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☆ Marseille go second as Gusto own goal deals bitter blow to Lyon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - A last-gasp own goal by Malo Gusto earned Olympique de Marseille a 2-1 win at Olympique Lyonnais and lifted them back up to second in Ligue 1 with six games left on Sunday. Alexandre Lacazette netted after the break to cancel out Cengiz Under's first-half opener for Marseille, only for Gusto to deflect a poor clearance into his own net two minutes into stoppage time. After a series of half chances for both sides in a lively start, Marseille went ahead one minute before the interval when Under slotted the ball home after Alexis Sanchez's attempt was parried into his path by Anthony Lopes. Lyon, however, hit back in the 68th minute with Lacazette latching onto a cross from Corentin Tolisso to score his 20th league goal of the season to delight the Groupama Stadium crowd. They were eventually rewarded when Gusto got in the way of Johann Lepenant's attempt to clear Issa Kabore's cross, as Marseille claimed their first away win against Lyon in all competitions since 2007.

☆ PSG close in on title as Mbappe double sinks Angers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, April 21 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain moved a step closer to a record 11th Ligue 1 title when Kylian Mbappe's double earned them a 2-1 victory at bottom side Angers on Friday. Angers, on 14 points, will be relegated to Ligue 2 if Nantes and Stade Brestois win their games on Sunday and AJ Auxerre avoid defeat on Saturday. After fluffing a volley, he regained control of the ball before slotting it past Paul Bernardoni in the ninth minute. Mbappe then collected a through ball from Lionel Messi and doubled the advantage with a clinical finish on 26 minutes. Messi went close to adding another seven minutes from the interval, but Bernardoni parried the Argentine's attempt from just outside the box.

☆ Under-pressure Bayern shift focus to Bundesliga and in-form Mainz
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUNICH, Germany, April 20 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's players and coach Thomas Tuchel have no time to digest Wednesday's painful Champions League exit to Manchester City with the Bundesliga the only title left to fight for and in-form Mainz 05 posing the next obstacle in a rocky season. In the Cup it was Freiburg who beat them in Munich while City advanced with a comfortable 4-1 aggregate win. "At the end of the day, we are just scoring far too few goals," said midfielder Thomas Mueller. Bayern know that if they are to rescue their season with a record-extending 11th straight Bundesliga title and take some pressure off the club leadership they have to start scoring again on Saturday at Mainz. "This is now our main focus, not to dwell too long on this bitter elimination (by City)."

Stringer/ReutersThe RSF denied those reports, telling CNN in a statement that it “will never assault any UN staff or employees. Meanwhile, tense efforts to establish a ceasefire have ramped up, with the UN calling for rival factions to end their hostilities. Satellite imagery of the smoke plume at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday. The Sudanese Armed Forces later issued conflicting statements on a proposed 24-hour ceasefire, intended to go into effect later on Tuesday. Both sides had previously agreed to a three-hour ceasefire on Sunday, and again on Monday, with fighting resuming afterward, Perthes said.

☆ Sane and Mane clashed in Bayern dressing room -reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 12 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane clashed in the dressing room after the German club's Champions league quarter-final first leg defeat to Manchester City, according to reports in Germany on Wednesday. Bild said Senegal international Mane, a two times African footballer of the year, had complained about the way Germany winger Sane spoke to him after the 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. There was no immediate comment from Bayern Munich. The defeat was Bayern's biggest in the Champions League since a 3-0 loss to Paris St Germain in 2017. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bayern's Choupo-Moting to miss Man City clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 10 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will miss his side's Champions League quarter-final first leg game at Manchester City on Tuesday night due to a knee injury, the Bundesliga leaders said on Monday. Choupo-Moting, who is in his third season with Bayern after stints with Paris St Germain and Stoke City, is their top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions. The 34-year-old also missed Bayern's 1-0 league victory over Freiburg on Saturday. "Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will not travel to Manchester," Bayern said in a statement. Bayern also said defender Lucas Hernandez, who has not played since suffering a knee injury at last year's World Cup in Qatar, has returned to training with the ball.

