football
Continue investigation into internal corruption of BFF: Appellate Division
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the chamber judge's order that directed to continue an investigation into internal corruption at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and its President Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, Senior Vice President Abdus Salam Murshedy and others.
Moreover, the court affirmed the chamber judge's order that issued status quo on June 25 on a part of the High Court (HC) directive which directed them to probe the allegations against them regarding corruption involving FIFA funds.
Read: Maintain status quo on investigation into BFF: Appellate Division
The Appellate Division ordered the HC to settle the rules, issued earlier in this connection, within three weeks.
A three justice bench led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order on Sunday after disposing of the appeals submitted by the BFF and others.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury stood for Salam Murshedy and others in the court during the hearing and Advocate Murad Reza represented the writ petitioner and Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan for the Anti-Corruption Commissioner (ACC).
Read: No opinion on BFF corruption, money laundering until probe ends: HC
On June 25, the Chamber Judge court upheld an HC order to continue the inquiry into the allegation of the BFF’s internal corruption, Salahuddin, Murshedy and former general secretary Abu Nayeem Sohag.
However, the court affirmed the status quo regarding the investigation into the FIFA fund and sent it to the Appellate Division for hearing.
Earlier on June 23, a petition was submitted by the BFF, Salahuddin and Murshedy seeking a stay order on the investigation into the allegation of corruption of the BFF.
On June 25, the BFF president withdrew his petition.
Read: HC orders ACC to probe graft allegations against BFF President Salahuddin, others
On May 15, an HC bench of Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat ordered an investigation into the allegations of corruption against Salahuddin, Murshedy and Sohag within four months.
Moreover, the HC issued a rule asking to explain why it won’t be declared illegal by the inaction of the authorities concerned regarding corruption of the trio and the BFF.
On May 14, Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon submitted a writ petition seeking investigation into the corruption of the BFF office bearers including Salahuddin.
ACC chairman, Sports Secretary, NBR chairman and others involved with the football federation were made respondents to the writ.
Carlo Ancelotti will coach Brazil at Copa America next year says confederation chairman
Brazilian soccer confederation chairman Ednaldo Rodrigues said Wednesday that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will be in charge of the national team at next year's Copa America.
Ancelotti has still not publicly confirmed any deal with the five-time World Cup champions. Brazil has never had a full-time foreign coach in charge of its national team. But the internal pressure to do so increased after Tite, hailed by many as the best Brazilian coach in the last decade, failed to deliver in the last two editions of the World Cup.
Rodrigues spoke to journalists after he introduced Fernando Diniz as the new Brazil coach until July next year in a news conference which featured several questions over the future role of Ancelotti.
“He will be, he will be. You can be sure of that,” Rodrigues said after being asked whether he had an agreement with Ancelotti to be the Brazil coach at the 2024 edition of Copa America. The 64-year-old Italian coach has a contract with Madrid which finishes when Diniz's 12-month contract with Brazil is due to expire.
Read: Afghanistan outplay Bangladesh in first ODI match marred by rain
“He (Ancelotti) has already said when he can be here,” Rodrigues said, adding that he wants Diniz to work with Ancelotti after the Brazilian's contract expires.
“That will be up to Diniz, he takes one step at a time,” Rodrigues said.
Diniz is a favorite among players like Neymar and Thiago Silva, who publicly praised him as a potential national team coach before the conversation about Ancelotti had started at the Brazilian soccer confederation.
Executives at the Brazilian soccer confederation have indicated the intention is to wait a season and then bring in Ancelotti to lead the team at the Copa America, which will be played in the United States from June 20 to July 14, and into the 2026 World Cup.
Read: SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
When asked why Ancelotti has not spoken about any agreement to coach Brazil until the 2026 World Cup, Rodrigues said: “That’s a detail. That’s his right, he’s the only one who can speak about it.”
Ancelotti has won a record four Champions League trophies as a coach — two with AC Milan, two with Real Madrid. He has had a good rapport with Brazilian players at Madrid, including Rodrygo, Eder Militão and Vinicius Jr. The latter has become one of the best players in the game under Ancelotti's guidance.
The 49-year-old Fluminense coach Diniz will keep his job at the Rio de Janeiro club and join Brazil only for South American World Cup qualifiers. He takes over from Brazil U-20 team coach Ramon Menezes, who led the team into this year’s friendlies on an interim basis, losing two out of three matches.
Tite, Brazil's previous long-term coach, left the job after a quarterfinal loss to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup at Qatar.
Read: Every match is a tough match in the World Cup: Tamim Iqbal
During the news conference, Diniz said he has never met Ancelotti and swerved questions related to the Italian.
“Ancelotti is a matter for the president, I will speak about my style,” said Diniz, who doesn't have a significant trophy collection, but is praised by both Brazil fans and players for his attacking strategies.
