DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s top referee Fahad Al-Mirdasi credited mentoring by former Saudi officials after being named on FIFA’s 36-man list for the World Cup in Russia.
The 32-year-old is one of three Saudi match officials selected for next summer’s tournament, alongside assistant referees Abdullah Al-Shalawi and Mohammed Al-Abkari who made the list of 63 assistant referees released by FIFA on Thursday.
Speaking to Saudi Arabian sports radio station UFM, Al-Mirdasi said the decision to select him alongside his two colleagues was a feather in the cap for the Kingdom.
“This is a proof that Saudi sport is doing well,” said Al-Mirdasi, who officiated at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. “It is the first time that we have three Saudi match officials at the World Cup. Saudi referees have always done well abroad, and we are proud to represent the Kingdom at the biggest sporting event in the world.
“I am in constant communication with former World Cup referees from Saudi, and their experience helps me a lot. I train for two hours every day and I run 16 kilometers daily.”
Al-Mirdasi will become the fourth Saudi referee to officiate at the World Cup, following in the footsteps of Falaj Al-Shannar who was selected to referee the 1986 World Cup match between Italy and Bulgaria, becoming the first Saudi referee in the competition’s history.
Saudi referees returned to the global stage 12 years later, with Abdulrahman Al-Zeid taking charge of two games at the 1998 World Cup in France. Al-Zeid was also the fourth official at that year’s final between Brazil and hosts France.
Another 12 years passed before a Saudi referee appeared at the final again, Khalil Jalal officiating two group-stage matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Having previously taken charge of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal as well as matches in the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2017 FIFA Confederation Cup, Al-Mirdasi is one of Asia’s most experienced referees.
“I expected to be at the World Cup as I have already refereed in key Asian and international competitions, and I know that FIFA always look at the quality of referees and their previous performances, so I knew they would be fair in their selection,” he said.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President Adel Ezzat congratulated the three officials, adding that their selection was a testament to their capabilities and to the quality of Saudi referees.
“The three officials won FIFA’s trust after officiating at the highest levels of continental and international football,” said Ezzat in a statement published on the SAFF Twitter account. “It is a reward for them to be at the greatest of all football competitions. They deserve congratulations as they have earned their places among the elite of the refereeing world. To have three match officials at the World Cup is a great motivation for us at the SAFF to enhance our work in developing Saudi referees. I wish them success in Russia and we will be looking forward for them to do us proud.”
The 99-man match officials list for this summer’s World Cup includes five Arab referees: Bahrain’s Nawaf Shukralla, UAE’s Mohamed Abdulla, Egypt’s Gehad Grisha and Algeria’s Mehdi Abid, in addition to Al-Mirdasi. There were also nine Arab assistant referees representing Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
Elsewhere in the list, there will be no British match officials at the World Cup for the first time since 1938 after current head of refereeing at the SAFF, Mark Clattenburg, forfeited his place in FIFA’s longlist which was published in 2016. Clattenburg was the only British referee on the list.
Three Saudi Arabia officials selected by FIFA for World Cup
Three Saudi Arabia officials selected by FIFA for World Cup
Shami returns to India squad for England T20s after year absence
Shami, who underwent heel surgery, was expected to join India in Australia in December but missed the 3-1 Test series loss
NEW DELHI: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami on Saturday returned to India’s squad for the upcoming T20 international series against England after more than a year’s break due to injury.
Shami, 34, last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 and recently participated in a few domestic matches to mark his return to competitive cricket.
Shami, who underwent heel surgery, was expected to join India in Australia in December but missed the 3-1 Test series loss.
He is part of a 15-member squad for the five T20 matches against England starting January 22 in Kolkata.
White-ball star Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team with spin bowler Axar Patel as his deputy.
Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah is missing with doubts over his participation in the following three ODI matches with the touring England team due to an injury he suffered in the final Australia Test.
India are yet to announce the squad for the ODI Champions Trophy starting next month with the deadline to announce the provisional squad for the tournament on Sunday.
India T20 squad to face England: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).
New-look Pakistan squad announced for West Indies Test series
- Pakistan will host West Indies for the first time in 19 years, with both Tests held in Multan
- Shan Masood is retained as skipper despite Pakistan losing both the Tests in South Africa
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan selectors Saturday recalled opener Imam-ul-Haq in a new look squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies starting next week.
The 29-year old Imam has played 24 Tests for Pakistan but was dropped over poor form after a 3-0 defeat in Australia early last year.
The selectors have also named three uncapped players in opener Muhammad Hurraira, wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir and pacer Kashif Ali on the back of their good performances in domestic matches.
Pakistan will host the visitors for the first time in 19 years, with both Tests held in Multan, starting from January 17 and January 25.
Shan Masood is retained as skipper despite Pakistan losing both the Tests in South Africa last week.
Besides Masood, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha kept their places from the South Africa series.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed have been recalled to partner with left-arm spinner Noman Ali.
