PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’

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Updated 01 June 2025
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PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’

PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’
  • The 19-year-old lit up scored twice and provided an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0
  • German police have to hold back PSG fans as they tried to rush the field

MUNICH, Germany: Paris Saint-Germain’s double goal-scoring hero Desire Doue said “a dream has become reality” after Saturday’s Champions League triumph.

The 19-year-old lit up Munich’s Allianz Arena, scoring twice and providing an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0.

“I don’t have the words,” said the French teenager.




Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue, right, scores his side's third goal. (AP)

“Thanks to the Parc (des Princes, PSG’s home stadium), thanks Paris.

“A dream has become reality. It’s just magnificent. It’s crazy, I’m so happy.

“It’s just the beginning.”

PSG have been guided to the continental crown for the first time in their history by Spanish coach Luis Enrique.

“It’s time to have a big party,” said Luis Enrique, who also won the Champions League with Barcelona 10 years ago.

“We have to make the most of this moment,” added the 55-year-old.

“I feel this connection with the players and the supporters, it’s very strong. It’s a great moment, we deserve it. We managed to control the tension.”




PSG players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)

Unruly fans held back

Thousands of euphoric PSG fans had to be held back by a line of police they tried to rush the field in jubilation.

Police lined up in front of the PSG end of the Allianz Arena stadium at the final whistle but struggled to contain the fans for several minutes when they came down from the stands following the trophy presentation.

They did eventually manage to force them back into the stands, and PSG players had already headed back to the locker room, appearing to cut short celebrations in front of their supporters.

Players eventually made their way back to the field with the trophy after order was restored.

PSG fans dominated the occasion, drowning out Inter supporters, many of whom had left long before the final whistle after seeing their team blown away by the French champion.


Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham F Son Heung-Min

Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham F Son Heung-Min
Updated 10 min 7 sec ago
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Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham F Son Heung-Min

Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham F Son Heung-Min
  • LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around $26 million, GiveMeSport and ESPN reported
  • Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham

LONDON: Son Heung-min, who spent 10 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur and stars for the South Korea national team, has a deal in place to join Los Angeles FC, according to multiple reports.

LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around $26 million, GiveMeSport and ESPN reported, which would break the Major League Soccer record of $22 million that Atlanta United paid to acquire Emmanuel Latte Lath last offseason.

Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham, saying he achieved everything that he could with the North London club and he was interested in a new challenge.

Tottenham faced Newcastle United in a friendly in Seoul, which served as Son’s farewell match. He received a standing ovation and a guard of honor and said he had “a huge respect and am very grateful” to his old club.

Son scored 172 goals and added 94 assists in 451 matches for Tottenham across all competitions, with 127 coming in Premier League play. A team captain, he helped the Spurs win the 2025 Europa League for the first major trophy of his career.

He previously played in Bundesliga for Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen.

Son has also scored 51 goals in 134 matches for South Korea, the country’s second-leading goal-scorer of all time. Son played in the past three World Cups.

In LAFC — who also acquired defender Ryan Porteous from Watford on Monday — Son is joining a decorated MLS team that’s vying for another playoff berth. Los Angeles (10-6-6, 36 points) is sixth in the Western Conference.


FIFA faces Dutch class action over player transfer regulations

FIFA faces Dutch class action over player transfer regulations
Updated 04 August 2025
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FIFA faces Dutch class action over player transfer regulations

FIFA faces Dutch class action over player transfer regulations
  • The foundation added that consultancy firm Compass Lexecon had estimated that damages could run into billions of euros
  • The Dutch football players’ group is seeking compensation over alleged loss of income due to restrictive transfer rules

Aug 4 : A Dutch football players’ group is preparing a “potentially billion-dollar” class action claim against FIFA and other football associations, seeking compensation over alleged loss of income due to restrictive transfer rules, it said on Monday.

The Dutch Foundation for Justice said world football governing body FIFA’s rules had affected approximately 100,000 players in European member states and the United Kingdom since 2002.

The foundation added that consultancy firm Compass Lexecon had estimated that damages could run into billions of euros, with the foundation’s board member Dolf Segaar telling Dutch news agency NOS that “it is a billion-dollar claim.”

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is among the associations to be named in the suit.

“This case is being brought in the Netherlands under the Dutch Act on the Settlement of Mass Damages in Collective Action (WAMCA), which allows this legal action to be launched by JfP on behalf of a large group of professional footballers,” it added.

FIFA and the KNVB did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

The foundation added that a preliminary analysis from global economic consulting company Compass Lexecon estimated that professional footballers collectively earned around 8 percent less over their careers than they would have due to FIFA’s regulations.

“All professional football players have lost a significant amount of earnings due to the unlawful FIFA Regulations,” foundation chair Lucia Melcherts said in a statement.

“’Justice for Players’ is bringing this claim to help achieve justice for footballers and fairness.”

The foundation added that the case was launched following a ruling on French player Lassana Diarra, who was fined 10 million euros ($11.56 million) by FIFA for leaving Lokomotiv Moscow one year into a four-year deal.

In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union said some of FIFA’s rules on player transfers went against European Union laws and free movement principles in the case linked to former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid player Diarra.

Following the ruling by the EU’s top court, FIFA in December adopted an interim framework concerning the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

The interim regulatory framework affects the calculation of compensation payable if there is a breach of contract and the burden of proof in relation to both compensation payable and an inducement to breach a contract.

