United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s early momentum in the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship came to a halt on Friday as they fell 2-0 to India in Thimphu. The match at the Changlimithang Stadium had tension from the start. Barely ten minutes in, goalkeeper Iarzan drew protests when her foot strayed outside the box while taking a goal kick. The Indians were furious, the referee stepped in, and Bangladesh coach Mahbubur Rahman picked up a yellow card in the commotion. Three minutes later, India struck. Pearl Fernandes slipped through a loose defensive line in the 14th minute, and though Iarzan got her hands on the shot, she couldn’t stop it rolling in. Bangladesh chased an equaliser with a few half chances, but their finishing was poor. They almost conceded again before the break when India’s Pritika Burman lost her footing in front of goal. Bangladesh beat Bhutan to open SAFF U-17 women’s campaign Mahbub made two surprising substitutions just before halftime, but it did little to change the pattern. The second half drifted until the 76th minute, when substitute Bonifilia Shullai pounced on a bouncing ball from a corner and made it 2-0. That was the game. Bangladesh had no way back. They pressed, but India’s defence stood firm and the gulf between the sides was plain. After beating Bhutan 3-1 in their opener, this was a reality check for Arpita Biswas’s team. Next up is Nepal on August 24. Anything less than a win there could leave Bangladesh fighting just to stay in contention.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Tottenham after recovering from an injury setback. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner missed nearly the entire previous season due to an ACL tear and later suffered an injury, reportedly to his groin, during the Club World Cup. Al Hilal stun Manchester City in Club World Cup Classic Rodri did not feature in City’s opening league match, a 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton last weekend, but manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Friday that the Spain international is fit to play against Tottenham. Guardiola also announced that England forward Phil Foden, who sat out the Wolves game for fitness reasons, will return to the squad.   Source: Agency

Spanish club Villarreal announced Friday the signing of Chelsea defender Renato Veiga on a seven-year contract. The reported transfer fee of 24 million euros ($28 million), plus add-ons, makes Veiga one of the most expensive signings in Villarreal’s history. Chelsea to leave out Jackson and Nkunku as club looks to offload strikers The 22-year-old center-back joined Chelsea from Basel last summer but made only one Premier League start before being loaned to Juventus for the latter half of last season. At Juventus, Veiga became a regular starter and also played a key role as Portugal won the Nations League in June. Villarreal, which finished fifth in La Liga last season, will compete in the Champions League this campaign.   Source: Agency

More than 100 supporters were detained after violent clashes broke out in the stands during a Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile, leaving at least 20 people injured, including one in critical condition, authorities said Thursday. Footage showed two fans leaping or falling from the upper tier to escape assaults, while another collapsed after being struck on the head with a stick. Several supporters, bloodied and stripped to their underwear, were seen fleeing the violence. The disturbances forced Wednesday night’s game at the Libertadores de América stadium in Avellaneda, near Buenos Aires, to be abandoned with the score tied at 1-1. “I strongly condemn the shocking violence which led to the cancellation of the Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “Violence has no place in soccer — players, fans, staff, officials and everyone who enjoys our beautiful game should be able to do so without fear.” South America’s football governing body CONMEBOL said it has launched an investigation into the incident. According to police, the clashes began when Universidad fans in the upper stands destroyed seats and restrooms and hurled objects toward home supporters below, also attacking security personnel. Officers said they refrained from intervening directly to “prevent greater damage,” instead issuing warnings through stadium loudspeakers. Leeds signs Noah Okafor from AC Milan for 24.5 million dollars At halftime, as Universidad fans were leaving, hooded Independiente supporters forced their way into the visitors’ section and attacked them with sticks and metal bars. Two fans tried to escape by climbing over barriers, with one — identified as Gonzalo Alfaro — suffering critical injuries that required surgery, according to Fiorito Hospital. Eighteen others were hospitalized with multiple injuries. Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned the assaults, saying on X, “Nothing justifies a lynching. Nothing.” He directed Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde to travel to Buenos Aires to safeguard the rights of Chilean citizens. Authorities confirmed 125 Universidad fans were detained for assault and resisting arrest, with 101 still in custody, according to Chile’s Foreign Ministry. The incident adds to a string of violent episodes in South American football. In April, Chile’s Colo Colo was docked points and fined after two fans died during a Copa Libertadores match against Brazil’s Fortaleza. Recent weeks have also seen clashes involving Argentine fans and police in Brazil and Uruguay. Source: Agency 

