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Football

FIFA drops plans for 48-team 2022 World Cup

FIFA shelved a proposed expansion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the world football body’s president Gianni Infantino. Infantino had proposed expanding the tournament and explored the idea of adding additional host nations.

4 hours ago

Atalanta play away at home in final Champions League push

Atalanta, facing one of the biggest matches in the club’s 112-year history, will be playing away at home on Sunday as they bid to pip one of the two Milan teams to a place in next season’s Champions League. The Bergamo team’s own stadium began rebuilding work this month

4 hours ago

It feels great to return to Al Ain: Majidi

Esteghlal coach Farhad Majidi was full of praise for Al Ain fans on his return to the city where he won the AFC Champions League 16 years ago. A pacey and clinical striker at his peak, Majidi was a key member of the Al Ain side that lifted the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2002-03.

4 hours ago

Van Persie tells United to give ‘fair chance’ to Solskjaer

London: Robin van Persie has urged Manchester United to keep faith with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the under-fire manager’s turbulent end to his first season in charge. Solskjaer presided over a miserable conclusion to a campaign that saw United fail to qualify for the Champions League after finishing sixth in the Premier League.

22 May 2019

Chelsea future talks after Europa final: Sarri; Simeone to stay at Atleti

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri plans showdown talks with the club’s hierarchy after next week’s Europa League final to see if they want the Italian to remain in charge next season. Sarri’s side recovered from a mid-season slump in time to secure Champions League football next season via a third-placed

22 May 2019

Al Wahda go top after draw with Al Ittihad; Evergrande advance

Al Ittihad and Al Wahda played out a 1-1 draw at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on Matchday Six of the 2019 AFC Champions League Group B on Tuesday. Both teams had already qualified to the knockout stage prior to the game, and the top spot in Group B was at stake. Al Wahda occupied

22 May 2019

No room for sentiment as Chelsea’s Giroud gears up to face Arsenal

Olivier Giroud is relishing the prospect of beating his old Arsenal team-mates when he lines up for Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku on May 29. The 32-year-old French World Cup winner’s move across London 18 months ago has failed to deliver the regular first team football

21 May 2019

Star striker Mbappe to stay at club next season: PSG

French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Monday insisted that star striker Kylian Mbappe would stay at the club next season, despite the World Cup-winner hinting that he could leave.

21 May 2019

Sharjah, Zamalek stay on course at Sharjah Club International tourney

Keeping the clean sheet, Sharjah Club managed to hold Al Wasl at Sharjah Club International Tournament match played at the Sharjah Sports Club on Monday. Despite enjoying a majority of ball possession, Al Wasl failed to break the deadlock. Sharjah Club also had chances in the second-half but failed to convert any.

21 May 2019

Oscar sends Shanghai into ACL last 16 as Al Ain bow out

Iran’s Esteghlal came from behind to earn a 2-1 win against UAE’s Al Ain at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Matchday Six of the 2019 AFC Champions League Group C on Monday. With the first clear-cut chance of the game, Al Ain took the lead through Marcus Berg 13 minutes in.

21 May 2019

Man.City need to win Champions League, says coach Guardiola

London: Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will ultimately be judged on whether they win the Champions League despite wrapping up an unprecedented domestic treble with a 6-0 whipping of Watford in the FA Cup final. The 48-year-old Spaniard said in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s rout the domestic treble

20 May 2019