AL-RAM: When Hanine Abu Mariam first refereed a men’s football match, she was overcome by fear, but her trepidation soon yielded to motivation to become a rare female Palestinian referee in international football.
Wearing a neon yellow jersey with a Palestinian flag on her sleeve, Abu Mariam was recently running the sidelines of the synthetic grass pitch in Al-Ram, a city between Jerusalem and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
The 21-year-old said her interest in football began while studying sports at university, where she discovered a love of officiating.
Shortly after graduating, she became one of only two women to referee matches in the top Palestinian women’s league and the men’s third division.
“At first, I was afraid of making a mistake, but the head referee and other males colleagues helped me,” she told AFP.
Before each match, she diligently listens to the head referee’s pregame briefing, before stalking the sidelines for 90 minutes armed with her yellow and red checkered flag.
She currently works about seven matches per month at $30 each, the same fee as her male colleagues.
When the Palestinian Football Association first allowed women to officiate matches four years ago, there was backlash from conservative Islamic clerics.
Abu Mariam said her family, which lives in the small West Bank village of Burham, helped her persevere.
“My family has always helped me and encouraged me,” said the young referee, wearing a headscarf and long black sleeves under her jersey.
The associations’s chief referee, Ibrahim Ghrouf, said that 30 women are currently being trained to work as match officials.
“We trust them completely, of course. Women referees can do the job.”
The new trainees are following a trail cut by Hiba Saadia, the first Palestinian woman to referee international women’s matches, and Yasmine Nirokh, who officiates in international football.
Abu Mariam said she would like to work at the world’s most iconic stadiums.
“I dream of being a famous referee and I hope to reach an international level, but as an assistant referee,” she said with a shy smile.
Palestinian female football referee dreams of global career
https://arab.news/cttvj
Palestinian female football referee dreams of global career
- Abu Mariam was recently running the sidelines of the synthetic grass pitch in Al-Ram
- 21-year-old said her interest in football began while studying sports at university
Top seed Sabalenka draws qualifier Branstine in Wimbledon first round
- Friday’s draw also pitched defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, the 17th seed, against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines
LONDON: World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for her first Wimbledon title will begin against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine while second seed Coco Gauff’s opener will be versus Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.
Friday’s draw also pitched defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, the 17th seed, against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.
Third seed Jessica Pegula’s first-round opponent is Italian qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto, while fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, runner-up last year, faces Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
Belarusian Sabalenka could meet Paolini in the semifinals while Gauff is in line for a clash with fellow American Pegula.
British number one Emma Raducanu faces an intriguing opening round match against compatriot Mingge Xu, one of three British teenaged wildcards in the draw.
5 things we learned from Al-Hilal’s FIFA Club World Cup win over CF Pachuca
- Al-Dawsari shines again, defense holds strong and Al-Hilal fans sport cowboy hats as Mexicans are beaten 2-0
- Saudi team progress to Round of 16 to face Manchester City in Orlando on Monday
NASHVILLE: Al-Hilal held their composure to defeat CF Pachuca of Mexico 2-0 in Nashville and book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16.
The hard-fought victory means coach Simone Inzaghi’s side are the only team from Asia, Africa and Oceania to progress in the 32-team tournament. The Riyadh club will now meet Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City in Orlando on Monday.
Defense holds strong
CF Pachuca started the match the better side, with former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon threatening to stretch the Al-Hilal defense early on. Hassan Al-Tambakti, the Saudi center-back who was a doubt after limping off against Red Bull Salzburg, put a confident display, stepping in twice in the opening 15 minutes when Rondon looked like he would test Yassine Bounou.
Of the three games Al-Hilal have played in the US this month, this match in “Music City” was — somewhat ironically given his nickname — Bono’s quietest. Pachuca managed 12 shots, but only two hit the target; both were central and neither worried the Moroccan, even if he did seem to give Rondon a sniff of a follow-up in the first half.
Pachuca, the reigning Concacaf champions, had scored in both their previous matches against Salzburg and Real Madrid, yet never came close here. Every great team is built on a solid defense and Inzaghi, now with two successive clean sheets, certainly seems to have organized his backline.
Al-Dawsari does it again
Dressed all in white in the land of the “Man in Black” — country star Johnny Cash — the Blues soon found their rhythm. They settled into the match with the help of captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who raised the heart rate of right-back Eduardo Bauermann as well as the noise levels inside GEODIS Park during a busy first half. Intent on driving at his Brazilian full-back, Al-Dawsari showed speed and trickery every time he touched the ball, to the delight of the 14,147 fans.
