PARIS: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Friday encouraged leagues to “worry about their own situation” in response to remarks by La Liga chief Javier Tebas after Paris Saint-Germain persuaded Kylian Mbappe to stay in France rather than join Real Madrid.
Tebas hit out at Mbappe’s decision to snub the Spanish champions and sign a new three-year deal in Paris, calling the contract “an insult to football.”
Speaking to AFP in an interview in Paris ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Ceferin said: “I absolutely don’t agree. There are too many insults anyway in football, and I think that every league should worry about their own situation.”
“I don’t think it is right that one league criticizes the other league. As much as I know, the offer from Real for Mbappe was similar to PSG’s offer,” Ceferin added.
French league president Vincent Labrune responded to Tebas in a letter sent on Thursday and seen by AFP, in which he voiced “disapproval, and also our incomprehension” at the “attacks” against PSG and Ligue 1.
In Tebas’ tweet attacking Ligue 1 he said PSG were had paid “large sums of money” to hold onto Mbappe “after posting losses of 700 million euros in recent seasons and having a wage bill of over 600 million euros.”
PSG suffered a 224.3-million-euro ($240m) loss in 2020/21, an increase of 80 percent on the previous year, the annual report from French football’s financial authority (DNCG) said earlier this month.
UEFA chief Ceferin calls on La Liga to stop criticism of PSG
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UEFA chief Ceferin calls on La Liga to stop criticism of PSG
- Tebas hit out at Mbappe's decision to snub the Spanish champions
- Ceferin said: "There are too many insults anyway in football, and I think that every league should worry about their own situation"
Dubai Basketball endure home loss in EuroLeague against Virtus Bologna
- The club enters the second half of the season with a 10–12 record
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball were beaten 80-72 by Virtus Bologna at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday in round 22 of the EuroLeague, in a game where key individual performances made the difference.
The hosts remained competitive throughout, despite Virtus holding a slim advantage for most of the night. Dubai found rhythm in phases, particularly during the middle quarters, and stayed within striking distance until the closing minutes.
However, Virtus managed the decisive moments more efficiently and protected their lead late on.
Aleksa Avramovic led Dubai with 17 points, providing energy and shot-making that kept the home side in the game. His scoring run in the second half briefly shifted momentum and forced Virtus to adjust defensively.
Dwayne Bacon also made a strong contribution, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Dubai continued to battle physically on both ends of the floor.
Virtus were anchored by an outstanding performance from Saliou Niang, who recorded 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Dubai Basketball’s upcoming games will be decisive as the club enters the second half of the season with a 10–12 record. In February they face EuroLeague heavyweights Olympiacos and Real Madrid at home.
