MADRID: Barcelona and Real Madrid appear set to agree Dec. 18 as the date for a rearranged Clasico after Spain’s biggest football match was postponed on Friday due to protests in Catalonia.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced that Barca and Madrid have until 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Monday to find a new date, which will be decided by the RFEF if they cannot reach an agreement.
But according to the RFEF, Real Madrid have already approved Dec. 18, meaning the fixture looks set to move to that date, pending official confirmation.
In a statement on Friday, Barcelona proposed the new date but also stressed their desire for the original fixture, scheduled for Oct. 26 at Camp Nou, to go ahead.
“The club’s desire was to play the Clasico at Camp Nou on the 26th, the date and time previously agreed and the Committee was informed of this in writing,” read Friday’s statement.
“The club has the utmost confidence in the peaceful behavior of its members and fans who always express themselves in exemplary fashion at Camp Nou.
“Nevertheless, having received the decision of the RFEF Competition Committee to postpone the game citing ‘exceptional circumstances’ and given that it falls to the clubs to agree a new date for the game before Monday, the club will propose Dec. 18.”
Barcelona added the club “regrets the inconvenience” caused to fans and will refund those that had bought tickets for the original fixture.
In a press conference on Friday, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said: “We will do as we are told. I know there is a lot of debate but that’s our position. I have my own preferences but I’m not going to tell you them.”
The Clasico was set to be Barcelona’s first home game since nine pro-independence leaders were sentenced to imprisonment on Monday for their role in the illegal referendum over Catalan independence in 2017. The ruling has sparked violent demonstrations across the city and there were fears protestors would use the match against Madrid to stage further acts of unrest.
The football club of Barcelona, which is regarded as a symbol of Catalanism, had responded on Monday with a statement insisting “prison sentences are not the solution.”
La Liga then proposed to the RFEF that the venue of the Clasico be changed from Camp Nou to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu but Barcelona rejected the switch.
Instead, it has been decided that a change of date is necessary due to what the RFEF described as “exceptional circumstances.”
“The RFEF agrees to dismiss the request made by La Liga in relation to reversing the order of the matches played between Barcelona and Real Madrid,” an RFEF statement read earlier on Friday.
“FC Barcelona and Real Madrid must agree on the new date of the meeting before October 21.
“In case of not reaching an agreement, the Competition Committee will be responsible for determining the date of the meeting.”
After the Catalan independence referendum in 2017, Barcelona played a league match against Las Palmas behind closed doors in protest, after their request for a postponement was rejected.
Barca play away at Eibar in La Liga on Saturday and planned to make the 589-kilometre journey by bus to avoid demonstrations at El Prat airport.
Real Madrid also play on Saturday, away at Real Mallorca.
Barcelona and Real Madrid match postponed
Barcelona and Real Madrid match postponed
- The football club of Barcelona, which is regarded as a symbol of Catalanism, had responded on Monday with a statement insisting “prison sentences are not the solution”
Boisson ‘going for the dream’ at French Open after injury nightmare
- Boisson swept past world number six Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling two-set battle 7-6 (8/6), 6-3
- The 22-year-old had already eliminated US third seed Jessica Pegula two days ago
PARIS: Lois Boisson has “resilience” tattooed above her right elbow and the 361st-ranked Frenchwoman demonstrated she had plenty as she stormed into semifinals of the French Open on Wednesday.
Boisson swept past world number six Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling two-set battle 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in just over two hours on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 22-year-old had already eliminated US third seed Jessica Pegula two days ago.
A wildcard entry, Boisson is making her Grand Slam debut in Paris after seriously injuring her left knee a week before Roland Garros 12 months ago.
On Wednesday, the French national anthem rang out in the crowd as Boisson and 18-year-old Andreeva warmed up.
“It gave me the chill, I have to say,” said Boisson. “But it was extraordinary to have the crowd supporting me so much.
“Even though sometimes it’s a bit raucous and there is a lot of noise between two points.”
Boisson had trailed 3-1 and 5-3 in the first set but saved set points to turn the match in her favor.
She kept her cool as last year’s semifinalist Andreeva unraveled from a 3-0 lead in the second set to win the last six games.
A frustrated Andreeva received a warning from the umpire for blasting the ball into the crowd. She was then booed when she argued with the umpire over a line call.
“Obviously I expected it,” said the Russian of the partisan home crowd.
“I think that in the first set I managed it pretty well.. but obviously with nerves and with pressure, it became a little harder.”
Andreeva struggled with the pressure, hitting nine double-faults in total, and made 43 unforced errors to Boisson’s 27.
She conceded the final game to love as Boisson wrapped up victory on her first match point.
The player from Dijon advances to meet US world number two Coco Gauff, who battled back from a set down to beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1.
“For sure I will go for the dream, because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal,” warned Boisson.
“My routine won’t change, it’s been the same since the start of the tournament,” she added of her preparation for Thursday’s semifinal.
Former US Open winner Gauff, 21, said she would just pretend the home crowd was “cheering for me.”
“Just using it and not letting that get to you.”
Boisson becomes the lowest-ranked major semifinalist in the last 40 years.
Winner of the Saint Malo tournament on the secondary circuit in 2024, she was ranked 152nd before her injury.
“(It) was the toughest moment of my life,” said Boisson, who had only won one match on the main circuit before Roland Garros — at the modest WTA 250 event in Rouen on clay in April.
Her earnings this year have been 18,470 euros ($21,100) for a career-total 130,000 euros ($148,000).
Reaching the singles semifinals at Roland Garros will earn her a paycheck of 690,000 euros.
