Motta tight-lipped on Pogba’s Juve future after doping ban reduction

Juventus’ French midfielder Paul Pogba looks on prior to the Italian Serie A match against Monza at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Jan. 29, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 05 October 2024
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Motta tight-lipped on Pogba’s Juve future after doping ban reduction

  • Pogba, a World Cup winner with Les Bleus in 2018, will be able to return to competitive football from March 11 next year
  • “The club will assess the situation and make a decision if necessary. Paul was a great player but he hasn’t played for a long time,” coach Motta told reporters

ROME: Thiago Motta refused on Saturday to say whether Paul Pogba had a future at Juventus after the France midfielder’s four-year doping ban was slashed to 18 months.
Pogba, a World Cup winner with Les Bleus in 2018, will be able to return to competitive football from March 11 next year following Friday’s ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Italian media report that Juve might still seek to terminate Pogba’s contract, which runs until the end of June 2026 and is reportedly worth up to 10 million euros ($10.97 million) a season.
“The club will assess the situation and make a decision if necessary. Paul was a great player but he hasn’t played for a long time,” coach Motta told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Serie A fixture with Cagliari.
“All I’m thinking about is our match tomorrow, nothing else really matters as far as I’m concerned.”
Juventus refused to comment on Pogba, who tested positive for testosterone following the Turin club’s opening Serie A fixture of last season, a 3-0 win at Udinese in August 2023.
He was provisionally suspended the following month and then banned for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February, a sanction which put the 31-year-old’s career at risk.
Pogba’s representatives said the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Pogba collected four Serie A titles in his first stint at Juventus between 2012 and 2016 but had a string of problems on and off the pitch after his 2022 return from Manchester United.
During the 2022-23 season, Pogba made just 10 appearances for the club, mainly due to a knee injury that also ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar, where France lost out to Argentina in the final in December 2022.
He was also the victim of a case of organized extortion, for which six men, including his brother Mathias, were last month ordered to stand trial.
Since Pogba last played for his club at Empoli in early September last year, Juve have switched manager from Massimiliano Allegri to Motta and brought in a host of new players as part of a rebuild.
Juve, who finished third last term without Pogba, splashed out over 120 million euros on midfielders Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram in a busy summer on the transfer market.


3rd-place Nottingham Forest face home defeat to Newcastle

Updated 11 November 2024
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3rd-place Nottingham Forest face home defeat to Newcastle

  • Man Utd win to end Van Nistelrooy’s interim spell; Ipswich shock Spurs

LONDON: Third-placed Nottingham Forest’s fine run came to an end in a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle on Sunday. 
Forest had won three games in a row to sit just behind Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table and their dream run looked set to continue at the City Ground.
Murillo’s towering header from Anthony Elanga’s free kick opened the scoring.
But Newcastle hit back strongly after half time.
Alexander Isak’s fourth goal in as many games began the fightback.
Joelinton then curled in a sensational strike from the edge of the box before Harvey Barnes sealed the three points that lifts the Magpies into eighth.
Arsenal and Chelsea both start the day 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and in desperate need of a win if they are to challenge for the title.
Captain Martin Odegaard starts for the first time in two months for Arsenal, who are aiming to snap a three-game winless streak in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Manchester United signed off Ruud van Nistelrooy’s temporary stint in charge with a 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday as Ipswich stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first Premier League victory in 22 years.
Ipswich will play host to Amorim’s first match in two weeks and go into that game buoyed by their first win since ending a two-decade wait to return to the top flight.
Spurs were finally made to pay for their slow starts at home as they went behind for the 13th time in 15 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.
Sammie Szmodics took advantage of statuesque Tottenham defending to open the scoring with an overhead kick on 31 minutes.
Liam Delap doubled the visitors’ lead in far less spectacular fashion as he lashed in from point-blank range after Radu Dragusin directed a cross toward his own goal.
Spurs had come back to win in eight of the previous 12 matches they conceded first at home this year but this time left themselves with too much to do.
Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the arrears with a powerful header from Pedro Porro’s corner but they fell to a fifth league defeat in 11 games.
Ipswich move out of the relegation zone at Crystal Palace’s expense, while Spurs slip to 10th.
Elsewhere, in Italian football, Atalanta moved level with Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday after coming back from a goal down to beat spirited Udinese 2-1 and continue an unlikely title bid.


Saudi delegation holds ‘productive discussions’ at global hockey assembly in Oman

Updated 10 November 2024
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Saudi delegation holds ‘productive discussions’ at global hockey assembly in Oman

  • Event marked 100th anniversary of founding of International Hockey Federation

RIYADH: The Saudi Hockey Federation said on Sunday it had held “productive discussions” at the recent general assembly in Muscat which hosted both the Asian and the International Hockey Federation.

This year’s assembly, which finished on Saturday, marked the 100th anniversary of the International Hockey Federation’s founding.

The Kingdom’s delegation was led by Mohammed Al-Mandeel, chairman at the Saudi federation, alongside Ahmed Al-Jeaidan, vice president, and board member Reham Al-Ajroush.

The assembly provided an opportunity for member nations to collaborate and discuss the sport’s strategic development globally.

The Saudi representatives held discussions with key figures, including Tayyab Ikram, president of the International Hockey Federation, and Marwan Al-Juma, president of the Oman Hockey Federation.

The delegation also met several other international federation leaders. The meetings focused on shared goals for advancing hockey in the region and beyond.

A highlight of the visit was the delegation’s review of Oman Hockey Federation’s stadium facilities, during which the members observed pitch preparation and recent infrastructure improvements.