Noman and Sajid took 29 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 win over England last year.
Injured opener Saim Ayub is also left out of the Pakistan squad for the West Indies Tests.
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha.
Captain Alexander-Arnold leads Liverpool cruise into FA Cup 4th round
- The England international was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk
- Slot made eight changes after suffering just his second defeat in charge of the Reds
LIVERPOOL: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning strike lit up Liverpool’s 4-0 win over League Two Accrington Stanley to cruise into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
The England international was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk in a much-changed side named by Arne Slot and led by example after a being criticized for his display in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last weekend.
Slot made eight changes after suffering just his second defeat in charge of the Reds in Wednesday’s League Cup semifinal first leg against Tottenham.
The Dutchman had warned the Premier League leaders that a trip to Anfield would be Accrington’s “Champions League final.”
A mammoth 86 league positions behind Liverpool in the 92-team English league system, Stanley held out for nearly half an hour.
Diogo Jota was left with a simple task to tap in from Darwin Nunez’s low cross to open the floodgates.
Alexander-Arnold then stepped forward to double the lead with a sumptuous hit into the top corner from outside the box.
Jayden Danns made the most of just his second appearance of the season to fire in the third 14 minutes from time.
Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career has so far failed to get going due to injury problems.
But the Italian took advantage of some rare game time to net his first goal for the club with a long range strike in off the far post.
“It was surreal,” said Accrington forward and Liverpool fan Josh Woods.
“They are world-class players and on the counter it is hard to stop.”
Manchester City also face fourth-tier opposition later against Salford City, who are owned by a group of former Manchester United greats.
Investment from David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have helped Salford rise through the non-league ranks since their involvement began in 2014.
Chelsea host Morecambe of League Two in another David against Goliath tie.
Another celebrity co-owner in the lower leagues of English football is already into round four as NFL legend Tom Brady’s Birmingham beat Lincoln 2-1.
Wolves’ bright start under new boss Vitor Pereira continued as early goals from Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes secured a 2-1 win at Bristol City.
Blackburn won an all-Championship clash 1-0 at Middlesbrough thanks to Andi Weimann’s winner.
New Red Bull football boss Klopp in stands for Paris FC game
- Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club
- The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year
PARIS: Jurgen Klopp, the new global head of football at Red Bull, a minority shareholder in French club Paris FC, on Saturday watched from the stands during a French Ligue 2 game against Amiens.
Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp has just started a new role with Red Bull which owns clubs RB Leipzig, Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.
Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club which was sold to the family of France’s richest person Bernard Arnault and Red Bull two months ago.
The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year with consecutive defeats and are now third.
Klopp is due to speak for the first time since taking office on Tuesday at the Red Bull headquarters near Salzburg in Austria.
The 57-year-old won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before moving to Liverpool. At the Reds, Klopp won several major trophies, including the Champions League and Premier League.
Klopp’s appointment has however caused controversy, particularly in Germany where some fans are critical of the energy drink brand’s ownership of Leipzig, as well as multi-club models in general.
Real, Barca managers raise stakes ahead of Jeddah El Clasico
- Ancelotti: ‘We are very excited and confident as always in the finals’
- Flick hoping to win first major trophy as Barcelona manager
Jeddah: Coaches Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Hansi Flick of Barcelona held press conferences before the final match of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah on Jan. 12.
Ancelotti spoke to the media at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday, and discussed the match and preparation of his squad.
“We are very excited and confident as always in the finals. We are facing a great team and we know exactly how tough this Clasico match is,” he said.
On losing to Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season, the Italian said: “We had a good game in the first half but the game later in the second half went down. Therefore, we have to avoid the mistakes we made.
“A Clasico is always a Clasico, even more so if it’s a final. Playing against Barcelona is always something special.”
He added: “If there’s a defeat, it’s a defeat. It’s the final; we’re very close to another title and we’re thinking positively.”
Ancelotti confirmed that in-form Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham will be fit and available for the clash.
“He is fine; he has recovered well. It was a normal load from matches. It’s very important because he’s on a good run. He is a player who has made a difference,” the manager said.
“Barcelona are always a historic rival and playing against them is very complicated; you can’t predict the result. We will try to do our best and try to win another title.”
Flick told the media that he hopes to win his first major trophy as Barcelona manager.
He described Real Madrid as a “great team,” adding: “We are fully prepared for them tomorrow night and hope we can perform better than what we did against Mallorca.
“We created many mistakes and we need to reduce them tomorrow night. Madrid is one of the best teams in the world in transition and they take advantage of any option you give them.”
The Dutchman confirmed that Dani Olmo is “very excited to play again.”
Since the Spanish Super Cup was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020, Real Madrid and Barcelona have delivered unforgettable showdowns.
Of the five editions held in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid have claimed three titles (2020, 2022 and 2024), while the Catalans have won once (2023). Athletic Club triumphed in 2021, rounding out the winners of the new era.
