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☆ France hand PSG teenager Zaire-Emery first call up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The teenager has been in impressive form this season, scoring twice in 10 Ligue 1 games, and has played every minute of PSG's four Champions League matches. Zaire-Emery was the youngest player to appear for PSG when he made his debut last season aged 16 years and 151 days and in September was made France under-21 captain by coach Thierry Henry. Aurelien Tchouameni was already ruled out of the France squad after his foot injury in his club Real Madrid's LaLiga win over Barcelona last month but Zaire-Emery had been tipped for selection anyway having become a key member of PSG's side. "The absence due to injury of Aurelien Tchouameni did not necessarily condition the presence or absence of Warren Zaire-Emery," Deschamps said. The manager was also asked about the possibility of the young midfielder making the squad for the Euro finals.

Persons: Paris St Germain's Warren, Emery, Stephanie Lecocq, Germain, Warren Zaire, Didier Deschamps, Deschamps, Thierry Henry, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren, Benjamin Pavard, Jean, Clair Todibo, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, Paris St Germain, AC Milan, Parc des Princes, Paris St, Rights, Paris Saint, Ligue, League, PSG, Real Madrid's LaLiga, Barcelona, Inter Milan's, Nice, France, Thomson Locations: Parc des, Paris, France, Paris St Germain's Warren Zaire, Gibraltar, Greece, Zaire, Warren Zaire, Germany, Nice

☆ Premier League: VAR is proving to be box office entertainment but at what cost to the action?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Instead, four years on from its Premier League debut, the technology has now seemingly become the main talking point rather than the football itself. Chelsea's win over Tottenham involved a number of huge VAR decisions. Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesBeing magnanimous about refereeing decisions isn’t a trait many Premier League managers seemingly possess. “The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better,” the statement read. Whatever the Premier League and PGMOL had in mind for VAR’s development, it surely wasn’t this.

Persons: –, Chelsea's, Glyn Kirk, Ange Postecoglou, “ I’ve, ” Postecoglou, I’ve, we’re, Postecoglou, he’s, Jürgen, Henry Nicholls, Mikel Arteta, ”, “ PGMOL, Arteta, Gary O’Neil, Jürgen Klopp, Charlotte Wilson, Keith Hackett, “, Hackett, “ Lukas Brud, ” Hackett, PGMOL Organizations: CNN, Premier League, Premier League doesn’t, Champions League, Serie, Liga, Tottenham, Getty, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunday, Gunners, ” CNN, Bournemouth, Twitter, International Football Association Board Locations: AFP

☆ Late Martinez winner over Salzburg sends Inter into Champions League last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Champions League - Group D - FC Salzburg v Inter Milan - Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria - November 8, 2023 Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger Acquire Licensing RightsSALZBURG, Austria, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A late penalty by Lautaro Martinez helped Inter Milan book their spot in the Champions League last 16 with a 1-0 win at Salzburg on Wednesday, dashing the Austrian champions' knockout stage hopes with two games remaining. Substitute Martinez sealed the win for Inter from the spot five minutes from fulltime after Simone Inzaghi's men were awarded a penalty for a handball. Salzburg, who would have kept their last-16 qualifying chances alive with a draw, are third with three points. Martinez, who has scored 12 goals in 11 Serie A games this season, eventually gave Inter the lead, minutes after hitting the bar with an earlier chance. Inter, who last season reached the final and enjoyed their most successful Champions League campaign since lifting the trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, edged Salzburg 2-1 in the reverse fixture last month.

Persons: Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Leonhard Foeger, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi's, Davide Frattesi, Alessandro Bastoni, Jose Mourinho, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FC Salzburg, Inter Milan, Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Inter Milan's, REUTERS, Champions League, Salzburg, Inter, handball, Real Sociedad, Benfica, Austrian, Serie, League, Thomson Locations: Salzburg, Austria, SALZBURG, Austrian, Gdansk

Let us help you get set to watch a free AC Milan vs. PSG live stream today in just a few clicks. Then get stuck in and enjoy these free Champions League live streams. How to watch AC Milan vs. PSG live stream with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one. Where to watch Champions League in AustraliaThe Champions League is a Stan Sport exclusive in Australia. So, if you can get around all this, you can enjoy the best value Champions League live streams in the world.

