Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala missing after suspected plane crash

Emiliano Sala was signed by Cardiff on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported €17 million ($19.3 million) fee. (AFP)
Updated 22 January 2019
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Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala missing after suspected plane crash

  • Emiliano Sala was signed by Cardiff on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported €17 million ($19.3 million) fee
  • Lifeboats and a helicopter had searched for several hours for the plane, which had two people and a pilot on board

NANTES, France: Premier League club Cardiff City’s record new signing, Argentina-born striker Emiliano Sala, was on board a light aircraft that disappeared over the English Channel on Monday night, police sources said.
Sala, signed by Cardiff on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported €17 million ($19.3 million) fee, was flying to Cardiff aboard a small plane that disappeared from radars around 20 kilometers north of Guernsey, sources confirmed on condition of anonymity.
A statement from police on Guernsey, a British island just off the coast of France, said lifeboats and a helicopter had searched for several hours for the plane, which had two people and a pilot on board.
“The search was terminated at 02:00, with all search and rescue assets being stood down, due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility,” the statement said.
“At this time no trace of the missing aircraft had been found,” it added.
Two helicopters, two planes and a lifeboat joined renewed efforts on Tuesday morning to find the single-propeller plane which is thought to have crashed.
Sala, 28, who had been at Nantes since 2016 and had scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with relegation-threatened Cardiff subject to receiving international clearance.
Neither club has commented publicly on the disappearance, but Nantes have postponed their French Cup match against third-tier side Entente SSG on Wednesday as a mark of respect.
When he put pen to paper at Cardiff on Saturday, Sala, who also has Italian nationality, said in a statement: “I’m very happy to be here. It gives me great pleasure and I can’t wait to start training, meet my new team-mates and get down to work.

“For me it feels special (to be the club’s record signing). I have come here wanting to work and to help my team-mates and the club.”
Sala’s last post on Instagram showed him surrounded by players from FC Nantes. “La ultima ciao (the last goodbye),” he wrote.
The accident, if confirmed, would come only three months after the Thai billionaire owner of Leicester City football club died in a helicopter crash that shocked the club and supporters around the world.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died on October 28 shortly after taking off from the pitch of the club’s stadium in central England.
Disconnected cockpit pedals, which are used to control the rotor on the helicopter’s tail, were found to be the cause of the accident by investigators.
Cardiff currently sit third from bottom of the English Premier League with 19 points.
Sala, who also holds an Italian passport, began his footballing career at French club Bordeaux, which he joined as a teenager, and spent loan spells at other French clubs including Orleans, Niort and Caen.
He joined Nantes in 2016 for one million euros and appeared to be peaking as a player in recent seasons, overcoming technical shortcomings that had held him back earlier in his career.
He was tipped for a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray last summer.
“He’s a very likeable lad, very hard working,” his coach at Nantes, Vahid Halilhodzic, said of him recently.


Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

Updated 57 min 52 sec ago
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Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

  • Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick
  • They have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win

BARCELONA: Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Spanish league leader were stunned 2-1 by Las Palmas on Saturday.
Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and were flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They had won all eight home games overall.
But they have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Prior to the loss to Las Palmas, they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo.
Madrid, despite their own troubles especially in the Champions League, can now move ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish league. They trail Barcelona by four points with two games more to play.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphina’s equalizer.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that had sidelined with for three weeks as a halftime substitute, but Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also did well to palm a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.


Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

Updated 30 November 2024
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Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

  • Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second

LUSAIL, Qatar: McLaren neared its first Formula 1 constructors’ title in 26 years as Lando Norris handed Oscar Piastri victory in a one-two finish for the team in the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday.
Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second.
Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying his teammate back for gifting him a win in the sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Russell finished third.
Verstappen — crowned the drivers’ champion last week in Las Vegas — finished eighth and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was last after a pit stop to change his car’s nose.
Qualifying takes place later Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.


Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

Updated 30 November 2024
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Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

  • “Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference
  • “It’s not a problem about one player”

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s struggles this season are due to his team’s overall lack of consistency.
The French forward missed a penalty as Spanish and European champions Real Madrid lost on Wednesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, their third defeat in five matches in the competition.
Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticized for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.
“Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Getafe.
“It’s not a problem about one player, the problem that we have is one of a team that has not been capable of being consistent. It’s not a problem about one player.
“We have to try and improve that, do everything we can... among other things (Mbappe) is new here and adapting, among other things he’s scored eight goals and has participated in attack, giving assists.
“Yes he can play better, but we can all do better and we will try to.”
Mbappe was not included in the last two France squad lists and has also had off-field issues to deal with during his first months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is absolutely not sunken, he knows he has to improve like we all do... he’s being scrutinized after the Liverpool game because he missed a penalty, like many of my players have,” continued Ancelotti.
The coach said the Liverpool defeat was partly due to losing players through injury, including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao among others, but that Brazilian winger Rodrygo was fit to face Getafe.
Madrid, second, trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, albeit having played one fewer match.
“I am like Mbappe, I am trying to give my best version,” said Ancelotti.
“Results say that I have not been capable of doing that. I’m not happy... but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always fix it.”


Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

Updated 30 November 2024
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Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

  • The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition

Jeddah: The Fanatec GT World Europe Challenge has always been a highlight of the racing calendar as a chance for drivers to demonstrate their skills around the world’s most challenging circuits, and this year’s final round in Jeddah featured a diverse grid of international drivers.

The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition.

Six of the contenders vying to leave an impact this weekend are already a part of this year’s challenge and looking forward to achieving positive results. They are: Reema Al-Juffali, Bandar Alesayi, Fahad Al-Gosaibi, Ahmed bin Khanen, from Saudi Arabia; and Ahmad Alharthy and Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, from Oman.

On Friday, the six drivers met the press and expressed their happiness at being part of this international challenge — to enjoy the experience behind the wheel on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the world’s fastest circuit.

Bandar Alesayi explained that the championship and the cars were new to the drivers, but they knew a lot about the circuit. “It is a very strong championship and a tough competition but I will enjoy it,” he said.

Ahmed bin Khanen said: “We will strive to provide our best to achieve distinguished results. It is so great to compete against the best in the world.”

Fahad Al-Gosaibi, who proved his skills in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said that his 20 years in Porsche racing in the Gulf region would be an incentive to achieve his ambition of first place as he chases the best performance during the Fanatec GT competition being held in his homeland.

“We really appreciate the great support we all receive as Saudi drivers from the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation,” he said.

Reema Al-Juffali said that the generous support of the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation provided the drivers with a great incentive in all motor sports championships. Al-Juffali said that she would seek to achieve a distinguished place in the competition, noting that GT events were the first step toward reaching her dream of representing the Kingdom in this race.

Omani driver Ahmed Al-Harthy said: “The GT race is the most difficult championship in the world because there are 49 cars on the track at the same time.” Al-Harthy said that the Kingdom’s hosting of major motorsports championships such as Formula 1, Formula E, and now GT, was a source of pride and gave hope to Gulf youth who aspired to participate in these races.

His countryman, Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, said that his team was ranked second in the chance to win the challenge on Saturday. “It will be a great joy if we win the championship from the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is like our country,” he said.

He praised the Kingdom’s ability to host many of the most important international competitions such as the Dakar Rally, Formula 1, and others. 


Pakistan to face Zimbabwe in first T20I on Sunday

Updated 30 November 2024
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Pakistan to face Zimbabwe in first T20I on Sunday

  • The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time
  • Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the first of their three-match Twenty-20 International (T20I) series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Sunday.
The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time. Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board remarked as Kamran Ghulam struck his maiden one-day international century to steer Pakistan to win.
“Onto the T20I action.”
Pakistan and Zimbabwe will play the second and third T20 matches on Dec. 3 and 5 at the same venue in Bulawayo.
The tourists then head to South Africa for an eight-match all-formats tour, including two Tests.