RIYADH: Saudi Football Federation chief Adel Ezzat resigned on Saturday, expressing his intention to run for the presidency of the Asian Football Confederation.
“I presented to (Saudi sports authority chief) Turki Al-Sheikh... my resignation from my position as of today,” Ezzat told a Saudi sports broadcaster.
“I will begin preparing... for elections of the Asian Football Confederation, which will be held next year.”
Ezzat’s deputy Nawaf Al-Timyat has been named the Saudi federation’s interim chief until fresh elections are held.
Ezzat was last week elected as the first president of the South West Asian Football Federation, a new regional bloc of federations comprising 14 nations.
The kingdom has long been a marginal player in football’s ruling classes, unlike its Gulf rival Qatar — set to host the 2022 World Cup — with which it is embroiled in a year-long diplomatic spat.
But the oil-rich kingdom is in the midst of a major push for global influence in football governance.
Saudi football chief quits, eyes Asia’s top job
Saudi football chief quits, eyes Asia’s top job
Algerian boxer Khelif ‘not intimidated’ by Trump as she targets second Olympic gold in LA
“This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me. That is my response“
LONDON: Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, at the center of a gender row at the Paris Games, is targeting a second gold in Los Angeles and says she will not be intimidated by Donald Trump.
The US president last month signed an executive order barring transgender women from competing in the female categories of sports.
Trump had previously said the 25-year-old fighter had transitioned from being a man, even though that is not the case.
“I will give you a straightforward answer — the US president issued a decision related to transgender policies in America,” she told Britain’s ITV News.
“I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me. That is my response.”
Olympic chiefs earlier this week recommended that boxing be included at the 2028 Games in LA after a new governing body was provisionally recognized.
The decision still needs to be rubber-stamped by a full session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week in Greece.
“Second gold medal, of course,” said Khelif. “In America, Los Angeles.”
She added: “This experience has taught me a lot. I believe that if the old Imane operated at 50 percent of her potential, then the Imane Khalif of today is even more motivated and determined.
“I have learned so much from this campaign against me, and what happened at the Paris Olympics was an eye-opening experience. I feel even stronger now than I was before.”
Khelif’s triumph in Paris, along with that of Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, sparked a raging gender eligibility debate, with high-profile figures such as Trump and Elon Musk weighing in.
She revealed she was “deeply affected mentally” by the “major media campaign” surrounding her, and said her mother was attending hospital almost daily as her family shared the brunt of the attacks.
Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the International Boxing Association’s 2023 world championships after the organization, the long-standing governing body of amateur boxing, said they had failed gender eligibility tests.
The IOC has severed links with the IBA over financial, governance and ethical concerns. The IBA is led by the Kremlin-linked Russian Umar Kremlev.
Last month the IOC provisionally recognized World Boxing as the body to oversee the sport at future Games.
“As we say in Algeria, those who have nothing to hide should have no fear,” Khelif told ITV. “The truth became clear at the Paris Olympics — the injustice was exposed and later, the truth was acknowledged by the Olympic Committee in Paris.”
She added: “For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.
“I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four world championships.
“All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.”
The debate over transgender athletes and athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) in women’s sport has been a central issue in the ongoing IOC presidential race, which concludes on Thursday.
The three leading candidates — Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry — have spoken of the need to “protect the women’s category.”
World Athletics president Coe told AFP in an interview last year: “If we do not protect women’s sport and we don’t have a clear and unambiguous set of policies to do that, then we run the risk of losing women’s sport.”
Khelif said: “I hope the next president of the IOC leads with true sportsmanship, stays committed to Olympic principles, and upholds the values of fair play.”
French soccer federation sends support to Fofana after online racist abuse
- The governing body said Wednesday the online attacks “are unacceptable”
- Fofana used his Instagram stories to highlight the messages
PARIS: The French soccer federation has condemned the racist abuse directed at Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana after the Premier League team’s loss at Arsenal.
The governing body said Wednesday the online attacks “are unacceptable” and called for the abusers to be prosecuted and sanctioned.
