Piatek fires Fiorentina into Champions League race

Fiorentina’s Krzysztof Piatek, left, and Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti vie for the ball during a soccer match in Florence on Sunday. (AP)
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Updated 20 February 2022
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Piatek fires Fiorentina into Champions League race

  • Polish international Piatek netted a well-taken fifth goal in six appearances in all competitions

MILAN: Krzysztof Piatek put his new club Fiorentina in the race for the Champions League with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Atalanta, who have announced new American investment.

Polish international Piatek netted a well-taken fifth goal in six appearances in all competitions since returning to Italy in January to move Fiorentina up to seventh on 42 points.

Vincenzo Italiano’s side, who lost star striker Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus last month, are only five points away from the Champions League spots after their former forward’s new club drew 1-1 with Torino on Friday.

Juve’s derby stalemate gave Atalanta the chance to move up one place to fourth with a win in Florence, but they offered very little once Ruslan Malinovskyi was denied a leveler shortly after going behind, for Hans Hateboer straying marginally offside in the buildup.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini was sent off after that goal was ruled out as he was livid Hateboer was ruled to have interfered with play.

Atalanta, missing attackers Duvan Zapata, Josip Ilicic and Luis Muriel, looked like potential title challengers at the turn of the year but have won just one of their six league matches in 2022 and are at risk of not making the Champions League.

They announced on Friday that a group of investors led by American Stephen Pagliuca had agreed to purchase 55 percent of La Dea, the holding company run by the Percassi family which holds 86 percent of Atalanta’s share capital.

Antonio Percassi, who after playing over 100 games for Atalanta in the 1970s quit football in his 20s to move into business, will remain chairman while his son Luca keeps his position as chief executive with Pagliuca a new co-chairman.

Atalanta did not say how much the investors led by Pagliuca — co-owner of NBA basketball team Boston Celtics and co-chairman of Bain Capital which manages around $155 billion in assets — had paid for 47.3 percent of the club.

The Percassis remain the largest single shareholders of Atalanta with 38.7 percent, with the remaining 14 percent held outside La Dea in the hands of other investors including those with small stakes.

The new investment further boosts Atalanta’s position as Serie A’s most financially healthy club, which consistently posts profits and has suffered much less during the COVID-19 pandemic even though its home city of Bergamo was hit extremely hard when the virus arrived in Europe.


Saudi Yoga Committee speaks to Arab representatives to discuss establishment of federation

Updated 5 sec ago
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Saudi Yoga Committee speaks to Arab representatives to discuss establishment of federation

  • Committee president stresses importance of move
  • ​​​​​​​Meeting aimed to support, increase participation

JEDDAH: The Saudi Yoga Committee has held a meeting to discuss the potential of a proposed Arab Yoga Federation.
The meeting, which was held via video conference on April 24, looked at the development of yoga among people across the Arab world and the need for an official Arab umbrella to be constituted at regional level to promote it in the correct way in all its forms, whether the traditional yoga for health and well-being or as a discipline to participate in future competitions and tournaments.
The meeting was attended by representatives of federations and committees from eight countries: hosts Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, Palestine, Mauritania, and Syria.
The President of the Kingdom’s Yoga Committee Nouf Al-Marwaai spoke of the importance of establishing an Arab federation to include all Arab countries.
The meeting looked at supporting the spread of yoga and increasing participation to create a supportive environment which strengthened the Arab presence on the international scene.
The Saudi Yoga Committee stressed its desire to lead the initiative following its progress in organization and governance.


Aramco, FIFA announce global partnership

Updated 10 min ago
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Aramco, FIFA announce global partnership

  • Company becomes major worldwide partner in energy category
  • Deal includes sponsorship rights across events including FIFA World Cup 2026 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027

RIYADH: Aramco on Thursday signed a four-year global partnership with football’s governing body, FIFA, becoming a major worldwide partner in the energy category.
One of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, Aramco will receive sponsorship rights for multiple events including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, according to the agreement, which runs until the end of 2027.
The deal also builds on a shared commitment to innovation and development, and will combine football’s global reach with Aramco’s history of championing innovation and community engagement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the body is “delighted” to welcome Aramco to its family of global partners.
“The partnership will assist FIFA to deliver its flagship tournaments over the next four years and, as is the case with all our commercial agreements, enabling us to provide enhanced support to our 211 FIFA member associations across the globe,” he added.
Aramco has a strong record of supporting world-class events, but also developing grassroots sports initiatives, according to Infantino, who added that FIFA looks forward to collaborating with Aramco on a variety of schemes over the coming years.
“Through this partnership with FIFA, we aim to contribute to football development and harness the power of sport to make an impact around the globe,” said Amin Nasser, Aramco’s president and CEO.
The partnership reflects Aramco’s ambition to enable vibrant communities and extends the company’s backing of sport as a platform for growth, he added.
Through the partnership, Aramco and FIFA will leverage the power of football to create impactful social initiatives around the world.
Aramco will also work with FIFA to drive innovation, identifying opportunities to deploy its expertise and technologies in the delivery of football events globally.


