The I-League's 18th edition kicked off as scheduled on Friday, following a last-minute resolution to a broadcast impasse that had sparked a revolt by the participating clubs. In the opening day's fixtures, Gokulam Kerala FC secured a 3-2 away win over Sreenidi Deccan in Hyderabad while Inter Kashi emerged 1-0 winners over newly promoted SC Bengaluru after a 72nd-minute strike by Edmund Lalrindika at Kalyani, West Bengal. Martin Chaves (60'), Ignacio Abelado (84') and Tharpuia (90+5') helped Gokulam Kerala rally past Sreenidi Deccan who scored thorugh Lalromawia (40') and David Castenada Munoz (90+6') in a five-goal thriller. Budging to the demands of the 12 clubs few hours before the slated kickoff, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that Sony Network will broadcast the league from the second round. "All arrangements have been made to telecast in Sony from second round," a source told PTI. Also Read: 137 goals, zero bids! The clubs have agreed to pay 50 per cent of the broadcasting cost to Sony to cover the broadcast cost, apart from the Rs 7 lakh entry fee. However, the first three match days will not be televised and will instead stream on SSEN, a newly launched OTT platform by Shrachi Sports, the entity initially awarded the broadcast rights. Negotiations will now be underway between Sony and Shrachi Group to finalise a production arrangement for live telecasts. Under the banner of I-League Clubs Association, the 12 clubs on Thursday shot off a letter to the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, warning that they would not commence the tournament until Sony Network was confirmed as the official broadcaster of the league. The standoff began in June 2024, when the clubs, reportedly with the AIFF's approval, had engaged Sony Network to broadcast the league with a 6+2 camera setup, and later upgraded to 8+2 cameras. Collectively, the I-League clubs agreed to fund the production costs for at least 50 per cent of the matches, and this commitment was communicated to the federation on multiple occasions. However, AIFF later awarded the broadcast rights to Shrachi Sports and the clubs described it as a "hurried" tender process. Also Read: 'Crowd was rooting for us, so that helped': ICL coach Bimal Ghosh It was communicated that the I-League matches would be shown on Shrachi Sports Network -- which then did not have an Android app. "How can they be entrusted with streaming of I-League matches on an untested app that has not previously hosted or streamed any live sports content?" the clubs questioned. This led to widespread discontent, and the clubs said the sponsors were backing out due to the absence of a major broadcaster. The clubs warned the AIFF they would not play in the league unless Sony Network was confirmed as the broadcaster. Their demands were finally met hours before the kickoff, allowing the league to begin after much drama. (With agency inputs)
22 November,2024 09:43 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentArgentina produces some of the best footballers on the planet and has three World Cup titles. Also Read: Costa Rican club threatens to sue FIFA Off the field, though, a major power struggle is transpiring between Argentina President Javier Milei and Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia, who is opposing Milei’s effort to enable clubs to become sports limited companies, inspired by the English Premier League. He wants clubs to continue to belong to members. The government threatened to intervene due to alleged irregularities in Tapia’s re-election, a third term. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 November,2024 07:46 AM IST | Buenos Aires | AgenciesCosta Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense are asking FIFA for a spot in next summer’s Club World Cup and will take legal action if denied. The club which has won 30 league titles, wants FIFA to enforce the rule that forbids clubs from the same ownership to participate in the tournament. Also Read: Hockey heroines! Spokesman Marco Vazquez noted that Mexican clubs Leon and Pachuca belong to the same owner, Jesus Martinez, of Grupo Pachuca. “These are rules that FIFA established — there cannot be multi-ownership,” Vazquez said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | San Jose | AFPPep Guardiola has agreed to a contract extension to stay at Manchester City for at least another season, according to British media reports. Also Read: Germany, Netherlands draw as group stage ends City have not commented on several reports that the 53-year-old Guardiola would extend his stay into a 10th season with the deal including an option for an additional year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 November,2024 07:15 AM IST | Manchester | AP | PTIGermany rounded off their Nations League group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw in Hungary after a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty in the 99th minute rescued a point for the hosts, while Netherlands were held to the same scoreline by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not much