United News of Bangladesh

Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef S Y Ramadan met BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Tuesday night at her Gulshan residence ‘Firoza’. The envoy arrived there around 8:30pm, and the meeting lasted for about 45 minutes. BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury and her Private Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar were also present. After the meeting, Enamul Haque Chowdhury told UNB that the Ambassador came to meet the BNP Chairperson, enquired about her treatment, and prayed for her full recovery. He said Khaleda asked the envoy about the situation in Palestine and Gaza.  Enamul said the BNP chief urged the United Nations, OIC, and the peace-loving world to immediately stop Israel’s destructive plan to occupy Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians.  Dhaka seeks global action to end Israeli violence in Palestine He said she also expressed sympathy for the thousands of women and children in Gaza enduring unbearable suffering. Enamul said the Ambassador gratefully recalled late President Ziaur Rahman’s decision to provide land for the Palestinian Embassy in Gulshan, and Khaleda Zia’s move in 1991 to extend financial support for constructing the embassy building. He said the envoy also remembered the friendship between President Ziaur Rahman and Palestine’s undisputed leader Yasser Arafat, he said.

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal defeated Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi 3-2 on Monday to top their group in the Asian Champions League Elite with full points from two matches. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring for Al-Hilal, but Sardorbek Bakhromov’s long-range strike leveled the score in the first half. After the break, French international Theo Hernandez restored Al-Hilal’s lead with a solo run past five defenders before finishing inside the box. Javokhir Sidikov pulled one back for Nasaf, but Marcos Leonardo secured the win for the four-time champions in the 79th minute. “We played at a fast tempo and earned a positive result,” Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said. “We could have sealed the game earlier as we wasted many chances, but Nasaf is a strong opponent.” Meanwhile, defending champions Al-Ahli were held 2-2 by Qatar’s Al-Duhail. Al-Ahli went behind after Edmilson Junior scored into an empty net following Adil Boulbina’s shot rebound. Brazilian forward Matheus Goncalves equalized before halftime, and Riyad Mahrez briefly put Al-Ahli ahead by intercepting a goalkeeper pass. Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek’s header earned a draw for Al-Duhail three minutes into the second half. In other matches, Iran’s Tractor drew 0-0 with UAE’s Al-Wahda, while Qatar’s Al-Gharafa defeated Iraq’s Al-Shorta 2-0.

AC Milan and Inter Milan cleared a major obstacle in their bid to own a stadium after the city council approved the sale of San Siro early Tuesday following a nearly 12-hour overnight debate. The council voted 24-20 in favor of selling the historic stadium and surrounding land at around 3 a.m. The clubs plan to demolish the 99-year-old San Siro and build a new 71,500-seat arena together. Italy’s tax agency has valued the stadium and surrounding area at 197 million euros ($233 million). The sale must be completed before Nov. 10, the 70th anniversary of the stadium’s second tier, which could otherwise make demolition nearly impossible. Last week, AC Milan and Inter announced partnerships with architectural firms Foster + Partners and Manica to design the new stadium, following preliminary city council approval. The project is part of a broader urban regeneration plan covering around 281,000 square meters (over 3 million square feet). The current San Siro will host the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February, while the new stadium is planned to be ready in time for Italy’s co-hosting of the 2032 European Championship with Turkey.

Paris Saint-Germain will be without star winger Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia for Wednesday’s Champions League group match at Barcelona. Kvaratskhelia was substituted at halftime in Saturday’s home victory over Auxerre due to a reported thigh injury. However, Vitinha, who left the field late in the first half against Auxerre, and midfielder João Neves, sidelined for the last two Ligue 1 matches with a thigh problem, were both included in PSG’s squad announced on Tuesday. Captain Marquinhos remains out with a thigh muscle issue. PSG will face Barcelona with a depleted attacking lineup. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and forward Désiré Doué are also still recovering from injuries sustained while representing France earlier this month.

Real Madrid embarks on a historic journey to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday. Kazakhstan joined UEFA in 2002 after previously competing in the Asian Football Confederation. While the country’s western region lies in Europe, Madrid – a record 15-time European champion – travels nearly 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) east to the nation’s capital. “You have to adapt. The trip is not an excuse or a hindrance,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. “It’s just another game.” Madrid, which opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Marseille, aims to recover from a 5-2 defeat against city rival Atlético Madrid on Saturday, marking their first loss of the season. Kairat, who lost 4-1 to Sporting Lisbon in their tournament debut, boast a strong home record in Europe, with just four defeats in their last 30 matches in Almaty. Elsewhere in the Champions League, Bayern Munich visits Pafos in Cyprus, Atlético Madrid faces Eintracht Frankfurt, and Chelsea hosts José Mourinho’s Benfica at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham returns to Norway to play Bodø/Glimt, while Liverpool travels to Galatasaray, Marseille welcomes Ajax, and Club Brugge faces Atalanta as Inter Milan hosts Slavia Prague in Italy.

South Africa has been docked three points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, Sports Minister Gayton Mckenzie confirmed on Monday. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also fined the South African Football Association (SAFA) 10,000 Swiss Francs (around USD 12,540), with the ruling published on the same day. “This development is deeply regrettable and has embarrassed both our nation and the game of football. We acknowledge that this has brought South Africa into disrepute, and we must take full responsibility,” Mckenzie said in a statement. He thanked FIFA for acting swiftly, saying it spared the country a prolonged period of uncertainty. The minister also announced that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture would launch an investigation into the “incompetence” that led to the sanction. Mbappe expected to succeed Messi and Ronaldo, but Ballon d’Or rankings show decline The punishment followed Bafana Bafana’s decision to field midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho on March 21, despite the 28-year-old being suspended for one match after picking up two yellow cards. As a result, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding a 3-0 victory to Lesotho. Mokoena was also issued a formal warning. SAFA has the option to appeal the decision within 10 days. The points deduction pushed South Africa to second place in Group C of the African qualifiers, level on points with Benin but behind on goal difference. However, Bafana Bafana remain well placed to qualify, with decisive matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda still to come. “This deduction is just a bump in the road. We believe we are still firmly on track for qualification, and our confidence in the team’s ability to succeed remains unshaken,” Mckenzie added.

