PARIS: FIFA said on Wednesday it was opening an investigation into racist chants by Argentina players after they won the Copa America.
“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into,” a spokesperson for world football’s governing body said.
They added: “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”
The chants were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.
Some players, including 23-year-old Fernandez, sing a chant dating back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina beat France.
The song targets France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults.
Chelsea had earlier announced they had launched an internal disciplinary procedure against Fernandez over the incident.
Fernandez has apologized and the club said in a statement it had launched an “internal disciplinary procedure.”
“Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behavior completely unacceptable,” it added.
“We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.”
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a Premier League record fee of £105 million ($136.8 million) in 2023, said in his apology: “The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.
“I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologize for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”
The French Football Federation (FFF) complained to FIFA about the chants on Monday.
FFF president Philippe Diallo “condemned with the greatest firmness the unacceptable racist and discriminatory remarks made against players of the France team.”
France beat Argentina in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA says opening probe into Argentina players’ racist chants
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FIFA says opening probe into Argentina players’ racist chants
- The song targets France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults
Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep
- Spinner Ajaz Patel takes six wickets as New Zealand beat India by 25 runs
- It is the first time India has been swept in Test series at home since 1999-2000
MUMBAI: New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel took six wickets as his side sealed a historic 3-0 Test sweep in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the third Test on Sunday.
Chasing 147 for victory, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three, after Rishabh Pant hit a valiant 64 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Ajaz roared in delight as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated a first Test series win on Indian soil in style.
It was the first time India had been swept in a Test series at home since South Africa’s 2-0 win in 1999-2000 and the first time they were beaten 3-0 at home.
“This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home,” India skipper Rohit Sharma told reporters.
“I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series.
“With the bat as well, I have not been good enough.”
New Zealand did the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham, and in the absence of senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury back home.
The Black Caps turned around their fortunes from a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, and made India suffer their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.
“Very ecstatic,” said Latham. “Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches.”
Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz ended with a match-haul of 11 wickets at a venue where he created history by claiming all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021.
In a tricky chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5, before the left-hander Pant made counter-attacked with his half-century.
Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision denied by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant trudged back.
“If we say something, it will not go down well. If the decision is not conclusive then the decision has to stand with what the on-field umpire calls,” said Rohit.
“I don’t know how that decision was overturned.”
Glenn Phillips then got two in two balls and Ajaz wrapped up the innings to be named player of the match.
India bowled out New Zealand quickly for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match.
But the New Zealand bowlers led by Ajaz ripped into India’s top order.
Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Phillips at midwicket for 11.
He extended his poor run with the bat in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his previous five innings.
Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.
Kohli has also struggled in the series, with just one half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.
Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six.
Will Young’s 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved key and he was named player of the series for amassing 244 runs.
Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event
- The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference
RIYADH: In an extraordinary night at Mohammed Abdu Arena as part of Riyadh Season’s WWE events, “Crown Jewel 2024” delivered a memorable evening of intense matches that wrestling fans will not soon forget.
The General Entertainment Authority CEO, Faisal Bafarat, awarded Cody Rhodes the “Crown Jewel 2024” men’s title and Liv Morgan the women’s title, with both receiving a new championship belt adorned with 50 carats of diamonds as the first champions in Crown Jewel history.
The event kicked off with an explosive opening match in which “The Bloodline,” led by Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga (accompanied by Tanga Loa), achieved a historic victory over Roman Reigns and “The Usos” (Jey and Jimmy Uso) in a six-man tag team match.
In the WWE women’s tag team championship match, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their titles successfully against fierce competition from teams including “Damage Control,” “The Meta-4,” and Chelsea Green with Piper Niven. Seth “Freakin” Rollins also delivered an outstanding performance, defeating “Big” Bronson Reed.
In the women’s showdown, Liv Morgan, the reigning RAW women’s champion, claimed the title of “Crown Jewel Women’s Champion” after defeating SmackDown women’s champion Nia Jax in a grueling battle.
The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference, heightening the evening’s excitement.
In a triple-threat match for the United States Championship, LA Knight retained his title after an intense victory over Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.
The night culminated in a grand finale as Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, defeated heavyweight champion Gunther, emerging as the Crown Jewel Champion to thunderous cheers from the crowd.
Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI
- Pakistan head into Melbourne ODI with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf in playing XI
- Green shirts will play three ODIs against Australia on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will head into the first ODI against Australia on Monday with fiery fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain featuring in the playing XI squad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
Pakistan’s new white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan will lead his side for the first time since assuming captaincy this month at Melbourne against Australia on Monday.
The South Asian country is scheduled to play three ODIs on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively before taking on Australia in a three-match T20I series on Nov. 14, 16 and 18.
“The men’s national selection committee has confirmed Pakistan’s playing XI for the first ODI against Australia,” the PCB said in a statement.
Rauf and Hasnain have both had ample experience playing on Australian pitches for the Big Bash League (BBL). Both bowlers have the ability to bowl above 150 kmph and bamboozle batters through sheer pace.
Australian pitches favor pace and bounce, serving as ideal hunting grounds for pacers from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies in the past.
Afridi and Shah, Pakistan’s experienced pace bowlers, will return to the squad after they were dropped from the Test squad after England drubbed Pakistan in the first Test in Multan last month.
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam have both been included in the squad while the green shirts will rely on openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub to deliver the goods with the bat against Australia.
Playing XI:
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Jadeja takes five as India chase 147 to avoid series sweep
- New Zealand lead the three-match Test series in India by 2-0
- India, the hosts, are looking to avoid embarrassing 3-0 whitewash
MUMBAI: Spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed five wickets as India bowled out New Zealand for 174 on Sunday, leaving the hosts needing a tricky 147 to win the third Test.
New Zealand, who lead the three-match series 2-0, resumed on 171-9, losing Ajaz Patel for eight off Jadeja after seven minutes of play on day three at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The left-handed Ajaz was caught at deep mid-wicket off a slog sweep as left-arm spinner Jadeja ended with a match haul of 10 wickets. He also claimed five in New Zealand’s first innings.
Fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets.
The hosts are seeking to avoid being swept 3-0 after New Zealand won the first two Tests to register their first Test series triumph in India.
Will Young top-scored with 51 on Saturday on a track that has turned sharply since day one.
Shubman Gill hit 90 in India’s 263 which gave them a slender 28-run first-innings lead in response to New Zealand’s 235.
Sabalenka kick offs WTA Finals campaign with win over Olympic champ Qinwen
- Sabalenka is eyeing a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale in Riyadh after finishing second two years ago
RIYADH: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka commenced her WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh on Saturday with her fifth victory in as many meetings with the current Olympic champion, China’s Zheng Qinwen, posting a 6-3, 6-4 result.
Facing off for the fifth time in the last 14 months, Sabalenka and Zheng opened the action at the first-ever professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia in front of a near capacity crowd at King Saud University Indoor Arena.
The Belarusian top seed needed just one hour and 24 minutes to defeat Zheng, dropping a mere two points behind her first serve throughout the contest.
A runner-up at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas two years ago, Sabalenka is eyeing a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale, which would also guarantee her the year-end top ranking.
“It’s going to mean everything for me, that’s one of my dreams and I really worked hard in the past years and I really hope that one day I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy,” said Sabalenka, 26, on court.
“Qinwen is such a great player and we always had great battles against each other. She’s playing really aggressive tennis. I’m super happy with the win, especially against such a tough opponent.
“I think I served really well today and I put her under so much pressure on her serve. So I think my serve helped me tonight.”
Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Mutabagani, tournament director and former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza, and the highest-ranked African and Arab player in history, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, kicked-off proceedings by welcoming the crowd and the tennis tour to Riyadh in a pre-match opening ceremony.
Very little separated the players in the opening set as both dominated the points behind their first serves, Sabalenka winning 18/19 and Zheng winning 13/16.
But it was the second serve where Sabalenka found an edge, and after she saved a break point in the third game, the top seed broke for a 4-2 advantage and sealed a one-set lead in 39 minutes.
With Chinese supporters representing the majority of the crowd and rallying behind their Olympic hero, Zheng was near clinical through the first eight games of the second set.
But Sabalenka upped the ante in game nine, converting her second break point opportunity to inch ahead and she closed out the win on her own serve minutes later.
In a bizarre incident, Sabalenka had to wait at the net for a short moment before Zheng realized she had actually lost the match.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has now won her last seven consecutive matches against top-10 opposition.
