FIFA has threatened the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) with suspension if it does not comply with its rules, Iranian daily Radio Farda reported on Sunday.
The international governing body of football rejected the amended statutes sent by the FFIRI last month and gave the football body a deadline of June 5 to comply or face suspension.
FIFA had previously stopped the FFIRI from holding its elections over concerns of government interference in the organization.
FIFA called on the FFIRI to address eight issues, including the reduction of the role of the Iranian Sports Minister in internal FFIRI affairs.
The amended statutes did not mention the independence of the FFIRI from the Iranian government. FIFA rules decree that a national football federation should remain autonomous from the national government.
Last month Ali Kafashian, who was in charge of running the FFIRI for almost a decade, told a local radio show in Tehran, that despite FIFA's regulations, the Iranian football association had always been under the government's direct control.
“We deem that a failure to comply with this directive would result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for further action,” FIFA said in a letter sent to the FFIRI.
FIFA threatens Iran’s Football Federation with suspension
https://arab.news/84v7r
FIFA threatens Iran’s Football Federation with suspension
- The international governing body of football rejected an amended statutes sent by the FFIRI last month
- FIFA had previously stopped the FFIRI from holding its elections over concerns of government interference in the organization
Rally Jameel organizers reveal plans for 2025 edition
- Rally Jameel 2025, which runs from April 21-26, will see pilots and co-pilots competing across Jordan and Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, beginning in Petra and ending in Qassim
- Munir Khoja: Rally Jameel continues to evolve as a powerful platform that brings together women from across the globe to share in a unique motorsport experience
JEDDAH: The first women-only navigational rally in the Middle East kicks off from Petra in Jordan, where 100 women from 37 countries take the driver’s seat for a journey of unique motorsport experience, empowerment, and adventure.
The Rally Jameel 2025, which runs from April 21-26, will see pilots and co-pilots competing across Jordan and Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, beginning in Petra and ending in Qassim.
During a press conference held at Hayy Jameel, organizers of Jameel Motorsport announced that the fourth edition of Rally Jameel will bring together 45 teams from 37 countries. With 25 returning teams from previous editions and 20 first-time participants, the 2025 edition reflects the event’s growing global momentum and reputation as a platform for competition, cultural exchange, and empowerment.
Munir Khoja, managing director of Jameel Motorsport and marketing communications at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, said: “Rally Jameel continues to evolve as a powerful platform that brings together women from across the globe to share in a unique motorsport experience. This year, we proudly celebrate the return of seasoned teams who have helped shape the rally’s legacy, while welcoming a new wave of competitors eager to make their mark. It’s this vibrant mix of experience and fresh energy that makes the rally so special. With its expanded route and increasing international recognition, Rally Jameel not only advances women’s participation in motorsport, but also embodies the spirit of Vision 2030 by showcasing the natural beauty, cultural richness, and adventure tourism potential of our region.”
With interest in the 2025 Rally Jameel already running at record levels, Abdullah Bakhashab, head of the organizing committee, had detailed the outline route for the six-day event.
He said: “Racing from Petra to Qassim on deserts, mountain ranges, and coastal vistas, the route for the 2025 Rally Jameel covers 1,500 km, taking the 45 teams deep into the natural beauty and geographic diversity of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.”
Asked about the historic milestone as the rally goes global for the first time, he explained: “This year’s rally is witnessing a significant leap forward, as an agreement has been reached with the Kingdom of Jordan to launch the rally from Petra and they have welcomed the idea and given us all the support we needed.”
He added that advanced technologies are being utilized in the participating cars.
“Unlike traditional speed-based rallies, Rally Jameel focuses on navigation and strategy, offering competitors an experience that blends adventure with technical expertise.
Speaking about promoting and supporting local female racers, Bakhashab confirmed it is one of the main goals of Rally Jameel, saying: “Since it started, it is all about the empowerment of women and we are glad that through the previous editions we had so many names who are now taking their competitions into higher level around the world.”
He added: “Not just Saudi women come to race but also participants from as far away as the USA and Europe.”
According to organizers, the rally offers a unique lens for participants and attendees to experience the natural beauty and geographic diversity of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. This immersive journey not only attracts motorsport enthusiasts, but also highlights the region’s potential as a world-class destination for outdoor exploration.
With a diverse field of competitors, this edition underscores the rally’s role in uniting women from around the world through adventure, resilience, and shared passion for motorsport. It also serves as a stage for building connections across cultures, championing inclusivity, and celebrating personal breakthroughs on and off the course.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are back in the fold at the Masters
- “I think we would all like to see that,” Rahm said about a potential unification. “But as far as I can tell and you guys can tell, it’s not happening anytime soon”
AUGUSTA, Georgia: For now, there’s another tradition unlike any other at the Masters: the first opportunity in nine months for all the world’s best players to compete against each other.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are among the biggest stars in golf that hardly anyone sees during this great divide in golf between the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf that doesn’t appear to have a bridge in the immediate works.