“I will repeat what brought me here," Diniz said in reference to his attacking style, pointing out with pride that he had "the best raw material in the world to execute my ideas.”
Diniz was introduced without any other coaching staffers in another hint he won't stay on the job beyond his contract. But he claimed to have “total liberty” to perform his duties until then in the eight matches — possibly more — that Brazil will play until Copa America begins.
“I talk to a lot of people, I would never be able to do things by myself. We will have CBF staffers, I will bring some people ... we don't do anything in a rush and make mistakes,” Diniz said.
Diniz said he is counting on 31-year-old Neymar to keep playing for Brazil, plus other players, “especially those aged 25, 26, 27 with World Cup experience on their backs.”
Brazil's first match under Diniz will be at home on Sept. 7 against Bolivia in the first round of South American World Cup qualifiers. Until then, Diniz will split his duties as Fluminense coach in the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian championship.
Rodrigues said that U-20 team coach Menezes is likely to coach Brazil's team at the Paris Olympics next year.
SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
Bangladesh's dream of reaching the final in the ongoing SAFF Championship was shattered by a late goal from Kuwait defender Abdullah Al Buloushi on Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
After a gap of 14 years, Bangladesh had advanced to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship but lost to Kuwait in extra time due to a conceded goal.
This was Bangladesh's first semifinal appearance since the 2009 SAFF Championship, with their last successful semifinal hurdle being in 2005.
Anisur Rahman Zico, the Bangladeshi goalkeeper, stood as an impenetrable barrier against Kuwait, saving a few chances and helping Bangladesh contain their opponents for a long time during the match.
Read: Bangladesh come from behind to beat Maldives, keep SAFF dream alive
Although Bangladesh managed to create some easy chances, their forward line's lack of efficiency rendered all their efforts futile.
Kuwait holds the 141st position in the FIFA rankings, while Bangladesh ranks 192nd, clearly highlighting the difference between the two teams.
However, in Saturday's semifinal, Bangladesh managed to contain Kuwait for over 105 minutes before conceding a goal due to a defensive mistake in the 107th minute.
In the 61st minute, Sheikh Morsalin and Rakib Hossain had an easy chance to score but failed to find the net against their opponents.
In terms of ball possession, Kuwait dominated with 71%, leaving Bangladesh with the remaining 29%.
Bangladeshi forwards had to work hard to support their defenders while remaining vigilant to create scoring opportunities.
Read: SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh to take on Maldives on Sunday
Prior to the event, Bangladesh's captain, Jamal Bhuyan, had expressed satisfaction with reaching the semifinals. In that sense, Bangladesh ended this year's SAFF Championship with their heads held high.
In the group stage games, Bangladesh lost to Lebanon before winning two consecutive games against Maldives and Bhutan.
Bangladesh's greatest success in the SAFF Championship came in 2003 when they defeated Maldives at home to win the SAFF title. Since then, Bangladesh reached the final once but failed to replicate that success.
Read more: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
Bangladesh come from behind to beat Maldives, keep SAFF dream alive
Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, Bangladesh’s footballers pulled off a superb comeback win against Maldives in the second group game of the 14th SAFF CHampionship on Sunday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore.
Bangladesh started positively and dominated possession, but fell behind to a goal by Hamza Mohammed in the 17th minute - one of only two shots on target for Maldives in the whole game. In contrast, Bangladesh had 9 shots on target.
The Green and Reds looked frantically for the equaliser, and their efforts paid off just before half time, through Rakib Hossain in the 42nd minute.
The second half saw Bangladesh continue to dominate, and Tariq Kazi put the team ahead in the 67th minute from a goalmouth melee, bundling the ball in at the third attempt.
Morsalin added a third in the 90th minute, finishing nicely from the left of the box after being set up by Bishwanath.
SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh to take on Maldives on Sunday
In their second encounter of the ongoing SAFF Championship 2023 in India, Bangladesh will take on Maldives on Sunday.
The Bangladesh team suffered a 2-0 defeat in their opening match against Lebanon, making it challenging for them to advance to the semifinal stage, which was their pre-event target.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
In their final group stage match, Bangladesh will face Bhutan.
To secure a place in the semifinals, Bangladesh must secure maximum points from the match against Maldives and then defeat Bhutan in their last match.
Read: 2024 Copa América in US to start on June 20
Bangladesh achieved their greatest SAFF success in 2023 when they defeated Maldives in the final on home soil. Since then, Bangladesh has reached the final of the South Asia's biggest footballing event twice, but the elusive title has eluded them.
SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
The Bangladesh national football team is aiming to reach the semifinal stage of the SAFF Championship, which starts on Wednesday in India.
Bangladesh's greatest achievement in a SAFF event was winning the tournament in 2003 by defeating Maldives in the final at home. However, in the past 20 years, they have been unable to replicate that success, despite reaching the final twice. The elusive title has remained out of their grasp.