“I want to assure Wesley of my full support,” federation president Philippe Diallo said. “On the pitch as elsewhere, racism is intolerable. It must be fought and punished.”
Fofana, a 24-year-old Marseille native, used his Instagram stories to highlight the messages he was sent on the platform after Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Emirates Stadium. They included racist words and monkey emojis.
Chelsea said they were “appalled and disgusted” by the rise in online abuse toward their players.
Fofana started the match and was substituted after 86 minutes.
Pakistan football team to travel to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for AFC Asian Cup qualifier camp
- Pakistan will face Syria in AFC Asian Cup qualifier fixture on Mar. 25 in Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahsa
- Green shirts to resume training camp in Saudi Arabia under Head Coach Stephen Constantine
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's national football team will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Thursday, where they will resume training for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier fixture against Syria, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement.
Pakistan will kick off their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign against Syria on Mar. 25 at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
The green shirts concluded their training session in the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday night, the PFF said.
"The team is set to depart for Saudi Arabia tomorrow night, where they will continue their training under the guidance of Head Coach Stephen Constantine," the PFF said.
Earlier this month, Pakistan reappointed Constantine, who previously served as the country's head coach from late 2023 until mid-2024, as head coach for the Syria fixture.
Pakistan's inclusion in the qualifier was made possible after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) lifted its international suspension against the country earlier this month.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected its electoral reforms. Following the suspension, the PFF unanimously approved FIFA's proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting in Lahore this month.
Pakistan are placed in Group E of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
PAKISTAN PROBABLES
Goal-Keepers: Yousuf Butt, Saqib Hanif, Abdul Basit and Adam Khan
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Haseeb Khan, Junaid Shah, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Fazal, Abdul Rehman and Waqar Ihtisam
Midfielders: Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Ali Zafar, Muhammad Umar Hayat, Rahis Nabi, Toqeer ul Hassan, Umair Ali and Moin Ahmed
Forwards: Fareedullah, Harun Hamid, Imran Kayani, Mckeal Abdullah, Abdul Samad, Shayak Dost and Muhammad Adeel Younas
Rangers ‘embarrassed’ by racist banner charge from UEFA
- The Scottish club were also hit with other UEFA charges, including the throwing of objects and blocking passageways
- “For the club to be charged with such a matter in 2025 is shameful,” Rangers said
GLASGOW: Rangers have reacted with “embarrassment” after being charged by UEFA for a “racist and/or discriminatory banner” displayed by fans in last week’s Europa League tie against Fenerbahce.
Banners reading: “Keep woke foreign ideologies out — defend Europe” were held up by fans as Rangers progressed to the quarter-finals on penalties on Thursday against the Turkish giants.
The Scottish club were also hit with other UEFA charges, including the throwing of objects and blocking passageways.
“For the club to be charged with such a matter in 2025 is shameful, and the disdain for those responsible will be shared by the overwhelming majority of our supporters,” Rangers said in a statement.
“This charge will bring consequences for the club, while the club is also working to identify those responsible and will ensure they also face consequences.
“For the avoidance of doubt, if you do not believe in 2025 that absolutely everyone is welcome to follow Rangers whether at Ibrox or away, then Rangers is not the club for you, and you should disassociate yourself with the club immediately.”
Rangers also criticized “two individuals” for using pyrotechnics after Sunday’s league win over local rivals Celtic which could impact future ticket allocations.
The 2022 Europa League finalists will face Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League last eight next month.
Bento’s refreshed UAE to go all out for a historic second World Cup appearance
- Paulo Bento’s team face Iran at Azadi Stadium on Thursday, before taking on North Korea at Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
DUBAI: Destiny’s call bellows increasingly louder for a refocused and retooled UAE set to restart a World Cup 2026 qualification quest imbued with fresh momentum.
Heroics were required for November’s clashes — and Paulo Bento’s men emphatically delivered with a 3-0 beating of Kyrgyzstan and an epochal 5-0 rout of perennial rivals Qatar. The interregnum between Group A activities for the third-placed side may have included December’s winless early exit from the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, but nothing can distract from their mission to earn just a second-ever berth at the globe’s premier sporting event.
