United News of Bangladesh

India is among seven possible bidders wanting to host the 2031 Asian Cup in men’s soccer, the Asian Football Confederation said Friday. China was not among them. The other federations registering interest to enter the contest are Australia, Indonesia, Kuwait, South Korea — which has never hosted the tournament launched in 1956 — United Arab Emirates and a joint project between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The AFC said a decision on hosting the 24-team tournament is scheduled next year at its annual congress. Two fans die before Colo Colo vs Fortaleza match in Chile Australia hosted and won the Asian Cup in 2015. The UAE hosted in 2019, starting a run of three straight editions in the Gulf. Qatar hosted the 2023 edition and Saudi Arabia has the 2027 Asian Cup, where Qatar will be the two-time defending champion. Qatar stepped in for the 2023 Asian Cup that had been awarded to China four years earlier. China pulled out citing health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia co-hosted the 2007 Asian Cup and had the final in Jakarta. Kuwait hosted and won the 1980 tournament.

Two fans lost their lives on Thursday ahead of the Copa Libertadores fixture between hosts Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza near Santiago’s Estadio Monumental, a local prosecutor confirmed. Authorities reported that a group of supporters tried to storm the stadium and brought down part of a protective fence. The victims were said to have been trapped underneath. The match was eventually halted in the 70th minute due to fan unrest, although it was not immediately evident whether it was linked to the earlier fatalities. Eastern Flagrancy Prosecutor Francisco Morales stated that a group of fans attempted to enter the Estadio Monumental through the Casa Alba, a building next to the stadium, and police intervened to stop them. “A stampede followed, which caused a fence to collapse,” Morales said. “We are investigating the possible involvement of a police vehicle in the fatal incident.” Officials said one person died at the scene while the other passed away at a nearby clinic. Match halted during second halfLater in the evening, the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza was suspended in the 70th minute with the score still 0-0, after local supporters launched a protest by throwing objects onto the field. It remained uncertain whether the demonstration was connected to the earlier deaths. Fortaleza players quickly retreated to the locker room, while Colo Colo’s squad, including captain Esteban Pavez and Arturo Vidal, attempted to pacify the crowd. Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera informed the teams that the match had been called off, prompting all players to head into the dressing rooms. It was later officially announced that the game had been suspended. “CONMEBOL deeply regrets the loss of two fans outside Estadio Monumental before the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza,” the South American football governing body said. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.”

Doctors testified Thursday that Diego Maradona should not have undergone surgery two weeks before his death because it was not a serious matter. After checking a CT scan of Maradona’s brain presented during the hearing, neurologist Martín Cesarini said: "It was not an emergency for surgery.” Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque is one of seven medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of the soccer great. Neurologist Guillermo Pablo Burry also said at the trial that he told Luque surgery was not necessary and Maradona's clinical progress should just have been monitored. Cesarini and Burry examined Maradona at a clinic in Buenos Aires, where he had been transferred early in November 2020 for a medical check-up. Experts involved in Maradona’s autopsy testify that he had an abnormally large heart Flavio Tunessi, another doctor from the same facility, said in testimony: "Luque told me that for him it was a surgical procedure and he decided to transfer him.” It is alleged Luque did not listen to any of his colleagues and moved Maradona to another clinic, where the former Argentina captain underwent surgery for a hematoma on November 3 of that year. Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986, died on Nov. 25, 2020 while undergoing home hospitalization on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. He was 60. According to the prosecution, the seven professionals charged in the negligence case — a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, doctors and nurses — failed to provide adequate care, which may have led to his death.

