United News of Bangladesh

Old Trafford witnessed one of its most unforgettable European nights as Manchester United pulled off a stunning 5-4 comeback victory over Lyon to secure a place in the Europa League semifinals. Despite their struggles in the Premier League this season, United delivered a performance full of heart and drama. After surrendering an early two-goal advantage, the Red Devils found themselves trailing 4-2 in extra time against a Lyon side reduced to 10 men. But the comeback kings refused to fold. Ticket sales for Bangladesh-Zimbabwe first Test begins on Saturday Captain Harry Maguire emerged the hero, scoring a last-gasp winner in stoppage time of extra time, sparking wild celebrations and reviving hopes of silverware in an otherwise turbulent season. Head coach Ruben Amorim remained optimistic: “We still have time to make something special of this season, so we have to think like that and be positive,” he said after the match. United now face Spanish outfit Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals, after they eased past Rangers 2-0 in their quarterfinal clash. Elsewhere, Tottenham also advanced to the final four, securing a gritty 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to go through 2-1 on aggregate—another bright spot in a challenging domestic campaign. History was made in Norway too, as Bodo/Glimt became the first Norwegian team to reach a European semifinal. They overcame Lazio in a dramatic penalty shootout, following a 3-3 aggregate scoreline after extra time in Rome.      

Bangladesh Women’s Football team will play two matches in a tri-nation football series in Jordan capital Amman involving much superior Jordan and stronger Indonesia in May and June next ahead of their Asian Cup Qualifiers against Myanmar in  nest June- July. Bangladesh women’s team, FIFA ranked 133rd,  will fly to Jordan on May 27 to play one match each against FIFA ranked 74th Jordan on May 31 and FIFA ranked 94th Indonesia on June 3, both in Amman. Ticket sales for Bangladesh-Zimbabwe first Test begins on Saturday Bangladesh, which seriously looking for playing some preparatory matches against stronger teams ahead of the Asian Cup Qualifiers against Myanmar, finally got the opportunity to measure their ability and strength. Regarding inclusion of 18 rebel footballers in Jordan-bound team, chief of the BFF Women’s wing Mahfuza Akter Kiron said, ten players  of them , now in Bhutan to play in the Bhutan women’s national league. "Head coach of the Women’s team Pater Butler will form team for Jordan, I do not like to interfere in his job", she said.

 Arsenal defeated defending champion Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009 in a match where VAR played a key role in two penalty decisions. Arsenal advanced 5-1 on aggregate after winning 3-0 in London last week, keeping alive its chances of winning Europe’s top club competition for the first time. It will face Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals. Inter Milan advanced past Bayern Munich on Wednesday and will meet Barcelona in the semifinals. There was no historic comeback for Madrid this time. No late goals, no high drama, no magic at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The 15-time European champions fell short of the last four for the first time since 2020, ending its shot at a third Champions League title in four seasons. “There was a lot of talk coming here about (Real Madrid) coming back, because they’ve done it so many times before, but we had so much belief and confidence from that first game to come here and win,” Arsenal's Declan Rice said. "We had it in our minds and now we’ve done it in real life.” Momentum shift Madrid's hopes of staging another comeback took a big hit when a five-minute VAR review overturned a penalty for a hold on Kylian Mbappé in the first half with the game tied 0-0. Arsenal earlier had been awarded a penalty after a video review, but Bukayo Saka missed his spot kick. Barcelona protects its La Liga lead with a narrow win at Leganes Saka was able to put Arsenal ahead from inside the area after Mikel Merino's pass in the 65th minute, and Madrid couldn’t manage more than an equalizer by Vinícius Júnior a couple of minutes later after a defensive blunder by William Saliba. Gabriel Martinelli completed the scoring three minutes into stoppage time, also after an assist by Merino. “This is one of the best nights in my football career, for sure," Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. "It’s a really special one against a team that has been an inspiration for a lot of us in this competition. To win this tie in the manner that we have, we can be very proud.” Injured Mbappe Mbappé was replaced by Brahim Díaz in the 75th with an apparent injury and part of the crowd at the Bernabeu jeered the France star when his substitution was announced. It was another lackluster performance for Mbappé, who is yet to win a Champions League title. “It’s a tough moment,” Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez said. “We tried but in the end we couldn’t achieve our goal. We’ll come back stronger. Madrid always does.” It was a tough assignment for Madrid from the start. Arsenal hasn't lost by a three-goal margin in nearly three years, and only four times has a home team erased a first-leg deficit of three goals or more in the Champions League era, according to UEFA. Arsenal hadn’t lost to Madrid in the teams’ three previous meetings. It also overcame Madrid in the Champions League knockout stage in 2005-06, when it reached the final and eventually lost the title to Barcelona. Ancelotti's perspective “We have to hold our heads high because we did very well in this competition in recent years,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "This year we have to endure and suffer. In sport, this can happen because there are no invincible teams. I was clear with my players. We have to keep our heads up, we have to learn from it and fight for the next game.” Ancelotti said he didn't know if the loss would mean his last Champions League match with Madrid, “Maybe the club will decide to make a change. It could be this year or next year, when my contract runs out," he said. “The day I finish here I can only do one thing and that is to thank this club. It could be tomorrow, in 10 days or in a year and the only thing I will do is thank the club.” Mohammedan boost title hopes beating Bashundhara Kings Backed by a raucous crowd at the Bernabeu, Madrid tried to get off to a strong start. It found the net in the second minute but Mbappé's effort was disallowed for a clear offside. Arsenal had a chance to increase its advantage after being awarded a penalty about 10 minutes later, but Saka’s chip from the spot was saved by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The penalty was awarded after Raúl Asencio held Mikel Merino inside the area during a corner kick in an action that was missed by French referee François Letexier. But he was called over to the pitchside monitor by the VAR to review the incident and then pointed to the spot. Video review played a role again in the 23rd, after Mbappé was held inside the area by Rice. Letexier pointed to the spot but after a lengthy VAR check he had to reverse his decision.