President, fan support key in decision to stay: Barca coach Xavi

Updated 25 April 2024
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President, fan support key in decision to stay: Barca coach Xavi

  • This week, after a meeting with president Joan Laporta and the board, Xavi pulled off a dramatic U-turn and decided to stay
  • “It was a not a simple decision, in January I said (I would leave) because I thought it was best for the club,” Xavi told a news conference

BARCELONA: Xavi Hernandez said Thursday he has decided to stay on as Barcelona coach for a “cocktail of reasons,” including support from key figures at the club and supporters.
In January, with Barcelona on a miserable run of form, Xavi said he would walk away from his post in the summer despite having a year left on his contract.
However, this week, after a meeting with president Joan Laporta and the board, Xavi pulled off a dramatic U-turn and decided to stay, despite the club poised to end the season trophyless.
Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last week and lost against Real Madrid in the Clasico, trailing their rivals by 11 points in La Liga.
“It was a not a simple decision, in January I said (I would leave) because I thought it was best for the club,” Xavi told a news conference.
“I am full of hope, these three months have made me change, the players believe in it, and wise people are willing to rectify, here I am.
“It’s not about ego, or money, I have energy, I see the fans are happy and proud — it’s a cocktail of reasons, above all the confidence of the president and (sporting director) Deco.”
Xavi said although the team he took to La Liga glory last season have failed to achieve their objectives, they have now proved they can equal Europe’s best sides.
“Above all I said yesterday to Deco, the president... that the team has improved a lot,” explained Xavi.
“Two years ago we went to Bayern (Munich) and I had the feeling that we weren’t up to it. Now I think we’re in shape to compete with the biggest teams in Europe.
“I have the feeling that this year (the Champions League) escaped us by just a couple of small things, we will try again, I’m excited to — now it’s in our hands.”
Xavi said reports he was only staying because of money were designed to “hurt” him.
In January he claimed coaching Barcelona was “unpleasant” and “cruel,” and Xavi said he did not expect that to change.
“Coaching here is very hard, but I see myself with the energy to keep leading the project,” he added.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he was glad Xavi was staying and that it was good for the stability of the club.
“It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” said Laporta.
“The team we have, that is (still) consolidating, with very young players, needs that stability.
“Xavi is a reference for young players and we can see that — today I’m especially pleased, and the board have unanimously supported this decision.”


Professional Fighters League confirms debut fight card for Riyadh

Updated 25 April 2024
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Professional Fighters League confirms debut fight card for Riyadh

  • Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani takes on Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in a featherweight main event
  • Season opener scheduled for The Green Halls in Riyadh on Friday, May 10 

RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League has announced the matchups for its debut PFL MENA: Riyadh fight card which will feature some of the region’s rising stars.

The season opener at The Green Halls in Riyadh will feature fighters in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, competing in the PFL Playoff win-and-advance format, the company announced on Thursday.

Headlining the card will be Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah “The Reaper” Al-Qahtani taking on Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in a featherweight bout.

“We’re proud to offer fighters in the MENA region a chance to compete. By bringing top-tier events to the region, we’re not only serving passionate MMA fans but also pushing the sport forward. Our goal is to grow MMA and expand PFL’s reach globally,” Pete Murray, CEO of PFL, said.

All four PFL MENA Season events will be broadcast live on MBC Action and Shahid.

The complete fight card:

Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs Taha Bendaoud

Bantamweight: Ali Taleb vs Nawras Abzakh

Bantamweight: Xavier Alaoui vs Rachid El-Hazoume

Featherweight: Islam Reda vs Adam Meskini

Bantamweight: Tariq Ismail vs Jalal Al-Daaja

Bantamweight: Elias Boudegzdame vs Hassan Mandour

Amateur Female Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif vs Nada Faheem

Featherweight: Maraoune Bellagouit vs Motaz Askar

Featherweight: Ahmed Tarek vs Abdelrahman Alhyasat

Showcase featherweight: Mido Mohamed vs Yazeed Hasanain

Showcase flyweight: Malik Basahel vs Harsh Pandya


Pakistan eye comeback against New Zealand in fourth T20I today

Updated 25 April 2024
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Pakistan eye comeback against New Zealand in fourth T20I today

  • A second-string New Zealand squad beat Pakistan by seven wickets on Sunday in Rawalpindi 
  • Skipper Babar Azam says pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah have ability to make comeback

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be eyeing a comeback today, Thursday, in the fourth match of the T20I series against New Zealand in Lahore after suffering a defeat at the hands of a second-string Kiwi squad last week. 

Pakistan will head into today’s match against Michael Bracewell’s squad without star batter and wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, who has been pulled from the series after he felt discomfort in his right hamstring. 

New Zealand are missing key players including Trent Boult and skipper Kane Williamson as they opted to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) while pulled out of the Pakistan series due to injuries. 

Despite that, the Kiwis managed to beat Pakistan on Sunday by seven wickets in Rawalpindi, shocking the 2009 T20I world champions on their own turf. 

“We did not lose because of any two or three players,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said at a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday night. “We lost as a team. In the batting, bowling and fielding [areas] we did collapse a little.”

Pakistan’s premium fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi failed to impress against New Zealand in the third T20I. However, Azam backed both bowlers, describing them as Pakistan’s “best” bowlers. 

“They know how to make a comeback, even if it [bad performance] happens in one game. It is part of life,” he said. “It can’t happen that one person performs every single day.” 

The series is an important one for both sides as they gear up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA scheduled to be held in June. 

The last match of the Pakistan-New Zealand series will be played in Lahore on May 27. Pakistan and New Zealand have both won one match against each other so far, with the first T20I fixture washed away by rain. 

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time.