stakes There was little to play for in Group A3 going into the final day. The Germans had already wrapped up top spot. The Dutch were secure in second and Hungary sat four points ahead of the already-relegated Bosnia. Also Read: Shuttlers Lakshya, Sindhu, Malvika enter second round “With a win, we would’ve gone into the break with a nicer feeling but we can still be very satisfied about what we achieved in 2024 and can kick things off again in March,” said German midfielder Robert Andrich. Wales thrash Iceland 4-1 In Group B4, a 4-1 victory for Wales against Iceland ensured automatic promotion to the top division at the expense of Turkey, who went down 3-1 in Montenegro. Czech Republic booked top spot in Group B1 with a 2-1 win over Georgia. In Budapest, Felix Nmecha broke a goalless stalemate when he prodded home from inside the six-yard box with 14 minutes remaining. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 November,2024 07:13 AM IST | Paris | AFPChelsea Football Club has condemned homophobic abuse directed at star striker Sam Kerr following her announcement that she and West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis are expecting a baby. The news, shared by Kerr on Instagram, came with a heartfelt post that included a photo of the couple kissing and Mewis proudly displaying her baby bump. Kerr, who has been sidelined for much of the year due to an ACL injury, shared the joyful moment with her followers, saying, "Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!" While the couple received an outpouring of love and congratulations, they were also subjected to unacceptable and hateful homophobic comments on social media. In response, Chelsea acted to limit the comments on Kerr's post and issued a statement condemning the abuse. A spokesperson for Chelsea said, "Chelsea Football Club is aware of recent unacceptable and hateful homophobic comments published across various social media platforms. There is no place in society for any form of discrimination and we will not accept any abuse directed towards our players, staff, or supporters." The club emphasised its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect, reiterating that it is "extremely proud to be a diverse, inclusive club that celebrates and welcomes people from all cultures, communities, and identities." Also Read: The big difference between us and other teams is...: Chelsea’s coach Enzo Maresca Chelsea's LGBTQ+ and friends supporter group, Chelsea Pride, also voiced strong condemnation, calling the homophobic comments "hateful" and expressing disappointment at the abuse. They pointed out that instead of celebrating the joyous news of Kerr and Mewis’s upcoming child, social media had been flooded with hate. Chelsea Pride's statement highlighted the need for continued efforts to eliminate homophobia from football and society, stating: "Homophobia has no place in football, at Chelsea, or in our society." The group further emphasised that the club’s commitment to inclusivity and acceptance is unwavering, with a focus on a future where every player, fan, and family can live openly and be celebrated without fear of prejudice. They also reminded the wider community that "No to Hate" is not just a slogan, but a call to action. "This is our game, our club, and our unwavering commitment: Hate will never win here. We will always stand for love, unity, and an inclusive future for football," Chelsea Pride concluded. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 05:38 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSLautaro Martínez's goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru in a South American qualifying match in Buenos Aires and left the hosts close to a spot in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Its main continental rivals Brazil drew 1-1 against Uruguay in Salvador, Brazil with two impressive goals in an otherwise lackluster match. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead with a curled shot from the edge of the box, and Gerson netted his first for Brazil in similar fashion at the Arena Fonte Nova. Argentina leads South American qualifying with 25 points from 12 matches, five points clear of its closest competitor, Uruguay. Ecuador and Colombia are next with 19 points each. Brazil lags in fifth position with 18 points after several uninspiring performances, still hoping that striker Neymar will return from injury and fit in again. Paraguay, with 17 points, is in sixth place. South American qualifying will give six direct berths in the next World Cup. Seventh-place Bolivia, with 13 points, is in the international playoff position. Venezuela (12), Chile (9), and Peru (7) are out of qualifying spots. The next round of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in March. Uninspiring Argentina Martínez's goal was his 32nd for the national team, which puts him level with the legendary Diego Maradona. Until Martínez scored, Argentina's best chance was in the 21st minute, when striker Julián Alvarez hit the Peruvian goalkeeper's right post. Messi once again had a modest performance, as he did in his