United News of Bangladesh

FC Barcelona maintained its perfect start to the season with a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night. Goals from Raphinha in the 37th minute and Fermin Lopez in the 82nd gave Hansi Flick's side a comfortable victory against a rival that failed to register a shot on target. Lamine Yamal looked more threatening than on Sunday night and tested Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon after 15 minutes. Despite Barcelona dominating possession, it needed a moment of quality from Pedri to thread Raphinha through on goal, allowing the Brazilian to finish in style. Simon made several excellent saves in the second half, but could do nothing in the 82nd minute when an error from Spain international Aymeric Laporte allowed Lopez to double Barcelona's lead with his third goal of the campaign. In Thursday's earlier kickoff, Celta Vigo looked to be cruising when Iago Aspas gave it an early lead at home to Osasuna. Celta dominated possession before the break, but everything changed at the start of the second half when defender Marcos Alonso was sent off after a VAR check for a dangerous challenge. Kike Barja took advantage of some weak defending to level the score three minutes later, before Ante Budimir gave Osasuna the lead from the penalty spot following a handball in the Celta area. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick on Wednesday night as Real Madrid won 4-1 at home to Real Sociedad, with Jude Bellingham setting up Vinicius Jr. for Real Madrid's other goal.

City officials on Thursday approved a $2.3 billion deal for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark funded by public and private money. The 4-3 vote by the Tampa City Council came three months after a tentative agreement was reached for a stadium, which would include $967 million in tax money. Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said in a statement that the stadium project will “deliver lasting benefits” for the region. “The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the leadership and support of the City Council members to approve an investment that, when accompanied by the private funding guaranteed by the Rays, will secure the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay while creating a landmark destination neighborhood that will serve our region for generations,” Babby said Thursday. Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote on the project Friday morning. The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rays have said they hope to have the new stadium built within three years.

UEFA is preparing to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over alleged financial mismanagement linked to his abandoned plan to sell a share of future World Cup revenues to private investors. The European soccer governing body disclosed the plan in court filings made Thursday in the United States, seeking access to potential evidence concerning the proposed deal, which was scrapped after strong opposition from UEFA and other soccer officials. The legal move puts further pressure on Infantino, who is facing his most serious crisis since becoming FIFA president a decade ago. UEFA filed documents in a Manhattan court seeking evidence from Thrive Capital Management, a New York-based investment fund founded by Josh Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law. UEFA also asked a federal court in southern Florida to authorize discovery in a foreign proceeding involving FIFA, whose offices are located in Coral Gables, near Miami. Under the proposal announced in late July, Thrive and Kushner were expected to be key investors in a deal under which FIFA would receive $4.2 billion in exchange for a 20% stake in a subsidiary responsible for the governing body's commercial events, including the World Cup. In a 56-page filing, UEFA lawyers said they were considering a criminal case against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which covers criminal mismanagement. The filing questioned the valuation of the proposed deal, suggesting the $4.2 billion price may have been set at an artificially low level and could have benefited Infantino personally. FIFA is expected to have about $5 billion in cash reserves after the 2026 World Cup in North America, with its revenue reaching a record $15 billion during the 2023-26 commercial cycle. UEFA questioned why FIFA needed outside investors to increase funding for development projects given its strong financial position. Infantino abandoned the proposed investment deal on Aug. 1 following intense criticism led by European soccer officials. UEFA seeks preservation of evidence UEFA had warned FIFA on Aug. 3 not to destroy, conceal or alter any materials related to the proposed transaction. The latest court action was disclosed to UEFA's member associations in Monaco shortly before the Champions League draw began Thursday. In its filing, UEFA alleged that the investment proposal could have allowed Infantino and a small group around him to secure a long-term financial interest in FIFA's most valuable commercial assets at the expense of FIFA, its members and the wider soccer community. UEFA also questioned the valuation of FIFA's commercial arm, saying it was not determined through an open competitive process or independently assessed. Thrive Capital declined to comment, while FIFA was approached for a response. Infantino's future under scrutiny The controversy has also raised questions about Infantino's political future at FIFA. He had been widely expected to secure another four-year term in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. However, several soccer federations, particularly in Europe, have withdrawn their support, while some have called for him to resign. UEFA said it would work with other continental confederations to present a credible alternative if Infantino seeks another term. The European body said such an alternative should be committed to integrity, accountability, development and meaningful institutional reform.

Uganda has announced its final squad for the upcoming ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, scheduled to take place in Tanzania from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5. The eight-team qualifier will be hosted at the TCA Cricket Arena at the University of Dar es Salaam, with nations competing for the single available spot at next year's global tournament. Brian Masaba, head coach of Uganda's Baby Victoria Pearls, told media on Wednesday that the management had named a strong squad following several months of rigorous preparation. "We are going to compete strongly because our target is to qualify and play at the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup," said Masaba. Uganda will open its campaign against Nigeria on Aug. 30. Highlighting the team's focused mindset, Masaba added, "We are going to treat every match like a final because our target is qualification". The eight participating teams competing for the qualifier's sole ticket are Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria and host Tanzania. The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Bangladesh and Nepal next year.

