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RIYADH: Brazilian footballer Neymar on Monday expressed his full support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and said that he believes it has the potential to be the best tournament yet.
After touring the Saudi 2034 bid exhibition with Hammad Albalawi, the head of the bid unit, Neymar described it as “the best project I’ve ever seen” for players and fans alike.
The exhibition showcases the proposed host cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and NEOM — and includes interactive displays of the 15 stadiums envisioned for the event.
Saudi Arabia is bidding to be the sole host of a 48-team World Cup tournament. It aims to leverage its geographic advantage, given that 60 percent of the world’s population live within an eight-hour flight of the Kingdom.
Neymar was particularly impressed by the focus of the Saudi bid on the needs of the players, saying: “They’re thinking about the players … making it easier to get from the game to the hotel and recover faster.”
The 32-year-old Brazilian, who has lived in Riyadh since signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in August 2023, praised the passion for football in the Kingdom and the warm welcome he and his family received. Despite an injury that limited his playing time so far, he noted the enthusiastic support among local fans.
The rapid growth in the development of football in Saudi Arabia in recent years has included an expansion in the number of youth-training centers to 23, support for more than 300,000 boys and girls in school leagues, and an increase in the number of registered football coaches from 700 in 2019 to more than 4,000.
Neymar said he believes this investment in the future of Saudi football will pay off, adding: “They will definitely be more competitive in 2034.”
He also acknowledged the influence he and other international soccer superstars who have relocated to the Kingdom, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, are having on the nation’s football scene.
“We want to influence all the kids and the youth to do the right things, and to bring joy to everyone with our football,” he said.
Saudi Arabia submitted its official bid for the 2034 World Cup, which has the theme “Growing. Together,” in July. A decision on the host is due to be made on Dec. 11 during a FIFA Congress.
LONDON: Netflix unveiled on Monday a new trailer for its upcoming sports documentary series “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” set to premiere on Nov. 21.
The highly anticipated six-episode series takes viewers into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s football scene, chronicling the 48th season of the competition, which was marked by star-studded signings and the country’s ambitious vision to elevate the league’s global standing.
Produced by Whisper, the series offers an inside look at five major clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ettifaq — as they compete for the championship and delves into the highs and lows of the season, capturing the triumphs and challenges that defined their campaigns.
The documentary promises to explore critical questions about the league’s trajectory: Can its substantial investments bring long-term success? How do international stars adapt to the culture, and how do local players respond to the increased competition?
Fans will get a front-row seat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of victory with Al-Nassr, Karim Benzema’s journey at Al-Ittihad, and the resilience of Al-Hilal as they navigated Neymar’s injury and its impact.
The series also highlights Steven Gerrard’s efforts to revive Al-Ettifaq and Matthias Jaissle’s leadership at Al-Ahli, who aimed for Asian Champions League qualification after their return from relegation.
Beyond the marquee names, the documentary showcases emerging local talents like Salem Al-Dawsari, Feras Al-Buraikan, Talal Haji, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, spotlighting their determination to shine amid the arrival of international football legends.
DUBAI: Pakistan took home the trophy at the first-ever Baseball United Arab Classic international baseball tournament, which concluded Sunday night after four straight days of gameplay.
Pakistan was dominant the entire tournament, outscoring its opponents by a total of 57 runs, including a 12-1 victory over the UAE in the championship game.
The tournament, in which nine nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council and subcontinent participated, featured 21 games played at the new Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.
The UAE, playing in its first international baseball tournament in the nation’s history, was a surprise finalist, beating Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals and then topping a highly ranked Palestine team in the semifinals to advance to the championship.
The UAE finished the tournament with five wins and two losses, with both defeats coming to Pakistan.
“This was the largest and most competitive baseball tournament in the history of the region, and the Pakistan team showed they are not only one of Asia’s top teams, but they are on the path to compete with the best baseball-playing nations in the world,” Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United, said in a statement.
ANKARA: A former football chief in Turkiye’s Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported.
The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkiye’s top flight.
Footage from the scene showed Ankaragucu’s then president Faruk Koca rushing onto the pitch and punching referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle, shouting: “I’m going to kill you!“
He appeared to be incensed over the ref’s decision to send off one of his players, and disallowing an earlier goal by Ankaragucu. Caykur had scored an equalizer in injury time.