team's 2-1 defeat at Paraguay on Thursday. Messi crossed the ball in the penalty area in the 55th minute to give Martínez one of the few clear opportunities of the match. The striker moved his body with more grace than power to put the ball in the back of the next. Despite the disappointing performance at home, Lionel Messi's team will finish the year with few question marks beyond its performances in November. "We won Copa America, we lead South American World Cup qualifying," said goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. "We must be proud of ourselves." Also Read: Lionel Messi to add spark to Kerala’s football scene with Argentina’s 2025 visit Jeers for Brazil Brazil fans at home in Salvador jeered their team after the final whistle. In a match with few opportunities for either side, Uruguay seemed closer to winning for most of the second half. Valverde opened the scoring in the 55th minute after Brazilian defenders failed three times to clear the ball from their penalty area. The Real Madrid midfielder hit the ball to the left corner to score. Gerson equalized in the 61st minute. Striker Raphinha said he understood the frustration from his team's fans, but disagreed with them. "We played great. We did everything we could to leave here with a victory. We must have our heads high up, it will be very tough to beat us," he said. Also on Tuesday, Ecuador won 1-0 at Colombia with a goal by Enner Valencia in the seventh minute, in which he dribbled through three players before scoring. Ecuador lost defender Piero Hincapié to a red card in the 34th minute but held on for the win. Bolivia and Paraguay drew 2-2 in a match between teams that could end up fighting for the seventh position in the region's qualifying. Chile, one of the worst performing teams in the region this year, showed some fighting spirit and beat Venezuela 4-2. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 05:17 PM IST | Buenos Aires | AP | PTIThe Kerala government announced on Wednesday that the Argentina national football team, led by legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit the state next year for an international friendly match. Addressing a press conference, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said that the world-renowned team would play two friendly matches in Kerala, with the event being conducted under the complete supervision of the state government. The venue and the opponent team would be decided at a later stage, Abdurahiman said, reacting to a query. "The world's number one football team, Argentina, including Lionel Messi, is coming to Kerala... There will be two matches," he said. BREAKING🚨 Lionel Messi led Argentina team set to play a friendly in Kerala, announces Sports minister of Kerala#Messi #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/OBFa8hBUSp — IFTWC - Indian Football (@IFTWC) November 20, 2024 The management of the Argentina team would make an official announcement in this regard upon arriving in the state, Abdurahiman said. Representatives of the football team are expected to visit the southern state within one and a half months, the minister said. "We (government) have decided to make a joint announcement in this regard with the Argentina national team management," he said. The minister said that he had recently visited Spain to hold discussions with representatives of the Argentina national team and to extend an official invitation for their visit to the state. Also Read: Climate activists target Lionel Messi's mansion in Spain's Ibiza He said that talks were held with individuals associated with the team, who agreed to visit India in 2025 and participate in the friendly match event. Responding to a question, he said that the decision regarding the team's arrival has been finalised, and there are no changes to it. He noted that the government would directly oversee the match, security, and other arrangements. The minister said that the match would take place next year, but the date would be announced by the Argentina Football Association (AFA) in accordance with their procedures. Making it clear that the match would be held in a stadium with a capacity of at least 50,000 people, he indicated that Kochi is likely to be the venue. The minister pointed out that India has the largest support base for the Argentina football team, with one-fourth of the fans residing in Kerala. This is the primary reason for the Argentina team's decision to visit the state. Financial support for organising the high-profile football event will be provided by the traders of the state, he added. Abdurahiman also expressed confidence in Kerala's capability to host this historic occasion. In September this year, a delegation from Kerala, led by Abdurahiman, visited Spain to seek collaboration with the Argentine Football Association (AFA). After holding a meeting with its office-bearers in Madrid, Abdurahiman said that the collaboration with AFA would be a significant investment for Kerala and expressed his desire to make it a reality as soon as possible. "The possibility of considering Kerala as a venue for international