Manchester City have signed highly rated teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for a reported $117 million, with the 18-year-old seen as the club’s long-term replacement for Rodri. City said on Wednesday that Bouaddi has signed a five-year contract. The deal is worth 95 million euros ($110 million), with another 5 million euros in possible add-ons. The Morocco international is a defensive midfielder and is expected to play a key role in City’s midfield rebuild under new manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, recently joined Barcelona after helping Spain win the World Cup. City have already spent about $155 million on England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Bernardo Silva has also left after his contract expired, while Nico Gonzalez is reportedly close to joining Newcastle. British media reports also say City remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Bouaddi’s transfer fee makes him the most expensive player ever sold by a French club, surpassing the 90 million-euro deal that took Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi club Al Hilal in 2023. It is also the biggest fee paid for a teenager in Premier League history. “This is a very special day for me and my family,” Bouaddi said. “I’ve watched City for many years, and I love their style of play.” Rising talentBouaddi has impressed with his calm passing, tactical awareness and maturity. He joined Lille’s academy in 2021 and quickly became one of the club’s brightest prospects. Three days after turning 16, he became the youngest player to appear in a European competition when he featured against KI Klaksvik in the Europa Conference League. Bouaddi was also once compared with former Lille star Eden Hazard, who later became a Premier League standout with Chelsea. City’s director of football Hugo Viana praised the teenager’s potential. “At just 18, he already has outstanding football intelligence and that will only improve under the guidance of Enzo,” Viana said. One area Bouaddi still needs to improve is scoring. He failed to score in 96 appearances for Lille and is yet to score in eight matches for Morocco. “I am only 18. I am happy with the progress I have made so far, but I also know I can improve so much,” he said. Another major Lille saleLille have built a strong reputation for developing and selling young talent. The club sold Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal for 80 million euros in 2019, while Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen moved to Napoli for a similar fee the following year. Manchester United paid 62 million euros for Lille defender Leny Yoro in 2024. Last year, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier joined Paris Saint-Germain for 40 million euros, while defender Bafode Diakite moved to Bournemouth for around the same amount. Bouaddi could debut FridayCity opened their season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, with two late goals giving Maresca a winning start after Guardiola’s departure following a trophy-filled 10-year spell. Maresca used central defender Marc Guehi as a holding midfielder in that match, highlighting City’s lack of options in the position. Bouaddi could make his City debut against Crystal Palace on Friday.

A group of 21 former international cricket captains has appealed to Pakistan’s prime minister to ensure jailed former premier Imran Khan receives proper medical treatment and basic facilities, saying the authorities must comply with a Supreme Court order. The letter, sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marks the second such appeal from former captains in six months. It follows concerns that Imran’s treatment in custody and access to his family have not met the court’s instructions. The Supreme Court had ordered that Imran be examined by a medical board and allowed weekly meetings with family members. He was recently taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, but remained there for only a few hours before being returned to Adiala prison after an examination by a state-appointed team. Former England captain Michael Atherton said the appeal was motivated not only by concern over Khan’s health but also by what he described as an effort by the Pakistani state to erase the former cricketer from public life. “Yesterday, 21 former captains sent another letter, which was a humanitarian appeal to ensure that Imran Khan receives the medical care he needs,” Atherton said on a Sky Sports Cricket podcast. “But I think the main concern was the way the state is trying to erase Imran Khan.” India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who signed the letter, said the former Pakistani leader deserved the same basic rights as any prisoner. “We want him to get the best medical treatment. We are not asking for anything else, nor are we seeking a response,” Kapil said. “We are simply making a request.” The signatories include prominent former captains such as Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh, Alastair Cook, Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara and Nasser Hussain, along with former women’s captains Belinda Clark and Alex Blackwell. Imran, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been imprisoned since 2023 after convictions in several cases.  

The Bangladesh government will not spend public money to bring Brazil’s national football team to Dhaka for a proposed friendly match in October, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque said Tuesday. The Bangladesh Football Federation has been exploring the possibility of hosting the five-time world champions during the September-October FIFA international window. Brazil are scheduled to play India in Kolkata during the same window. A delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation recently visited Dhaka and inspected the National Stadium and Bashundhara Kings Arena. It found the grounds satisfactory but suggested improvements to security, dressing rooms and other facilities. The proposal is still at an early stage, Aminul said. There is no final decision yet on whether Brazil will come to Bangladesh, and the financial arrangements have not been discussed in detail. The government also does not want to take on the cost of hosting the team. “We do not have the mindset or the scope to spend this kind of money on a single match at this time,” Aminul said, pointing to the government’s spending pressures in sectors including electricity and fuel. He said the government would support the event if the BFF could secure enough sponsorship to cover the costs. Aminul also questioned how much Bangladesh’s football would gain from playing Brazil. A match against the five-time world champions would be a major event for Bangladeshi fans and a memorable occasion for the national team, he said. But he did not expect one game to bring a fundamental change to the country’s football.

