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11 - 20 from 22201 . In "Sports"

Liverpool fans were initially accused of causing the chaotic scenes at the Stade de France in 2022

French minister apologizes to Liverpool fans over Champions League chaos

PARIS — France's former interior minister has apologized for the first time for the 2022 fiasco at the Stade de France which saw Liverpool football supporters wrongly blamed for a riot.Gérald Darmanin admitted that security arrangements for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid were wrong, and that his first public remarks – blaming English fans – were a mistake."It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions," said Darmanin, now France's justice minister."The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologize now to Liverpool supporters. They were quite right to be hurt. It was a mistake and a failure."Police used tear gas on Liverpool supporters as they tried to enter the...

May 06, 2025

French minister apologizes to Liverpool fans over Champions League chaos

Mahrez, Firmino and Mendy complete rare continental double with Al Ahli triumph

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Al Ahli FC etched their name into Asian football history with golden letters after being crowned champions of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025, marking a monumental moment not just for the club, but for three of its star players.The club's triumphant run was capped off with a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah — a night that will be remembered by their fans for generations to come. But beyond the title, it was the extraordinary achievement of Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Edouard Mendy that made headlines across the globe.The trio became the first players in football history to win both the UEFA Champions League and the AFC Champions League Elite, a unique feat that bridges Europe and Asia.Mahrez had lifted the European crown with...

May 04, 2025

Mahrez, Firmino and Mendy complete rare continental double with Al Ahli triumph

Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle celebrates the trophy.

Jaissle hails Al Ahli’s spirit after AFC Elite triumph as Firmino savors 'special' title

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle expressed immense pride in his players following their 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25, describing their performance as a triumph of resilience and unity.“I’m extremely proud of the players,” said the German coach after securing the club’s first-ever continental title.“They delivered an exceptional performance throughout the tournament. The atmosphere was electric, and the fans played a huge role in pushing us over the line.”Goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie — both assisted by Roberto Firmino — sealed Al Ahli’s long-awaited breakthrough on the continental stage, with the King Abdullah Sports City roaring behind the Saudi side’s relentless...

May 04, 2025

Jaissle hails Al Ahli’s spirit after AFC Elite triumph as Firmino savors 'special' title

Al Ahli books 2029 Club World Cup ticket with AFC Elite crown

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Saudi Arabia has officially clinched a place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup following Al Ahli FC’s 2-0 victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025.The victory ensured that Saudi football became the first in Asia to secure a confirmed representative in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup edition, where Asia will send four continental champions from the 2025 to 2028 editions.In addition to the Club World Cup berth, Al Ahli have also booked a historic place in the newly introduced FIFA Intercontinental Cup, marking the first time a Saudi club qualifies for the global competition.Al Ahli are set to face the winner of the Oceania–Africa playoff, which will be contested between the OFC Champions League winner...

May 04, 2025

Al Ahli books 2029 Club World Cup ticket with AFC Elite crown

Al Ahli’s Mendy named Best Goalkeeper of AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Eduoard Mendy capped off a stellar campaign by winning the Best Goalkeeper award of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25, following Al Ahli Saudi FC’s historic 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday’s final.The Senegalese international was a rock at the back for Al Ahli, playing a pivotal role in their maiden continental triumph during the Finals held in Jeddah.Mendy, 33, was commanding throughout the tournament, particularly in the knockout rounds, where he kept clean sheets in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Buriram United and the final against Frontale.Against Al Hilal in the semi-finals, his presence and positioning helped blunt one of Asia’s most potent attacks.His calm under pressure and ability to organize the backline were critical as Al...

May 04, 2025

Al Ahli’s Mendy named Best Goalkeeper of AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25

Salem Al-Dawsari.

