United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh national football team will play two International Friendly Football matches at home against the Maldives on November 13 and 16 in this year's last FIFA window. General Secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Imran Hossain Tushar confirmed the matter on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, the BFF communicated with Malaysia and Thailand to play football matches in the FIFA window in November, but they want to play only one match with Bangladesh. Later, the BFF communicated with the Maldives, who agreed to play two matches here, so the BFF accepted their proposal considering more (two) matches and cheap expenditure. In the last meeting, the BFF approved the decision. BFF Election: Tabith Awal poised to replace Kazi Salahuddin The matches are likely to be held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, and we are maintaining close communication with the Kings authority. Bangladesh-origin English footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury got" no objection" from England Football Association to play for Bangladesh after getting a Bangladesh passport and clearance from his English Premier League club, Leicester City FC. Soon after, the BFF applied to the FIFA players status committee with the necessary documents for permission to let Hamza into the Bangladesh team, but the FIFA committee wants more documents that delayed his desire to play for the Bangladesh team. Moreover, now he is out of the field due to injury. So, Hamza's participation in the Bangladesh team in the November window against the Maldives has become uncertain.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kylian Mbappé “is not affected” by the Swedish media reports this week that said the France captain was the subject of a rape investigation. Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. “I do not pay attention to speculations that come from outside the team. The player is not affected in the least,” Ancelotti said Friday. The reports in Swedish media came out after the striker visited Stockholm during the international break when he was not called up by France due to a minor injury. Pogba ready to give up money for Juventus again Without citing sources, Swedish media reported Mbappé was the subject of an investigation of an alleged rape at a hotel in Stockholm. Mbappé’s representatives have called the reports “false and irresponsible.” Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement on Tuesday saying a rape had been reported to police, but didn’t name any suspect. Ancelotti defended his player’s right to travel on his time off. “The rest days are programmed for him and he can choose what he wants to do,” the Italian manager said. “I went to London for two days and didn’t ask anyone for permission.” Mbappé injured his left thigh in late September. But he missed only one game for Madrid, returning as a substitute in a shock 1-0 loss to Lille in the Champions League before starting in a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Spanish league. He then sat out the international window. Messi's Argentina held 1-1 by Venezuela in South American World Cup qualifying Mbappé trained for Madrid this week before the Spanish league resumes. Madrid plays at Celta Vigo on Saturday. “(Mbappé) took advantage of the break to improve his fitness and get well after the injury,” Ancelotti said. “He is happy and ready to play and be important for the team. These 15 days have helped because he is now a different player than before the break.”

Paul Pogba says he’s ready to give up money to play for Juventus again. The Serie A club may not want him, though, or need him. Pogba recently had his four-year ban for doping reduced to 18 months after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning the France World Cup winner will be free to resume his career in March 2025. Juventus has not been overly enthusiastic about welcoming him back but Pogba says that is the only club he is thinking about playing for. “I am ready to even give up money so that I can still play for Juve,” he said in an interview with Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport. “I want to return.” Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli and new coach Thiago Motta are dubious about whether Pogba can return to the top level after being out for so long since testing positive for testosterone in August last year. But the 31-year-old Pogba, who said he “felt like a caged lion” for the past year, has been training hard on his own and is ready to prove them wrong. Injured Pogba might have played last game for Man United “I am a Juve player now. That is all I have in my mind today,” he said. “I don’t have to talk. What I do on the pitch will do my talking and then Thiago Motta will judge with his own eyes, based on what he sees. “Talk is nice, but I want to play and I want to be the best one at Juve and in the France team.” But not only has Juventus changed coach since Pogba was banned, it has also changed strategy. It has brought in fresh new faces, including bright talents who progressed through its youth team, and got rid of the — costly — old guard with the offseason departures of Federico Chiesa, Wojciech Szczęsny, Alex Sandro and Adrien Rabiot. Pogba, who was the most expensive soccer player in history when he joined Manchester United from Juventus for 105 million euros ($113 million) in 2016, returned to the Bianconeri as a free agent in 2022. He signed a contract worth eight million euros ($8.7 million) a year — plus two million ($2.2 million) in bonuses — but injuries limited him to just eight Serie A appearances in his second spell at the club before his ban. The judges who cut Pogba’s ban acknowledged the lack of intent but suggested the 2018 World Cup winner should have taken more care about his treatment in Florida. “What I did wrong was not looking at what a professional gave me. I repeat, a professional,” Pogba said. "Like a lot of soccer players, I have a cook, a trainer and a personal physiotherapist. “It's not a matter of reading the leaflet better, a professional outside the club had given it to me. But I won't do the same thing again, that's certain.” Without Pogba, Juventus hasn’t fared too badly. The Bianconeri managed to finish third last season despite going through what the club called a rebuilding year following turmoil off the field. This season, Juventus is the only team still unbeaten in Serie A, after seven matches, and it sits three points behind early leader Napoli going into this weekend’s match at home to Lazio. Pogba leaving United for free after joining for record fee “Not everything depends on me, but also on Juve’s plans and how I train,” said Pogba, who also issued a warning to his doubters. “I will be a new Pogba: Hungrier, wiser and stronger.”

