Kuwait City: The entire board of Kuwait’s football governing body has resigned after fans were left in sweltering temperatures for hours during a World Cup qualifier against Iraq.
Board members quit after an inquiry into ticketing and logistical problems that marred Tuesday’s match at the 60,000-capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, the Kuwait Football Association said in a statement late Saturday.
“The board members of the Kuwait Football Association tendered resignations en masse,” Kuwait’s official KUNA news agency reported, citing the statement.
According to the association website, the board had seven members.
The association also accepted the resignation of its secretary-general, Salah Al-Qanai, and public relations boss Mohamed Bou Abbas, it said.
They had been suspended since Wednesday over what the association called “unacceptable events.”
Fans fainted in temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as they pleaded with staff for water.
Some fans without tickets were meanwhile allowed in, while others who had purchased tickets were refused entry.
Kuwait football board quits after match chaos
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Kuwait football board quits after match chaos
- Board members quit after an inquiry into ticketing and logistical problems that marred Tuesday’s match
Essex fined 100,000 pounds over racism at club between 2001-2010
- Disciplinary body finds Essex guilty of failing to address racist or discriminatory language and conduct
- Last year, Yorkshire were fined 400,000 pounds for their handling of racism allegations by a former player
Essex have been fined 100,000 pounds ($132,190) after admitting to a charge of racism at the county club which they failed to address between 2001 and 2010, England’s Cricket Regulator said on Wednesday.
Essex were charged in June after an investigation undertaken by the Cricket Regulator, a body responsible for monitoring compliance with the sport’s rules which operates independently from the rest of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
An independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) panel held a sanctions hearing and published its decision on Wednesday.
“Essex County Cricket Club has admitted a charge in breach of Directive 3.3, in relation to the systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language and/or conduct during the period between 2001 and 2010 which Essex failed to address,” it said in a statement.
The CDC panel also cautioned and reprimanded Essex while 50,000 pounds of the fine was suspended for two years.
“There is deep regret for what occurred in the past but these events do not reflect the Essex Cricket of today,” Essex chair Anu Mohindru said.
“The club have accepted the sanctions and remains committed to tackling all forms of discrimination, and is fully aligned with the ECB’s goal of making cricket the country’s most inclusive team sport.
“We have made significant progress in achieving these aims in the communities we represent through our excellent outreach work, as well as building a workplace that values and respects every individual.”
Dave Lewis, the interim director of the Cricket Regulator, said the racism experienced at Essex was “abhorrent” while the evidence was “deeply disturbing.”
Lewis added that the sanctions had been decided following a “long and complex investigation” after the club had conducted its own investigation.
The people subjected to abuse had “shown real bravery in speaking out,” Lewis said, adding: ” I hope that this prosecution will help ensure that no one suffers again as they did and that racism of this kind is never normalized.
“The CDC panel took into account the fact that Essex had pleaded guilty to the charge and has already taken significant action to address these issues and become a more inclusive club.”
Last year, Yorkshire were fined 400,000 pounds and given a 48-point deduction in the County Championship by the CDC over their handling of racism allegations made by Azeem Rafiq.
The former England Under-19s captain, who is of Pakistani descent, told a British parliamentary committee in 2021 of ‘inhuman’ treatment at Yorkshire and said he had been a victim of institutional racism at the club.
($1 = 0.7565 pounds)
English county side Essex fined after racism probe
- Half of Essex’s fine is suspended for two years
- The county have also been cautioned over their future conduct after being reprimanded by the Cricket Regulator
LONDON: English county side Essex have been fined £100,000 ($131,000) after admitting a failure to address “systemic” racist language and conduct at the cricket club between 2001 and 2010.
Half of Essex’s fine is suspended for two years and the county have also been cautioned over their future conduct after being reprimanded by the Cricket Regulator (CR).
The CR panel said the length of time covered by the charge and the systemic use of racist and discriminatory language suggested a culture that was “embedded” across most levels of the club.
The panel added: “This conduct continued without meaningful challenge from either Essex’s management or other senior playing members of the club even when it was brought to their attention.”
The panel accepted in mitigation Essex’s early admission of the charge and the punishments handed to individuals arising from the separate independent review commissioned by the club.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s own investigation had been prompted by allegations of racism made by former players Jahid Ali, Maurice Chambers and Zoheb Sharif.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said: “Racism has no place in our sport. I’m appalled by what those who experienced racism at Essex have been through, and the way this behavior could become normalized.