Al Hilal’s Salem Al Dawsari clinches AFC Champions League Elite top scorer award

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Al Hilal’s talisman Salem Al Dawsari was crowned the top goalscorer of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 after netting 10 goals during a standout campaign that ended with his team bowing out at the semi-final stage.Despite Al Hilal’s 3-1 defeat to eventual champions Al Ahli Saudi FC in the last four, Al Dawsari’s attacking brilliance lit up the competition from start to finish.The Saudi international opened his account on Matchday Two with a goal in the 5-0 win over Al Shorta, before scoring a stunning hat-trick in a 5-4 thriller against Al Ain.He followed that with a brace against Iran’s Persepolis FC and a strike versus UAE’s Al Wasl to close out the group stage with seven goals.In the knockout rounds, Al Dawsari added three more: one in the...

May 04, 2025

Al Hilal’s Salem Al Dawsari clinches AFC Champions League Elite top scorer award

The Brazilian forward delivered a masterclass in the final at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday.

Firmino named AFC Champions League Elite MVP after inspiring Al Ahli’s title run

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Roberto Firmino has been crowned the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 after playing a starring role in Al Ahli Saudi FC’s historic triumph on home soil.The Brazilian forward delivered a masterclass in the final at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday, setting up both goals in Al Ahli’s 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale to secure the club’s first-ever continental crown.Firmino capped a remarkable campaign with six goals and six assists, including a decisive brace and assist against Al Shorta SC on Matchday Four — a turning point in his tournament form.He also scored the opener in the semi-final win over Al Hilal SFC.In the title clash, the 33-year-old showed his class, first teeing up Galeno with a perfectly weighted...

May 04, 2025

Firmino named AFC Champions League Elite MVP after inspiring Al Ahli’s title run

Firmino turned provider again with a perfect cross that allowed Kessie to head home Al Ahli’s second and effectively kill off the game before halftime.

Al Ahli clinch historic first AFC Elite title

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Al Ahli finally got their hands on the elusive continental crown, defeating Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 on Saturday to win the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025 in front of a rapturous home crowd of over 58,000 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.First-half goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie sealed a dominant performance and capped a flawless tournament run for the Saudi side, who ended the campaign unbeaten with 12 wins and one draw.It marks Al Ahli's first-ever Asian club title, ending years of frustration after two previous final defeats.Galeno opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a moment of brilliance, curling a shot from outside the box over a diving Louis Yamaguchi after a slick assist from Roberto Firmino.Minutes later,...

May 03, 2025

Al Ahli clinch historic first AFC Elite title

Al Hilal part ways with Jorge Jesus, appoint Al Shalhoub as interim coach

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal have officially announced the departure of Portuguese head coach Jorge Jesus following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, marking the end of a tenure that started with promise but ended in disappointment after the team fell out of title contention. The decision was taken after a thorough review of recent performances, most notably the club’s exit from the AFC Champions League Elite at the hands of domestic rivals Al Ahli. In a swift move, Al Hilal appointed former captain and club icon Mohammed Al Shalhoub as interim head coach for the remainder of the Saudi Pro League season — his first managerial role since retirement. Jesus initially joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2023 on a one-year contract. After guiding the team to a...

May 03, 2025

Al Hilal part ways with Jorge Jesus, appoint Al Shalhoub as interim coach

Mahrez targets historic treble with AFC Champions League Elite title

Saudi Gazette reportJEDDAH — Riyad Mahrez is on the brink of achieving a rare and remarkable football milestone: winning major continental trophies across three different regions.The Algerian star is aiming to add the AFC Champions League Elite title to his already glittering collection when Al Ahli Saudi FC face Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday’s final in Jeddah.Mahrez, 34, has already lifted the UEFA Champions League and Premier League titles with Manchester City and the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria. Now, he has the opportunity to guide Al Ahli to their first-ever continental triumph in front of a home crowd at King Abdullah Sports City.“This is a trophy on another continent, in Asia,” said Mahrez ahead of the decider. “I’ve played other finals before but when...

May 02, 2025

Mahrez targets historic treble with AFC Champions League Elite title

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