☆ Lens beat Strasbourg to cut PSG lead to three points
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LENS, France, April 7 (Reuters) - Clinical RC Lens beat Strasbourg 2-1 to provisionally cut Paris St Germain's once double-digit lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table to three points on Friday and open up the title race. Lens are second on 63 points, three ahead of third-placed Olympique Marseille, who travel to Lorient on Sunday. Strasbourg remain in 16th on 26 points. Strasbourg's Kevin Gameiro pulled one back with a glorious curler in the 84th minute, but Lens held on for victory. Lens can further improve their prospects of winning a second French top-flight title when they face leaders PSG next week, after the defending champions' trip to Nice on Saturday.

☆ US sports giant Fanatics acquires top Italian football club merchandiser
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Fanatics has acquired Italian sports merchandise company Epi for an undisclosed amount and will rebrand the Milan-based company as Fanatics Italy. The company operates the ecommerce, in-venue, physical retail store and third-party logistics for several of the top football clubs in Italy including AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as the Italian Football Federation, which oversees the Italian national team. The deal builds upon Fanatics' existing presence in Europe and across the globe, which totals more than 60 offices, and manufacturing and distribution facilities. Roughly a "low double-digit" percentage of Fanatics' revenue comes from outside North America, Mack said, declining to comment further as Fanatics is a private company. Revenue for Fanatics will be approximately $8 billion in 2023, according to previous company estimates seen by CNBC.

☆ Saudi money is flowing to US media and entertainment, from Live Nation to LIV Golf, 5 years after Jamal Khashoggi's murder: 'The ice has thawed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment. Insider identified some key people connecting Middle East investors with American companies. Saudi Arabia is trying to pitch itself to the world as a cultural and economic reformer and spur tourism. Vince McMahon's WWE has a long-term partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a major live WWE event there slated for May. Vince McMahon's WWE was one of the first US companies to create unique events in Saudi Arabia.

☆ 9 Middle Eastern funds and investors pouring money into US media, sports, and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Governments and investors in the Middle East are pouring money into Western media and entertainment. Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment, and they're finding plenty of takers. The channels for money from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East are complex. Insider broke down the key entities — their owners, leaders, and high-profile investments and joint ventures — in the top three Middle Eastern nations pouring money into US entertainment and media. It describes itself as the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa and runs one of the largest TV news channels, Al Arabiya.

☆ Whirlwind Bayern crush Dortmund 4-2 to go top in Tuchel debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUNICH, Germany, April 1 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich overran a hapless Borussia Dortmund to win Der Klassiker 4-2 on Saturday as three goals in the opening 23 minutes helped them reclaim top spot in the Bundesliga and hand new coach Thomas Tuchel a winning start. With Tuchel, who also coached Dortmund from 2015-2107, having replaced Julian Nagelsmann on the Bayern bench, the hosts were all over their title rivals from the start. With Dortmund's defence torn to shreds and club bosses frozen in their seats at the Allianz Arena, Bayern never took their foot off the gas. Some sloppy finishing, however, saw them squander half a dozen golden chances in the second half before Dortmund struck twice late in the game, with an Emre Can penalty in the 72nd minute and a stoppage-time effort from Donyell Malen. Tuchel, who previously also coached Paris St Germain and Chelsea, could not have dreamt of a better start with Bayern on course for a record-stretching 11th league crown.

☆ Mbappe looking to reach new heights with ambitious France
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, March 26 (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe's rise continued as France started their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win against the Netherlands and the forward will be looking to reach new heights as Les Bleus face Ireland away in Group B on Monday. Mbappe has scored 38 goals for France and sits in fifth place overall in the list of the country's top scorers, three shy of former great Michel Platini and 15 behind all-time leader Olivier Giroud. Mbappe netted a double at the Stade de France last Friday as France crushed the Netherlands in seemingly casual, yet brutal fashion. "We want to show we can be a great team, that's the identity of this generation - this desire for greatness, a lot of players have that," said the 24-year-old Mbappe. To do that, France will rely on their pair of centre backs after Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate proved unbreakable last Friday.

