THESSALONIKI, Greece: Tens of thousands of fans in Greece’s second-largest city partied through the night and into Monday after PAOK Thessaloniki became the first team outside Athens to win the Greek league title in more than three decades.
In wild scenes of celebration, fans packed along the city’s seafront — hundreds holding red flares — to catch a glimpse of the winning team on a double-decker bus after its 5-0 win over Levadiakos sealed its undefeated run to victory.
At the heart of the party was Ivan Savvidis, a stout Russian billionaire who transformed the club and bet heavily on the northern Greek economy. Supporters chanted his name as he walked between two rows of flame machines during a celebration ceremony.
The 60-year-old businessman, whose family is partly of Greek ancestry, took over PAOK in 2012 and rescued the club from financial ruin, settling debts and building a 63 million euro ($70 million) roster equal in value to that of the country’s largest club, Olympiakos.
Savvidis, who made his fortune in agriculture in southern Russia, tapped into PAOK’s underdog status and broader resentment throughout the city, which believes it has been overlooked by decision-makers in Athens.
“We have laid the foundations for what I hope is the start of some great achievements,” he said late Sunday, speaking through an interpreter. “Let those in Athens think with a clear head: What they did to us made us stronger by the day.”
Over the past decade, Savvidis has invested in northern Greek businesses, some on the brink of failure, as well as television stations and newspapers that are generally supportive of the country’s left-wing government. Despite his popularity in Thessaloniki, he is seldom far from controversy.
Greece’s western allies have noted his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he served as a member of Russia’s parliament before setting up his Greek businesses. And Savvidis’ dream of building a major club was almost toppled last season in a league game against AEK Athens, during which he stormed onto the field to challenge the referee’s decision with a handgun holstered in his belt.
He remains banned from attending PAOK’s games, but fans late Sunday were forgiving, chanting under the White Tower, the city’s main monument, “Ivan, get your gun.”
PAOK last won titles a generation ago, in 1976 and 1985, and Larissa was the last team outside Athens to claim the championship trophy when it did so in 1988. Olympiakos dominated subsequent decades, winning 19 out of 21 titles before AEK’s victory last season. (Another Athens club, Panathinaikos, won the other two.)
The stranglehold fueled bitterness among PAOK’s owners and fans. Controversy surrounding big-game refereeing decisions, as well as match-fixing prosecutions in the top-flight league, prompted league organizers to use foreign referees at all key matches this season.
PAOK was founded in the mid-1920s by Greek refugees who fled to the city after a catastrophic war with Turkey and owes much of its loyal following to that history.
Not only veterans and fans feel that burden.
Vieirinha, PAOK’s Portuguese captain, wasn’t born the last time the team won the league. On Sunday, in tears, he received a standing ovation from 25,000 fans at Toumba Stadium, playing the last five minutes despite an injury.
“A great team like PAOK does not deserve to wait 34 years to win a championship,” Vieirinha said. “What we lived through this past year is a dream for every PAOK fan. I am one of them. I come from them. For me, PAOK means everything.”
Backed by Russian billionaire Ivan Savvidis, PAOK Thessaloniki celebrates first title in a generation
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Backed by Russian billionaire Ivan Savvidis, PAOK Thessaloniki celebrates first title in a generation
- PAOK Thessaloniki became the first team outside Athens to win the Greek league title in more than three decades
- Savvidis’ dream of building a major club was almost toppled last season in a game against AEK, during which he stormed onto the field to challenge the referee’s decision with a handgun holstered in his belt
Pacquiao ‘hungry’ for comeback after four-year layoff
- The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat
- Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning
LOS ANGELES: Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday that his lengthy layoff from boxing has reignited his passion for the sport as he prepares for next month’s world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios.
The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat.
Pacquiao has reunited with long-time veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month’s title tilt, and spoke to journalists on Wednesday as he worked out at the Hall of Famer’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood.
“Four years rest has been good for me,” Pacquiao said after showing off some impressive hand speed in an open pads session.