Justice for Players said it will be advised by law firm Dupont-Hissel, founded by Jean-Louis Dupont.

Dupont is the same lawyer who took the landmark case of Belgian Jean-Marc Bosman, which in 1995 cleared the way for players in the European Union to move to other clubs at the end of contracts without a transfer fee being paid.

Dupont-Hissel also represented Diarra in his case against FIFA, with Dupont saying in 2024 that a judgment backing the player would be a milestone in modernizing football governance.

He added that it would allow players’ unions and club associations to regulate their employment practices.


Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup injury confirmed as ‘hamstring discomfort’

Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup injury confirmed as ‘hamstring discomfort’
Updated 03 August 2025
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Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup injury confirmed as ‘hamstring discomfort’

Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup injury confirmed as ‘hamstring discomfort’
  • The 38-year-old Messi’s exit brings a halt to an exceptional run of clean health
  • Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has not scored in the Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi exited Saturday night’s Leagues Cup match against visiting Necaxa in the 11th minute due to a right leg injury. After Inter Miami completed its 2-2 draw, manager Javier Mascherano declared Messi felt “hamstring discomfort.”

The 38-year-old Messi’s exit brings a halt to an exceptional run of clean health, the longest since he joined Miami in July 2023.

He had played in every minute of 16 consecutive matches for Miami between MLS regular season and FIFA Club World Cup play before his failure to appear in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game resulted in a one-match suspension against FC Cincinnati a week ago.

He returned Wednesday night for Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atlas and provided two assists – one leading to the game-winner late – in a 2-1 victory.

Neither team scored prior to Messi’s exit Saturday, though Miami’s Telasco Segovia scored shortly thereafter to put Miami in front. Necaxa took a 2-1 lead with the Herons reduced to 10 men when Marcelo Weigandt was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, but Inter Miami rallied for the equalizer in extra time. The Herons then won 5-4 on penalty kicks.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has not scored in the Leagues Cup. But in MLS play, he is tied for the league lead with 18 goals.

Messi’s run of consecutive appearances was in stark contrast to his first two MLS seasons, during which he missed significant portions of regular-season play.

After playing all seven matches of Miami’s run to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, minor ailments limited Messi to just six appearances among Miami’s last 12 regular-season games that year.

He also dealt with multiple issues in 2024, the most pronounced being an extended recovery from a torn leg muscle sustained while playing for Argentina during the 2024 Copa America final that July.

He played in only 19 games in his first full MLS season, but he still scored 20 goals and had 16 assists to earn the league’s 2024 MVP award.


Newcastle sign England goalkeeper Ramsdale on season-long loan from Southampton

Newcastle sign England goalkeeper Ramsdale on season-long loan from Southampton
Updated 02 August 2025
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Newcastle sign England goalkeeper Ramsdale on season-long loan from Southampton

Newcastle sign England goalkeeper Ramsdale on season-long loan from Southampton
  • Howe called 27-year-old Ramsdale “an exceptional goalkeeper”
  • The England international was previously No. 1 at Arsenal

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle signed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on a season-long loan deal from relegated Southampton on Saturday.

Newcastle announced the signing on their website with the Premier League club’s coach Eddie Howe calling the 27-year-old Ramsdale “an exceptional goalkeeper who adds further quality and international experience to our squad.”


The England international was previously No. 1 at Arsenal but then lost his place and joined Southampton on a four-year contract. He could not prevent the club going down last season, when he made 30 appearances in the top division.

Ramsdale, who has five caps for England, is looking forward to hearing the support of the home fans as one of their players, rather than as a visiting goalie.

“It’s great to be here. I’ve always loved coming here and I’ve seen how passionate and loud the fans can be,” he said. “I’ve always loved playing at St. James’ Park. I’ve not always had the greatest of results, but when the fans get behind you, it’s some place.”

Newcastle begin their Premier League campaign away to Aston Villa on Aug. 16.


Bayern Munich midfielder Pavlovic fractures eye socket ahead of the new season

Bayern Munich midfielder Pavlovic fractures eye socket ahead of the new season
Updated 02 August 2025
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Bayern Munich midfielder Pavlovic fractures eye socket ahead of the new season

Bayern Munich midfielder Pavlovic fractures eye socket ahead of the new season
  • The German champion said Saturday that Pavlovic has undergone surgery after fracturing his eye socket
  • Bayern didn’t say exactly how the injury happened

The German champion said Saturday that Pavlovic has undergone surgery after fracturing his eye socket

Bayern didn’t say exactly how the injury happened

MUNICH: Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic’s bad luck with injuries and illness seems to have struck again.

The German champion said Saturday that Pavlovic has undergone surgery after fracturing his eye socket in a team training session Friday.

Bayern didn’t say exactly how the injury happened or how long Pavlovic would be out, just that he “is facing a spell on the sidelines.”

The 21-year-old Pavlovic is considered one of world soccer’s best young defensive midfielders but has already racked up a list of absences for sometimes-unusual injuries and illness.

Pavlovic struggled with tonsillitis in his breakthrough 2023-24 season and was ruled out of Germany’s team for Euro 2024 with illness. Last season, he had spells out with a collarbone fracture and glandular fever.

Bayern’s season starts Aug. 16 against Stuttgart in the German Super Cup.