By 19, Kylian Mbappe had won the World Cup, become one of football’s most valuable players, and was widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Seven years on, with Messi and Ronaldo past their peak, Mbappe has still not been officially recognized as the world’s best player. His latest Ballon d’Or ranking placed him seventh, while the 2025 award went to his France teammate Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe congratulated Dembele on social media, writing, “You deserve it x1000.” Second place went to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, a teenage sensation already seen as a future Ballon d’Or contender, raising questions about whether Mbappe will dominate as once expected. Author Luca Caioli, who co-wrote a biography on Mbappe, said Yamal’s emergence and record-breaking early career could complicate Mbappe’s chances of winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards. “Also, the age starts to be interesting for Mbappe. He’s not 19 anymore,” Caioli added. Yamal has already led Spain to a European Championship and Barcelona to a La Liga title, winning the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player for the second consecutive year. Some argued he deserved the top prize, which would have made him the youngest-ever winner. Mbappe, meanwhile, was barely mentioned in discussions for the award despite claiming the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer and surpassing Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for France. At 26, he is just six goals shy of overtaking Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. The Ballon d’Or often favors players in teams winning major trophies, which may have worked against Mbappe as he joined Real Madrid during a transition year. Nevertheless, with Madrid’s record 15 Champions League titles and his consistent scoring form—12 goals in 10 games this season—Mbappe is poised to claim the accolade in the near future. Experts say time is still on his side, and Dembele’s own late triumph at 28 shows that patience can pay off.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reported pain in the same knee that sidelined him with an ACL injury last season, casting uncertainty over his availability for the team’s Champions League trip to Monaco. Rodri, last season’s Ballon d’Or contender, missed City’s 5-1 Premier League victory over Burnley on Saturday after withdrawing from the squad following Friday’s training session. “He said, ‘I’m not able to play, I have a lot of pain in my knee, I cannot play,’” City manager Pep Guardiola said after the Burnley match. “I said if you cannot play, you cannot play. Another one is going to play.” The Spanish midfielder was sidelined for eight months last season due to the ACL injury in his right knee, which Guardiola confirmed is causing him discomfort again. Earlier this month, Rodri featured in three matches over eight days, during which Guardiola noted that he did not feel fully comfortable either in training or in games. Rodri’s absence last season significantly affected City, contributing to their drop in form and failure to retain the Premier League title. City heads into its upcoming Champions League fixture against Monaco after opening the group stage with a 2-0 home win over Napoli.

The jersey that reigning World Cup champions Argentina will wear to defend their title in 2026 has surfaced online, featuring a modern, dynamic twist on the nation’s iconic design. The Adidas-designed home shirt is set for release in late 2025. The leak, courtesy of kit specialists Opaleak and OriolWarero, confirms that the kit will feature the traditional Albiceleste (the White and Sky Blue) look, enhanced by a contemporary aesthetic. The Adidas-designed home shirt maintains the classic white and sky blue vertical stripes but introduces an eye-catching gradient effect on the blue sections. Each blue stripe incorporates a two-tone fade, subtly transitioning from a lighter shade of sky blue to a darker one. This gradient shading creates a dynamic effect that refreshes the team’s historic pattern, a design element last seen on Argentina’s home kits in 2014 and 2018.

Barcelona secured a vital 2-1 comeback victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday at home, to climb above arch-rivals Real Madrid and claim the top spot in La Liga. Hansi Flick’s side controlled the match from the outset, dominating the opening half-hour with over 85 percent possession and registering multiple shots on target. However, against the run of play, the hosts were stunned in the 31st minute when Álvaro Odriozola finished a pass from Ander Barrenetxea, giving the visitors a shock 1-0 lead. The defending champions’ immediate pressure was immense. After goalkeeper Álex Remiro brilliantly intervened to prevent an Igor Zubeldia own goal, Barcelona finally found their equalizer in the 43rd minute. French defender Jules Kounde rose to head home a corner delivered by Marcus Rashford, sending the teams into the break tied at 1-1. Goals galore as Atletico stuns Real Madrid in fiery derby clash The decisive moment came early in the second half, driven by a strategic substitution. Coach Flick introduced 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal for fellow teenager Roony Bardghji in the 58th minute, and Yamal immediately impacted the game. He burst into the box, shrugged off a challenge, and delivered a superb cross, which veteran striker Robert Lewandowski routinely headed home. Although that appeared to be the winning goal later, the battle continued until the final whistle. Barcelona had another goal from Lamine Yamal ruled out for a marginal offside, and in the 84th minute, both sides spurned golden chances within seconds. Takefusa Kubo rattled the crossbar for Sociedad before Lewandowski immediately hit the bar at the other end on a counter-attack. With this hard-fought victory, Barcelona extends their unbeaten start to the season. They now lead the league standings with 19 points from six wins and one draw in seven matches, moving one point ahead of Real Madrid, who drop to second after a shocking 5-2 derby defeat at Metropolitano a night earlier. Bad news for Barcelona: Gavi and Fermin sidelined with Injuries Next up, Barcelona will host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Real Madrid will visit Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty on Tuesday. Real Sociedad, not in European competition this season, will host Rayo Vallecano on October 5 in their next league match.