This time around, the Bangladesh team is not setting their sights on winning the SAFF outright. Their main objective is to secure a spot in the semifinals, as the players stated before going to India to take part in the SAFF Championship.
Read: BFF picks 30 footballers for SAFF Championship, FIFA Friendly match
In their first match of the tournament, Bangladesh will face Lebanon on Thursday at 4pm. Lebanon currently ranks 99th in the FIFA men’s team ranking, while Bangladesh sits at 192. The ranking disparity clearly highlights the difference between these two teams, making a draw against Lebanon a significant achievement for Bangladesh.
In their second match in the initial stage of the tournament, Bangladesh will take on Maldives on Sunday. Maldives holds the 154th position in the FIFA ranking, which is higher than Bangladesh's ranking.
Both of these matches pose considerable challenges for Bangladesh in their quest to secure a place in the semifinals. However, the final match of the first phase against Bhutan provides an opportunity for Bangladesh to potentially secure an easy victory, as Bhutan is the only team they can expect to defeat without much difficulty.
Yet, a single win will not be enough to secure a spot in the semifinals. Under these circumstances, Bangladesh's expectations for this year's SAFF Championship remain modest.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh drawn in Group B with Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan
Despite the odds, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan expressed his belief over winning the SAFF. However, he emphasized the importance of performing well against Lebanon.
"For now, our focus is on securing a spot in the semifinals. If we manage to progress from there, then we can start thinking about the title," he stated before departing for India on June 16th. Other players and support personnel have also expressed the same goal—to secure a place in the semifinals. However, they acknowledge that it will not be an easy path for Bangladesh.
A total of eight teams are participating in this year's SAFF Championship. Kuwait, India, Pakistan, and Nepal form Group A, while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lebanon, and Maldives comprise Group B. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinal stage.
Read more: Lebanon confirmed as 8th team in SAFF Championship 2023
2024 Copa América in US to start on June 20
Next year's Copa América in the United States will kick off on June 20 and the final will be played on July 17.
South American soccer body CONMEBOL confirmed the dates on Tuesday and said tournament organizers have yet to pick the host cities.
Read: Lionel Messi scores, gets hugged by a fan during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Australia
Ten South American teams plus six from North and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2024 Copa América. The four semifinalists in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League will qualify along with two winners from play-in games among the four quarterfinal losers.
Argentina is the defending champion.
Read: FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh beat Cambodia 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten record
The previous Copa América held in the U.S. from June 3-26 in 2016 also included 16 teams. Games were played at Chicago; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Glendale, Arizona; Houston; Orlando, Florida; Pasadena, California; Philadelphia; Santa Clara, California; and Seattle. The final was at East Rutherford.
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez said in a statement that the “a new edition will invite (fans) to celebrate and live the passion that this competition makes us feel.”
Lionel Messi scores, gets hugged by a fan during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Australia
Lionel Messi got hugged by a fan who ran onto the field wearing a No. 10 Argentina shirt Thursday during a 2-0 friendly win over Australia in which the World Cup champion scored the fastest goal of his career.
Messi was standing near the corner flag in the second half when the fan ran onto the field and embraced him. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner appeared to be surprised as the fan approached, but then put his arm around the interloper’s back before security guards quickly moved in.
The fan bolted across the field and high-fived Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on the other end before doubling back across the grass and tripping. The invader was eventually carried off the field.
READ: Messi, Argentina set to pull a big crowd in Beijing exhibition game against Australia
Moments later, Messi helped set up the second goal for German Pezzella in the 68th minute at the Worker’s Stadium in Beijing.
Earlier, Messi had scored with almost his first touch, only a week after deciding to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami.
Emerging to massive cheers from the Chinese fans, many of them wearing the famous blue-and-white national team shirts, Messi scored after 1 minute, 19 seconds in Argentina’s third game since beating France in the World Cup final in December.
READ: Messi’s move to Inter Miami: Debut, Contract, Salary and more in MLS
Australia midfielder Mathew Leckie slipped inside his own half, allowing Enzo Fernandez to feed Messi, who stepped around Aiden O’Neill on the edge of the area and curled the ball past the diving Mat Ryan. With 103 international goals, Messi trails only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (122) and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Messi came close again minutes later but Australia soon worked itself into the match, much like it did in the 2-1 loss to Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar. Mitch Duke’s shot was pushed onto the post by Martinez.
Messi then had another chance before halftime but the 35-year-old forward shot over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
READ: No homecoming for Messi as Barcelona again fails to do enough to lure him back
In the second half, Messi again went close, this time from a free kick in the 65th minute. He was then involved in his team’s second goal, passing the ball near the corner flag to Rodrigo De Paul, who crossed for Pezzella to head home.