☆ France already firing on all cylinders as new chapter begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mbappe also set up Antoine Griezmann for the opening goal, soothing the Atletico Madrid player's disappointment after he was only named vice-captain. Eduardo Camavinga added: "His attitude hasn't changed, he's still the same, we're very happy that he scored that double. Deschamps wasted no time in installing Konate and Upamecano, 23 and 24 respectively, in central defence. France next face Ireland in Dublin on Monday. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mbappe beats PSG all-time scoring record as French champions extend lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 24-year-old Mbappe found the back of the net two minutes into stoppage time for his 201st goal in all competitions with PSG, improving the mark he shared with Edinson Cavani. The club organised a short ceremony after the final whistle, with a big portrait of Mbappe displayed at the Parc des Princes. "It's a privilege to be a PSG player, to play in this historic shirt, for the biggest club in France." PSG got off to a dream start as Messi opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a left-footed volley form Fabian Ruiz's cross. Earlier, RC Lens's Champions League hopes suffered another knock when they were held to a 1-1 home draw in the northern derby.

☆ Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys display banner in support after threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, March 4 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys of Argentina put up a banner of support for their country's captain in their stadium on Saturday, following the attack against his wife Antonela Roccuzzo's family business. A threatening hand-written message to the Paris St Germain forward was left on a supermarket belonging to the Roccuzzo's early on Thursday morning, after two people on motorcycles shot the business. (Pablo) Javkin (Rosario's mayor) is also a narco, he will not take care of you," read the handwritten text left on the door. The message of support from Newell's was posted on social media hours before Saturday's home game against Barracas Central in the Argentine league. Newell's is with you," read the red and black banner, which was placed behind one of the goals at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa stadium ahead of the match.

☆ Neymar ruled out of Champions League clash with Bayern due to injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain forward Neymar will miss the next two games due to an ankle injury, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday, ruling him out of their Ligue 1 clash with Nantes and the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich. The reigning Ligue 1 champions, who will also be without defender Achraf Hakimi, look to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the Champions League away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but Galtier's priority is Saturday's fixture against Nantes. "Our squad is weakened by suspensions and injuries, we have to work our way through the league," the French manager said. "I hope the players don't have the game against Bayern on Wednesday in the back of their minds. It's important to get the third league win in a row."

☆ Apple supplier Foxlink halts production at Indian facility after massive fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Munsif Vengattil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Apple logo is seen on the Apple store at The Marche Saint Germain in Paris, France July 15, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesNEW DELHI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) supplier Foxlink has halted production at its assembly facility in the Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and evacuated 400 of its employees after a massive fire on Monday, two local government officials told Reuters. Management has estimated damage of 1 billion Indian rupees ($12 million) at the facility, he said, adding there were no casualties. An official for Foxlink did not respond to calls. ($1 = 82.7320 Indian rupees)Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi, Editing by Louise Heavens and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Messi named FIFA player of 2022, England women rewarded for Euro campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/8] Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Salle Pleyel, Paris, France - February 27, 2023 Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi winner of The Best FIFA Player award 2022 REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierPARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi was named FIFA player of the year 2022 on Monday as Argentina scooped all major men's awards after winning a vintage World Cup final last December. "I want to express my thanks to (coach Lionel) Scaloni and my team mates, without them I would not be here," Messi added. It's a dream for any player, very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so." Spain's Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d'Or last year, was named women's player of the year after inspiring Barcelona to a third consecutive national title in 2022. Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas prize for best goal of the year for a spectacular acrobatic volley with Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow.