His moment came in the 22nd minute. Nasser Al-Dawsari noticed his captain running in behind and lofted the ball forwards. Salem still had much to do, but he is not a player who struggles in high-pressure moments. The Saudi flyer needed just one touch to compose himself, before lifting the ball high and over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. As the ball hung in the air so did a silence, but Al-Dawsari knew it was going in and reeled off to celebrate his 27th goal of the season with the customary cartwheel and backflip.
“Al-Hilal has been working well since last season and we believe we are on the right track,” he told the media. “Our organization does not change just because the coach changes or a player leaves or arrives. Al-Hilal is built by many, many people — that is the secret of our continuity. Tonight we will celebrate, but tomorrow the focus switches to the next match.”
Misfiring Marcos Leonardo
For 95 minutes it looked like Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo would rue missed opportunities once again. The former Santos forward arrived at the Club World Cup having scored 26 times since joining Al-Hilal from Benfica last summer for $46.8m (€40m) and came close against both Madrid and Salzburg. Ultimately, he fumbled at the crucial moments — and it seemed more of the same against Pachuca, until the dying minutes.
Lovely first-half play out from the back led to Malcom feeding the 22-year-old, but he had strayed offside. Later, Al-Hilal’s No. 11 saw his header flash high and wide. As the match wore on, with nerves building and Pachuca pushing for an equalizer, Malcom picked his compatriot out again. He did well to chip it over the onrushing Jurado but failed to get enough power in the shot and the covering Bauermann cleared comfortably.
With the match into the last of six additional minutes, however, Leonardo finally scored after collecting a long ball forward, rounding the Pachuca goalkeeper, and rolling it into an empty net. His own celebrations were muted, his team’s ecstatic. The hope is this will give the Brazilian confidence going into the match against Manchester City, when chances will surely be slim.
Mission accomplished, for now
Inzaghi spoke of his “great satisfaction” and revealed his target at the start of the month was to reach the Round of 16 — which his side has achieved. However, club president Fahad bin Nafel, speaking to Arab news, is now looking deeper into the expanded tournament.
“We are the only Arab club, the only Asian club, to progress to the Round of 16, so we are very proud of what we have achieved tonight,” he said. “We are a great team with great players, great technical team and management. I am really supportive. That is our job — to fully support them, so they can push on and continue these great achievements and, inshallah, win the next game too.”
Blue Wave in high spirits
The Blue Wave swept through GEODIS Park on Thursday night. Nerves coursed through the concourse pre-match, while sheer joy was on display afterwards. Some Saudi fans paired cowboy hats with kanduras, while others draped the Kingdom’s flag over their shoulders and danced in jubilation. The Saudi spectators may have been outnumbered by their Mexican opposites, but they were rarely outdone in terms of noise.
As the Al-Hilal players headed down the tunnel after a short on-field celebration, a mass of blue fans gathered under the stands to savor the moment, wave their scarves and sing club songs. “Bring on City! Bring on City,” they chanted.
The Al-Hilal faithful, having traveled from Miami to Washington to Nashville, will now go to Orlando. They have proved both popular and respectful, posing for photos with other teams’ fans and enjoying the chance to bring Saudi soccer culture to a wider audience. The victory against a team already eliminated allowed them to celebrate with no possibility of perceived antagonism.
Their hope is that this victory, historic though it is, is not yet the highlight of their US road trip.
‘I’m ready for any opponent’: Hattan Alsaif eyes another victory at PFL MENA 2 in Riyadh
- Saudi MMA trailblazer Hattan Alsaif silencing doubters as her star rises, up against Lebanese champion Nour Al-Fliti next
RIYADH: In a male-dominated sport, Saudi Arabian star Hattan Alsaif is continuing to make her mark and also providing a blueprint for aspiring female mixed martial arts fighters looking for global recognition.
Already a decorated combat sports athlete before transitioning to MMA, Alsaif made history last year by becoming the first Saudi Arabian woman to sign with a major promotion when she joined the PFL.
Since then, she has been nothing short of impressive inside the PFL SmartCage, racking up three straight wins in the amateur ranks.
Beyond these accomplishments, however, Alsaif is making an impact simply by walking to the cage. Being a Middle Eastern woman making a name for herself in MMA, Alsaif is seen by many as an inspiring role model.
The success that Alsaif has achieved so far is thanks to her self-belief, and ability to block out the critics and doubters.
“I don’t pay attention to those who say this sport isn’t for women,” Alsaif said. “I do what I love and pursue what I believe in, regardless of social expectations.”
Armed with that confidence, Alsaif returns to action at PFL MENA 2 on July 4 in her hometown of Riyadh.