Persons: we've, you'll, Stan, Stan Sport, AEST, ExpressVPN, you've, Stan Sport's, You'll Organizations: PSG, Milan, League, Champions League, Rugby, BT Sport, TNT Sport, BT, TNT, Discovery, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Champions, Stan Sport, Sport, country's Champions League, Paramount Plus, Paramount, CBS, Netflix, PayPal Locations: Milan, Newcastle, Dortmund, Europe, Italy, Luxembourg, Australia, USA

☆ MFE retains domestic TV rights of Italian soccer cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Italy's top soccer league Serie A said on Monday it had awarded commercial broadcaster MFE-MediaForEurope <MFEB.MI> the domestic TV rights for the next three seasons of the Italian Cup competition. The deal also includes the right to screen the Italian Super Cup which has been revamped earlier this year as a four-team competition rather than being a match between the winners of Serie A and the Italian Cup. That brings the total value of the deal, which covers the three seasons until 2026-27, to around 168 million euros. The company, which is controlled by the family of late media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, is the current holder of the Italian Cup and Super Cup domestic TV rights, under a three-year contract expiring in June and worth some 145 million euros. ($1 = 0.9415 euros)Reporting by Elvira Pollina, editing by Gavin Jones and Federico Maccioni and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Elvira Pollina, Gavin Jones, Federico Maccioni Organizations: MILAN, Serie, Reuters, Italian, Super, Sky Italia, Thomson Locations: Italy

☆ Lazio's Immobile denies Fiorentina place in top four with late penalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lazio captain Immobile struck low into the left of the net in stoppage time, sending Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano the wrong way after Lazio were awarded a penalty when Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic handled the ball. Fiorentina are sixth in the standings on 17 points, one point behind champions Napoli in fifth and two less than fourth-placed Atalanta, who beat lowly Empoli 3-0 earlier on Monday. Lazio, who won three consecutive home games in the competition for the first time since April, moved up to seventh in the standings on 16 points. Lazio next travel to Bologna on Friday while Fiorentina take on second-placed Juventus on Sunday. Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ciro, Remo Casilli, Vincenzo Italiano's, Pietro Terracciano, Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic, Atalanta, Maurizio Sarri, Lucas Beltran, Felipe Anderson, Anita Kobylinska, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer, Lazio, Fiorentina, Stadio Olimpico, Rights, Serie, Napoli, Empoli, Inter Milan, Sky Sports, Serbian, Europa Conference League, Juventus, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Bologna, Gdansk

☆ Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United and Italy midfielder banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, said on Thursday. Tonali signed for Newcastle in the summer for a reported fee of $74 million, per Reuters. Tonali came on as a second-half substitute in Newcastle’s Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The decision comes just weeks after Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban and fined €12,500 ($13,200) for also breaching betting rules. Tonali and his fellow Italy international teammate Nicolò Zaniolo withdrew from the national team squad earlier this month after their involvement in gambling investigations was released.

Persons: Sandro Tonali, Gabriele Gravina, “, ”, Gravina, Tonali, Eddie Howe, Reuters –, Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo, Zaniolo, CNN’s Barbie Nadeau Organizations: CNN, Newcastle United, Italian Football Federation, Federal Prosecutor’s, Sky24, Newcastle, AC Milan, men’s, Newcastle’s Premier League, Crystal, BBC, FIFA, UEFA, Reuters, Serie, League, Newcastle’s Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Wednesday, Juventus, Italy Locations: Italy, Italian

☆ Pulisic backs Milan to turn around poor Champions League form
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic has backed his team to turn around their mediocre Champions League form after the Italian giants suffered a 3-0 defeat against Paris St Germain on Wednesday. We're not out of it yet, we just need to string a couple of wins together," Pulisic told CBS Sports. "We've had some tough games in some tough stadiums but that's no excuse, we need to turn it around and we need to win." The 25-year-old Pulisic, who captains the United States, moved to Milan from Premier League club Chelsea in July. Milan are second in the Italian top-flight after nine matches, one point behind rivals Inter Milan.

Persons: Christian Pulisic, We're, Pulisic, We've, we're, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Robert Birsel Organizations: Milan, League, Paris St Germain, Wednesday, Parc des Princes, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, CBS Sports, Premier League club Chelsea, Napoli, Serie, Udinese, Inter Milan, Thomson Locations: Milan, Parc, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Last two Scudetto winners come face to face as Napoli host Milan
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - This weekend's Serie A fixtures pit the last two Scudetto winners against each other, as defending champions Napoli host AC Milan on Sunday. Inter Milan were first to break Juve's stronghold in 2021, followed by their rivals Milan, before Napoli finally won their third Scudetto last season, and first without Diego Maradona. Now, those three sides, along with Juventus, are battling it out for this season's league title, and the Diego Armando Maradona stadium will see Napoli attempt to stay in the title race against Milan. Verona who won their opening two games, have picked up just two points in the seven games since then. Lazio have already lost four league games this season, but have now won their last two, taking them to 10th in the standings, and on Monday they host high-flying Fiorentina.

