract with Spanish-based broadcaster Mediapro four years ago, the league hoped it could get up to 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) per year from the sale of broadcasting rights for 2024-29 but had to lower its target.
In the end, the league settled for 500 million euros per year after sealing a late deal with British streaming platform DAZN and BeIN Sports.
Under Labrune, the French soccer league also approved an investment deal with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners as part of a new commercial subsidiary in charge of marketing media rights. CVC invested 1.5 billion euros in return for a 13 percent stake in the new commercial subsidiary managing TV rights, valuing the entire capital of the commercial subsidiary at 11.5 billion euros.
The CVC deal, which was sealed in 2022 after French soccer came close of bankruptcy, is supported by a large majority of clubs. But it has been challenged by Le Havre, which launched a lawsuit against the French league because it is unhappy with the repartition of the money.
In addition, the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office said this year it was assessing a complaint focusing on possible misappropriation of public funds when the LFP’s trading company was created following the partial transfer of capital to CVC.
The league said Tuesday it will now work on reducing the deficit of its clubs and enhancing the value of its competitions in partnership with broadcasters and CVC.
After the Mediapro collapse, the league was forced to ask the government to set up a financial rescue plan amid huge revenue losses exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The deal with Mediapro should have been worth more than 4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) over four years for the top two tiers but collapsed after only four months.
Late Kadesh winner puts Saudi Arabia back on World Cup path
- Victory looked unlikely after 20 minutes with China a goal up and Saudis a man down
DALIAN: Unlikely hero Hassan Kadesh put Saudi Arabia back on track for 2026 World Cup qualification with a late goal that saw them beat China 2-1.
Roberto Mancini has coached some top-class talent in his career but — Sergio Aguero aside — he can rarely have had such cause to hug one of his players at the end of a game. The Al-Ittihad defender, having never previously scored for his country, has now notched up two goals.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly what the Green Falcons needed after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Indonesia five days ago. It was exactly what under-fire Mancini needed too.
The win was looking unlikely when, after 20 minutes, Dalian was rocking — China were a goal up, and the Saudis were a man down. But the visitors dug in and then fought hard until the end.
Kadesh’s heroics mean Saudi Arabia has four points from the opening two games. However, they still have much to do if they are to finish in the top two of Group C and automatically book a spot at the 2026 tournament,
The opening goal could not have been simpler for a Chinese team thrashed 7-0 by Japan last Thursday. Brazilian-born Fernandinho sent over a corner kick from the right and, at the edge of a crowded six-yard box, the ball hit the jumping Ali Lajami before finding the back of the net.
Noise levels from the 48,000 home fans rose dramatically and things got even worse for Saudi Arabia soon after. On his back and on the floor, Kanno kicked out at Jiang Shenglong’s chest and was swiftly shown the red card.
Saudi Arabia were shaken but stirred themselves to hit back and take something from the game. Seven minutes before the break, they were back on level terms.
Nasser Al-Dawsari whipped in a delightful cross from a corner to find Kadesh at the near post, whose delightful low header hit the Chinese net and silenced the home crowd. Soon after, Al-Dawsari fired wide, and Saudi hearts were in their mouths as, almost on half-time, Wu Lei headed outside the post with Mohammed Al-Owais able only to stand, watch and hope.
Another Chinese corner caused chaos early in the second half, with Wang Shangyuan heading the ball home from close range. However, a VAR check led to the goal being rules offside.
Just after the hour there was nearly more good news when Salem Al-Dawsari, who always seemed to feel the game was there to be won, burst free of the red defense. The away fans behind the goal were ready to celebrate but, somehow, the Al-Hilal star hit the crossbar and the ball bounced away.
A penalty call, also by Al-Dawsari, was waved away and China came close with just 15 minutes left, Al-Owais getting down to push away a curling shot from Li Lei.
As the final whistle approached the game started to drift and a draw seemed certain. But in the final minute, Saudi Arabia got another corner and there was an unmarked Kadesh, powerfully heading the ball home high into the net for his second goal of both the game and his international career.
China never really looked like scoring again, and the final whistle found the hero of the hour and his teammates jumping up and down as they celebrated the win.
Saudi Arabia will face Japan on Oct. 10 for their next 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qahtani set on becoming Professional Fighters League’s first featherweight champion
- PFL MENA 3 semifinal playoffs take place in Riyadh on Sept. 20
RIYADH: Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabia’s breakout MMA star, is laser-focused on capturing the inaugural PFL MENA featherweight title as he prepares for the semifinal playoffs in his hometown of Riyadh on Sept. 20.
Since joining the Professional Fighters League in 2023, the 27-year-old has proved a dominant force, winning his first two showcase fights and establishing himself as a rising star in the featherweight division.
Al-Qahtani kicked off 2024 with more success, delivering a stunning knockout victory over Edukondala Rao at the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event in Riyadh.
The knockout win not only solidified his reputation but also made him a household name in Saudi Arabia’s MMA circles, propelling him into the spotlight as the face of PFL MENA.