“I think we would all like to see that,” Rahm said about a potential unification. “But as far as I can tell and you guys can tell, it’s not happening anytime soon.”
Rahm still goes upstairs in the Augusta National clubhouse to the locker room set aside for Masters champions where he can find plenty of friends, six of them colleagues at LIV Golf and plenty others who can see beyond the strife.
DeChambeau still dreams of winning a Masters green jacket like he did when he was a kid. Even so, there is another identity at the first major of the year because it’s been so long since so many of the best were in the same field.
“Anytime I get an opportunity to play against everyone, the best players in the world, it’s great,” DeChambeau said. “I think that’s what we’re all hoping for at some point is for that to be figured out. That’s beyond me and beyond my scope, unfortunately. I think at some point if the players get all together, I think we could figure it out. But it’s a lot more complicated, obviously, than what we all think.”
Rahm returns to Augusta National in a far different frame of mind.
He was the defending Masters champion last year, fresh off his decision to go back on his proclaimed “fealty” to the PGA Tour and sign for LIV Golf.
He had a major championship season to forget, never seriously contending in any of them, missing the US Open with a toe infection.
“There was a few times where there was a lot of questions that I didn’t really have an answer to ... the state of the game and what’s happening. We all want a solution and it’s hard to give one. When it comes to this week, last year for me was tough because it was the first major after joining LIV and I was also defending. There was a lot going on that week.”
There doesn’t appear to be much going on in terms of a solution.
The second White House meeting with President Donald Trump in February resulted in what amounts to a stalemate.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund behind LIV Golf, wants a path forward for team golf. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said while the goal was bringing together golf’s best, “The only deal that we would regret is one that compromises the essence of what makes the game of golf and the PGA Tour so exceptional.”
PIF recently sent a proposal offering $1.5 billion and Al-Rumayyan a seat on the PGA Tour Enterprises, to which the tour found no need to respond because it was ground already covered with no solution what to do with two tours.
Rahm, DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and other LIV players arrived from Miami after the first domestic LIV event at Trump Doral. According to Sports Business Journal, the PGA Tour averaged 1.75 million viewers on NBC for Brian Harman winning the Valero Texas Open. LIV Golf averaged 484,000 viewers on Fox for Marc Leishman winning.
And now they are all at Augusta National, and golf feels normal again amid dogwoods and azaleas, and far less Georgia pines wiped out by Hurricane Helene last fall.
It’s a big stage for the top players on LIV Golf to perform because opportunities are limited, even as players are thinking more about winning a major than proving anything beyond that. DeChambeau wants a first green jacket as badly as Rahm wants a second, as much as Scottie Scheffler is trying to win a third.
“I don’t think you need to do anything to make the Masters any more special than it already is,” Rahm said. “Coming here, there’s no added anything to that. Majors have always been aside from every event in the world, and when you come to one of those, it doesn’t feel any different to what it was before or anything like that.”
Toward the end of Rahm’s press conference, he was asked about the world ranking — LIV Golf events do not get points — and where he felt he was among the best in the world.
“Where am I in the world rankings at this point? Am I out of the top 100 yet?” he asked Close. The two-time major champion is coming up on the two-year anniversary of when he was No. 1 in the world. He dropped five spots this week to No. 80.
“A couple weeks to go and I’ll be gone,” Rahm said with sarcasm mixed with reality. “I’m not going to say exactly a number, but I would still undoubtedly consider myself a top-10 player in the world. But it’s hard to tell nowadays.”
He wouldn’t get much of an argument. During his time on LIV, the Spaniard has never finished out of the top 10 in any 54-hole tournament he finished.
In the seven tournaments he played outside LIV last year — including the Olympics — Rahm has five top 10s, a missed cut at the PGA Championship and a tie for 45th in the Masters.
“I think last year the state of my game was being unfairly judged based on how I played here and at the PGA compared to how I really played throughout the whole year,” Rahm said. “While I understand why, I don’t think it was the most fair state of my game.”
Morocco’s El-Jamari scores spectacular win at ONE Fight Night 30
- Compatriot Chafi puts in disappointing performance against rising English fighter George Jarvis in lightweight Muay Thai matchup
BANGKOK: Moroccan Muay Thai stars Elmehdi El-Jamari and Mouhcine Chafi had differing fates at ONE Championship show ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia vs. Knowles.
The two Moroccans participated in the weekend event which was held inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium and featured bouts in several fighting genres.
El-Jamari scored a first-round knockout victory over Thai counterpart Thongpoon PK Saenchai in a strawweight Muay Thai bout, raising his overall professional record to 27-1.
The 28-year-old put in an excellent attacking performance, pressing forward from the opening bell before an impressive boxing combination saw him land a left hook that finished his opponent at 2:56 of the first round.
Chafi suffered another disappointing performance as he was dominated by rising English fighter George Jarvis in a lightweight Muay Thai matchup.