Persons: Diego Maradona, Diego Armando Maradona, Rudi Garcia, Garcia, Victor Osimhen, Khvicha, Romelu Lukaku, Jose Mourinho won't, Mourinho, Roma, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Napoli, AC Milan, Sunday, Juventus, Inter Milan, Milan, Inter, Torino, Juve's, Hellas Verona, Champions League, Georgian, Verona, Tuesday's Champions, Union Berlin, MOURINHO, AS Roma, San, Monza, Juve, Lazio, Fiorentina, Empoli, Thomson Locations: Naples, San Siro, Portuguese, Napoli

☆ Udinese announce Cioffi as new manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Udinese have appointed Gabriele Cioffi as their new manager to replace Andrea Sottil, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday. The club parted ways with Sottil on Tuesday after a winless start to the season left Udinese third from bottom in the standings after nine games. "Udinese is pleased to announce the appointment of Gabriele Cioffi as the new first-team coach. Cioffi returns to the club having previously managed Udinese during the 2021-22 campaign. Last season he was manager at Hellas Verona but was sacked after the opening nine league games.

Persons: Gabriele Cioffi, Andrea Sottil, Sottil, Cioffi, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Udinese, Serie, Hellas Verona, Thomson

☆ José Mourinho sent off after making ‘crying’ gesture as Roma scores dramatic winner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —José Mourinho was sent off during Roma’s dramatic 1-0 Serie A victory over Monza with the Roma manager seen making a ‘crying’ gesture towards the opposition’s bench. However, after the game Mourinho said he “didn’t know why” he was shown a red card. “I only made a gesture to the bench, not a single word,” Mourinho said, per Reuters. In stoppage time, Mourinho could be seen mimicking someone crying in a gesture made in the direction of the Monza bench. The Roma manager was sent off three times in Serie A last season.

Persons: CNN — José Mourinho, Mourinho, “, ” Mourinho, Sunday, Stephan El Shaarawy, Monza Organizations: CNN, Monza, Reuters, Roma, Stadio Olimpico, Inter Milan, Champions League, Serie Locations: Monza

☆ Soccer Serie A looks at media platform as right sale faces stalemate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Italy's top flight soccer league Serie A is pressing ahead with plans to launch its own media operations with the support of financial investors as a sale process of domestic broadcasting licences struggles to gain traction, club and league officials said. The creation of a media platform to distribute Serie A matches to other TV outlets as well as the launch of a league-run live video streaming subscription service have been repeatedly floated in recent years. The launch of a TV streaming service platform to broadcast matches would a first for any major soccer league in Europe. The 20 clubs may also decide to use the league's streaming platform to screen only some of the matches, awarding part of the rights to the established broadcasters. TV rights are a key source of revenue for Serie A clubs such as this year's champions Napoli, Juventus (JUVE.MI) and Milanese clubs AC Milan and Inter.

Persons: Elvira Pollina, Keith Weir Organizations: MILAN, Serie, Sky Italia, Napoli, Juventus, Milanese, AC Milan, Inter, English Premier League, Premier League, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ Soccer Juventus midfielder Fagioli faces investigation for illegal betting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is under investigation for alleged illegal betting activities, an Italian prosecutor said on Wednesday, confirming earlier press reports. "I confirm the news of the investigation," Turin Chief Prosecutor Enrica Gabetta said in an emailed statement, without elaborating. "Nicolo is calm and fully focused on Juventus and the (Italian Serie A) league," they added. Italian soccer authorities ban players from betting on soccer matches but not from other types of gambling. A player found to have bet on soccer matches risks being banned for at least three years and fined at least 25,000 euros ($26,520) under the FIGC's code of conduct.