She will be looking for a fourth straight win when she takes on Lebanese champion Nour Al-Fliti in a showcase amateur women’s atomweight bout.
Around eight months removed from her last fight back in November, Alsaif says that she is more than ready.
“I’m fully prepared for this fight,” she said. “The key to victory is consistency and dedication.”
Al-Fliti could be considered Alsaif’s toughest test to date. The undefeated up-and-comer is a multiple Lebanese MMA champion and an IMMAF Asian Championships silver medalist.
While the accolades may be impressive, Alsaif maintains that she is ready to take on all comers, regardless of background and accomplishments.
“I’m ready for any opponent. It doesn’t matter who I face,” she said. “Each one requires a different kind of preparation.”
“The real challenge in combat sports isn’t a single moment — it’s the entire fight. It demands constant mental focus and physical strength from start to finish.”
Alsaif is not just fighting for another win at PFL MENA 2 but to solidify her place as a trailblazer for women in Middle Eastern MMA.
“This is a new beginning, not just another number in the record,” she said.
PFL MENA 2 takes place on Friday, July 4, at the Green Halls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tickets can be purchased at webook.com.
Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase
Salem Al-Dawsari scored a fancy goal in the 22nd minute, Marcos Leonardo added a clincher in second-half stoppage time and Al-Hilal defeated CF Pachuca 2-0 on Thursday in Nashville to advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Hilal (1-0-2, 5 points), the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, did not take a loss in Group H play after drawing with Real Madrid and RB Salzburg. Their win vaulted them past Salzburg, who finished with four points after losing 3-0 to Real Madrid on Thursday night.
Yassine Bounou made two saves for Al-Hilal, who will face Group H winners Manchester City in the Round of 16 on Monday in Orlando. Meanwhile, Pachuca (0-3-0, 0 points) will return to Mexico without a point in the tournament.
For the opening goal, Salem Al-Dawsari received a pass over the top from Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation) and popped a high-arching right-footed shot over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. The shot bounced into the far corner of the goal.
After Bounou fell on top of a Pachuca chance in the 81st minute, Leonardo put the game out of reach with a goal assisted by Ruben Neves five minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Fritz wins twice in one day to step up Eastbourne title defense
- Top seeded Fritz prevailed against the world No. 46, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 to book a semifinal date with Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday
- Alexandra Eala, a 20-year-old Filipino qualifier, won 6-1, 6-2 against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska to earn a semifinal against Varvara Gracheva
EASTBOURNE, southern England: Taylor Fritz enjoyed two wins in one day as the world NO. 5 beat Joao Fonseca and Marcos Giron on Thursday to move closer to a fourth Eastbourne title.
Fritz’s second round clash with rising Brazilian star Fonseca was suspended at one set all due to bad light on Wednesday.
Defending champion Fritz took the first set 6-3, but the 18-year-old Fonseca, ranked 57th, hit back to win the second 7-6 (7/5).
When play resumed on Thursday morning, Fritz won the deciding set 7-5 to reach the last eight.
The 27-year-old, who won the grass-court tournament in Stuttgart earlier in June, returned to court just hours later and was pushed to the brink by fellow American Giron.
Top seeded Fritz eventually prevailed against the world No. 46, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 to book a semifinal date with Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday.
Davidovich Fokina, ranked 28th, beat Czech third seed Jakub Mensik 6-4, 7-5 in the quarter-finals.
The other semifinal pits French fourth seed Ugo Humbert against American world No. 149 Jenson Brooksby.
Humbert beat Billy Harris 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, while Brooksby, who entered the tournament as a ‘lucky loser’ after a withdrawal, defeated Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3.
In the women’s event at Devonshire Park, Australian teenager Maya Joint followed her shock second round victory over former US Open champion Emma Raducanu by reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Russian Anna Blinkova.
Joint, 19, will face 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat fellow Russian Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 2-6, 6-0.
Alexandra Eala, a 20-year-old Filipino qualifier, won 6-1, 6-2 against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska to earn a semifinal against Varvara Gracheva.
World No. 74 Eala is an emerging talent on the WTA Tour, having made her breakthrough with a surprise run to the Miami Masters semifinals in March.
French qualifier Gracheva was given a walkover into the last four when Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova pulled out of their quarterfinal with a thigh injury.
Krejcikova, the world No. 17, is awaiting the outcome of a scan before deciding if she can defend her Wimbledon title next week.
“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarter-final today in Eastbourne as I’m having some soreness in my right thigh,” she said.
“Overnight it just didn’t get any better; it actually got worse. I think it’s better with Wimbledon in the next couple of days just to rest it and to see what’s going on and to resolve that.”
