MADRID: Mounir Nasraoui, the father of Barcelona and Spain star winger Lamine Yamal, is in a “serious but stable” condition after being stabbed late on Wednesday in a car park in the northeastern Spanish town of Mataro, Spanish national TV broadcaster TVe reported.
The regional police force Mossos d’Esquadra confirmed the report and told Reuters three people had been arrested for attempted murder.
The 17-year-old Yamal, a soccer wonderkid who grew up in coastal Mataro — a working-class, multi-ethnic suburb of Barcelona — became the breakout star of the recent Euro 2024 held in Germany, helping Spain to win the tournament and scoring in their semifinal victory over France.
TVE said on Thursday that Yamal’s father had been stabbed three times, twice in the abdomen and once in the chest.
Nasraoui was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Badalona, Barcelona, late on Wednesday and was expected to remain there for the upcoming hours, the report said.
TVE added that a fourth person had been arrested by the regional police on Thursday, with his involvement in the stabbing still unclear.
The broadcaster said the police were investigating a previous fight as the reason behind the incident. Several videos could be seen on social media on Wednesday, showing Nasraoui having an argument with some individuals in the Rocafonda neighborhood and the police intervening. However, Reuters was not able to independently verify them.
Father of Spain’s Yamal in “serious but stable” condition after being stabbed
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Father of Spain’s Yamal in “serious but stable” condition after being stabbed
- Three people arrested for attempted murder
- Yamal’s father had been stabbed three times, twice in the abdomen and once in the chest
‘Latino Night’ to feature WBA and WBO cruiserweight world championship unification battle between Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions announced an inaugural show as part of the broader partnership. The event, “Latino Night,” will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 16.
Scheduled to be one of the biggest celebrations of Latino boxing talent, “Latino Night” will see the history-making WBA cruiserweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlan, Mexico, in hot pursuit of becoming undisputed in the division. His first step will be challenging WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) of Surrey, UK, who is coming off the heels of three straight title defenses.
Ramirez left his mark in the sport as the first Mexican to become a super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion and will be looking to take over the cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith is an English professional boxer who has held the WBO cruiserweight title since 2023 and has held the European, British, and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles between 2019 and 2022.
In the co-main event, former US Olympian and unified champion Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) of Fresno, California, will face the undefeated title contender and currently No. 1 WBO-ranked Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) of Los Angeles, California, in a 12-round WBO super lightweight world title eliminator fight.
Also on the card, the unstoppable knockout machine, William “El Camaron” Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, will challenge former American IBF world champion Tevin “2X” Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a 10-round lightweight fight. In association with Miguel Cotto Promotions and defending his WBO Minimumweight World Championship for the fourth time, the history-making Puerto Rican Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (10-0, 7 KOs) of Villalba, Puerto Rico, will measure up against Queretaro, Mexico’s Edwin “Canito” Cano (13-2-1, 4 KOs) in a 12-round world title bout. Opening the historic show with a 12-round WBA super lightweight eliminator fight, Chihuahua, Mexico’s Oscar “La Migrana” Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) will face No. 1 WBA-ranked Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 8 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, said: “We are looking forward to staging our first event as part of our partnership with Golden Boy Promotions with ‘Latino Night.’ This card features some of the best Latino fighters around and continues our drive to deliver top-tier boxing events by giving fans throughout the world the fights they want to see.”
Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions said: “His Excellency and I have the exact same vision — to match the best versus the best for the fans of our sport. From a world championship unification fight to battles between former champions and on-the-rise contenders to a stacked undercard of prospects, this show will feature everything great that boxing has to offer.”
Philip Button, chief business officer at Golden Boy Promotions said: “We are excited to partner with Riyadh Season to promote Latino Night and further expand Golden Boy’s business globally.”
Ben Shalom, founder and CEO of BOXXER, said: “Riyadh Season continues to deliver the very best matches at the top of the sport, and we are delighted to be working with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to present another epic fight as co-promoters of this huge cruiserweight world title unification battle. Gilberto Ramirez is a great champion, but Chris Billam-Smith will be coming full of confidence and ready to unify the division.”
Ramirez, WBA cruiserweight world champion, said: “I’m excited to make this fight happen with Chris Billam-Smith. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m looking forward to becoming the unified champion in this division. I’ve always said this was my division (cruiserweight), and I’m happy for the opportunity to showcase my skills at this level on a global stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s truly an honor to be a Mexican warrior and to showcase what true Mexican boxing is all about while bringing my culture to a global audience. Additionally, I hope to be the bridge between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, making both sides proud. I would like to give a special thanks to my team, 3 Point Management, Golden Boy Promotions, Riyadh Season, the WBA, WBO, and everyone else involved in making this happen.”
Alalshikh has also confirmed that “Latino Night” will be broadcast for free globally. Further details of where to watch this card will follow.