“I’ve been in boxing for so many decades, so it’s good for my body to rest for four years.
“Now I’m back, I’m hungry to fight again. I’m hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that.”
“I’ve missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard — it’s still there.”
Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning.
“I’m fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I’m happy,” he said.
“I’m enjoying this training camp. There’s a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give my body time to rest and recover.”
Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, refused to be drawn on whether his comeback next month would be “one and done” or just the first step of a full-fledged return to the sport.
“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked about future bouts. “Now I’m back so one at a time, after this fight we can plan whatever we want.”
For some in boxing, however, Pacquiao’s return to the ring represents an unnecessary risk.
British promoter Eddie Hearn was the latest to cast doubt on the wisdom of the Filipino’s comeback earlier this month, predicting that the 30-year-old Barrios will be “too young and too strong” for Pacquiao.
Pacquiao smiled on Wednesday when asked for his response to Hearn’s remarks.
“Just watch on July 19th,” he said. “It will be a good fight.”
Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F
- With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta
A 36th-minute goal from Daniel Svensson was all Borussia Dortmund needed to put away winless Ulsan HD in a 1-0 Group F win in Cincinnati on Wednesday.
With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta with an opponent that has yet to be determined. Fluminsense, which could have won the group with a victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, also moves on to the knockouts as the group’s No. 2 seed.
While the score indicates a close match, Dortmund dominated the pitch, putting 11 shots on goal among their 28 overall attempts. Compare that with Ulsan’s three shot attempts, all on goal and all occurring within a 16-minute period in the second half.
Dortmund put the pressure on early and often to open the match, ripping off 20 shots — eight on goal — in the first half. While Ulsan didn’t even get a shot off during the first 45 minutes plus stoppage time, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon- woo continued to deny Dortmund with seven saves.
That included a seven-minute stretch midway through the first half during which BVB put four shots on goal, only for Hyeon-woo to turn away each attempt.
Dortmund did not relent, however, and it paid off in the 36th minute as Svensson collected a touch pass from Jobe Bellingham in the box and put a left-footed shot past the keeper to put BVB in front 1-0.
Both Serhou Guirassy and Bellingham had prime chances to add to that advantage in the closing minutes of the half. Again, though, Hyeon-woo stood his ground to keep Dortmund from extending its lead.
Ulsan strung together their first strong chances at goal early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Kang Sang-Woo’s attempt from the right side of the box was saved by BVB’s Gregor Kobel. The goalkeeper was tested again in the 60th and 64th minutes as Kobel saved left-footed blasts by Lee Jin-Hyun and Ko Seung-Beom, respectively, to maintain the one-goal edge.
That was all that Ulsan (0-3-0, 0 points) could muster, however, as the South Korean side wrapped up Club World Cup play last in Group F. Hyeon-woo finished the day with 10 saves.
Mbappe returns to Real Madrid training at Club World Cup
- The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday
- Alonso said: “He is doing better, he is recovering“
PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after missing Real Madrid’s first two matches at the Club World Cup in the United States due to illness, the Spanish giants confirmed to AFP.
The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released.
He played no part in Real’s opening game at the tournament, a 1-1 draw with Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami, or the 3-1 defeat of Mexico’s Pachuca at the weekend.
Coach Xabi Alonso did indicate after the latter game that Mbappe was on the mend, saying: “He is doing better, he is recovering.”
Real posted images of Mbappe in training on Wednesday on their website, as the squad worked out at their Florida base before traveling north in the afternoon to Philadelphia.
That is where Madrid will take on Red Bull Salzburg of Austria on Thursday in their last Group H match and will be looking for a victory which will confirm their progress to the last 16 in first place in the section.
A draw can also take them through to the next round, with Manchester City and Juventus the possible opponents in the last 16.
Mbappe has scored 43 goals in 56 appearances since joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain
last year.
His last game was for France in a 2-0 win away to Germany in the UEFA Nations League on June 8.