After his triumph at PFL MENA 1, Al-Qahtani secured a semifinal spot by dispatching Yazeed Hasanain. Now, he is set to face Jordan’s Abdulrahman Al-Hayassat in a high-stakes semifinal bout at PFL MENA 3 at Boulevard Riyadh City.
Al-Qahtani, who is undefeated in the PFL at 4-0 and has a 9-1 career record, said he has been preparing meticulously for the fight. “I’m fighting Al-Hayassat on my home turf and in front of my crowd.
“Naturally, I study my opponents thoroughly before every fight, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to devise the right strategy that will enable me to win and advance to the next round.”
“I’ve prepared perfectly for this fight, and I’m confident in my ability to win and qualify for the final,” he added.
“My focus is on the belt and winning the fight. My opponent’s statements about his ability to win won’t affect me. I know my capabilities well, just as I know his.”
For Al-Qahtani, fighting in Riyadh adds an extra layer of motivation. “My goal is to entertain my supporters who always stand by me, and I won’t let them down. I’ll easily defeat my Jordanian opponent,” he promised.See the complete PFL MENA 3 semifinal fight card below:
Featherweight:
Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-1) vs. Abdelrahman Al-Hayassat (4-0)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al-Selawe (20-6) vs. Omar El-Dafrawy (11-6)
Welterweight:
Mohammad Alaqraa (6-0) vs. Amir Fazli (6-2)
Lightweight:
Souhil Tairi (7-4-1) vs. Mohsen Mohammadseifi (5-1)
Bantamweight:
Ali Taleb (10-1) vs. Jalal Al-Daaja (11-8)
Featherweight:
Islam Reda (11-1) vs. Marouaune Bellagouit (5-0)
Bantamweight:
Elias Boudegzdame (19-8) vs. Rachid El-Hazoume (14-3)
Lightweight:
Georges Eid (9-4, 1 no contest) vs. Omar Reguigui (4-0, 1NC)
Alternate featherweight showcase bout:
Adam Meskini (8-3) vs. Yazeed Hasanain (3-1)
Top Olympic sponsor Panasonic is ending its contract with the IOC
- In a statement, Panasonic said it became an IOC sponsor in 1987 and expanded to the Paralympics in 2014
- It did not make clear why it was changing course and said only that is was related to continual ‘reviews how sponsorship should evolve’
TOKYO: Olympic sponsor Panasonic is terminating its contract with the IOC at the end of the year, the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Panasonic is one of 15 companies that are so-called TOP sponsors for the International Olympic Committee. It’s not known the value of the Panasonic sponsorship, but sponsors contribute more than $2 billion in a four-year cycle to the IOC.
In a statement, Panasonic said it became an IOC sponsor in 1987 and expanded to the Paralympics in 2014. It did not make clear why it was changing course and said only that is was related to continual “reviews how sponsorship should evolve.”
Two other Japanese companies are also among the IOC’s 15 leading sponsors. Toyota, which for several months has been reportedly ready to end its contract, was contacted Tuesday by The Associated Press but offered no new information.
“Toyota has been supporting the Olympic and Paralympic movements since 2015 and continues to do so,” Toyota said in a statement. “No announcement to suggest otherwise has been made by Toyota.”
Japanese sponsors seem to have turned away from the Olympics, likely related to the one-year delay in holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The COVID-19 delay reduced sponsors’ visibility with no fans allowed to attend competition venues, ran up the costs, and unearthed myriad corruption scandals around the Games.
Tiremaker Bridgestone said “nothing has been decided.”
Toyota had a contact valued at $835 million — reported to be the IOC’s largest when it was announced in 2015. It included four Olympics beginning with the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games in South Korea and ran through the just-completed Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Reports in Japan suggest Toyota may keep its Paralympic Olympic sponsorship.
The IOC TOP sponsors are: ABInBev, Airbnb, Alibaba, Allianz, Atos, Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Intel, Omega, Panasonic, P&G, Samsung, Toyoto, and Visa.
In a report several months ago by the Japanese news agency Kyodo, unnamed sources said Toyota was unhappy with how the IOC uses sponsorship money. It said the money was “not used effectively to support athletes and promote sports.”
Japan was once a major font to revenue, but increasingly the IOC has sought out sponsors from China, with increasing interest from the Middle East and India.
Japan officially spent $13 billion on the Tokyo Olympics, at least half of which was public money. A government audit suggested the real cost was twice that. The IOC contribution was about $1.8 billion.
The Tokyo Games were mired in corruption scandals linked to local sponsorships and the awarding of contracts. Dentsu Inc, the huge Japanese marketing and public relations company, was the marketing arm of the Tokyo Olympics and raised a record-$3.3 billion in local sponsorship money. This is separate from TOP sponsors.
French prosecutors also looked into alleged vote-buying in the IOC’s decision in 2013 to pick Tokyo as the host for the 2020 Summer Games.
The IOC had income of $7.6 billion in the last four-year cycle ending with the Tokyo Games. Figures have not been released yet for the cycle ending with the Paris Olympics.
The IOC’s TOP sponsors paid over $2 billion in that period. The figure is expected to reach $3 billion in the next cycle.