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Brazil winger Savinho from Manchester City for a reported £85 million ($115 million), taking their spending in this summer's transfer window beyond $400 million. The 22-year-old is the latest addition to Tottenham's squad under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is preparing for his first full season in charge of the club. Tottenham have already made two major midfield signings this summer. Italy international Sandro Tonali joined from Newcastle for a reported club-record £100 million ($133 million), while Mateus Fernandes arrived from West Ham for £85 million ($113 million). Savinho joined Manchester City in 2024 for €40 million ($43.6 million) from the club's sister team Troyes. However, he struggled to establish himself, scoring only two goals in 53 Premier League appearances. He was also left out of Brazil's squad for this year's World Cup. Savinho said he was delighted to finally complete his move to Tottenham after weeks of speculation. “It's taken a while but I'm very happy to be here,” he said in a Tottenham statement. He said the opportunity to work with De Zerbi was a major reason for joining the club and added that the manager had promised to help him reach his full potential. De Zerbi praised Savinho's “energy, imagination and quality” and said the winger had the confidence and creativity to take on defenders and change matches. Tottenham opened their Premier League campaign with a heavily changed starting lineup but suffered a 3-0 defeat at Brentford. Tonali and fellow new signings Jan Paul van Hecke, Marco Senesi and Andy Robertson all started the match. Tottenham are now competing with Chelsea to become the biggest spenders in European football during this transfer window. Another major City sale Manchester City's newly appointed manager Enzo Maresca said last week that Savinho had wanted to leave the club from the beginning. The transfer is a club-record sale for City, which has also made several major moves this summer. Spain captain Rodri joined Barcelona for €76.5 million ($88.5 million), while midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, goalkeeper James Trafford and defender Nathan Ake have also left the club. Long-serving players John Stones and Bernardo Silva were released. City's only major senior outfield signing so far has been England midfielder Elliot Anderson, who reportedly joined for a club-record £116 million ($155 million). The transfer window closes next Tuesday, with City expected to make further signings before the deadline, potentially including Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Graham Arnold has extended his contract as Iraq's head coach until the 2027 Asian Cup, a few months after leading the team to its first World Cup appearance in 40 years. The 63-year-old former Australia coach has agreed to a six-month extension, despite receiving an offer for a four-year contract from the Iraq Football Association. “I have renewed my contract for six months and this decision is in my best interest and in the best interest of the Iraq national team,” Arnold told reporters in Baghdad on Monday. Arnold took charge of Iraq in May 2025 and helped the team qualify for the 2026 World Cup through an intercontinental playoff. It was Iraq's first World Cup appearance in four decades. Despite serious logistical challenges caused by conflict in the Middle East, Iraq secured the final place among the 48 teams competing at the tournament. Iraq lost all three of its group matches against Norway, France and Senegal in June. However, the campaign gave the players valuable experience against some of the world's top footballers, including France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland. At the 2027 Asian Cup, Iraq will be in a group with Australia, Singapore and Tajikistan. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January. Iraq, which won the Asian Cup in 2007, will begin its preparations at the Gulf Cup in September. Arnold said he returned early to scout new players and prepare the squad for both tournaments. “I returned early to watch and identify new players ahead of the Gulf Cup and Asian Cup and to build the team for the future,” he said. “You will see new faces in the next phase.”

Chelsea's record signing Morgan Rogers scored on his debut as the London club defeated Fulham 3-2 on Monday, giving new coach Xabi Alonso a winning start to the Premier League season. Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last month, put his side ahead four minutes before halftime, calmly finishing a well-placed cutback from Maxence Lacroix. Brazilian forward João Pedro had given Chelsea the lead just 32 seconds into the match, but Fulham responded through Josh King, who leveled the score midway through the first half. Cole Palmer, one of Chelsea's standout performers, restored the visitors' advantage in the 49th minute. He fired into the net from a tight angle after receiving a pass from João Pedro. Fulham quickly reduced the deficit when Gonzalo García headed the ball down and into the net after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez could only parry Timothy Castagne's low shot. The hosts then pressed forward in search of an equalizer, but Chelsea held on for the victory. Chelsea's attacking trio drew praise for an impressive display, with Alonso describing the performance as “a good first day.” “It is a great combination and great quality,” Alonso said. “We know that if we reach them in a good position then they have this talent to create special things. Today I am happy that all three scored.” The match also saw Alonso face his former Real Madrid and Spain teammate Álvaro Arbeloa, who was making his first appearance in the Fulham dugout. “We deserved a little bit more but football is not about what you deserve, it's about what you take,” Arbeloa said after the defeat, while praising his players' attitude. “This is how we're going to play no matter who is in front of us,” he added. Alonso and Arbeloa both managed Real Madrid for periods last season before leaving the Santiago Bernabeu and moving to England. On Monday, Alonso came out on top in an entertaining contest at Craven Cottage. Chelsea have spent more than 300 million pounds ($408 million) on new players and are among the early favorites to challenge defending champions Arsenal.