“It is vital that as a sport we listen and learn from their experiences, and ensure that no one suffers like that again.
“I welcome the action Essex has taken in recent years to address these issues and become a more inclusive club, and the commitment it has shown to make further progress.”
Italy’s 1990 World Cup icon Schillaci dies aged 59
- Gabriele Gravina: ‘His goal celebrations, in which his face became the symbol of a collective joy, will remain forever part of Italian football heritage’
- Schillaci won the Golden Boot for being top scorer and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament ahead of the likes of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona
MILAN, Italy: Former Italy striker Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, most famous for being top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, died on Wednesday at the age of 59.
Juventus were among Italy’s football clubs to pay tribute to Schillaci, who became an icon for his unexpected goalscoring exploits at his country’s home World Cup, simply saying “Ciao Toto” on social media with a picture of him in a Juve shirt.
Italian media report that Schillaci died at Palermo’s “Civico” hospital after suffering from bowel cancer.
The country’s football federation (FIGC) said that all matches played in Italy between now and the end of the coming weekend would have a “minute of reflection” before kick-off.
“His goal celebrations, in which his face became the symbol of a collective joy, will remain forever part of Italian football heritage,” FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina said in a statement.
Schillaci played for Juventus and Inter Milan after beginning his career in the early 1980s at Messina and had modest success in the club game.
His best club season came just before the 1990 World Cup, when he scored 21 times in all competitions as Juventus won the UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup.
But he went from hot club striker to national hero that summer by scoring six times as Italy reached the semifinals of Italia 90.
“At Juve we were lucky to be excited by him before he did the same to the whole of Italy during that incredible summer of 1990,” said Juventus.
“Goodbye, Toto. Thank you.”
Schillaci won the Golden Boot for being top scorer and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament ahead of the likes of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona, the former of whom won the tournament with the then West Germany.
Italy were knocked out on penalties by Argentina in the last four, as Napoli legend Maradona helped dump out the host nation in front of his own fans in Naples.
Schillaci, who was capped 16 times for his country, only scored one other goal for Italy in his career and four years after the 1990 World Cup left Inter for Jubilo Iwata in Japan, where he ended his career.
Indian bowlers finally getting due recognition, says Gambhir
- India’s Jasprit Bumrah has a knack for choking runs, taking wickets at critical stages
- India will take on Bangladesh in two-match Test series which begins from Thursday
Chennai, India: Indian cricket fans are traditionally obsessed with batsmen but star pacemen, including yorker king Jasprit Bumrah, were finally bringing overdue recognition to the side’s bowlers, coach Gautam Gambhir said Wednesday.
Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid in July and will oversee his first Test for India in a two-match series against Bangladesh in Chennai from Thursday.
The 42-year-old former opener praised India’s world-class bowlers for making a difference to the set-up.
“It has not happened many times in India where we have started talking about the bowler now. It has always been about batters, batters, batters. India at one stage was a batting-obsessed nation,” Gambhir told reporters.
“Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world in all three formats,” he said.
“It’s an honor that we have got someone like Jasprit Bumrah sitting in that dressing room who can make a difference at any stage of the game.”
Bumrah’s slinging action has a knack for choking an opposition’s flow of runs and bagging wickets.
The 30-year-old has claimed 159 Test wickets since his debut in 2018.
Spin bowling usually prospers on Indian pitches and the hosts’ chances are likely to hinge on Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ashwin has claimed 516 wickets, while Jadeja, a left-hander who is also an attacking batsman, is six short of 300.
“India has been fortunate that we have got people like Ashwin and Jadeja, and they have bowled well in tandem, and we know what they can contribute,” Gambhir said.
“Those two can create a lot of impact in Indian conditions.”
Gambhir, a talented left-handed batsman who played a key role in India’s ODI World Cup win in 2011, coached Kolkata Knight Riders to an Indian Premier League title this year.
The former politician is also known for his short fuse and once had an ugly on-field altercation with Virat Kohli during an IPL match.
But Gambhir said he had good relations with all the senior players, including Kohli and ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma.
“My relationship with all the senior players has been really good,” he said.
“Sometimes people have made a lot of hue and cry about other things, but that’s not true.”