Persons: Nicolo Fagioli, Enrica Gabetta, Luca Ferrari, Armando Simbari, Nicolo, Fagioli, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Elvira Pollina, Gavin Jones, Ed Osmond Organizations: Juventus, La Stampa, A, Italian national, Albania, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italian

☆ Roma's Haavi relishes chance to build on Women's Champions League experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

STOCKHOLM, Oct 10 (Reuters) - AS Roma forward Emilie Haavi cannot wait for another crack at the Women's Champions League after falling at the quarter-final stage last season, as they prepare to face Vorskla in a qualifying clash on Wednesday. The addition of the Norwegian provided a boost for Roma's attack, and they made last season's Women's Champions League quarter-finals after finishing second in their group behind German powerhouses VfL Wolfsburg. POSITIVE EXPERIENCE"I think it was a very positive experience last year, the whole Champions League was a little adventure for us. We had a little bit of luck with the draw, at the same time as we met a good level of opposition,” Haavi explained. Haavi believes the likes of Roma are getting closer to their European rivals thanks to the games they play against them.

Persons: Emilie Haavi, Haavi, LSK Kvinner, ”, Roa, I've, ” Haavi, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Roma, Stadio Tre Fontane, Philip O'Connor, Toby Davis Organizations: AS Roma, Women's, League, Roma, Olimpico, Reuters, Roa IL, Serie, VfL Wolfsburg, Champions League, Stadio, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Norway, Italy, France, Norwegian, Barcelona

☆ Clinical Juventus go third after derby win against Torino
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Massimiliano Allegri's side have 17 points, two behind Inter Milan and one behind AC Milan who play Genoa later on Saturday. That doesn’t preclude us from looking at other things, because naturally, we are Juventus," he told DAZN. "We must keep our feet on the ground and bring back what for many years was normality at Juventus, in other words winning games." Substitute Milik doubled the lead after 62 minutes with a header from another corner, which Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic misjudged. "We should’ve gone for the shot to finish off the moves and not allow Torino to stay in the game when they were struggling."

Persons: Federico Gatti, Arkadiusz, Massimiliano Allegri's, Allegri, DAZN, Gatti, Milik, Vanja Milinkovic, Savic, Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Chiesa, Moise Kean, Fabio Miretti, Kean, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Juventus, Torino, Serie A, Juve, Inter Milan, Milan, Genoa, Napoli, Fiorentina, Thomson Locations: TURIN, Italy, Gdansk

☆ Milan go top with late Pulisic strike at Genoa as Giroud ends match in goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENOA, Italy, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A late strike by Christian Pulisic earned AC Milan a 1-0 win at promoted Genoa that put them top of Serie A on Saturday but the game ended in chaos as both keepers were sent off and striker Olivier Giroud went in goal for the visitors. U.S. international Pulisic netted in the 87th minute with a half-volley from near the penalty spot after he was brilliantly set up by Yunus Musah to give Milan the lead. But the three points were hanging by a thread as the game took a chaotic turn when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan saw red for a foul on Caleb Ekuban late in stoppage time and Giroud took his spot in goal. "I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality," coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. "Pulisic wanted to go in goal and perhaps he had already done it, but I told him that he was too short.

Persons: Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Mike Maignan, Caleb Ekuban, Giroud, Frenchman, Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson, George Puscas, Stefano Pioli, DAZN, Milan, Pioli, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Rade Krunic, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao, Josep Martinez, Martinez, Theo Hernandez, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Milan, Serie, U.S, Inter Milan, Lazio, AS Roma, Napoli, Genoa, Juventus, Thomson Locations: GENOA, Italy, Genoa, Milan, Bologna, Gdansk

☆ Jude Bellingham stars as Real Madrid defeats Napoli in the Champions League
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Real Madrid continued its winning start in the Champions League by coming from behind to defeat Napoli 3-2 on Tuesday. Midfielder Jude Bellingham scored his eighth goal in nine appearances for Los Blancos after Vinícius Jr. had canceled out Leo Østigård’s opener for the home side. Alessandra Tarantino/APMadrid responded midway through the first half, Vinícius finishing well after Bellingham had intercepted Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s loose pass. Bellingham scores Real Madrid's second goal against Napoli. Francesco Pecoraro/Getty ImagesThe result puts Madrid top of Group C, three points ahead of Napoli and Braga.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr, Leo Østigård’s, Piotr Zieliński’s, Alex Meret –, Federico Valverde –, “, ”, Carlo Ancelotti, Natan, Østigård, Leo Østigård, Napoli's, Alessandra Tarantino, Vinícius, Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s, Meret, Zieliński, Nacho, –, Francesco Pecoraro, André, Ancelotti, “ I’m, he’s, ” Ancelotti Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Champions League, Napoli, Madrid, AP, Real Madrid, Bellingham, Real, Braga, Portuguese, Union Berlin, ” Madrid, Osasuna, Fiorentina, Sunday Locations: Naples, AP Madrid, Bellingham, Madrid, Napoli, LaLiga

