United News of Bangladesh

The ongoing debate over the use of video assistant referees (VAR) in English football has intensified following several controversial decisions during the FA Cup fourth round and Premier League matches. VAR, introduced to ensure accuracy in refereeing, was absent in the FA Cup until the fifth round this season, giving fans a glimpse of matches without technological interruptions. The weekend’s games, however, saw multiple contentious moments, including offside goals allowed and a penalty not awarded at Aston Villa, reigniting debate over the system’s impact on the sport. Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy said football might be better without VAR, arguing that it disrupts the game’s flow and delays decisions. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the tension, noting that while VAR improves decision accuracy, it can reduce the excitement for players and spectators. Aston Villa’s Unai Emery described the system as "necessary" to support referees. At Anfield, Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Brighton featured further VAR controversy, with a young substitute’s goal ruled offside and a penalty awarded to Mohamed Salah sparking debate. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said VAR should be limited to clear-cut decisions, while Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola noted its benefits but remained uncertain on whether it improves the game overall. Ex-players and former referees offered mixed views on officials’ reliance on VAR. Alan Shearer criticized referees for depending on the technology, while Shay Given and Graham Scott highlighted its role as a “comfort blanket” that aids decision-making. Fans remain divided, with some claiming VAR has ruined football’s spontaneity, while others insist it is essential to ensure fair play and correct errors. The debate is expected to continue as English football navigates the balance between accurate officiating and maintaining the game’s traditional flow.   With inputs from BBC

Vinícius Júnior scored twice from the penalty spot as a Mbappé-less Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 on Sunday to move to the top of La Liga. Superstar Kylian Mbappé remained on the bench after missing training sessions due to discomfort in his left knee, while Jude Bellingham was also absent with a hamstring injury. Despite their absence, Madrid delivered a dominant performance to extend their league winning streak to eight matches and go two points clear of Barcelona. Madrid struck early when Gonzalo García redirected a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the fifth minute. Real Sociedad equalized in the 21st minute after Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty awarded for a foul by Dean Huijsen. Vinícius restored Madrid’s lead four minutes later, calmly converting from the spot after Jon Aramburu brought him down. Captain Fede Valverde added a third in the 31st minute with a powerful strike from outside the box. Vinícius sealed the victory after the break with his second penalty, again following a foul by Aramburu, putting the result beyond doubt. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made key saves to preserve Madrid’s advantage, while Dani Carvajal returned to league action around the hour mark after several months out. Elsewhere, Borja Iglesias scored deep in stoppage time to earn Celta Vigo a 2-2 draw at Espanyol. Getafe beat Villarreal 2-1, while 10-man Sevilla held Alavés to a 1-1 draw.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has suffered a strained left hamstring, casting doubt over his availability for the club’s Major League Soccer season opener against Los Angeles FC on Feb. 21. The club confirmed the injury on Wednesday. Messi, the league’s back-to-back Most Valuable Player, scored in a preseason match in Ecuador last weekend but was substituted about 12 minutes into the second half, reportedly due to discomfort in his hamstring. “His gradual return to training will depend on his clinical and functional progress in the coming days,” Inter Miami said in a statement. The injury also affects Inter Miami’s preseason schedule. What was originally planned as the team’s preseason finale will now take place about a week after their MLS opener. The reigning MLS Cup champions are set to face Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on Feb. 26. An open practice session is also scheduled as part of that trip. Messi’s fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days as Inter Miami prepares to begin its title defense.

England midfielder Jack Grealish has undergone surgery on a foot stress fracture, ending his 2025-26 season while on loan at Everton and ruling him out of contention for this summer’s World Cup. Grealish, 30, sustained the injury on January 18 during Everton’s 1-0 win over his former club Aston Villa. The midfielder had featured in 22 matches across all competitions for Everton this season, scoring twice and providing six assists. “Didn’t want the season to end like this, but that’s football. Surgery done, now all focus on getting back fit. I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before,” Grealish wrote on Instagram. His strong performances at Everton had sparked speculation about a potential recall to the England squad. However, the injury makes World Cup selection impossible. Grealish joined Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City in August 2025 after falling out of favour at City, where he had won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the FA Cup since his £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021. He made just seven league starts for City last season and was excluded from the Club World Cup squad in the United States. “The support I’ve received at this incredible club has meant the world to me,” Grealish added. “The staff, teammates and fans have been amazing. I’ll be backing the lads all the way and doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible.” Everton fans and football observers expressed sympathy for the midfielder, who had been pivotal in the team’s campaign under caretaker manager Lee Carsley since October 2024.   With inputs from BBC