Bangladesh National Women’s Football team, now in Kathmandu to compete in the SAFF Women's Championship 2024, made their first training session at ANFA ground from 8 am to 9:30 am on Wednesday. The seven- nation women's regional soccer meet will be held at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in Nepalese capital Kathmandu from October 17-30 with two arch-rival India and Pakistan playing each other in the inaugural match on Thursday (Oct 17) In the day's training session, holders Bangladesh Women's team worked on tactical drills and fine-tuned their strategies in the day's practice session to defend their regional soccer crown. Int’l Women’s Football: Bangladesh makes flying start in two-match series outplaying hosts Bhutan 5-1 Later, Bangladesh and six other participating teams addressed the official press conference at the Imperial Crown Hotel and also took part in the official photo session in the afternoon. In the day's press conference, head coaches and captains of all the seven teams expressed their eagerness to showcase their talent in upcoming prestigious tournament. Head coach of Bangladesh team Peter Butler and captain Sabina Khatun addressed the  day's press conference. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm while they will face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue.

Two times vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and a BNP leader Tabith Awal poised for the hot seat president in the BFF Election' 24 scheduled for October 26. He is going to replace long-serving BFF president Kazi M Salahuddin, who earlier declared not to compete in this month's poll. President of Mymensingh District Football Association and former director of BCB SM Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan, who earlier collected nominations for the post of both president and vice- president, did not submit the nomination paper for any post on the last day (Tuesday). However, two outsider presidential candidates --grassroot level organiser from Dinajpur district AFM Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and Shahadat Hossain of Brahmanbaria FC-- submitted their nomination papers, which will not make any impact in the upcoming BFF poll. The election for the post of senior vice president between two influential candidates Tarafder Ruhul Amin of now defunct Saif SC and Imrul Hasan of Bashundhara Kings, now turned into an exciting stage as the other SVP aspirant Monir Hossen of Narayanganj did not submitted his nomination. However, Tarafder Md Ruhul Amin, who earlier declared himself as a president candidate soon after president Kazi Salahuddin quit from the race, finally, step down to senior vice president post supporting the Tabith Awal. A total of 62 nomination papers were sold in two-day formalities with four for one president post, three for one sr vice president post, ,12 for four vice presidents post and 43 for 15 EC members.. But, three nomination papers were submitted for the hot beat of president, two for senior vice president, seven for vice presidents and 40 EC members. Two former national footballers -- Satyajit Das Rupu and Syed Hasan Kanan--who collected nominations for both the vice president and EC member, finally submitted nomination papers only for the EC member. The election commission will scrutinize the submitted nomination papers on Wednesday. The withdrawal of candidature will take place on October 19 and 20 and the final candidate list will be published on October 20 before BFF Election on October 26.

