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☆ Saudi Arabia's soccer dream suffers a setback with high-profile departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Henderson acknowledges the crowd after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Damak at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Sept. 2, 2023 in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia. England international Jordan Henderson abruptly ended his playing time in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, dealing a blow to the kingdom's ambitious plans to make its domestic league an international soccer hub. Former Liverpool captain Henderson on Thursday signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Dutch side Ajax shortly after the 33-year-old agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Henderson's U-turn on playing in the Saudi Pro League comes six months after his controversial decision to sign with the club. Henderson's hasty exit from Saudi Arabia marks the end of "a miserable episode in a previously exemplary career," according to BBC Sport's chief soccer writer, and raises questions about both the midfielder's reputation as well as the image of the Saudi Pro League.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd, Henderson, Saudi Arabia's, Henderson's, Al Ettifaq Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, England, Saudi Arabia's Pro League, Liverpool, Dutch, Ajax, Saudi, BBC Locations: Prince, Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia

☆ Crespo set to take charge at UAE club Al Ain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Al Ain-bound Argentine coach Hernan Crespo will arrive on Monday to formally sign his contract, the UAE club said. Crespo will succeed Dutch coach Alfred Schreuder who parted ways with Al Ain last week after just six months in charge following media reports he would be moving to Saudi Arabia. Al Ain made the announcement on social media platform X with a video clip reviewing Crespo's career as a player and coach. Al Ain signed 51-year-old Schroeder last May after the departure of coach Sergei Rebrov, but media have linked the Dutch coach with Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, who have sacked Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo. Al Ain are third in the UAE Pro League with 15 points after seven games.

Persons: Al, Hernan Crespo, Crespo, Alfred Schreuder, Al Ain, Duhail, Paris St Germain, Christophe Galtier, Schroeder, Sergei Rebrov, Nuno Espirito, Al Wasl, Saudi Arabia's, Ashraf Hamed Atta, Ken ferris Organizations: Argetina, Parma, Lazio, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Qatari, Al, Paris St, Saudi, Nuno Espirito Santo, UAE Pro League, Asian Champions League, Thomson Locations: Al Ain, Argentine, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ittihad, Portuguese, Al

☆ Ronaldo sparks fightback as Al-Nassr given Asian Champions League scare
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 2 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Al-Nassr survived a scare in the Asian Champions League on Monday with the Saudi Pro League side coming from a goal down to hand Tajikistan's Istiklol a 3-1 defeat in Riyadh. The Asian Football Confederation said the game, which was due to be played in Isfahan's Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium, had been "cancelled due to unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances". In Group B, Uzbekistan's Nasaf climbed into pole position after claiming their second win in a row when Azizbek Amonov struck twice in a 3-1 win over Al Sadd of Qatar. Ruzikul Berdiev's team hold a two point lead over Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates, who beat Jordan's Al-Faisaly thanks to a 20th minute goal from Moussa Marega, an Asian Champions League winner with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in 2021. Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Senin Sebai, Istiklol, Ronaldo, Anderson Talisca, Luis Castro's, Al Duhail, Omid Alishah, Qasem Soleimani, Ali Jasim, Sanzhar Tursunov's, Siavash Haghnazari, Nasaf, Azizbek Amonov, Al, Ruzikul, Jordan's, Moussa Marega, Saudi Arabia's Al, Michael Church, Ken Ferris Organizations: Asian Champions League, Saudi Pro League, Brazilian, Iran's Persepolis, Iran's Sepahan, Saudi, Asian Football Confederation, Air Force Club, AGMK, Air Force, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Dushanbe, Saudi, Qatar, Isfahan's, Uzbekistan, Al, Ittihad, Al Sadd, Sharjah, Hilal

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Oil prices have risen, meaning drivers are paying more for gasoline and truckers and farmers more for diesel. Here are things to know about the recent increase — and where prices might be going:WHY HAVE OIL PRICES RISEN? “The last thing you want to do is fuel inflation again with much higher oil prices. Diesel prices have risen as well, along with higher oil costs and refineries facing shortages of the specific kinds of crude best for making diesel. HOW DO HIGHER OIL PRICES HELP RUSSIA?