The Saudi delegation also attended a women’s hockey match in Oman, gaining valuable insight into the development of female participation in the sport and the strides being made in promoting gender inclusivity.


Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

Updated 10 November 2024
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Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

  • Event will bring together more than 50 nations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting the 16th edition of the International Esports Federation’s World Esports Championship in Riyadh from Monday.

The event, which is being hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and runs until Nov. 19, will bring together more than 50 nations across six major esports tournaments at the SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City.

The championship will feature contests in Counter-Strike 2 (including both an open and a women’s category), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open and women’s tournaments), PUBG Mobile, and Dota 2. 

With over 200 matches set to take place, more than 480 esports enthusiasts are ready to participate and showcase their skills in what organizers hope will be a landmark international event for the Kingdom.

Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Hosting the IESF World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh is another proud accolade for the federation in the Kingdom’s gaming and esports journey to becoming a global hub for the industry.

“We are delighted to welcome all athletes and countries to the WEC24 ahead of what is going to be a fascinating and intense competition.”

The championship’s opening ceremony is to be held on Monday at the main stage of the SEF Arena.

The event will include the introduction of participating teams, highlighted by a flag ceremony displaying the flags of each competing nation. Those attending will also be treated to a look back at the history of the showcase, featuring memorable moments, rivalries, and significant achievements from past editions of the World Esports Championship.


Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

Updated 10 November 2024
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Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

  • Single-hoop tournament’s new incarnation this year is the top tier of the 3x3 format

NEOM, Saudi Arabia: 3x3 basketball returned to NEOM Beach Games this week with the hosting of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024.

Thrilling final matches saw Team Miami triumph in the men’s tournament and Bahrain’s Al-Zallaq come out on top in the Women’s Cup. The competition drew large crowds at the Beach Games Hub to witness the finalists secure their well-earned victories.

FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024 at NEOM Beach Games featured 16 teams, including returning men’s teams Amsterdam, Hangzhou and Plunge. The presence of recent Olympic gold medalists Worthy De Jong, Dylan Travis and Frank Seguela brought an increased competitive edge to the event.

Four Saudi Arabia men’s teams — AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah and Makkah — took part in the tournament.

The NEOM Beach Games also saw strong women’s representation from Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah and Riyadh teams stepping on to the court.

Following their remarkable success in Manama, where Riyadh made history by winning the Kingdom’s first international 3x3 women’s trophy, they continued to impress by reaching the semifinals.

Jeddah excelled throughout the competition, finishing as the cup runner-up after a close match against Al-Zallaq.


WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

Updated 10 November 2024
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WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

  • Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud: ‘We have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court’
  • Ahead of the WTA Finals Riyadh, former players Marion Bartoli, Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova called for greater resources, visibility and funding

RIYADH: Ahead of the final match of the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the WTA Foundation on Saturday hosted “Championing Women’s Health Together,” an educational event attended by Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud and tennis legends Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Hingis.

The event, highlighting a new vision for women and girls in Saudi Arabia, and addressing global health priorities such as maternal and child malnutrition, was supported by several regional and global partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Tennis Federation and WTA’s title partner, Hologic.

“Championing Women’s Health Together” is one of five major development engagements to take place this year since the WTA Foundation launched its “Women Change the Game” campaign in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this past International Women’s Day.

Panel discussions tackled a variety of issues including the role of preventative women’s health, the lifelong health benefits of sports for women and girls, the global state of women’s health and maternal nutrition, and the goals of the WTA Foundation’s Global Women’s Health Fund.

The fund launched with a $1.5 million donation from Hologic. It focuses on providing prenatal vitamins to at least 1 million women in low- and middle-income countries in its first year. The resources will be directed to the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund, a global initiative aimed at ending malnutrition.

Former Wimbledon champion and WTA Foundation Game Changer Marion Bartoli highlighted global advancements in women’s healthcare while acknowledging persistent challenges.

“Healthy women are indeed the cornerstone of healthy families, vibrant communities and prosperous economies — from right here in Saudi Arabia to every corner of the globe,” she said.

Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud highlighted the tournament’s lasting impact in inspiring women and girls through tennis as well as promoting healthier lifestyles.

“The legacy of the WTA Finals Riyadh will resonate for years to come, extending beyond the remarkable athleticism shown by the world’s top female tennis players this week,” she said.

“By hosting the WTA Finals, we aimed to inspire women and girls across Saudi Arabia and beyond to embrace tennis not only as a sport, but as a powerful tool for empowerment and community building. Through initiatives like ‘Championing Women’s Health Together’ and our collaborative efforts with the WTA Foundation and the Saudi Tennis Federation to integrate tennis into schools and communities, we have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court.”

Dr. Khaled Alabdulkareem, assistant deputy minister for primary healthcare, Ministry of Health, said: “The relationship between sports and healthcare is intrinsic, as an active society is a healthy one. The WTA Finals aligns with our national Vision 2030 ambitions to inspire a healthier, more physically active society. The legacy of the WTA Finals, by inspiring more women into tennis, along with today’s discussions highlighting women’s healthcare, are part of achieving our goals.”

Ann Austin, executive director of the WTA Foundation, highlighted the organization’s dedication to community development.

“The WTA is about changing lives through tennis with its partners around the world, and when we show the world how healthy we can be, we empower an entire generation of young female champions,” she said.

Meanwhile Dr. Alaa Murabit, director of global health advocacy and communications at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that across the world “women are changing the game in their homes, workplaces and communities every day.

“While they lead this work, it’s essential to make their health and well-being a priority,” she added. “Investing in women as game-changers requires ensuring women everywhere have access to proven health and nutrition solutions, which is what ‘Women Change the Game’ is all about.”