German Coach Hansi Flick has brought about a great positive change in the entire Barcelona squad this season. However, the one who has benefited most is Brazilian forward Raphinha. Before the start of the season, there was even talk on social media that the club would sell him, or that he himself was looking for an address elsewhere. Raphinha is now the heart of Barcelona's XI; the most hard-working and productive player in the team. Whether it's La Liga, Copa del Rey or the Champions League, the 28-year-old Brazilian has become an indispensable name in Barca's attack, scoring a hatful of goals himself and also assisting his teammates. Many are also placing him among their top candidates for the next Ballon d'Or. In the meantime, he is touching one record after another. Flick's men thrashed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at home in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night, putting them one foot in the semi-finals. Raphinha played a major role in the team's victory with a goal and two assists in this match. With this, his goal tally in the current season of European football’s flagship tournament moved to 12, to go with 7 assists. In doing so, he has written his name next to arguably the club’s greatest legend, Argentine Lionel Messi.  Twelve goals and seven assists mean Raphinha has contributed to a total of 19 goals in the Champions League this season so far, which is equal to the record set by Messi in the 2011-12 season. Messi achieved this feat with the help of 14 goals and 5 assists. Raphinha equals that feat more than a decade later. However, having done it before even the quarter finals are up, he has a great opportunity to surpass Messi in the next match and set a new club record. However, this is not the record for the highest number of goals contributions in a single Champions League season. There are three more numbers above Raphinha-Messi, two of which are by Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and one by Robert Lewandowski in the Bayern Munich jersey. Ronaldo’s 2015/16 Champions League ended with 20 goal contributions  - 14 goals and 6 assists. Lewandowski surpassed that record by contributing 21 goals (15 goals, 6 assists) in the 2019/20 season. However, the Pole couldn’t surpass the record set by the Portuguese superstar in the 2013-14 season, when he made history by contributing a total of 22 goals - 17 goals and 5 assists - leading Real Madrid to La Decima, their historic 10th title. Within touching distance However, even that record is now under threat by the seemingly unstoppable Raphinha, who needs to contribute to just three more goals - either by scoring or assisting - to match it. The second leg of the quarter is now ahead of him. In addition, with a 4-0 lead, unless there is a huge upset in the second leg, this Brazilian is assured to play two more matches in the semi-finals. Even if just continues at his present rate, he can sit next to Ronaldo before the final is confirmed. Or even just one more performance like last night, and it can come true in one match.In addition to this record of contributing goals, Raphinha has also risen to a significant place in the record of scoring the most goals in a season. With 12 goals in 11 matches, he is in sixth place in this list in terms of most goals in a Champions League season. Lionel Messi is above him with 14 goals in the 2011/12 season. In addition, Ronaldo, whose Champions League record is unmatched in history, scored 15 goals in the 2017/18 season, in fourth place. Lewandowski is third in the list with the same 15 goals for having played fewer matches in the 2019/20 season. However, Cristiano’s name graces the top two spots for the most prolific Champions League goalscoring season ever, with 16 goals in the 2015/16 season and 17 goals in the aforementioned 2013/14 season. With the dominance of Hansi Flick's Barcelona this season, it will not be surprising if they reach the Champions League final. This would give Raphinha a real chance, with the opportunity to play four more matches.  However, this is not the only potential record facing him. Raphinha has already made history by setting several records and leading Barcelona in many matches this season.  In addition, he is in fourth place on the list of Brazilian goalscorers in the Champions League for Barcelona. Superstar Neymar tops the list with 21 goals, the great Rivaldo is in second place with 16 goals and the legendary Ronaldinho is in third place with 14 goals. Including last night's three, the Rio Grande do Sul-born footballer has also reached the milestone of contributing to 50 goals for the club this season. He has played 45 matches so far and has scored 28 goals and 22 assists, which is his career-high in a single season.  The Brazilian has been fully reciprocating the trust that Flick placed on his shoulders at a time when his future at Camp Nou was uncertain, with unwavering zeal. Flick said he had a 'special plan' for Raphinha. And the winger has gone from just 'special' to the 'main man' in his team, living up to his coach’s word. When all the team's captains have been ruled out due to injuries, he has become the leader from the front. Barcelona have not lost a single match since the turn of the year. The Catalan giants have won 19 of the 23 matches they have played in 2025. Flick has vowed to finish the rest of the season undefeated. As a result, he has made it clear that he wants to win all possible titles, albeit in a roundabout way. If the German has his way, Barcelona will play 13 more matches. The quadruple of the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Champions League is still on. And if they achieve that feat, Raphinha, may just dominate the next Ballon d'Or gala evening in Paris, like he is currently dominating on the field. 