☆ Unstoppable Martinez scores four as Inter cruise past Salernitana
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Inter captain Martinez has now scored nine goals in seven Serie A matches and holds a clear lead as the league's top scorer. While Inter dominated the match's early stages, Salernitana gradually found their footing and managed to control the tempo in a goalless first half. Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the 62nd minute when he expertly collected Marcus Thuram's low cross into the box and delicately chipped the ball over Salernitana keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Martinez completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, after a foul by defender Matteo Lovato, who had pulled Thuram's shirt. Inter host a Champions League group-stage match against Benfica on Tuesday, followed by a Serie A home game against Bologna next Saturday.

Persons: Stadio, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Alberto Lingria, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Marcus Thuram's, Guillermo Ochoa, Mateusz Legowski's, Nicolo Barella, Matteo Lovato, Carlos Augusto's, Simone Inzaghi, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis, Clare Fallon Organizations: Soccer, Salernitana, Inter Milan, Stadio Arechi, Inter Milan's, Rights, Serie, Inter, Milan, Lazio, Sky Sport Italia, Champions League, Benfica, Bologna, Thomson Locations: Salerno, Italy, San Siro, Gdansk

☆ Victor Osimhen: Napoli ‘never intended to offend of make fun of’ striker with TikTok video
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Italian soccer club Napoli has said that it “never intended to offend or make fun of” star player Victor Osimhen after coming under fire for posting – and then deleting – a video of the striker missing a penalty on TikTok. “To avoid any potential exploitation of the matter, SSC Napoli would like to explicitly state that the club never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, who is an asset to the club,” Napoli said in Thursday’s statement. “Over the course of the summer Napoli rejected all offers to sign the striker – firm proof of the club’s appreciation of him. “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted. Osimhen scored in Napoli’s match against Udinese but celebrated in muted fashion before embracing his teammates.

Persons: “, Victor Osimhen, ”, –, Osimhen, ” Napoli, Victor, Roberto Calenda, Calenda, Gennaro Del Vecchio, Giuseppe Santoro Organizations: CNN, Napoli, Nigeria international Osimhen, Serie, Bologna, SSC Napoli, Udinese, Wednesday, Lecce Locations: Italian, Nigeria

☆ Saudi soccer league says big-money player purchases are only the first step in a long-term strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The big-spending Saudi Pro League is aiming to build its global broadcasting presence and become one of the top 10 soccer leagues in the world, its chief operating officer, Carlo Nohra, told CNBC on Thursday. The league dominated the sports headlines over the summer as Saudi clubs cumulatively spent more than $1 billion in transfer fees and attracted some of the biggest names from Europe's top leagues with mammoth contract offers. Speaking to CNBC at the APOS conference in Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday, Nohra said that Saudi Arabia's strategy is "extremely long term," but that the acquisition of players was the first step. watch nowThe kingdom's massive investment in sport is part of a broader effort to diversify its economy away from oil by investing in commercial infrastructure to become a tourism, leisure and entertainment powerhouse. Nohra explained that the objectives handed down to the Saudi Pro League's bosses were to firstly improve on-pitch performance through the acquisition of world-class players, to fill the country's stadia and ultimately to drive the commercialization of the vastly improved overall product.

Persons: Carlo Nohra, cumulatively, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nohra, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi Pro League, CNBC, English Premier League, Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Serie, Ligue, Saudi, Fox News, Saudi Pro Locations: Saudi, Bali , Indonesia

☆ Napoli say they never intended to offend Osimhen amid row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Napoli said on Thursday they never intended to offend their striker Victor Osimhen with mocking social media videos, but the Serie A champions stopped short of apologising to the Nigeria international. Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda later threatened legal action, while the 24-year-old player removed all images of himself in a Napoli shirt from his social media accounts. "On social media, and TikTok particularly, expressive language is used in a light-hearted and playful manner. Osimhen helped Napoli end their 33-year wait for a league title last season as he was Serie A's top scorer with 26 goals. Champions Napoli are fifth in the league standings and will face Lecce on Saturday before hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Persons: Napoli, Victor Osimhen, Roberto Calenda, Victor, Osimhen, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Serie, Nigeria, Bologna, Napoli, Serie A's, Napoli's, Udinese, Lecce, Real Madrid, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Mexico City