Riyadh Season brings together world-class art, music, food, theater and a wide array of a diverse set of events to the capital of Saudi Arabia for an unparalleled winter entertainment experience.
IOC move on election rules puts up legal hurdles to Coe running for top Olympic job
- The Olympic governing body has set a deadline of Sunday to enter the race
- A letter was sent by the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission
GENEVA: In a move by the IOC that apparently could block Sebastian Coe as an expected presidential candidate, the Olympic governing body has clarified its complex election rules before a deadline Sunday to enter the race.
A letter seen Wednesday by the Associated Press was sent by the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission to the 111 members, including Coe and several more likely candidates in the contest to succeed Thomas Bach next year.
Details in the two-page letter dated Monday specified reasons why the likes of Coe, the 67-year-old president of track governing body World Athletics, would seem ineligible to complete a full first IOC mandate of eight years.
The winning candidate must be a member of the IOC on election day, scheduled for March in Greece, “and during the entire duration of their term as IOC President,” the letter stated.
Coe’s IOC membership is conditional on being president of World Athletics, a role he must leave in 2027 on completing the maximum 12 years in office.
Another expected candidate, IOC vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who turns 65 in November, also could have legal issues with the standard age limit of 70 for members defined in the Olympic Charter rules book.
The charter “makes no exceptions for the president, who is an IOC member under the same conditions as all the other members,” stated ethics commission chairman Ban Ki Moon, the former United Nations secretary general, who signed the Sept. 9 letter.
Coe is widely considered a most qualified candidate to next lead the IOC. A two-time Olympic champion in the men’s 1,500 meters, he was later an elected lawmaker in Britain’s parliament, led the 2012 London Olympics organizing committee and has presided at World Athletics for nine years.
The legal hurdles are stacking up just days before the IOC-set deadline for candidates to send a letter of intent to Bach, who will leave as president next year after reaching his 12-year term limit.
Kirsty Coventry, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer who is sports minister of Zimbabwe, and David Lappartient, the French president of cycling’s governing body, have had support from Bach in recent years.
Other candidates could include two of the four IOC vice presidents — Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba and Spaniard Samaranch, whose father was IOC president for 21 years until leaving in 2001.
Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan is a potential candidate who could be the first president in the IOC’s 130-year history from Asia or Africa.
Colombia down Argentina, Brazil stunned in World Cup qualifiers
- It was sweet revenge for Colombia, who were beaten 1-0 by Argentina in a bitterly disappointing Copa America final loss in Miami two months ago
- With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the top six finishers in South American qualifying will win a berth to the finals
MONTEVIDEO: Colombia avenged their Copa America final defeat with a 2-1 victory over Argentina while Brazil crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday.
Skipper James Rodriguez buried a nerveless 60th-minute spot-kick to seal a hard-fought win for Colombia over the reigning world champions, who were without injured captain Lionel Messi.
It was sweet revenge for Colombia, who were beaten 1-0 by Argentina in a bitterly disappointing Copa America final loss in Miami two months ago.
“I don’t think I’ve ever scored against them — there’s a first time for everything,” Colombia captain Rodriguez said of his winning spot-kick.
“We want to get used to playing finals. Today was just another game, but against a team that has won everything — this victory tastes even better.”
The victory at Barranquilla’s Metropolitano Stadium lifted Colombia into second place in South America’s 10-team qualifying competition with 16 points from eight points, just two points behind leaders Argentina.
Colombia, backed by a passionate home crowd, took the lead in the 25th minute when Rodriguez chipped a cross to the back post where Yerson Mosquera rose to head home.
But three minutes after the interval, the visitors drew level when a misplaced pass from Rodriguez was pounced upon by Nicolas Gonzalez, who raced away and slotted past advancing Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas.
Twelve minutes later, though, Colombia restored their lead in controversial fashion.
Nicolas Otamendi clattered Daniel Munoz with a wild challenge and after several minutes, Chilean referee Piero Maza was sent to the VAR monitor and awarded a penalty.
Rodriguez stepped up and confidently slotted home, sending Argentina’s penalty specialist Emiliano Martinez the wrong way.
Colombia striker Jhon Duran missed a great chance to make it 3-1 when he was found unmarked in the center of the box but fired straight at Martinez.
Despite the defeat, Argentina remain comfortably on course for a place at the 2026 World Cup which is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the top six finishers in South American qualifying will win a berth to the finals.
The seventh placed team in qualifying goes into an inter-confederation playoff, with the bottom three teams eliminated.
Five-time world champions Brazil, meanwhile, continued their unconvincing qualifying campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in Asuncion.
Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gomez — who is reportedly due to join Premier League side Brighton at the end of the season — scored the game’s only goal, crashing a long-range shot in off the post in the 20th minute.
The defeat leaves Brazil in fifth place in the standings on 10 points, leading by goal difference from Venezuela, who drew 0-0 at home to Uruguay on Tuesday.