Down 1-0 on the scoreboard, down 2-0 in total goals in the series and needing three goals to advance, Inter Miami needed a most unlikely rally. Lionel Messi made it happen. Inter Miami is headed to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals for the first time, after Messi — the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner — led a dramatic three-goal comeback. He had two goals, including the clinching penalty kick in the 84th minute, to lift Inter Miami past LAFC 3-1 on Wednesday night and a 3-2 aggregate win in the two-leg series. “We gave it our all,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “We wanted it, we wanted to be in the semis, and I think it showed. ... Many times luck has to be on your side, and we had it.” Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was Messi. Maybe it was both. For Messi, the series clincher was a bit reminiscent of how he led Argentina past France in the World Cup final in 2022. He scored two goals in that match, one on a penalty kick — then also converted in the penalty-shot shootout that decided the final after it ended in a 3-3 tie. Those goals came against France's Hugo Lloris, who was also in net for LAFC on Wednesday night. Lloris couldn't solve Messi in the World Cup final — and couldn't in this one, either. Messi simply waited for Lloris to move a bit on the penalty that put Inter Miami up 3-1, essentially freezing the keeper before gently sending the ball into the right side of the net. And when the final whistle sounded, Mascherano punched the air in celebration. AC Milan defender Kyle Walker undergoes surgery after fracturing elbow “They believed,” Mascherano said. Oscar Ustari made two huge stops in the final minutes for Inter Miami, who will face either the Mexican club Pumas or the Vancouver Whitecaps in the tournament’s semifinals. The first leg of that two-leg matchup is set to start on either April 22, 23 or 24. Aaron Long scored in the ninth minute to give LAFC a 1-0 lead, but it put Inter Miami in a much deeper hole than that. Inter Miami lost the series opener at LAFC 1-0, so Long’s goal not only gave LAFC a 2-0 aggregate lead — but it also gave his club control of the away-goals tiebreaker. That meant Inter Miami needed at least three goals from there to advance. It might have seemed unlikely. With Messi, all things are possible. Messi started the rally in the 35th, getting loose near the top of the 18-yard box and scoring with the left foot to tie the match at 1 — giving Inter Miami some hope. Inter Miami took a 2-1 lead in the 61st on a bit of a fluke; Noah Allen chipped a ball into the box, playing it toward Federico Redondo. Lloris came off his line, anticipating Redondo to play the ball — but it bounced off the grass, skipped past them and ended up in the side of the net. The goal was originally credited to Allen, with Messi getting an assist, but was changed later in the evening to Redondo scoring with Allen assisting.

Little Friends Club earned a 2-1 goals victory over BFF Elite Football Academy in the Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football 2024-25 at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur on Wednesday. Al Mirad scored both the goals for the Little Friends in the 45+2 and 53rd minutes while Shipon Hossain netted the lone goal for the BFF Elite Academy in the 64th minute. In the day’s other league match, Public Works Department (PWD) SC defeated Uttar Baridhara Club by a solitary goal at the practice ground of the Bashundhara Kings Arena here on Wednesday. Ashikur Rahman scored the all-important goal for PWD SC in the 10th minute.

AC Milan defender Kyle Walker underwent an operation Tuesday after fracturing his elbow during training. It is not known how long Walker will be sidelined for but there are only seven rounds remaining in Serie A. The Rossoneri are also involved in the Italian Cup, with the second leg of their semifinal against Inter Milan set for April 23. “AC Milan can confirm that Kyle Walker sustained a fracture in his right elbow today,” the Italian team said in a statement. “To ensure better healing and optimize recovery time, the player underwent surgery in Milan to repair the olecranon through osteosynthesis. Champions League final ticket prices frozen for fans, but VIP seats see sharp increase “The operation went perfectly to plan. Kyle will begin rehabilitation immediately.” Walker is on loan from Manchester City and it is widely expected the move will be made permanent at the end of the season. The England international, who turns 35 next month, arrived in January and swiftly established himself as a key part of the Milan defense. Walker has played eight Serie A matches — starting seven of them — as well as four in the Champions League and two in the Italian Cup. Barcelona can't fully capitalize on shock Real Madrid loss with Vinícius missed penalty Walker won six Premier League titles and the Champions League at City. He won 15 major trophies after joining from Tottenham in 2017 and established himself as one of the best right backs in Premier League history. Source: With input from agency 