Denouncing the attack as “despicable,” the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super Lig matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and several others.
Several days later, Koca apologized and resigned as club president but insisted his team had been cheated by the referee.
The court on Monday handed him three years and seven months for “intentional injury to a public sports official” as well as six months and 20 days for “making threats.”
It also handed him a five-month suspended sentence for “violating the law on violence prevention in sports.”
During the incident, the referee — who fell to the ground after being punched — was also kicked several times by other club officials, leaving him with a head trauma.
The court also handed prison sentences to three other officials for causing, or trying to cause, “intentional injury” to a public sports official, with sentences ranging from one to five years behind bars.
The incident provoked uproar in Turkiye and a flurry of condemnation, including from FIFA, football’s world governing body.
ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship got underway on Sunday at Mubadala Arena, as a part of the ongoing 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
At the end of the first day, the UAE’s Commando Group took the lead in the medal table, with Kazakhstan’s National Team in second and Brazil’s Checkmat International in third.
For the first time, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has dedicated two days to amateur competitions.
The first day focused on adult amateurs (aged 18 and above) with white and blue belts, while the second day will feature the master category (over 30) for the same belt levels.
Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, chairman of the Department of Community Development, said the championship reflects the support of the nation’s leaders.
They have recognized the sport’s “role in building character and promoting discipline, self-confidence and teamwork, which are the qualities essential for a strong and united society.”
He added: “With thousands of athletes from around the world, including 60 percent from outside the country, the championship highlights its global status and confirms the UAE’s leading role in developing jiu-jitsu on the international stage.”
Mohamed Hussein Al-Marzouqi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and director of the championship, said that adding two days for amateurs was aimed at accommodating a growing number of athletes.
“It provides a unique opportunity for jiu-jitsu enthusiasts of all ages to test their skills and showcase their abilities in a competitive environment, enhancing their experience and developing their skills, while allowing them to experience a professional championship atmosphere and connect with athletes worldwide.”
“This step highlights the inclusive nature of jiu-jitsu as a sport for everyone, regardless of age or ability, showing that anyone can start practicing it at any time and benefit from its many benefits.”
DUBAI: The men’s and women’s champions of the inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1 were crowned on Sunday night at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, presented the trophies to Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, and Bea Gonzalez and Delfina Brea Senesi, as the men’s and women’s champions, respectively.
The awards ceremony took place on the center court of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, ending a week of action for a prize pool of over $510,000.
The emirate’s first Premier Padel P1 tournament, organized by Dubai-based Gallop Global, was a collaborative effort supported by the UAE Padel Association, the International Padel Federation, the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Sports Council, and Premier Padel.
Coello and Tapia clinched the men’s trophy with a 6-4, 6-3 score over Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galan in front of a passionate crowd of more than 5,000 spectators.
Having racked up 30 consecutive wins before the Dubai victory, world No. 1 Coello said: “We keep focusing on every challenge one by one and the wins keep tallying up.
“We are aware that every match is difficult, so we just try to keep focus on every match. It feels fantastic to win in Dubai, a special city and special tournament.”
Meanwhile, Gonzalez and Brea Senesi reigned supreme in the women’s draw with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Brea Senesi was unable to attend the post-match press conference owing to sickness, and partner Gonzalez said she was surprised with her own performance.
“It was unexpected to play at this level, especially so soon after returning from injury,” said Gonzalez. “It has been a long period of recovery which has meant a lack of competition, so I’m very happy for Delfina and myself to win this tournament.”
“We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor for both his patronage and for his unwavering support of padel in Dubai,” said Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum, the UAE padel body’s president, in a press statement.
“In addition to congratulating our champions, Arturo, Agustin, Bea and Delfina, for their historic and dramatic success at the debut of Premier Padel in Dubai, we hope this milestone event will serve as another springboard to encourage the next generation of homegrown champions to pick up the sport.”
Saeed Mohammed Hareb, secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council, added: “In a city renowned for hosting major international sporting events, the Dubai Premier Padel P1 has established instant credentials as a truly world-class event in every metric.
“Bringing the world and region’s best male and female players to Dubai only serves as a catalyst for the prosperity of our society and the growth of the sport in the emirate. Congratulations again to Premier Padel, our champions, the organizers, and to Dubai.”
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