friendly matches was discussed. As part of this, the association representatives expressed interest in visiting Kerala soon. AFA also expressed interest in setting up football academies in Kerala in collaboration with the state government," he had said in a Facebook post. Commenting on their meeting, the AFA had said: "Together with the delegation from the Government of Kerala, headed by V Abdurahiman, Minister of Sports, we had the opportunity to share initiatives and projects that will surely materialize in the short term." "In recent years, the association has established itself as one of the most important and popular sports brands in this strategic market through its global expansion strategy," it had said in a statement. "In this context, our institution is working on developing sports and commercial projects in different parts of the country, with the aim of continuing to expand our brand and being closer to the fans of the Argentine National Team in India," it had added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 05:06 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | PTIJosko Gvardiol continued his scoring streak to earn Croatia a 1-1 home draw with Portugal on Monday that allowed them to squeak into the Nations League quarter-finals. Portugal had already sealed top spot in Group A1. The draw allowed Croatia to finish one point above Scotland who continued their late surge with a 2-1 win over Poland in Warsaw. Spain beat Switzerland 3-2 In Group A4, Spain, already assured of qualification, beat last-placed Switzerland 3-2 in a match of penalty kicks in Tenerife. Yeremi Pino, a Canary Islander, sent Spain ahead on home territory after 32 minutes after Pedri’s penalty was saved. Joel Monteiro levelled for Switzerland but a few minutes later Bryan Gil stole the ball back to restore Spain’s lead. Andi Zeqiri fired home from the spot after a foul by Fabian Ruiz in the 85th minute but Bryan Zaragoza won and converted a late penalty ensured Spain could finish a spectacular year on a high. Denmark secured second place in the group with a 0-0 draw in Serbia. Also Read: Ronaldo scores 133rd goal for Portugal in 3-1 win over Poland In Split, Portugal took a 33rd-minute lead when Joao Felix neatly finished a sharp counterattack. Rafael Leao then missed the target when clean through. With Scotland winning in Warsaw after a third-minute goal from John McGinn, set up by teenager Ben Doak, Croatia were heading out. Gvardiol, ghosting at the far post, had a header on 62 minutes disallowed for offside. He repeated the move three minutes later, sneaking in unmarked and onside to squeeze a close-range shot through Jose Sa. Gvardiol, a defender, has three goals in his last six Premier League games for Manchester City. “It felt like two different games for us,” said Gvardiol. “In the first half, we seemed a bit tired and needed to make changes. The second half was much better — we had more energy, better control of the ball, and created more chances and we managed to score a goal,” he added. Poland’s Piatkowski scores Almost simultaneously in Warsaw, Kamil Piatkowski rocketed a cross shot into the top far corner of the Scottish goal to level for Poland. In the 73rd minute in Split, left-back Nuno Mendes nearly emulated Gvardiol for Portugal but goalie Dominik Livakovic blocked. In Warsaw, Andy Robertson headed home in added time to give Scotland a second win in four days, but Croatia comfortably saw out the draw. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 07:47 AM IST | Paris | AFPCaptain Harry Kane believes the 2026 World Cup will not be his last appearance for England. There is increasing scrutiny about the 31-year-old Kane’s future, even though he extended his all-time England scoring record to 69 goals in 103 appearances as Ireland were beaten 5-0 on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. Also Read: ‘Exciting to watch’ The British Press Association asked him if the 2026 World Cup is his last shot at glory for England. “I don’t think so,” he said. “I think there’s a perception when you get to your 30s that you’re coming to an end, but for me, I’m performing at the highest level I’ve ever performed and feel as good as I’ve ever felt.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | London | AP | PTIA third draw in four matches with Manolo Marquez at the helm may not be much to look at, but the Indian football team head coach is convinced that the side will make the cut for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. In their only match in the November FIFA International Window, India came from behind to draw Malaysia 1-1 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday. Also Read: India beat Laos in AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers “We are disappointed not to win but I am sure we will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Now we have four months. I know that it’s been a while since the national team have won a game, but we will win in March,” said Marquez. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 07:44 AM IST | Hyderabad | IANSADVERTISEMENT