Defending champions Bangladesh Women’s National Football team safely reached the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Tuesday to compete in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2024. The seven- nation women's regional soccer meet will be held at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu from October 17-30. Bangladesh women's team departed Dhaka at 10:30 am and reach the Kathmandu at 11:30 am local time by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Local weather of Kathmandu is very pleasant with clear skies, all the players, team officials and staff team are in sound conditions and good health, said a BFF media release Tuesday afternoon. The team focusing on recovery and relaxation session on Tuesday . A light recovery session scheduled for the day at the swimming pool and there will be no on-field training session today, the media release added. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Holders Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm while they will face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue. Bangladesh women’s team : Rupna Chakma, Masura Parvin, Afeida Khandakar, Sheuli Azim. Shamsunnahar Sr, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Airin Khatun, Kohati Kisku, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda (vice captain), Sapna Rani, Sumaya Matsushima, Sanjida Akhter, Munki Akhter, Ritu Porna Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sabina Khatun (captain), Tohura Khatun, Shamsun nahar jr, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Mst Yearzan, Mile Akter and Mst Sagorika.

Defending champions Bangladesh Women’s Football team will fly for Nepal on Tuesday to compete in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2024 to be held in Kathmandu from October 17 to 30 with a hope to retain the regional soccer crown. Ahead of the ensuing SAFF Championship, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday announced a 23-member Bangladesh women’s football team that included nine team officials. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Holders Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in Kathmandu while they face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue. BFF member and Chairperson of the Committee for Women’s Football Mahfuza Akter Kiron, team manager Mahmuda Akter, Head Coach Pater James Butler, captain Sabina Khatun and vice-captain Maria Manda disclosed their expectation and preparations at a press conference at the BFF house on Monday. Read more: Who Will Win the Ballon d'Or trophy in 2025: 5 Prospective Footballers Captain Sabina Khatun said, “We will miss the services of our two key players Anthi Khatun and Sirat Jahan Swopna, we will try our best to fill the gap with new players .Moreover, we failed to play mentionable preparation matches this time, however, our target in to give best in the meet”. But, Vice-captain Maria sought blessing from the countrymen to achieve the goal. Bangladesh women’s team : Rupna Chakma, Masura Parvin, Afeida Khandakar, Sheuli Azim. Shamsunnahar Sr, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Airin Khatun, Kohati Kisku, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda (vice captain), Sapna Rani, Sumaya Matsushima, Sanjida Akhter, Munki Akhter, Ritu Porna Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sabina Khatun (captain), Tohura Khatun, Shamsun nahar jr, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Mst Yearzan, Mile Akter and Mst Sagorika.

After a landmark court decision for the soccer transfer market, FIFA said Monday it will now invite “key stakeholders” worldwide for talks about updating rules put in question by former France international Lassana Diarra. The European Court of Justice ruled in the Diarra case on Oct. 4 in Luxembourg that some parts of FIFA’s transfer regulations did not comply with its laws on competition and freedom of movement for labor. While some analysts speculate that the entire global transfer market, worth more than $10 billion each year, could be upended, FIFA believes its consultations can focus more narrowly on player-club disputes where contracts are allegedly broken without just cause. The FIFA talks should include the global players’ union FIFPRO, plus representatives from clubs, leagues and national soccer federations. Messi's Argentina held 1-1 by Venezuela in South American World Cup qualifying "Together with them, FIFA will determine what conclusions must be drawn from the Diarra decision, and which changes are most appropriate and suitable to make to article 17 of the (transfer regulations),” the governing body's chief legal officer Emilio García said in a statement. Diarra, a former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea player, signed a four-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013. The deal was terminated a year later after he was unhappy with alleged pay cuts. FIFA and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport found the Russian club terminated the contract “with just cause” and ordered the player to pay 10.5 million euros ($11.2 million). Diarra argued his search for a new club was affected by FIFA rules, making his next employer jointly responsible for paying compensation to Lokomotiv. Man City and Premier League claim a win after challenge of league's financial fairness rules “The Diarra decision confirms the sanctity of contracts. Nobody, neither a club nor a player, can simply walk away from a valid contract,” García said. “Consequently, if players wish to be released from a contract, there will be financial consequences.” The FIFA-led talks will open while the Diarra case now goes back to a local court in Belgium, where a final ruling could take years rather than months.

