LONDON: Newcastle United have appointed Canadian David Hopkinson as chief executive officer to replace Darren Eales, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
Eales stepped down for health reasons after announcing last September that he had been diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.
“This club represents something truly special,” Hopkinson said. “It has extraordinary history and heritage, incredibly passionate supporters, and ownership, players and staff who are committed to excellence.
“Having worked with iconic teams across different countries, I understand what it takes to build sustainable success at the highest levels of global sport.
“I greatly admire what has been achieved by the club so far, and I am excited and motivated by what is ahead as we strive to position Newcastle United among the world’s elite clubs.”
Hopkinson has joined Newcastle after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer at Madison Square Garden Sports, where he led the business operations of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
Both teams, who play out of Madison Square Garden in New York City, are among the most valuable franchises in the NBA and NHL respectively.
Hopkinson was previously Global Head of Partnerships at Real Madrid, who cemented their place as one of the world’s most valuable football clubs during his tenure.
He also spent over two decades at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. as Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing commercial activities for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan called Hopkinson an “outstanding executive” with a top track record.
“His experience and strategic capabilities will be invaluable as we continue to build on the club’s presence locally and grow it globally on and off the pitch,” he said.
“David’s leadership will be critical as we build upon what we have already achieved since the acquisition toward an exciting future and sustainable success.”
In 2021, a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund became majority owners of Newcastle.
Last season, the club ended a 56-year trophy drought when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the
League Cup final.
Canadian Hopkinson replaces Eales as Newcastle CEO
https://arab.news/rw2dv
Canadian Hopkinson replaces Eales as Newcastle CEO
- “This club represents something truly special,” Hopkinson said
- Hopkinson has joined Newcastle after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer at Madison Square Garden Sports
France qualify for 2026 World Cup; Ronaldo sent off as Portugal lose to Ireland
- Two goals from star striker Mbappe helped two-time champions France to qualify with a 4-0 home win against Ukraine on Thursday
- Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal play Armenia
- Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 by beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo
LONDON: Kylian Mbappe and France are going to the 2026 World Cup. And Cristiano Ronaldo might be banned from Portugal’s first game there if his team finally win their European qualifying group.
Two goals from star striker Mbappe helped two-time champion France to qualify with a 4-0 home win against Ukraine on Thursday. But Ronaldo was ejected for the first time in his international career and Portugal will have to wait until Sunday to secure a qualifying spot for the seventh straight time after it was stunned 2-0 by Ireland in Dublin.
Midfielder Michael Olize and substitute forward Hugo Ekitike added the other goals in a dominant second half from France, the World Cup runner-up in 2022.
Mbappe sent the penalty straight down the middle to break the deadlock in the 55th minute before Olize turned inside the penalty area to curl home the second goal in the 76th at Parc des Princes in western Paris. Mbappé poked in France’s third goal from close range in the 83rd following a goal-mouth scramble. Mbappe moved onto 55 goals and just two behind Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer.
“The French national team will always be better with him in it,” coach Didier Deschamps said about Mbappé. “He makes things easier for us. He performed his role perfectly this evening, as both a player and the captain of the national team.”
Mbappe went close to a hat trick moments later but blazed over after going clean through.
France have won Group D with 13 points, Ukraine and Iceland are tied on seven points and will play for second place when they meet on Sunday.
Ronaldo’s 1st international red card
Portugal will host last-place Armenia in the final qualifying game on Sunday, when Hungary host Ireland at the same time.
Portugal top Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary. Ireland are third with seven points.
Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea on the hour. The referee issued a yellow card but minutes later upgraded it to red after a video review.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said he thought the ejection was “a bit harsh,” pointing out that Ronaldo “has never been sent off before in 226 games.”
Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal play Armenia. FIFA disciplinary rules require its judges to impose a ban of “at least two matches for serious foul play.”
Troy Parrott put the hosts ahead with a close-range header following a corner kick in the 17th minute against the run of play with Portugal dominant. Parrott added his second in the final minute before the break, beating Diogo Costa with a low shot from inside the area.
Haaland’s double
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 by beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo.
The win virtually secures a spot for the high-scoring Norwegians in next year’s tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Italy had to rely on late goals from Gianluca Mancini and substitute Francesco Pio Esposito to win 2-0 at Moldova and is second in Group I, trailing leader Norway by three points.
Italy will likely have to settle for the playoffs where the four-time World Cup champions were eliminated in the past two editions. They host Norway on Sunday and would have to win by a nine-goal margin to directly qualify because of Norway’s vastly superior goal difference.
Haaland has scored 14 of Norway’s European-best 33 goals in seven group-stage games. The Manchester City striker was born two years after Norway last reached the World Cup.
Still perfect England
Already-qualified England continued to cruise.
They beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley Stadium to keep a perfect record in Group K and are yet to concede a goal.
Bukayo Saka fired England ahead on a rebound with a left-foot volley in the 28th after an initial shot by Nico O’Reilly was blocked. Substitute forward Eberechi Eze added the second in the 90th off a pass from another substitute, Phil Foden.
Albania beat Andorra 1-0 in the same group to secure the runner-up spot.