Persons: Jorge Leon, That's, Leon, ” Leon, “, ”, Thu, Nguyen, Commerzbank, Gary Peach, Benjamin Hilgenstock, Joe Biden, Biden, Josh Boak Organizations: —, Saudi, Brent, Rystad Energy, Energy Intelligence, U.S, AAA, Diesel, Kremlin, Kyiv School of Economics, Policy Center, Union, Group, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Associated Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Russia, Saudi, OPEC, China, Europe, U.S, Ukraine, Moscow, Brussels, Washington

☆ Costa Rica beat Saudi Arabia after protest at St James' Park
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Costa Rica - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain, September 8, 2023 Saudi Arabia's Ali Abdullah Hazzazi in action with Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde and Francisco Calvo Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith Acquire Licensing RightsNEWCASTLE, England, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Costa Rica earned a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia at St James' Park in a friendly on Friday after a pre-match protest by Newcastle United fans over the use of the stadium by the Saudi team. However, they could not find the equaliser and Costa Rica wrapped up the win when Randall Leal fired home in the 89th. Costa Rica interim coach Claudio Vivas told ESPN: "Keylor Navas has a very distinguished career, playing for Real Madrid is important, it's not for just anyone. A group of Newcastle fans protested before the match against the use of St James' Park by Saudi Arabia, who will play again at the stadium on Tuesday versus South Korea. Saudi Arabia won the last of their thee Asian Cup titles in 1996.

Persons: Park, Saudi Arabia's Ali Abdullah Hazzazi, Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde, Francisco Calvo, Lee Smith, Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell's, Manfred Ugalde, Jimmy Marin's, Roberto Mancini, Ali Al Bulayhi, Feras Al Brikan's, Randall Leal, it's, Navas, Claudio Vivas, He's, St, Angelica Medina, Janina Nuno, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, James, Saudi, St James, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Costa, CONCACAF, Central Americans, ESPN, United Arab, Newcastle, South, Public Investment Fund, AFC Asian, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Newcastle, Britain, Saudi, NEWCASTLE, England, Qatar, Italy, Feras, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, South Korea, Mexico City

☆ Axiom Space raises $350 mln in round led by Saudi, Korean investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 21 (Reuters) - Axiom Space has raised $350 million in a funding round led by Saudi Arabia's Aljazira Capital and Korean healthcare firm Boryung as the startup works with NASA to develop a private space station. Axiom said the round took its total raise so far to $505 million and made it the space startup to receive the second-most funding in 2023, only behind Elon Musk's SpaceX. Axiom, which also has a $1.26 billion contract with the U.S. space agency NASA to develop spacesuits for use on the moon and other space programs, expects the first module of its private space station to launch by 2026. The company has also trained astronauts taken by SpaceX rockets to the International Space Station (ISS) as the once government-dominated space industry in the United States becomes increasingly privatized. Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Axiom, Arsheeya, Shailesh Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Aljazira, NASA, Elon, SpaceX, International Space, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Neymar injury delays Al-Hilal debut by a month
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Neymar arrives in Riyadh after signing for Al Hilal - King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - August 18, 2023 Al-Hilal's Neymar seen upon arrival REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri Acquire Licensing RightsAug 20 (Reuters) - Brazilian winger Neymar might have to wait until September to make his debut for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal because of injury, coach Jorge Jesus said. Neymar joined Al-Hilal from Paris St Germain last Tuesday on a two-year contract that French newspaper L'Equipe said could earn the 31-year-old 160 million euros ($174 million). "Neymar is an innovative and creative player, he will help us to improve, but he has a slight injury now and I don’t know when he will return. Al-Hilal coach Jesus also expressed his surprise at Neymar's inclusion in the Brazil squad for two World Cup qualifiers next month. Neymar has not played for Brazil since last year's World Cup as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained in February, but he has been included in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on Sept. 8 and Peru four days later.

Persons: Neymar, Al Hilal, King, Hilal's Neymar, Ahmed Yosri, Saudi Arabia's Al, Jorge Jesus, ” Jesus, Jesus, Ahmed Mostafa, David Goodman Organizations: Soccer, Al, King Khalid International Airport, Saudi, Paris St Germain, French, L'Equipe, King Fahd International, Drones, Brazilian national, Brazil, Bolivia, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Paris, Barcelona, Al, Brazil, Peru

☆ Neymar joins Saudi club Al-Hilal from PSG in two-year deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts. "I love winning and scoring goals, and I plan to continue doing that in Saudi Arabia and with Al-Hilal." He scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for the Paris club and won numerous trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles. Neymar won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 but had to settle for a runners-up medal in the 2020 final, which PSG lost to Bayern Munich. SAUDI TRANSFERSThe most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for number of league and Asian Champions League titles with 18 and four respectively.