Leeds United completed the signing of Swiss forward Noah Okafor from AC Milan on Thursday for a reported fee of around 21 million euros ($24.5 million). The newly promoted Premier League club said Okafor signed a four-year deal, “subject to a work permit and international clearance.” The 25-year-old is Leeds’ ninth signing since returning to the top flight, where the team opened the season with a win over Everton on Monday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin joins Leeds on free transfer from Everton Okafor, who can play on either wing or as a central striker, joined Milan in 2023 from Red Bull Salzburg for about 14 million euros ($15.5 million) on a five-year contract. He struggled to make a major impact at the Italian club, though he impressed in pre-season with four goals during Milan’s Asia tour, including two against Liverpool. A potential loan to Leipzig in January fell through after a failed medical, but he later joined Napoli on loan and won a Serie A medal despite only 36 minutes of playing time across four matches.   Source: Agency

Chelsea forwards Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku will miss Friday’s Premier League match against West Ham as the club aims to move the strikers before the transfer window closes. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Jackson, available after serving a suspension in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, will not be in the squad. “We have two strikers in that position, and we also know something could happen before the transfer window closes,” he said. Nkunku, who joined Chelsea on a six-year deal in 2023, is in a similar situation, having seen limited playing time. Senegalese striker Jackson is under contract until 2033. Fernández warns of heat ahead of Chelsea-PSG final Chelsea has recently signed two new center forwards, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, leaving Jackson and Nkunku out of favor. Left back Ben Chilwell and winger Raheem Sterling are training separately, awaiting possible transfer solutions.   Source: Agency

Everton will unveil its new stadium this weekend, hosting Brighton at the 53,000-seat Bramley-Moore Dock arena for the first competitive match, marking the club’s move from long-time home Goodison Park. Everton began the season with a 1-0 loss at Leeds. Meanwhile, Arsenal could introduce new signing Eberechi Eze to fans at Emirates Stadium against Leeds on Saturday, following a reported £67.5 million ($90.8 million) deal from Crystal Palace, beating rival Tottenham for the England forward. Eze is expected to play his final match for Palace in a Europa Conference League qualifier, with no official comment from either club yet. Other key fixtures include Liverpool visiting Newcastle on Monday amid Alexander Isak transfer drama, and Manchester City hosting Tottenham on Saturday after strong opening wins. Players to watch include Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal, Jack Grealish for Everton, and Manchester United’s potential trio of attackers: Sesko, Mbeumo, and Cunha. Dominic Calvert-Lewin joins Leeds on free transfer from Everton Injuries and suspensions remain factors: Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is out, Ryan Gravenberch is back for Liverpool, and Isak is likely sidelined again for Newcastle.   Off the field, Crystal Palace fans are planning a protest during their home game against Nottingham Forest, following UEFA’s demotion of Palace from the Europa League over ownership issues.   Source: Agency