A short time later, Messi found Julian Alvarez in the area but his low shot was pushed past the post by the diving Ryan.
Argentina will next travel to Jakarta to face Indonesia on Monday, while Australia will face England in October as it prepares for the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh beat Cambodia 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten record
Bangladesh national football team beat hosts Cambodian national side by 1-0 goal in a keenly contested FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly match at the 30,000 crowd-packed Olympics Stadium in Phnom Penh on Thursday (June 15) evening.
Cambodian Television (BTV) telecast the match live.
With the day's feat, Touring Bangladesh (FIFA Ranking 192) maintained their unbeaten run against upper ranked Cambodia (Ranking 176) by winning five matches in their 6th meetings.
The remaining match between two teams ended in 1-1 draw in an international friendly in August 2007.
Read: FIFA Int'l Friendly : Bangladesh to play Cambodia on Thursday
In the day's match, Mojibur Rahman Jony, a midfielder of premier league team Fortis FC, scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 24th minute by a running placing shot from danger zone, utilizing a long cross of Foysal Ahmed Fahim (1-0).
Bangladesh custodian Anisur Rahman Zico displayed his brilliance under the bar foiling at least three good attempts of the opponent team.
Although the Cambodia team conceded defeat in the day's match, but they dominated over Bangladesh all through with their attacking football and did everything except scoring goal.
Bangladesh's most reliable Finland-based defender Tariq Kazi got marching order just few minute the final whistle.
Read: Two Bangladeshi booters reach Phnom Penh to join squad
Earlier, Bangladesh made a good practices in Phnom Penh beating 3rd ranked Cambodian Premier league side Tiffy Army FC 1-0 in a preparatory match last Monday, by a goal by Abahani medio Mohammad Sohel Rana.
However, Bangladesh team will fly for India directly from Cambodia on Friday (June 16) to compete in the eight-nation 14th SAFF Championship scheduled for June 21 to July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Earlier, Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B of the (SAFF) Championship 2023 with top seed and invitee Lebanon, two times champions Maldives and Bhutan while Group A team comprises eight-time champions India, invitee Kuwait, Nepal and Pakistan. .
Bangladesh, the champions of 2003, will start their campaign taking on favorite and top seed Lebanon on the following day (June 22) at 3:30 pm at the same venue.
Read: No homecoming for Messi as Barcelona again fails to do enough to lure him back
Bangladesh, who did not overcame the group stage barrier in the last five editions, will play Maldives on June 25 at 3:30 pm and meet Bhutan on June 28 at 7:30 pm in their remaining group matches
After the round-robin league matches, top two teams from each groups, will play in the semifinals on July 1 while the final billed for July 4.
Jude Bellingham given Zidane's No. 5 after completing move to Real Madrid
Holding up the same No. 5 shirt once donned by Zinedine Zidane, Jude Bellingham completed his move to Real Madrid on Thursday after signing a six-year deal with Europe's most successful club.
Bellingham posed with his new shirt before Madrid's packed trophy case after he passed his medical exam and signed the contract alongside club president Florentino Pérez.
Following his presentation, Bellingham finished a brief speech where he thanked his family and former teams with Madrid's battle cry: "Hala Madrid!"
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Despite reportedly being a transfer target for several top European clubs, including Manchester City and Manchester United, Bellingham opted to move to the Spanish club that has won the European Cup a record 14 times.
Pérez called Bellingham one of the "best players in the world" and underscored that while he had other clubs after him, "he is here because this is where he wanted to be."
Madrid did not confirm the transfer fee, but Dortmund said in a statement to the stock exchange last week that it could reach more than 130 million euros ($139 million).
Also read: Mission completed: Man City beats Inter Milan to end wait for first Champions League title
Only 19 years old, Bellingham joins a youth movement at Madrid that includes 22-year-old Brazil forwards Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, French internationals Eduardo Camavinga (20) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (23), and Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde (24).
While he won't be asked to replace the scoring void left by the exit of Karim Benzema, Bellingham may still have some very big boots to fill. Veteran midfielders Luka Modric, a former Ballon d'Or winner, and Toni Kroos, both have contracts that expire at the end of this month.
Bellingham joined Dortmund from second-division English club Birmingham in 2020. His three-season stay at Dortmund ended after the team lost the German title to Bayern Munich on goal difference. He debuted for England in 2020 and has played 24 times for his national team.
Also read: No homecoming for Messi as Barcelona again fails to do enough to lure him back
Madrid has also made small deals to buy back former players Brahim Díaz and Fran García as it seeks to recover the Champions League and Spanish league titles that it relinquished last season.
The powerhouse team is expected to attempt to make another big signing to replace Benzema after his departure for Saudi Arabia. Madrid is in the middle of rumors of a possible exit of Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain or Harry Kane from Tottenham.