Following his third consecutive loss, and after the unanimous decision, the former WBC light heavyweight Muay Thai champion saw his record slump to 32-8.
Dubai to host third UAE National MMA Championship
- Tournament will take place from April 12–13 at Shabab Al-Ahli Club in Dubai
ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation has announced that the third edition of the UAE National MMA Championship will take place on April 12-13 at Shabab Al-Ahli Club in Dubai.
The championship is part of the federation’s efforts to promote mixed martial arts nationwide, and provide a competitive platform for identifying and developing emerging talent.
The third edition is expected to draw wide participation from male and female athletes representing clubs and academies across the UAE, reflecting the championship’s growing significance in the national sports calendar.
It will feature several age divisions, starting with Youth D (ages 10–11), followed by Youth C (ages 12–13), Youth B (ages 14–15), Youth A (ages 16–17) and the Adults category (ages 18 and above).
The federation said that the weight divisions for each age group have been approved in line with international standards, ensuring fair competition among athletes within the same category. The approved competition format is also designed to raise the overall level of performance by motivating athletes to perform at their peak. At the end of the championship, the top athletes in each age and weight category will be crowned.
Mohammed Jassim Al-Hosani, a member of the federation’s Mixed Martial Arts Committee, said: “The UAE National MMA Championship is an important part of the federation’s championship calendar, as it helps us achieve both technical and strategic goals. It gives athletes the chance to test their skills in a competitive setting that meets international standards, and it helps us discover and support new talent through well-structured development programs.”
Al-Hosani added that the strong participation in the past two editions of the championship shows the federation’s success in building a strong group of athletes and boosting the UAE’s reputation as a leader in mixed martial arts, regionally and globally.
Shai scores 42, Doncic ejected as Thunder down Lakers 136-120
- The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched No.1 seeding in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs after cruising past the Chicago Bulls 135-113
- Second-seeded Boston Celtics edged the third placed New York Knicks in a thriller at Madison Square Garden, with Jayson Tatum’s 32-point performance guiding the NBA champions to a 119-117 overtime victory
LOS ANGELES: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-120 on Tuesday in a hard-fought battle that saw Luka Doncic controversially ejected in the fourth quarter.
Two days after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the No.1-ranked Thunder avenged that loss thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 13th 40-point game of the season, with Jalen Williams adding 26 and Lugentz Dort 17.
The contest pivoted on the fourth quarter incident that led to the Lakers’ Slovenian star Doncic picking up a second technical foul and being tossed from the game.
Doncic was ejected following a one-handed jump shot which put the Lakers 108-107 up with 7min 40sec remaining after officiating crew member J.T. Orr judged he had been verbally abused by the player following the bucket.
Doncic protested, arguing he had merely been responding to a fan at courtside who had heckled him, but the decision stood and clearly rattled the Lakers, allowing the Thunder to seize the initiative and pull away for victory.
“It was a great game that unfortunately didn’t get the finish that I think every basketball fan would want because of some decision making on some individuals’ parts,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said.
LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, was at a loss to explain Doncic’s ejection.
“I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal,” James told reporters. “The ref took it upon himself to think it was versus him. The game was just weird as hell after that.”
Doncic insisted he had not been trash-talking Orr. “It was nothing to do with the ref, so I didn’t really understand it,” Doncic said. “It was tough, but you know that’s on me too. I can’t let my team down like that.”
The Lakers remain in third place with a 48-31 record and need to win two of their remaining three regular-season fixtures to lock in third seeding in the Western Conference.
The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched No.1 seeding in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs after cruising past the Chicago Bulls 135-113.
Darius Garland led the scoring with 28 points in a balanced offensive performance from the Cavs, who improved to 63-16 to ensure they will finish the regular season on top of the East.
The victory ensures Cleveland will have home advantage when the playoffs get under way next week following the completion of the regular season on Sunday.
Garland was one of five Cleveland players to post double figures, with Evan Mobley adding 21 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists and Ty Jerome chipping in with 18 off the bench.
“You celebrate these moments,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I think the guys are super happy in that locker room. We’ve had some ups and downs this past month, but I’m really proud of the guys.
“It’s hard to win 63 games in this league, and it’s hard to be the first seed. So great accomplishment. We’re hungry for more.”
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the second-seeded Boston Celtics edged the third placed New York Knicks in a thriller at Madison Square Garden, with Jayson Tatum’s 32-point performance guiding the NBA champions to a 119-117 overtime victory.
Back in the Western Conference playoff race, where six teams are vying for the remaining four automatic playoff berths, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a potentially costly 110-103 defeat on the road to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The result leave Minnesota on 46-33 and outside the top six places in the West.
The Memphis Grizzlies boosted their chances of playoff qualification with a 124-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets on the road.
The win lifted Memphis into fifth place in the table with a 47-32 record.
The game was overshadowed by a scary injury to Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who was stretchered off the court after landing heavily following a foul by K.J. Simpson.
US media reported Wells was awake and alert and nursing a broken wrist following the incident.