Manchester United continued their fine run under Michael Carrick with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday, making it four Premier League victories in a row and boosting hopes of a return to the Champions League. United, who struggled earlier this season, look revived since Carrick took over as head coach last month. The win at Old Trafford lifted the club to fourth place with 44 points, already surpassing last season’s total of 42. Bryan Mbeumo and captain Bruno Fernandes scored one goal each in either half. Tottenham’s task became harder when skipper Cristian Romero was sent off in the 29th minute. Fernandes’ late strike marked his 200th goal involvement since joining United in 2020. United captain Fernandes praised Carrick’s impact, saying the former midfielder understands the club’s culture and has given players more responsibility. Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim and was initially appointed until the end of the season, but his strong start has strengthened his case for the job on a permanent basis. At the top of the table, Arsenal extended their lead to nine points after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Sunderland. Substitute Viktor Gyokeres scored twice after coming on in the 60th minute, taking his season tally to 13 goals. Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the first half. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the title race is far from over, despite bookmakers already paying out on his team winning their first league title since 2004. Second-placed Manchester City face a tough test away at Liverpool on Sunday, while third-placed Aston Villa slipped further back after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. Chelsea moved up to fifth after beating bottom side Wolves 3-1. Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat trick, including two penalties, becoming the first player to net three first-half hat tricks in Premier League history. Elsewhere, West Ham boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 win at Burnley, while Newcastle’s poor form continued with a 3-2 home defeat to Brentford. Everton came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 away.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second straight match for Al-Nassr as questions continue over his future at the Saudi club. Al-Nassr beat rivals Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, scoring two late goals through former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel. Ronaldo was not included in the squad for the match. During the game, some home supporters showed their backing for the Portuguese star by holding yellow cards with his name and number seven in the seventh minute. Ronaldo, now 41, also sat out Al-Nassr’s 1-0 league win over Al-Riyadh on Monday. Portuguese outlet ‘A Bola’reported that Ronaldo refused to play after becoming unhappy with the way the club is being run by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). In response, the Saudi Pro League told BBC Sport that Ronaldo has played a key role in raising the club’s profile and goals, but added that “no individual  however significant determines decisions beyond their own club”. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United and became the highest-paid footballer in history, earning about £177 million a year. The club, which has won the Saudi Pro League 10 times, described his signing as “history in the making”. Cristiano Ronaldo turns 41: How the superstar built a brand beyond football However, since joining, Ronaldo has won only one trophy  the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. He signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr in June 2025. Both Al-Nassr and league leaders Al-Hilal are owned by the PIF. BBC Sport reported that Ronaldo may be frustrated by Karim Benzema’s recent move to Al-Hilal. Benzema scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win on Thursday. After 20 matches, Al-Nassr sit second in the table, just one point behind Al-Hilal.  