Tabith Awal and three others collected nomination papers to contest for the hot seat of president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) in the BFF Election' 2024 scheduled for October 26. Grassroot level organiser from Dinajpur district AFM Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, president of Mymensingh District Football Association and former BCB director SM Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan and councilor of Brahmanbaria FC Md Shahadat Hossain picked up nomination for the post of president alongside stronger candidate and two times BFF vice president cum BNP leader Tabith Awal. SM Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan also collected nomination paper for the post of vice president. Another influential organiser and owner of now defunct Saif FC Tarafder Md Ruhul Amin, who earlier declared himself as a president candidate after president Kazi Salahuddin quit from the race, finally, step down and collected nomination for the post of senior vice president. Current BFF vice president cum president of Bashundhara Kings Md Imrul Hasan and Md Monir Hossen also picked up nomination for the lone post of senior vice president Twelve nomination papers were sold against four vice-presidents posts that also collected by former national footballers, coach and organisers They are: Md Iqbal Hossen, Syed Rummon Bin Wali Sabbir, Satyajit Das Rupu, Syed Hasan Kanan (former national footballer), Shafiqul Islam Manik (former national footballer cum coach),Naser Shahriar Jahedi, Fahad M Ahmed Karim, Sabbir Ahmed Aref, Wahiduddin Chowdhury, Rashed Samiul Islam, Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan, Misbah Ahmad Bin Samad Chowdhury (organiser). Md. Iqbal Hossain, Satyajit Das Rupu, Syed Hasan Kanan and Misbah Ahmad Bin Samad Chowdhury also picked up nomination for the EC member. Besides, 43 nomination papers were sold against 15 posts for EC members in the three-day nomination distribution formalities concluded on Saturday The aspiring candidates will get two days to submit the nomination papers, on October 14 and 15, before the election commission scrutinises the nomination papers on the next day. The withdrawal of candidature will take place on October 19 and 20 and the final candidate list will be published on October 20 before BFF Election on October 26.

The Al-Hilal player, who has recently resumed training with his Saudi League team, is set to elevate his off-field investments by acquiring a private island. Currently, he has been renting the island, Ilhao do Japao, at a cost of €50,000 per day. Neymar has faced challenges over the past year due to a serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined. While he has returned to training, it is anticipated that he won't be back in action for several months. The winger is taking a cautious approach to his recovery to prolong his career. Meanwhile, he is continuing to enjoy a lavish lifestyle and pursue investments, including the island purchase. Read: Coach says Neymar is not ready for an imminent return to Al-Hilal The island, Ilha do Japao, is reportedly being sold for around €9 million. Brazilian journalist Leo Dias revealed that Neymar previously rented the island to explore it thoroughly before making the purchase. The current owner, a Canadian investor, has lowered the price by €3 million, attracting interest from Neymar and other potential buyers. Given its proximity to Rio de Janeiro, Neymar appears to have a particular interest. The island can accommodate up to ten guests and features a heliport, providing a 35-minute journey from a popular coastal town. Alternatively, it can be reached by boat. Spanning approximately 3 hectares, it includes an Indonesian-style main villa, two suites, a koi pond, and three sea-view bungalows. Read more: Lionel Messi scores 2 in Argentina's World Cup qualifying win over Peru; Brazil's Neymar injured This will not be Neymar's first luxury acquisition; he already owns a six-bedroom mansion in the Mangaratiba resort area and previously purchased a glass-fronted palace near São Paulo for €3 million in late 2021.