The winner receives 2.55 million euros and the runner-up half that.
“She’s probably a better player than her ranking right now,” said Andreeva.
“I think that if she keeps playing like this, freely and not being scared or afraid... I think everyone can win.
“It’s going to be pretty interesting to watch. I think if maybe she believes in herself enough, maybe she can.”
Boisson is the third player to reach the semifinals in her Grand Slam main-draw debut since 1980, following Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati who also did it at Roland Garros in 1989 and 1990.
She becomes the first French semifinalist at her home Grand Slam event since Marion Bartoli in 2011 — and the first in the Open Era to do it as a wildcard.
Saudi footballer Abdulmalik Al-Jaber shines on European stage
- Al-Nassr star’s performances in Bosnia put him at top of list of 9 Saudi players across 7 of Europe’s football leagues
- Faisal Al-Ghamdi played as key midfielder for Beerschot in Belgium
BEIRUT: Midfielder Abdulmalik Al-Jaber has been a guiding light among Saudi players making their mark in Europe following his impressive spell at Bosnia’s FK Zeljeznicar.
Al-Nassr announced on Monday the capture of 21-year-old Al-Jaber on a four-year contract after his strong season with FK Zeljeznicar where played 33 times, scored three goals and assisted in three more.
Al-Jaber’s performances put him at the top of a list of nine Saudi players who played across seven different European leagues last season.
Faisal Al-Ghamdi, 23, played 29 times for Belgian club Beerschot where he was a key player in midfield, scoring one goal and assisting in the creation of another.
Clubmate and forward Marwan Al-Sahafi also impressed, the 21-year-old scoring six times and making one assist across 28 games.
Mohanad Al-Saad, 21, played for Dunkerque in France and scored four goals in 15 matches — one of them against Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup semifinal, a proud moment despite the 4-2 defeat.
Saud Abdulhamid, 25, got some valuable minutes with AS Roma in Italy where he played eight matches, scoring once and making one assist. Four of his appearances were in Serie A, the top tier.
Midfielder Mohammed Al-Rashidi, 23, boasted eight appearances for Greece’s Panserraikos and a total of 184 minutes on the pitch.
Three other young players had a taste of European football. Hussain Al-Taha, 19, played three matches for Croatian side Vukovar, while Mishal Haddad, 20, appeared in two games for Vinkovci, also in Croatia. Yazan Madani, 20, played twice as left-back for Albania’s Egnatia.
With more Saudi players heading to Europe, it is clear that the future looks bright for talented footballers from the KIngdom.
These youngsters are gaining experience, growing in confidence, and helping to raise the profile of Saudi football on the international stage.
Middlesbrough sack manager Michael Carrick
- The former Manchester United midfielder had been in charge at Boro since October 2022
- “Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick,” the club said
LONDON: Middlesbrough on Wednesday sacked manager Michael Carrick after the Championship club missed out on a play-off place during the 2024/25 season.
The former Manchester United and England midfielder, who previously had a spell as caretaker boss at Old Trafford, had been in charge at Boro since October 2022.
The 43-year-old guided Middlesbrough to the Championship play-offs in the 2022/23 season but they have missed out on the top six in the past two campaigns.
“Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick,” the club said in a statement.
“Michael’s assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club.
“We’d like thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future.”
Middlesbrough won just one of their final six league games to finish 10th in the Championship table, four points off the play-off spots.
Arsenal in talks with Partey over new deal as Jorginho and Sterling depart
- Partey’s contract is due to expire on June 30
- The Ghana international has been with Arsenal since 2020
LONDON: Arsenal are in talks with Thomas Partey to extend the midfielder’s contract, the club said Wednesday, while confirming the departure of a slew of other players including Jorginho and Raheem Sterling.
Partey’s contract is due to expire on June 30 and Arsenal said “discussions are on-going.”
The Ghana international has been with Arsenal since 2020.
Italy midfielder Jorginho, Scotland left back Kieran Tierney, Brazilian goalkeeper Neto and Sterling — at one stage a key player for England — are among those confirmed to be leaving Arsenal.
Sterling was only on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Arsenal have just finished second in the Premier League for the third straight season.
Pakistan clinches 14 medals at Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Thailand
- Pakistan rowing team wins 10 gold medals, three silver and one bronze
- Championship features athletes competing on indoor rowing machines
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan bagged 14 medals, including 10 gold ones, at the recently concluded Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Thailand, state media reported this week.
The Asian Indoor Rowing Championship was organized by the Asian Rowing Federation from May 26 to 31 in Pattaya, Thailand, to showcase the talents of indoor rowers from across Asia.
Unlike traditional rowing competitions held on water, this championship features athletes competing on indoor rowing machines, such as the Concept2 ergometer, simulating the rowing experience in a controlled environment.
“Competing against 25 countries, the Pakistani squad stunned traditional powerhouses such as India, Iran, Thailand, South Korea and Japan,” Radio Pakistan said in a report on Monday.
“Despite being a small contingent, the Pakistani rowers delivered an outstanding performance that defied expectations.”
According to a local news outlet, Pakistan won 10 gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
Key contributors included Pakistani rowers Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Shahzad, who won one gold and one silver each.
Tayyab Iftikhar earned one silver medal and one bronze, the report added.
Radio Pakistan said the athletes received a grand welcome from the Pakistan Rowing Federation (PRF) upon their return to the country.
It highlighted that the athletes’ performance marked “a new era for rowing” in Pakistan. PRF President Hamdan Nazir and Chairman Rizwan-ul-Haq also praised the players for their outstanding achievements.
