MADRID: Saudi Arabia has consolidated its branding push with Atletico Madrid by paying for naming rights to the Spanish club’s stadium for the next nine years.
Atletico, which has been sponsored by Riyadh Air since last season, said Wednesday that its Metropolitano stadium will be known as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano henceforth until 2033.
Atletico did not say how much it was receiving for the new agreement “which makes the Saudi Arabian company the most important sponsor in the club’s history.”
The deal for shirt sponsorship from 2023-27 was already worth a reported 40 million euros a season to the club.
“The final installation of the new name of the stadium on the main, northeast and southeast facades will take place in the next few weeks,” Atletico said.
The establishment of Riyadh Air was announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March 2023. It is yet to begin commercial operations.
Saudi Arabia pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid’s stadium for 9 years
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Saudi Arabia pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid’s stadium for 9 years
Martinez punishment ‘out of Flick’s hands’ as Barca focus on title
“We won three points and this is my focus, so I’m focussing on the next match against Girona,” Flick told a news conference
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Saturday he is focussed on winning games despite the threat of a potential punishment for an ineligible line-up rumbling on in the background.
Flick selected Inigo Martinez in the 3-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Thursday, after the Spanish defender had withdrawn injured from the national team squad for their recent Nations League matches.
Osasuna appealed to the Spanish football federation on Friday over Martinez being ineligible, citing FIFA rules regarding players which have not joined up with their national teams when called on.
“We won three points and this is my focus, so I’m focussing on the next match against Girona,” Flick told a news conference Saturday, a day before leaders Barcelona host Girona in La Liga.
“The other thing is not in my hands, it’s not about me.”
FIFA rules state that players cannot appear for their clubs within five days of the last national team match, if they did not join the squad when called upon without the federation’s permission.
Martinez played 90 minutes against Osasuna after pulling out of international duty with knee discomfort, as Barcelona took a three-point lead at the top of the table.
The match was played on Thursday after being initially postponed from March 8, when a Barca club doctor died, with neither side wanting to play it this week but both having appeals against it rejected.
Flick lined up against Osasuna with star striker Robert Lewandowski on the bench, although he later scored when appearing as a substitute.
The Polish veteran has 23 goals in La Liga, leading the scoring charts, known as the Pichichi, ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe on 20.
“Lewandowski is focussed on the success of the team, not just winning the Pichichi,” said Flick.
“Of course he wants to score goals, he wants to play, but he also sees what the team needs.
“This makes me really proud, about the behavior of Lewy, and it was a really great situation, a great moment and everything went the right way against Osasuna, so it’s something I really appreciate.”
Newcastle holding open-top bus parade to celebrate English League Cup title
- Newcastle will get one Saturday when the team holds an open-top bus parade to celebrate its English League Cup title
- The parade route runs from St. James’ Park, through the city center and ends at the Town Moor
NEWCASTLE: Ending a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy deserves an official party.
Newcastle will get one Saturday when the team holds an open-top bus parade to celebrate its English League Cup title.
More than 150,000 fans are expected to join the celebration. The parade route runs from St. James’ Park, through the city center and ends at the Town Moor, an open space where a stage has been erected for an hour-long event that will include comments from players and a trophy lift.
The Saudi-backed team beat Liverpool 2-1 nearly two weeks ago at Wembley Stadium for its first major domestic trophy since the FA Cup in 1955. The club also won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — a European competition — in 1969.
The bus was scheduled to set off from the stadium at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has been nominated for a municipal honor called the ” Freedom of the City. ” Club figures who have received the recognition include Alan Shearer, Bobby Robson and Shaka Hislop.
Global Champions Arabians Tour returns to Riyadh for fourth stage of the 2025 Europe and Middle East Series
- World’s premier Arabian horse series moves to new home at Jump Saudi Arena
RIYADH: Following three stages in Ajman, Doha and Muscat, the Global Champions Arabians Tour makes its return to Riyadh for the fourth stage of the Europe and Middle series — the final stop in the Middle East and the pivotal halfway point of this eight-stage 2025 tour.
With a new home at the purpose-built Jump Saudi Arena, spectators can expect to see close to 250 of the region’s finest Arabian horses competing for a place in the overall rankings and a share of the record-breaking prize money.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Thani, deputy CEO of the tour, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Riyadh following a very successful final stage of the 2024 tour. The Saudis are very passionate about the Arabian horse, bringing high levels of excitement and an electric atmosphere to the tour. We expect high numbers of Saudi-bred horses and welcome the chance to see new competitors in the GCAT arena.”
As with each stage of the tour, the Riyadh event is set to feature local and international retailers and a cultural village with a host of family entertainment. While the contents of the closing ceremony remain under wraps, if the first three stages are anything to go by, Riyadh will be impressive.
The event runs from the April 9-12 and will be open to the public with free admission via the booking link, while hospitality packages are also available.
Offensive Iraq-Palestine World Cup qualifier video ‘fabricated,’ says Jordan Football Association
- Fake video shared widely on social media claimed to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans at the Iraqi players and supporters
- Association says it verified the video was fabricated and is dismayed that some people seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans
AMMAN: The Jordanian Football Association expressed regret on Friday over a video widely shared on social media this week that appeared to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans during a World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine.
The footage was fabricated, it said.
The video, which claimed to show Jordanian fans directing insulting chants at the Iraqi players and supporters, began to spread online after Palestine defeated Iraq 2-1 in the match at the Amman International Stadium on Tuesday. It provoked heated exchanges online among the two sets of fans.
The JFA said it regretted the fabricated video and affirmed the depth of the historical, deep-rooted ties between the Jordanian and Iraqi peoples, which it said could not be damaged by people who act in ways that do not reflect true sporting values, the Jordan News Agency reported on Friday.
The association said it had verified the video was fake, and was dismayed that some individuals seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans. It urged supporters in Jordan to avoid being drawn into online exchanges of disrespectful remarks that “do not reflect the values of Jordanians.”
It praised the efforts of Jordanian and Iraqi sports journalists who had attempted to alert their followers on social media to the fact that the video was fake and urge them not to fall victim to such “provocative and inciteful” videos.
The association also reminded fans of the tremendous efforts made by Prince Ali bin Hussein, the president of the JFA, to help lift a long-running FIFA ban on international games in Iraq, and that Jordan had played Iraq in 2017 in the first international game played at Basra International Stadium, which was also the first international game to take place in the country in four years.
The JFA added: “While we support our national team in its quest for direct qualification to the World Cup with all our capabilities, we emphasize the importance of adhering to the spirit of sportsmanship and the depth of shared Arab relations.
“We wish all other Arab teams success in their journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.”
Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying
- Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked
- Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team.
Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked.
Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically.
Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two. The team scored 25 goals and conceded 17.
In the Copa America last year, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Uruguay on penalties.
Rodrigues was just re-elected on Monday to head the confederation to 2030. In 2023, he bet on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to take over one year later. While waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil retained Fernando Diniz as their coach.
Diniz was fired in January 2024 after six matches on the job after Ancelotti extended his contract in Spain.