Paraguay, meanwhile, moved into seventh place on nine points after just their second win of the qualifying campaign.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Chile’s hopes of qualifying suffered another body blow after they slumped to a 2-1 loss at home to Bolivia.
After winning back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016, the Chileans failed to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The prospect of missing out on a third straight tournament loomed closer after goals from Carmelo Algaranaz and Miguel Terceros handed Bolivia a 2-1 win.
The victory left Chile languishing in ninth place in the standings with just five points from eight games as Bolivia climbed into eighth, trailing seventh-placed Paraguay on goal difference.
Ecuador meanwhile boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-0 win over Peru in Quito thanks to a goal from veteran striker Enner Valencia.
Ecuador sit in fourth place in the standings with 11 points from eight games. Peru remain bottom of the table with just three points from 10 games.
Harry Kane scores twice in his 100th game for England. Ake injured in Netherlands game
- The Bayern Munich star’s second goal came with an assist from one of England’s new faces as Noni Madueke played the pass for Kane to hit a shot that took a slight deflection
- Kane: It was a big night for me, obviously really proud to reach 100 caps. I want to score goals, I want to help the team
LONDON: Harry Kane marked his 100th game for England with two goals and celebrations with his family in a 2-0 win over Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
Presented with a golden cap before kickoff and playing in gold boots at Wembley Stadium, the England captain was swarmed by his teammates after scoring his first goal in true Kane style. He beat a Finnish defender before unleashing a powerful shot which was still rising as it clipped the underside of the crossbar.
The Bayern Munich star’s second goal came with an assist from one of England’s new faces as Noni Madueke played the pass for Kane to hit a shot that took a slight deflection — not that it mattered to the crowd which gave Kane a standing ovation when he was substituted off soon after.
“It was a big night for me, obviously really proud to reach 100 caps. I want to score goals, I want to help the team,” Kane told broadcaster ITV.
It was the second straight 2-0 win for interim England manager Lee Carsley, who took over on a temporary basis after Gareth Southgate stepped down following England’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Carsley could yet remain in the position for a while longer if the search for Southgate’s permanent successor extends beyond the next international break in October.
England are playing in the second tier of the Nations League and are level on six points at the top of their group with Greece, who beat Ireland 2-0.
Ake injured in Netherlands draw
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake went off with an apparent muscle injury shortly before halftime while playing for the Netherlands in a 2-2 draw with Germany. That could be a blow for City ahead of games against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday and Inter Milan and Arsenal next week.
Denzel Dumfries’ goal helped salvage a draw for the Netherlands, who had started well when Tijjani Reijnders’ goal gave the Dutch the lead after just one-and-a-half minutes in Amsterdam after being left in plenty of space by the German defense.
However, Germany had a 2-1 lead at halftime thanks to goals from Deniz Undav and Joshua Kimmich, before Dumfries leveled in the 50th.
Germany and the Netherlands were familiar foes who have played seven times since 2018, and most recently in March.
For the Netherlands, it was the first game since coach Ronald Koeman ruled forward Steven Bergwijn out of his plans following the forward’s move to the Saudi Arabian league. Koeman suggested Bergwijn, who was on the team at Euro 2024, lacked ambition because of the move.
Germany were without Niclas Füllkrug after the West Ham striker struggled with an Achilles tendon problem and was replaced in the lineup by Stuttgart’s Undav.
In the same group, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina drew 0-0 in the other top-tier game.
Also Tuesday, Pavel Sulc scored twice to lift the Czech Republic to a 3-2 win over Ukraine, and Georgia beat Albania 1-0.
Pochettino appointed as new coach of USA national team
- Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the USA and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016
- No detail of the contract length was provided by US Soccer but Pochettino will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup which the USA is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada
MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named as the new head coach of the US national team, the US Soccer federation announced on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Gregg Berhalter who was fired in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the USA and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since his abrupt departure in May from Chelsea after just a single season in charge.
No detail of the contract length was provided by US Soccer but Pochettino will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup which the USA is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer’s sporting director who led the search for a new coach.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad,” he added.
Pochettino has a track record of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish side Espanyol earlier in his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and he turned Spurs into regular top-four finishers while also guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.
The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he was relishing the chance to progress the US team.
“The decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the US men’s national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherits a relatively young team which reached the last-16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout phase.
But hopes that a young squad could progress toward 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to advance out of the group stage finishing with just one win from three games after losses to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who had been heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was dismissed and the federation took their time in the search for his replacement.
US Soccer chief executive J.T. Batson said he was convinced that Pochettino was the right coach to get the best out of a team which is led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring in Pochettino, involved negotations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.
“Pochettino’s appointment is supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners,” US Soccer said in their statement.
The appointment is the second made by Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes to lead the women’s team who she took to an Olympic gold in the Paris Games last month.