PFL Africa stars Juliet Ukah and Ceileigh Niedermayr train in front of fans at open workout
- Fighters showcase their skills during public training session ahead of their bout at the opening event of the inaugural PFL Africa season on July 19 in Cape Town
- ‘We’re going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa, and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight,’ Ukah says
KINSHASA: As the countdown continues to the start of the inaugural season of PFL Africa on July 19, Professional Fighters League stars Juliet Ukah from Nigeria and Ceileigh Niedermayr from South Africa took part in an open workout on Wednesday.
The fighters, who will face off in a Showcase Women’s Strawweight Bout during the PFL Africa opener at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town next month, showcased their skills for fans and media at the public training session, which took place at the Champions Academy RDC Gym in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“I’m very happy to be on the first PFL Africa card and my fight with Ceileigh is going to be an exciting one,” said Ukah. “We’re going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight.
“Compared to her, I think I’m the more experienced fighter and the better striker, so I’m comfortable wherever the fight goes.”
She added that expects to get the finish but would not mind if the fight went to a third round if needed.
Niedermayr said: “It’s truly an honor to be part of the first-ever women’s fight in PFL Africa. This fight camp isn’t just about preparing for my next opponent, it’s a reflection of my lifelong dedication to martial arts.
“On fight night, I’m bringing a new level of ‘Smiley Savagery’ to the SmartCage,” she added, referring to her professional nickname. “I have a lot of respect for Juliet as a fighter and I welcome the chance to test myself against her.”
She said she has never faced anyone like Ukah and expects an “exciting, high-level battle and I’m ready for it.”
The historic PFL Cape Town event will mark the start of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament and feature first-round matchups in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions.
The headline bouts include five must-see PFL Champions Series clashes, including a Middleweight World Championship main event in which titleholder Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (with a record of 16-0) will take on challenger Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3). Tickets for the event are available from Ticketpro.
German Court fines FA over 2026 World Cup-related payment
- The DFB said it took note of Frankfurt Regional Court’s decision on Wednesday
- An appeal was possible but it would first study the written verdict once published
FRANKFURT: A German Court on Wednesday fined the German Football Association (DFB) just over 100,000 euros in relation to a World Cup 2006-related payment which had been at the heart of a years-long scandal that tarnished the reputation of the tournament.
The DFB said it took note of Frankfurt Regional Court’s decision on Wednesday, adding that an appeal was possible but it would first study the written verdict once published.
The case regarding a payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.8 million) made two decades ago damaged the image of the global showpiece event held in Germany.
At the heart of the case that dragged through the legal system and involved several other separate investigations is the payment linked to a 2006 World Cup-related event that never took place.
The tax return included a 6.7 million euro payment from the DFB to world soccer’s governing body FIFA for the 2006 World Cup, although the funds were actually used for another purpose and should not have been offset against tax, prosecutors had said.
“According to the ruling, the court assumes that the DFB fully declared and taxed its income from the 2006 World Cup. However, it believes that the 6.7 million euros should have been deducted for tax purposes in 2002, not in 2006,” the DFB said in a statement.
“The Regional Court imposed a fine of 130,000 euros on the DFB because it ruled in isolation on the year 2006 and did not take into account the excessive tax paid for 2002,” the DFB said.
“The DFB only has to pay 110,000 euros because the court deducted 20,000 euros due to the excessive length of the proceedings.
In April, the same court had discharged former DFB President Theo Zwanziger after ordering him to pay a 10,000-euro fine.
The payment in question had triggered investigations over allegations it had been used as a slush fund to buy votes in favor of Germany’s bid to host the 2006 tournament.
A DFB-commissioned investigation in 2016 had said the sum was the return of a loan via FIFA from former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
The German tax office ordered the DFB in 2017 to pay more than 20 million euros in back taxes related to the year 2006.
The tournament was nicknamed the “summer fairytale” because of the home team’s run to the semifinals, and the sold-out stadiums and outdoor viewing areas across the country which attracted hundreds of thousands of fans.