Expect surprises when the Italian league season begins this weekend. Serie A has become Europe’s most unpredictable top-five soccer league, with four different champions in the last six seasons. Last season also marked the second time in four years that the title race went to the final round, highlighting its competitiveness. By comparison, only Liverpool or Manchester City have won the Premier League in the past eight seasons; Spain remains mostly a two-team show with Real Madrid and Barcelona; Bayern Munich has claimed 12 of the last 13 Bundesliga titles; and Paris Saint-Germain continues to dominate in France. Luka Modric joins AC Milan after 13 years at Real Madrid While Napoli is favored to defend its title, serious challengers include Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Roma, and Atalanta. Napoli edged Inter by a single point last season in a race so tight it almost required a playoff match — a rule still in place if two teams finish level this season. De Bruyne boosts Napoli’s title defenseAfter winning the title in 2023, Napoli followed up with a disappointing 10th-place finish. Demanding coach Antonio Conte, now in his second season, is unlikely to allow a repeat. Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival from Manchester City could create one of Europe’s finest midfields alongside Serie A MVP Scott McTominay and passing specialist Stanislav Lobotka. Concerns remain as striker Romelu Lukaku may require surgery for a left thigh injury. Inter moves on from PSG routNew coach Cristian Chivu will aim to motivate Inter after last season’s treble hopes collapsed with a 5-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League final. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram remain one of Italy’s top strike tandems, though Inter’s bench is thin. World Cup winners aplentyCoaching changes saw Milan rehire Massimiliano Allegri after missing out on Europe, Gian Piero Gasperini move from Atalanta to Roma, and Maurizio Sarri return to Lazio. Four World Cup winners also coach in Serie A: Cesc Fabregas at Como (Spain, 2010); Patrick Vieira at Genoa (France, 1998); Alberto Gilardino at promoted Pisa (Italy, 2006); and Fabio Grosso at promoted Sassuolo (Italy, 2006). Modric means businessLuka Modric’s transfer to Milan — the club he supported as a boy — after 13 seasons at Madrid is not just sentimental, the 39-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner says. Modric indicated he will not accept a repeat of Milan’s eighth-place finish last season. “Milan cannot be satisfied with average,” Modric said. “It needs to have the biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world. And that’s why I’m here.” Juventus delighted with DavidCanadian striker Jonathan David impressed in preseason after signing a five-year deal with Juventus. “If he gets the ball, he scores,” Juventus coach Igor Tudor said. Early impressions of the 25-year-old David have led Juventus to put center forward Dusan Vlahovic on the market. Down Under road tripA Serie A match between two teams about 50 kilometers apart could be played in Australia later this season. Plans are in motion for Milan and Como to play in Perth in February due to the Milan-Cortina Olympics, though FIFA approval is pending. Also new this season: referees will announce VAR decisions live inside stadiums. Napoli opens at promoted SassuoloThe season begins Saturday with four matches: Genoa vs. Lecce; Sassuolo vs. Napoli; Milan vs. Cremonese; and Roma vs. Bologna. On Sunday: Cagliari vs. Fiorentina; Como vs. Lazio; Atalanta vs. Pisa; and Juventus vs. Parma. On Monday: Udinese vs. Hellas Verona; and Inter vs. Torino.   Source: Agency

Luis Suarez netted twice from the penalty spot as Inter Miami battled past Mexico’s Tigres UANL 2-1 in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, overcoming the absence of Lionel Messi. Messi, who recently guided Miami to victory over the LA Galaxy, skipped training earlier in the day and sat out the match. “We go with what Messi feels. Today he wasn’t at his best, so we didn’t want to take risks,” assistant coach Javier Morales said. Suarez opened the scoring after Jordi Alba’s cross struck Tigres defender Javier Aquino’s arm. Ángel Correa leveled with a solo effort before another Aquino handball allowed Suarez to seal the win from the spot. Tigres nearly equalized again when Edgar Lopez’s late header rattled both posts. Isak signals change needed amid Newcastle disagreements Inter Miami faced drama off the field as Javier Mascherano was shown red before the second half but was later spotted giving instructions by phone — a violation of tournament rules. Morales downplayed the incident. Adding to Miami’s concerns, Alba limped off early in the second half with a knee knock. “We don’t have the full medical report yet, but he took a hit,” Morales said. Source: Agency 

Bangladesh under-17 women got off to a winning start in the SAFF Championship, beating Bhutan 3–1 in Thimphu on Wednesday. Forward Alpi Akter scored twice and Souravi Akanda added one to give Bangladesh a comfortable win. It didn’t come easy early on. The first half saw plenty of chances but little composure in front of goal. The deadlock broke in the 48th minute when Bhutan keeper Kelzang Wangmo spilled a shot and Souravi tapped in. Six minutes later, Alpi struck from distance to make it 2–0. Bhutan refused to fold, pulling one back through Rinzin Dema in the 61st minute after Meghla Rani failed to hold a long-range effort. Any nerves were settled quickly. From a corner four minutes later, Alpi turned up in the crowded box and finished coolly for her second of the match. SAFF U-17 Women's Champs: Russia emerge unbeaten champions  Bangladesh have collected seven SAFF titles across age groups but never one in the under-17s. This year’s format — four teams playing each other twice — leaves them with a real chance to change that. Next up is India on August 22. The team will then meet Nepal twice before closing against Bhutan and India again at the end of the month.