☆ Milan fight back to beat promoted Cagliari 3-1
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAGLIARI, Italy, Sept 27 (Reuters) - English duo Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were on target as AC Milan fought back after falling behind at promoted Cagliari to secure a 3-1 Serie A victory on Wednesday. "We did well to turn it around with our principles and win a game that was certainly not easy. Shortly before halftime, Loftus-Cheek went close to securing Milan's third goal, but Radunovic denied his attempt with an outstretched foot. Cagliari went close to a consolation goal in the final minutes when Gaetano Oristanio volleyed Luvumbo's cross, only to be denied by Milan goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. Milan host Lazio on Saturday in Serie A before they travel to Borussia Dortmund on Oct. 4 for their second Champions League group stage match.

Persons: Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Tomori, Noah Okafor, Stefano Pioli's, Sassuolo, Tijani Reijnders, Pioli, Zito Luvumbo, Okafor, Boris Radunovic, Loftus, Radunovic, they’d, DAZN, Cagliari, Gaetano Oristanio volleyed, Marco Sportiello, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Milan, Cagliari, Loftus, Serie, Inter Milan, Sky Sports, Lazio, Serie A, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Thomson Locations: CAGLIARI, Italy, Cagliari, Sardinian, Milan, Gdansk

☆ Inter's perfect start ended by Sassuolo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v U.S. Sassuolo - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 27, 2023 U.S. Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi in action with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS/Massimo Pinca Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Inter Milan's perfect start to the Serie A season ended as Sassuolo mounted a fine comeback to secure a shock 2-1 victory on Wednesday. Inter led through a first-half goal by Denzel Dumfries but Sassuolo, coming off Saturday's 4-2 home victory over Juventus, secured all three points with goals from Nedim Bajrami and Domenico Berardi. For what we created, we should’ve scored more than one goal," Inter manager Simone Inzaghi told DAZN. If you lose your shape against a team like Sassuolo, it becomes very difficult." Inter visit Salernitana on Saturday in Serie A before hosting Benfica on Oct. 3 in the Champions League group stage.

Persons: Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, Alessandro Bastoni, Massimo Pinca, Denzel Dumfries, Nedim Bajrami, Domenico Berardi, Stefano Pioli's, should’ve, Simone Inzaghi, DAZN, Dumfries, Sassuolo, Bajrami, Yann Sommer, Berardi, Inzaghi, Victor Osimhen, Matias Vecino, Mattia Zaccagni, Tommy Lund, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer, Inter Milan, Inter, Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS, Serie, Wednesday, Juventus, Milan, Cagliari, Salernitana, Serie A, Benfica, Champions League, Napoli, Udinese, Lazio, Torino, Thomson Locations: San Siro, Milan, Italy, U.S, Sassuolo, Gdansk

☆ Marseille appoint Italian Gattuso as coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille have named Italian Gennaro Gattuso as coach following the departure of Marcelino, the French Ligue 1 club said on Wednesday. The 45-year-old Gattuso takes over after Spaniard Marcelino left the club amid a feud with the Marseille supporters. Gattuso left Valencia in January, seven months after his appointment with the LaLiga side just above the relegation zone. Marseille are eighth in Ligue 1 after two wins, three draws and a 4-0 loss to Paris St Germain. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Italian Gennaro Gattuso, Marcelino, Spaniard Marcelino, Gattuso, Paris St Germain, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Osmond Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, Ligue, Spaniard, Marseille, AC Milan, Napoli, Serie, Paris St, Champions League, AS Monaco, Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion, Europa League, Thomson Locations: Italian, Valencia, Italy, Mexico City

☆ Juventus move up to second after Milik secures win against Lecce
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TURIN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Arkadiusz Milik's 57th-minute goal secured Juventus a 1-0 home victory over Lecce on Tuesday, moving them up to second in the Serie A standings. Juve moved up to 13 points, two behind Inter Milan, who host Sassuolo on Wednesday. Lecce are fourth on 11 points after suffering their first Serie A defeat of the season. Lecce went down to 10 men three minutes into stoppage time after Mohamed Kaba earning a second yellow card for diving. "I don’t want to hide here, Inter, AC Milan and Napoli have better resources than us to win the title.

Persons: Milik, Adrien Rabiot's, Massimiliano Allegri, DAZN, Sassuolo, Allegri, Federico Chiesa, Mohamed Kaba, Tommy Lund, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Juventus, Lecce, Serie, Juve, Inter Milan, Wednesday, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Thomson Locations: TURIN, Sassuolo, Gdansk

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