India remain clear favorites on home soil, but Bangladesh last month celebrated a landmark 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan — their first series win over the Asian rivals.
“We played very good cricket against Pakistan but that is the past,” Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
“That gives us confidence, but we are here to play a good series.”
Commentators have disparaged Bangladesh in earlier series for lacking emotional restraint, affecting their on-field performance.
But Najmul said that characterization was a thing of the past.
“A lot of players (have been) playing for the last 10-15 years and are experienced,” he said. “We don’t get very emotional now.”
No dream too big for ‘Muggsy’ Bogues as he looks to inspire basketball fans at NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024
- Shortest player in NBA history enjoyed a long NBA career that included an 11-year run with Charlotte Hornets
- Bogues expects a fierce contest between the Celtics and Nuggets for early bragging rights on Oct. 4 and 6 at Etihad Arena
ABU DHABI: Few figures embody the spirit of overcoming odds and inspiring future generations as powerfully as Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues.
At just 1.60 meters, Muggsy may be the shortest player in NBA history, but his impact on the game has been monumental.
The former NBA star enjoyed a 14-year career playing for the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.
This October, basketball fans in the UAE and the region will have the chance to see the “man who made a dream come true” up close during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024, presented by ADQ.
Bogues will be in the UAE capital as a part of the basketball experience that sees the Boston Celtics take on the Denver Nuggets twice in three days.
Sharing his story of perseverance and the power of the game to inspire, as well as his pride in the global growth of basketball, the 59-year-old spoke with Arab News just weeks ahead of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games.
Bogues said of representing the NBA in Abu Dhabi: “I’m excited to be part of it. It’s not just about basketball; it’s about inspiring kids to think that maybe one day they could be on that court, pursuing a career in the sport.”
For Bogues, this international event is more than just pre-season games. It is about showcasing the global appeal of basketball in places where the sport might not be dominant.
“People love seeing what it’s like on the other side of the world, and social media helps share all the stories leading up to the games,” he said.
“To be able to showcase great basketball worldwide, especially in places where basketball isn’t the No. 1 sport, it creates interest. Kids see these games and dream of pursuing basketball, even if it’s not the first option in their country.”
Bogues has witnessed firsthand how the NBA has evolved: “The game has become truly global. In my time, there weren’t as many overseas players, but now you see players from all over the world bringing their unique styles.
“European players, for example, are known for being more fundamentally sound, while in the US we tend to rely more on athletic ability. Now you see a combination of both in the NBA, and it makes the game even more exciting.”
Bogues is living testament to the idea that size does not determine success: “No matter your size or where you come from, like in my case, being 5 feet, 3 inches, you can dream of making it to the NBA. It’s all about mastering the game and believing in yourself.”
While these games are part of the NBA’s pre-season, Bogues stressed their significance for teams. “Pre-season games are very important. After a long summer, teams come back with a short training camp, and these games give them a chance to rebuild the bond and create unity,” he explained.
“It’s all about getting that cohesion back, creating a culture, and familiarizing with one another again. These games are also key in helping to prevent injuries by getting players back into the rhythm.”
With both the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics vying for early bragging rights, the matchups in Abu Dhabi are bound to be intense. “There’s definitely going to be a lot of pride on display,” Bogues said.
“You have this year’s champions, the Denver Nuggets, going up against last year’s champions, the Boston Celtics. These teams haven’t won back-to-back titles in a while, so they’ll be playing for bragging rights.
“Even though it’s a pre-season game, it’s not taking place in their hometown, so they’ll want to show their best basketball early on.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Celtics and Nuggets in the Finals again. They’ve got the talent, and they haven’t made too many changes to their rosters.”
Bogues says he is “honored and grateful” to be spreading the game globally. “It gives kids the opportunity to dream and believe that maybe one day, it could be them,” he said.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games, presented by ADQ, will feature two pre-season matchups between the Celtics, the 17-time NBA champions, and the Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, on Friday Oct. 4, and Sunday Oct. 6 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
Fans can meet Bogues at the NBA District from Oct. 3 to 6 at Manarat Al-Saadiyat, where there will be basketball activities, interactive experiences, and exclusive merchandise.
He will also appear at NBA Fan Appreciation Day on Oct. 5 at Etihad Arena, alongside other NBA legends, as well as Celtics and Nuggets players.