Persons: Al Hilal's, Neymar, Fahd bin Saad Al, Al, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Germain, We've, Pele, Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Angelica Medina, Aadi Nair, Anita Kobylinska, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Al, Saudi Pro League, REUTERS Acquire, Saudi, Paris St Germain, Champions League, L'Equipe, Saudi Professional League, PSG, Paris, Ligue, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint, Confederations, SAUDI, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Qatar, French, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions, France, Argentine, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Al Hilal, Paris, France, Hilal, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Al, Barcelona, Asia, Riyadh, Ittihad, Ahli, Portugal, Real

☆ Factbox: Brazil and Al-Hilal forward Neymar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

* Made 33 appearances and scored 10 goals in his first league season. * Scored 42 goals in 60 appearances in all competitions in 2010 as Santos won the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil. * Scored six goals in the 2011 Copa Libertadores as Santos won the competition for the first time since 1963. * The following season, Neymar became the fastest in the club's history to reach 50 league goals (58 games), but PSG finished second in Ligue 1. * Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 appearances in all competitions for PSG, winning 13 domestic trophies.

Persons: Neymar, Saudi Arabia's Al, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, SANTOS, Santos, FIFA Puskas, Dunga, Pele's, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Saudi Arabia's, Paris St Germain, Portuguesa Santista, Santos, Real Madrid, Campeonato Paulista, Copa, Brasil, Libertadores, FIFA, Flamengo, South, Barcelona, Supercopa, Atletico Madrid, Barca, Champions League, Juventus, Brazilian, La Liga, Copa del Rey, PSG, UEFA, Manchester United, Rennes, Bayern Munich, Ligue, PSG's, Brazil, Confederations, Colombia, Croatia, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Spain, Barcelona, BARCELONA, Nou, BRAZIL, United States, Brazil, Germany, Belgium

☆ Saudi soccer league lures Brazilian star Neymar as it seeks to attract 'exceptional players only'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia also recruited soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's expected to bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Sports analysts are doubtful that Saudi Arabia will see its ambitions to have a top soccer league realized, even with all the money it can offer to top-tier players. Charles Laberge | LIV Golf | Getty ImagesOther criticism comes from an attitude among many that a Saudi league could never be a serious arena for athletes. Emenalo, himself a former defender for Nigeria's national soccer team and former technical director at English club team Chelsea, called the criticisms "outrageous."

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr, Jean Catuffe, Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kalidou, Lyon's Moussa Dembele, Michael Emenalo, Saudi Arabia's, Al, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, LIV, shockwaves, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Charles Laberge, LIV Golf, Emenalo, it's, Khalid Al, Falih, that's Organizations: PSG, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow, Paris Saint Germain, Celtic Park, Getty, Getty Images, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, Brazil national, L'Equipe, Manchester, Saudi Pro League, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football, Anadolu Agency, France national, Sports, American PGA Tour, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Nigeria's, soccer team, Chelsea, Saudi League, Guardian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund Locations: Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Barcelona, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Europe, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City

☆ Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal sign Brazilian Malcom
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Brazilian winger Malcom has joined Al-Hilal from Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Wednesday. The Brazilian winger, who joined Zenit in 2019 from Barcelona, was the Russian Premier League's top scorer last season with 23 goals as his club won the title. Al Hilal also sought to sign Lionel Messi, with the Argentine great ultimately deciding to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Al Hilal are the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and Asia having won 66 trophies and hold the record for league and Asian Champions titles with 18 and four respectively. Boosting the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club, who have lost their league and Champions League crowns.

Persons: Malcom, Al, Hilal, Alexandr Medvedev, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, Ruben Neves, Al Hilal, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Yossry, Shady Amir, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Al, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Saudi Arabian, Twitter, RIA Novosti, Zenit, Russian Premier League's, Argentine, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, League, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Russian, Saudi, Senegal, Serbia, Barcelona, Saudi Arabia, Al, Asia, Riyadh