Krishna Rani Sarkar,  the senior footballer of the SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh football team finally left Dhaka for Thimphu on Wednesday to play in the Bhutan Women's National Football League. Krishna, who was supposed to fly Bhutan last Sunday along with five other Bangladeshi booters, failed the missed the trip for not getting work permit in time and finally reached Bhutan on Wednesday. Earlier on last Sunday, five more senior footballers of the SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh team left the capital for Thimphu to play in the Bhutan National Women's Football League beginning there on April 15. They are ---Sanjida Akter, Maria Manda, Shamsunnahar Sr,  Masura Parvin and Rupna Chakma . Four players --Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun, SAFF's best player Ritu Porna Chakma, reliable national booters Monika Chakma and Matsushima Sumaya--reached Thimphu in the first week of this month to play for Paro FC in the Bhutan league. Six-team super league of Dhaka Premier Division Cricket kicks off Thursday With the inclusion of Krishna, a record 10 players from Bangladesh playing togather for first time in foreign league. Apart from Paro FC,'s Sabina, Ritu Porna, Monika and Sumaiya, national defender Masura Parvin, SAFF's best goalkeeper Rupna Chakma and Krishna Rani Sarkar will play for the Transport United while Maria Manda, Sanjida Akter and Shamsunnahar Sr will play for Thimphu City. Earlier, Captain Sabina Khatun also played in the Maldives league while Sanjida Akter played for Kolkata East Bengal Club. Besides, four Bangladeshi players--Sabina Khatun ,Ritu Porna, Maria Manda and Monika Chakma -- played for Royal Thimphu College FC of Bhutan in the AFC Women's Champions League in August last year.

One of Diego Maradona's daughters testified Tuesday in the trial of seven medical professionals accused of negligence in the soccer great's death, describing the room where her father underwent home hospitalization in 2020 as “disgusting” and “smelling of urine.” Dalma Maradona said she and her siblings were deceived by the doctors treating their father. “They promised us a home hospitalization that never happened,” said Dalma, the eldest of the former Argentina captain’s five children and the first of them to testify in court. “They made us believe in something that never happened. They deceived us in the cruelest way to support that,” she added. 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, days after undergoing surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain. He was 60. Dalma said the facility was not fit for medical treatment. “It smelled like urine, the bed was disgusting,” she said. "There was a portable toilet. There was this panel on the windows to keep out the light. There was nothing. It was horrible. The kitchen was disgusting.” Doctors testify Maradona should not have undergone surgery before his death Seven healthcare professionals, including a neurosurgeon and a psychiatrist, are on trial for failing to provide adequate care and could face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Dalma recalled that after the hematoma surgery, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, and psychologist Carlos Díaz — three of the defendants whom she identified as “my father’s doctors” — suggested home hospitalization since Maradona did not want to remain hospitalized. “There were three options (voluntary hospitalization, forced hospitalization, and home hospitalization), but they made us understand that home hospitalization was the only option,” Dalma said. “They promised us 24-hour nurses to monitor his blood pressure and to give him medication.” Last week, Diego Maradona’s ex-wife and a doctor also questioned the decision to take him to a private home following the surgery instead of admitting him to a rehabilitation center. The deficiencies in Maradona’s home care are one of the prosecution’s key pieces of evidence against the defendants. Dalma Maradona said the last time she saw her father alive was at the hospital as she had not been allowed access to the house where he was rehabilitating until after he was dead. “I went into the room (after he died), he was very swollen. He was covered with a sheet, but you could see he was swollen,” she said. “I threw myself on him because I thought he was going to wake up. His face was very swollen, his hands, his face. His stomach, his body. Everything.” Experts involved in Maradona’s autopsy testify that he had an abnormally large heart She added: “I miss him every day of my life, and what pains me the most is knowing that if they (the doctors) had done their job, this could have been avoided,” Dalma concluded. “It’s still very painful to remember the abuse he suffered, and I didn’t know. If I had known this was going to be the outcome, I would have handled it differently. But I never thought about it.”