Coming from behind, a 10-man Dhaka Abahani Limited smartly reached the final of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament, beating holders Bashundhara Kings 4-2 in a penalty shootout at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday. The nerve-wracking Qualifier-1 match between 12-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd and three-time champions Bashundhara Kings ended in a 1-1 draw after the stipulated 90 minutes and 30-minute extra time. This was Dhaka Abahani’s second win against Bashundhara Kings in the ongoing season after previously defeating them in the Premier League. Dhaka Abahani will play the final on April 22 against the winners of Bashundhara Kings and Rahmatganj MFS at the Rafiquddun Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. Despite the day’s defeat, Bashundhara Kings have another chance to reach the final if they can beat Rahmatganj MFS in Qualifier-2 on April 15 at their home ground, Bashundhara Kings Arena. After a goalless first half in the day’s Qualifier-1, Mojibor Rahman Jonny put the injury-hit, star-studded Bashundhara Kings ahead in the 57th minute (1-0). Arman Faysal Akash leveled the score for the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 85th minute (1-1), sending the match into extra time and, eventually, a penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, Rafayel, Emeka, Sabuj, and Ibrahim of Abahani converted their spot kicks, while Jonathon and Morsalin scored for the Kings. Earlier, Dhaka Abahani were reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute of the match when their defender Asaduzzaman Bablu was sent off after receiving his second yellow card. In the day’s eliminator match, Rahmatganj MFS came from behind to eliminate Brothers Union Club, defeating them 2-1 at the Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. Nigerian forward Mfon Sunday Udoh put Brothers Union ahead in the 36th minute (1-0), while Ghanaian forward Samuel Boateng restored parity for Rahmatganj MFS in the 63rd minute (1-1). Gambian midfielder Solomon King Kanform scored the match-winning goal for Rahmatganj MFS in the extra session (100th minute) to keep their final hopes alive.

UEFA announced on Monday that ticket prices for the majority of fans attending this year’s men’s Champions League final will remain the same as last year, while premium seating will see significant price hikes. Each of the two finalist clubs will be allocated 18,000 tickets for the May 31 final at Bayern Munich’s stadium. The lowest-priced tickets, available to fans of the competing teams, will cost 70 euros ($77)—the same as in last year’s final at London’s Wembley Stadium. Thomas Muller to leave Bayern Munich after 25 years However, there will be steep increases for higher-tier seats. Top-category tickets will rise from 713 euros ($781) to 950 euros ($1,040), while Category 2 seats will jump from 500 euros ($548) to 650 euros ($712), UEFA confirmed. Revenue from ticket sales at UEFA club finals is combined with income from broadcasting and commercial rights, forming a multi-billion-euro fund that is largely distributed back to clubs in the form of prize money and solidarity payments. Last year’s Champions League winner, Real Madrid, received the highest share—$154 million. Barcelona can't fully capitalize on shock Real Madrid loss with Vinícius missed penalty Out of the 64,500 total seats available at the Munich final, 38,700 will be made accessible to fans and the general public, according to UEFA. Aside from the 18,000 tickets per finalist, an additional 2,700 tickets will be available for purchase globally through UEFA’s official website. Buyers will be limited to a maximum of two tickets. Over 25,000 tickets will be reserved for UEFA guests, sponsors, broadcasters, and national football federations.

Four senior footballers of the SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh team left the capital for Thimphu on Sunday to play in the Bhutan National Women's Football League beginning there on April 15. Four players --Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun, SAFF's best player Ritu Porna Chakma, reliable national booters Monika Chakma and Matsushima Sumaya---will play the for Paro FC in Bhutan league. Officials of Paro FC received the players at the airport. The four Bangladeshi players will play for Paro FC for four months and they are likely get Taka one lakh per month per person in addition to both way air fares and all local in expenses. But, their clubs will have to release them during national team engagements as per FIFA rules. Besides, two other Bangladeshi national players --defender Masura Parvin and SAFF's best goalkeeper Rupna Chakma, earlier roped by Transport United team of Bhutan, will join team soon along with another Bangladeshi player Krishna Rani Sarker, now under close touch with Transport United of Bhutan. Earlier, promising national booter Sagorika failed to make registration with the Transport United of Bhutan due to age complications. Sanjida and Shamsunnahar Sr also have a chance to play in the Bhutan National women's league and communications in this regard are in progress. Apart from four players, rest other players of the 55 member preliminary national squad of the Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, including Krisna Rani Sarkar and others joined the national camp here on Sunday. The Head Coach of Bangladesh women's football team Peter Butler scheduled to return here on Monday to start the national camp with the remaining players except the four. Earlier on Saturday, President of Bangladesh Football Federation Tabith Awal alongwith BFF Women's wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron and other EC members sat a courtesy meeting with Bhutan- bound players at the BFF office and wished their luck. After the meeting, BFF media committee chairman Amirul Islam Babu said that it was a courtesy meeting with the players where the president wished them good luck and hinted that the senior players will be called up ahead of the team's departure for the Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers billed for Myanmar from June 29-July 5. Earlier, 18 senior players boycotted the national training camp led by Sabina Khatun under the head coach Peter Butler since January 29 showing huge allegation against him and subsequently they were excluded from the national squad for two friendly away matches against hosts UAE in last February-March.