☆ PSG romp to 3-0 win over Marseille thanks to Mbappe-Messi double act
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - World Cup foes Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe inspired Paris St Germain to a 3-0 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille on Sunday to extend their Ligue 1 lead to eight points. Third-placed Monaco slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Nice, who prevailed thanks to a Terem Moffi double and a superb half-volley by Khephren Thuram. The result left Monaco on 50 points, ahead of fourth-placed RC Lens on goals scored after the northerners drew 1-1 at Montpellier on Saturday. Messi beautifully lifted the ball into the path of Mbappe, who volleyed home with his left foot for his 16th goal of the season in Ligue 1. PSG next face Nantes at home before travelling to Bayern Munich for their Champions League last-16 return leg after losing the first encounter 1-0 at the Parc des Princes.

☆ Sergio Ramos retires from Spain duty with parting shot at coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Spain's most capped player Sergio Ramos announced his international retirement on Thursday after being told by new coach Luis de la Fuente that he was not part of his plans. "The time has come, the time to say goodbye to our beloved and exciting national team," Ramos, who captained Spain 52 times, said in a statement. The Spanish FA (RFEF) confirmed to Reuters that the conversation between coach De la Fuente and Ramos took place on Thursday, but provided no further details. Ramos was dropped by former Spain coach Luis Enrique and had not made an appearance since coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier two years ago. "Unfortunately, it will not happen to me because football is not always fair and football is never only about football."

☆ Comeback kings Real at it again as Champions League love affair rumbles on
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LIVERPOOL, England, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Real Madrid always seem to save their best for Europe, with Liverpool the latest victims of the Champions League's comeback kings in a remarkable 5-2 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday. Real's failure to lie down and accept their fate was key to them securing a 14th Champions League crown last season and it seems they have not lost their touch. While Liverpool were in many respects architects of their own downfall, Real have a history of saving their best for when they are up against it and the Champions League brings out the best in them. Two last-gasp goals from Rodrygo took the tie to extra time, with Karim Benzema finishing an astonishing comeback with a decisive penalty. "I told the boys directly after the game a defeat is a defeat if you don't learn from it," Klopp said.

☆ Shiffrin sets pace in world championships slalom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MERIBEL, France, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Mikaela Shiffrin put herself in pole position to reclaim her slalom title at the world championships with a rock-solid run to lead after the first leg on Saturday. Swiss Wendy Holdener was second, 0.19 seconds off Shiffrin's pace while Canada's Laurence St-Germain was third quickest just over half a second back. The dominant Shiffrin, 27, was unbeatable in world championships slalom as she won in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 but had to settle for bronze in Cortina in 2021. Her long-awaited giant slalom victory took her world championships medal haul to 13, level with Sweden's Anja Paerson with only Christl Cranz (15) having won more. Austria's Katharina Liensberger, who took slalom gold in 2021, could only manage 14th in the first run.

☆ Former Qatari prime minister's son bids for Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton standing outside Old Trafford, home of Manchester United in Manchester, England. Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar's former prime minister, on Friday launched a bid to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United, whose American owners launched a formal sale process late last year. Sheikh Jassim is the son of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state. However, Qatari state investors, who own a stake in French champions Paris Saint-Germain, could face challenges structuring a takeover of Manchester United, as rules forbid two clubs with the same owner taking part in the lucrative Champions League. Sheikh Hamad is the owner of PSG and it is unclear how the Qatari bid will be structured.

☆ Son of former Qatari PM bids for Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Anirban Sen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v West Ham United - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 22, 2020 General view of the corner flag inside the stadium before the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS. Feb 17 (Reuters) - Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar’s former prime minister, on Friday launched a bid to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United, whose American owners launched a formal sale process late last year. A deal for United is expected to shatter records for the sale of a sports business. Sheikh Jassim is the son of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state. However, Qatari state investors, who own a stake in French champions Paris Saint-Germain, could face challenges structuring a takeover of Manchester United, as rules forbid two clubs with the same owner taking part in the lucrative Champions League.

Manchester United, INEOS, Tesla and Musk did not reply to requests for comment. "For potential buyers, football clubs like Manchester United are considered trophy assets driven by the perception of exclusivity. The size of that bid has fuelled speculation Manchester United will attract significantly more. Manchester United is the fourth richest soccer club in the world, according to analysis by Deloitte. A small portion of Manchester United shares is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

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