The Whites’ prospects transformed from waning to tangible in the space of two matches. A consolation prize of a fourth-round slot is now almost secured, yet second-placed Uzbekistan in the final automatic-qualification berth are tantalizingly in range on 13 points to the UAE’s 10 points.
Arguably Asia’s sternest test awaits away at Iran’s cavernous Azadi Stadium on Thursday when the penultimate window kicks off, before a trip into the unknown against bottom-placed North Korea at Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
These exacting challenges will be tackled with another wave of newly naturalized ADNOC Pro League stars in 2017 FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball winner Caio, Sharjah club-mate Luan Pereira, pacey Al-Wasl loanee Jonatas and granite Al-Wahda center-back Alaeddine Zouhir.
For local talents, outstanding 21-year-old Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqebaali presses for a debut and metronomic Al-Jazira midfielder Abdullah Ramadan returns from serious injury.
Rise, once again, to the occasion this month and history could be close at hand. There is no risk of getting carried away under the circumspect Bento’s care.
“We are striving for a better position in these qualifiers, and we are working towards that, one match at a time and step by step,” he told reporters, according to Emarat Al Youm newspaper. “As for me, I am happy with the players, especially since they are performing well.
“I expect a very strong match against the Iranian team, which is one of the strongest teams in the group and also one of the strongest teams in Asia. We have suffered in previous matches against these teams, but we have learned from that and will do our best.
“In some matches, the team did not deserve to lose.
“The current camp is the shortest compared to previous national team camps, as it is always better to prepare in sufficient time. But we must deal with the situation.
“We are working to get the national team players fully prepared. We started the camp with a specific group of players, but training continued after all the players had joined.”
The failure of a “Golden Generation” headlined by Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, plus their successors, to successfully navigate recent cycles ensured skepticism enveloped ambitions of playing at an expanded World Cup 2026.
Blowing this away has been Bento’s aim since his summer 2023 arrival. The ex-Portugal and South Korea boss has exhibited singular focus on this global target to the detriment of forgettable Gulf Cup and Asian Cup campaigns.
A good problem exists about how, and when, to integrate stellar introductory call-ups.
Caio is the unquestionable standout addition. The multifaceted 30-year-old has produced 14 goal contributions in 17 top-flight runouts as Sharjah cling on in the title race.
A mouth-watering prospect exists of an interchangeable attack in Bento’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with Caio at the fulcrum plus a selection taken from Shabab Al-Ahli flyers Yahya Al-Ghassani and Harib Abdalla, and Brazil-born options Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Bruno Conceicao and Jonatas.
Six-goal international marksman Sultan Adil is also surprisingly in the mix, despite playing zero club minutes throughout the 2024-25 season.
Wasl talisman Ali Saleh’s international absence since November’s injury issues has continued. A tally of nine goals in 18 league runouts for an evergreen Mabkhout at Al-Nasr did not prove enough to be reintegrated.
Pressure is also applied to Jazira center-back Khalifa Al-Hammadi’s continuing starting spot by Wahda pair Lucas Pimenta and Zouhir. Al-Ain’s Kouame Autonne is a lock.
Getting the blend right between new options and old ones is crucial. A solid third round to date could deliver an exceptional ending, returning the UAE to the World Cup for the first time since 1990 and avoiding the lottery of potentially multiple future qualification stages.
They attack these fixtures in the wake of this stage’s joint-second-biggest victory (5-0 versus Qatar). Only resurgent Iraq (four goals) and all-conquering Japan (two goals) have conceded fewer.
June 5’s meeting with Uzbekistan looms large. A dream return of four points from six this month would make Group A’s runners-up feel the heat from the UAE’s dogged pursuit and hold off a chastened Qatar in fourth.
The Whites, certainly, cannot afford a repeat of October’s dreary 1-1 draw with North Korea at this juncture.
Setting the platform now for future glory is the goal Bento and his recalibrated UAE are dedicated toward.
November’s emboldening results mean legendary status is within reach. They must seize it in March.