Five more 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. The day's Thimphu bound five footballers are: Sanjida Akter, Maria Manda, Shamsunnahar Sr, Masura Parvin and Rupna Chakma . Another Bangladesh booter Krishna Rani Sarkar, who was also supposed fly Bhutan today along with five other players, failed to miss the day's trip for not getting work permit in time. Earlier on last Sunday, four players --Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun, SAFF's best player Ritu Porna Chakma, reliable national booters Monika Chakma and Matsushima Sumaya--reached Thimphu to play for Paro FC in the Bhutan league. With the day's five, a record nine Bangladeshi players are going to play together in the Bhutan league, for the first time in a foreign league. Apart from Paro FC,'s Sabina, Ritu Porna, Monika and Sumaiya, national defender Masura Parvin and SAFF's best goalkeeper Rupna Chakma will play for the Transport United while Maria Manda, Sanjida Akter and Shamsunnahar Sr will play for Thimphu City. But, their clubs will have to release them during Bangladesh national team's engagements as per FIFA rules. Captain Sabina Khatun also played in the Maldives league while Sanjida Akter played for Kolkata East Bengal Club. Besides, four Bangladeshi players--Sabina Khatun ,Ritu Porna, Maria Manda and Monika Chakma -- played for Royal Thimphu College FC of Bhutan in the AFC Women's Champions League in August last year.

Barcelona eked out a 1-0 win after an own goal from relegation-threatened Leganes on Saturday to protect its lead in the Spanish league. Raphinha, Barcelona’s breakout player of the season and the Champions League’s leading scorer, came through again for Hasni Flick's team in attack – and defence, AP reports. Raphina's dangerous cross was turned into the net by Leganes defender Jorge Sáenz for the game's only goal in the 48th minute. The Brazil forward then showed hustle when he disrupted a promising pass for Leganes’ top scorer, Daniel Rabaseda, late in the first half. The hard-earned win extended Barcelona's lead to seven points over Real Madrid before the titleholders visit Alaves on Sunday. After this weekend there are seven rounds left, including a “clasico” next month. “These games are where leagues are won,” Barcelona’s Éric García said. “It was a night to put the pressure (on Madrid).” FIFA chief hails expanded tournaments in AFC speech Leganes shocked Barcelona 1-0 in December, during a dip in form by the Catalan club. But since the start of 2025, Barcelona has now gone 24 games without a loss and is in the running for a treble of titles including the Copa del Rey, where it has set up a final against Madrid. “To win this match was very important,” Flick said. “I am really proud about my team. What they are doing the last weeks and months is incredible.” Barcelona kept up is momentum before it visits Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday aiming to make good on its 4-0 first-leg win in their Champions League quarterfinal. Sáenz’s error spoiled an otherwise strong performance from the southern Madrid side, which generated more scoring chances than the front-runners.