☆ Henderson bids farewell to Liverpool after 12 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Midfielder Jordan Henderson said farewell to Liverpool fans in a video posted on social media on Wednesday, confirming his departure from the club after 12 years ahead of a reported move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. The former Liverpool captain will join the Saudi Pro League after Al -Ettifaq paid a fee estimated at 13 million pounds ($16.77 million), according to reports. "It's hard to put these last 12 years into words and it's even harder to say goodbye," the 33-year-old wrote on his Instagram account. He also captained Liverpool to the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup titles. Henderson will reunite at Al-Ettifaq with former Liverpool team mate Steven Gerrard, who was appointed as a coach on a three-year contract earlier this month.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, Saudi Arabia's, Ettifaq, You'll, Henderson, Juergen, Steven Gerrard, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Liverpool, Saudi Pro League, Al, Sunderland, England, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Anfield, Mexico City

☆ Karim Benzema reportedly signs a deal worth more than $200 million with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailKarim Benzema reportedly signs a deal worth more than $200 million with Saudi Arabia's Al-IttihadKarim Benzema reportedly signed a deal worth more than $200 million for 2 ½ years with Saudi Arabian football club Al-Ittihad. CNBC's Dan Murphy reports.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Saudi Arabia's Al, Ittihad Karim Benzema, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Arabian, Al Locations: Ittihad

☆ PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger is a major win for the Saudis — and Americans are slamming it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

It's lured some of the biggest golf stars away from the PGA Tour with huge paychecks, spurring antitrust lawsuits with the American organization. "This is Saudi Arabia buying the PGA tour," sports talk show host Rich Eisen said in his broadcast after hearing the news. USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan called the move "a total wimp-out by the PGA Tour. Glyn Kirk | AFP | Getty ImagesSocial media was rife with self-described golf fans vowing to never again watch the PGA Tour. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson, another member of the LIV Tour, tweeted "Awesome day today" in response to the news.

Persons: LIV Golf, that's, —, LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It's, Jay Monahan, Rich Eisen, Pat Welter, it's, Christine Brennan, Tiger Woods, Glyn Kirk, Ron Wyden, Chris Murphy, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi LIV, Monahan, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jim Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jeffries, Yasir Al, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia's, Al Organizations: PGA Tour, Saudi, LIV Players, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Twitter, 150th, St, AFP, Getty, LIV, Washington Post, Amnesty, Saudi Arabian Crown, Saudi Embassy, Washington D.C, Saudi Foreign Ministry, CNN, Royal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Investment, Rumayyan, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football Locations: Saudi Arabia, North Carolina, Saudi, Scotland, Oregon, Connecticut, American, Washington ,, Washington, videoconference, Riyadh, PIF, Portuguese

☆ Ronaldo ends disappointing debut season in Saudi empty-handed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Osama Khairy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr could not resist the temptation to sign five-times Ballon D'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in January, but although the prolific Portuguese forward scored an impressive number of goals, they finished the season empty-handed. Ronaldo's hopes of silverware ended on Saturday as Al-Ittihad clinched the league title for the first time since 2009 with one match to spare. The first trophy to slip from his grasp was the Saudi Super Cup when his team lost 3-1 to Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals in January. Al-Nassr suffered a heavy blow in the league race title on March 9 when they lost 1-0 to Al-Ittihad, Brazilian Romarinho scoring the winning goal and overshadowing Ronaldo. That left the 38-year-old Ronaldo's hopes of winning a trophy dependent on Al-Ittihad stumbling in the league and that did not happen.

☆ Busquets to leave Barcelona at end of season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Getafe - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - January 22, 2023 FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets holds the Spanish Super Cup trophy aloft before the match... Read moreMay 10 (Reuters) - Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets will leave the club at the end of this season after spending 18 years with the Catalan outfit, the team said on Wednesday. Busquets, 34, began his youth career at Barcelona in 2005 before making his first-team debut in 2008. He helped Barcelona win eight LaLiga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, three Champions League trophies and three Club World Cups. He could add another league title to his achievements this season, with Barcelona leading the points table by 13 points with five games remaining. A report on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones said that Busquets has accepted an offer by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal along with Lionel Messi.

☆ Real Madrid hit five past Al Hilal to secure fifth Club World Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Real Madrid won the Club World Cup for a record extending fifth time after beating Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 5-3 in the final on Saturday, with doubles from Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr and a goal by Karim Benzema. Valverde extended Real's lead five minutes later on the rebound but Al Hilal hit back with a goal from Moussa Marega on the counter-attack. Vietto scored his second of the night 10 minutes later to round off a high-scoring encounter that delighted the Moroccan fans. Having also won three Intercontinental Cup trophies, a predecessor to the Club World Cup that pitched the European and South American champions against each other, Real have a combined total of eight global titles. For the eighth time Real Madrid is World Champion," manager Carlo Ancelotti told Telecinco.