The FIFA Museum welcomed a record 430,000 visitors in 2025 and reached almost a record 10 million engagements with its digital content, the museum announced on Wednesday. Exhibitions organized by the FIFA Museum in Zurich, Switzerland; Miami and New York, the United States; Asuncion, Paraguay and Rabat, Morocco, attracted 430,594 visitors, and its digital platform had 9,556,588 engagements last year. In Zurich, an exhibition of "Innovation in Action", which explores how technology is supporting football on and off the pitch, had a successful run and will travel to Science World in Vancouver, Canada, in May 2026. The "Unidad - The World's Game" in Miami was an exhibition for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer, and "The Legacy Tunnel" in New York marked the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup there. The museum also launched a video talk format "The Away Game" in 2025 to connect football and culture through panel discussions with football legends. The videos surpassed 1.3 million views on YouTube.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s all-time leading goal scorer, celebrates his 41st birthday today on Thursday, as much a global brand as a football icon. Beyond league titles, Ballon d’Ors, and Champions League triumphs, Ronaldo has crafted a self-sustaining commercial empire that could thrive even after he retires. His CR7 brand spans footwear, apparel, fragrances, gyms, and hotels. Partnerships include CR7 Crunch Fitness in Portugal and Spain, CR7 Pestana hotels across Madeira, Lisbon, Madrid, Marrakech, and New York, and a fragrance line with Eden Parfums. Ronaldo hints at retirement in “probably one or two years” Ronaldo’s social media reach is unmatched: in September 2025, he became the first person to reach 1 billion followers across all platforms, with 671 million on Instagram alone. His online presence provides unmatched visibility for sponsors, including Nike, Herbalife, Clear, Binance, Tag Heuer, Armani, and Jacob & Co. In the twilight of his career, Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr offered enormous commercial gains. His 2025 contract extension pays £492 million over two years, including a 15% stake in the club worth £33 million, ensuring a lavish post-playing career. Experts say Ronaldo’s strategy—building digital and tangible assets while active on the pitch—offers a model for athletes worldwide, including India, to grow personal brands alongside sporting careers.

Manchester City booked their place in the English League Cup final with a comfortable 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday, sealing a 5-1 aggregate victory in the semifinals. The result sets up a blockbuster final against Arsenal, meaning the Premier League’s top two sides will face off at Wembley Stadium on March 22. The League Cup will be the first major trophy decided this season and could give the winner a psychological edge in the title race. City forward Omar Marmoush starred at the Etihad Stadium, scoring twice in the first half to put the tie beyond Newcastle’s reach. Tijjani Reijnders added a third goal before the break, as City dominated after already leading 2-0 from the first leg. Newcastle pulled one back in the second half through substitute Anthony Elanga, but it proved to be no more than a consolation. “We’re here to win trophies, and we give our best every day to reach finals and lift silverware,” Marmoush said after the match. Arsenal, who lead City by six points in the Premier League, reached the final on Tuesday by beating Chelsea 1-0 to complete a 4-2 aggregate win. Both clubs are also still competing in the Champions League and the FA Cup. City manager Pep Guardiola praised their upcoming opponents, calling Arsenal “the best team right now in Europe, maybe the world,” and said facing them regularly helps City improve. The final will add another chapter to a growing rivalry. City have edged Arsenal to the Premier League title in the last two seasons, while Mikel Arteta’s side are chasing their first league crown since 2004. A League Cup win would be Arteta’s first major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020. For Guardiola, the final offers a chance to win his 16th major trophy with City and a fifth League Cup, as the club aims for a ninth title in the competition, just one short of Liverpool’s record. City’s goals came early, with Marmoush scoring in the seventh and 29th minutes before Reijnders struck three minutes later. Despite some second-half chances, Newcastle could not mount a comeback.  

A hat-trick by forward Alpi Akter powered the Bangladesh Under-19 women’s football team to the final of the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship, as they thrashed hosts Nepal 4-0 at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium on Wednesday. With this commanding victory, Peter Butler's side finished the group stage with a perfect record, securing maximum 9 points from three matches to top the table. India also booked their spot in the final after defeating Bhutan earlier in the day, finishing second with 6 points. The two arch-rivals will now face off in the title decider on Saturday at the same venue. Read More: Bangladeshi footballers to return home from Nepal Thursday: Embassy Bangladesh wasted no time asserting dominance, taking the lead in just the 3rd minute. Protima Munda opened the scoring with a precise header off a corner kick delivered by Mamoni Chakma. Despite the early setback, Nepal tightened their defense, denying Bangladesh further goals until the dying moments of the first half. Alpi Akter then took center stage, doubling the lead in stoppage time before the break with a stunning direct free-kick. She continued her onslaught in the second half, scoring a solo goal from a counter-attack in the 67th minute. Alpi completed her hat-trick in the 82nd minute by tapping in a cross from Kranuching Marma. Read More: Govt trying to ensure safe return of football team from Nepal This hat-trick takes Alpi’s tally to 7 goals in just three matches in the tournament. Bangladesh and India have met in the previous two finals of this age-group tournament; they were declared joint champions in 2024, while Bangladesh defeated India to lift the trophy in 2021.