Dhaka Mohammedan SC brightened their chance to clinch the 10-team Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football crown, beating five-time champions Bashundhara Kings by 2-1 goals in a nerve-shattering match at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena here Saturday evening. With the day’s shocking defeat, big-budgeted and star-studded Bashundhara Kings went into the title race with 20 points from eleven matches and remained at the 3rd slot in the league table. This was the 2nd consecutive defeat for Bashundhara Kings against the Mohammedan SC in the ongoing league after their first defeat in the first phase league. However, the Kings clinched the season’s curtain raiser soccer meet, the Challenge Cup Football 2024-25, outplaying Mohammedan SC by 3-1 goals in the final last November. By virtue of the day’s inspiring victory, the traditional black and whites Mohammedan SC kept their league’s top slot intact, comfortably securing 30 points from eleven matches, while Dhaka Abahani Limited followed them with 26 points, also playing eleven matches. In the day’s match, captain cum long-serving Mali booter Souleymane Diabate scored both the goals for Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the 19th and 86th minutes, while Rakib Hossain netted the only goal for the Kings in the 25th minute. Souleymane Diabate put Mohammedan SC ahead in the 19th minute, utilising a misunderstanding between Kings defender and custodian Srabon (1-0). But forward Rakib Hossain levelled the margin for Kings in the 25th minute by a rebounder when a free kick of his mate Jonathan came his way from opponent custodian Sujon (1-1).   When the match was almost heading for a draw, then Souleymane Diabate again came to rescue Mohammedan SC, scoring the match-winner in the 86th minute, beating the opponent defender and custodian (2-1). Bashundhara Kings were restricted to 10 men in the 48th minute as their Rimon got marching orders in the 48th minute. After winning the match, players of the Mohammedan SC gave a lap of honour at the ground with the Palestinian flag. In the day’s other match, Dhaka Abahani Limited outplayed Dhaka Wanderers Club by 4-1 goals at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Saturday afternoon. After a barren first half in Gazipur, Brazilian midfielder Raphael Augusto struck twice for the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Ltd in the 48th and 83rd minutes; local striker Sumon Reza and medio Mohammad Hridoy added two more goals for Abahani in the 51st and 57th minutes, respectively.  Sakib Bepari netted the consolation for the old horse Dhaka Wanderers Club in the 55th minute from a penalty. In the day's other match, Fortis FC advanced to the 5th slot in the league table, defeating Brothers Union Club by 2-0 goals at the Bir Shreshtho FL Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Saturday. Defender Kamacai Marma put Fortis FC ahead in the 45th minute, while Gambian forward Pa Omar extended the Fort's margin in the 60th minute.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised the impact of expanded tournaments in the development of soccer around the world in a video message to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress on Saturday. Speaking from the United States, host of this year's Club World Cup which will feature 32 teams in June and July instead of the previous seven, Infantino addressed the 46 member associations gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, AP reports. “Opportunities to face opponents from different continents don’t come along too often and that is something that we have been trying to change at FIFA,” said Infantino, who has pushed for bigger and new tournaments since taking his position in 2016 in a bid to generate more revenue for the organization’s 211 member associations. Asia will have four representatives at the Club World Cup: Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Ulsan HD of South Korea and Japan’s Urawa Reds. “In total, players from more nations will represent their respective countries at this tournament than at all of the FIFA World Cups combined since 1930,” added Infantino. “It is further proof in our desire to make football truly global.” While there has been some criticism of expanded tournaments in Europe because of the increased demands placed on players, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said Infantino had Asia’s support. BPL Football: Rahmatganj MFS, Police FC win respective matches on resumption week “This is a competition that we have supported as a confederation and a competitive opportunity which our members, and their clubs, have wanted,” the AFC president said. The United States will also co-host the 2026 World Cup along with Mexico and Canada in the first tournament to feature 48 national teams, an increase from 32 in 2022. “Some teams will break new ground in reaching that competition as a result, not only of the move to 48 teams with eight or even nine Asian teams now being able to qualify, but also a product of the tireless work being done by you all,” added Infantino. Infantino did not mention Thursday’s proposal by Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer’s ruling body CONMEBOL, that the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by six nations, feature 64 teams in order to mark the centennial celebration of the tournament. In March, FIFA said it would look into the South American proposal when it was first broached by a Uruguayan official. Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in 1930. The 1930 World Cup, won by the host Uruguay side, featured 13 teams which did not have to pre-qualify — seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America. Many European teams did not participate because of the difficulty of traveling to South America during the Great Depression.

Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society and Bangladesh Police FC win their respective matches in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football on the resuming day at two separate venues across the country on Friday ( April 11). The country's most prestigious football league began today ( Friday) after more than one and half months. With the day's feat, Rahmatganj MFS advanced to the 4th slot in the league table securing 18 points from 11 matches while Police FC also improved their position to 5th slot collecting 16 points from 11 encounters. In the day's match, the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS beat Chittagong Abahani Limited by 2-0 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Fl. Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Friday afternoon. Defender Tanvir Hossain put Rahmatganj ahead in the 27th minute (1-0) while Ghana forward Samuel Boateng confirmed the Rahmatganj victory scoring one more goal in the 44th minute (2-0) In the day's other league match, Bangladesh Police FC outplayed Youngmen's Club Fakirerpooi by 3-0 goals at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Friday afternoon. After a barren first half, Forward Sheikh Bablu struck twice for the Police FC in 71st and 85th the minutes while another forward Dipok Roy netted the remaining goal in the 79th minute.. The Titans battle between holders Bashundhara Kings and league leader Dhaka Mohammedan SC will kick-off at 5:30 pm on Saturday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena.here. Mohammedan SC dominated the league table comfortably securing 27 points, defending champions Bashundhara Kings are in the 3rd slot with 20 points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd in the 2nd slot with 23 points, all playing 10 matches each