☆ Fans irate as FIFA moves Club World Cup match to Tangier
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Club World Cup third-place match between Brazil's Flamengo and Egypt's Al Ahly planned to be held in Rabat before the final on Saturday has been moved to Tangier, FIFA said on Thursday. "Fans who have bought tickets for the double-header will be informed shortly," FIFA said in a statement. "Special travel arrangements will be organised by ONCF, Morocco's national railway operator, enabling those who want to watch the third-place match in Tangier to be able to do so. "Ticket holders will be able to exchange their current tickets for new ones for the third-place match, or have the option to apply for a refund of existing tickets." "FIFA's decision left the fans in lost in translation," Tatiana Ribeiro, from travel agency Ribeiro Viagens, told Reuters.

☆ Real Madrid ease past Al Ahly to reach Club World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Real Madrid reached the Club World Cup final after goals from Vinicius Jr, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas secured a 4-1 win over Egypt's Al Ahly in Morocco on Wednesday. Vinicius shot wide in the 28th minute and Rodrygo hit the post but Real opened the scoring right on halftime. Vinicius twice wasted opportunities to extend the lead and Al Ahly received a lifeline when Eduardo Camavinga tripped Hussein El Shahat inside the area in the 65th minute and defender Ali Maaloul tucked away the penalty. Real will face Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the final in Rabat on Saturday after they shocked South American champions Flamengo 3-2 in the first semi-final. "We have the excitement to play the final and the concern to play it well.

☆ Flamengo blame Club World Cup loss on refereeing, coach says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TANGIER, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Flamengo manager Vitor Pereira blamed his side's stunning 3-2 loss to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in Club World Cup semi-final on Tuesday on the refereeing, which according to the Portuguese manager, was one sided. Flamengo were shown four yellow cards in the first half and three in the second while Al Hilal received only three bookings. Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz disagreed with Pereira and said the penalties were well spotted by the referee. Al Hilal, the first Saudi side to reach the Club World Cup final, will face the winners of Real Madrid's semi-final against Al Ahly on Wednesday in Rabat. Flamengo became only the fourth Brazilian side and sixth South American champions to lose a Club World Cup semi-final.

☆ Saudi Arabia's new love for soccer could cause ripple effects across the sports world
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Al Nassr Football Club / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesSoccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi club Al-Nassr, and the kingdom's growing investments in the sport, could have ripple effects across Europe and the U.S., experts have told CNBC. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star earlier this week contended that the "unique contract" was befitting of his status as a "unique player." The Financial Times reported in October that the Saudi PIF had committed more than $2 billion to sponsorship deals over the first eight months of 2022, most of which was directed toward domestic soccer competitions. The Saudi PIF's takeover of Newcastle United was met with criticism across the soccer world — deemed an effort to launder the country's reputation against the backdrop of a poor human rights record.

☆ Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr until 2025
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a contract until 2025, the club announced in a tweet on Friday. "I am eager to experience a new football league in a different country. Al Nassr Club's vision is very inspiring," the club quoted Ronaldo as saying. "This is more than history in the making. Reporting by Ahmed Tolba and Enas Alashray; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Saudi Arabian soccer club Al Nassr for reported record-breaking salary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is joining Saudi Arabian club team Al Nassr in a deal that will see him play until June 2025. "History in the making," Al Nassr FC wrote in a Twitter post on its official English-language account. The Saudi club quoted Ronaldo as saying he is "eager to experience a new football league in a different country." The Al Nassr contract will reportedly see Ronaldo taking home more than $1 million per week. Al Nassr, founded in Riyadh in 1955, is one Saudi Arabia's oldest soccer clubs and has won nine Saudi Premier League titles.

☆ Factbox: Some of the world's worst stampedes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

April 1998: One hundred and nineteen Muslim pilgrims are crushed to death during the haj in Saudi Arabia. Feb 2004: A stampede kills 251 Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia near Jamarat Bridge during the haj ritual stoning of the devil. Jan 2005: At least 265 Hindu pilgrims are killed in a crush near a remote temple in India's Maharashtra state. July 2010: A stampede kills 19 people and injures 342 when people push through a tunnel at the Love Parade techno music festival in Duisburg, Germany. Sept 2015: At least 717 Muslim pilgrims are killed and 863 injured in a crush at the haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

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